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Leaphorn & Chee #19
Spider Woman's Daughter
Excellent Book
325 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 1, 2013
About the author
Anne Hillerman
23 books1,508 followersAnne Hillerman's newest book,"Spider Woman's Daughter" debuted at number 10 on the New York Times Best Seller list. The novel continues her father Tony Hillerman's popular Jim Chee/Joe Leaphorn series. The book followed "Tony Hillerman's Landscape: On the Road with Chee and Leaphorn," with photos by Don Strel of the country the renown mystery author visited in his novels. Her cookbook, "Santa Fe Flavors: Best Restaurants and Recipes" received the New Mexico Book Award for the best cookbook of 2009. Anne's other books include "Gardens of Santa Fe," "Ride the Wind, USA to Africa," and "Children's Guide to Santa Fe." When she's not writing, Anne enjoys cooking, writing restaurant reviews for the Albuquerque Journal, and skiing.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,928 reviews
January 7, 2024
My first read of a mystery thriller by Anne Hillerman, but her approach is not unlike her father’s, Tony Hillerman.
A great deal of time is spent on world building, environment building, situation building. About 3/4 of the storyline. So that 3/4s is the slow fuse. The final 1/4 is the extended explosion of the story picking up speed and climaxing.
All that to say this is not Jason Bourne or even Longmire. The speed at which this story moves along is more like a mystery similar to Christie’s Hercules Poirot or Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes. Then, in the final 15% or 20% we have more of an Ian Fleming’s Bond, more of a Thunderball.
What I enjoy most is the exploration of New Mexican and Navajo culture, mythology and spirituality, and in that area Spider Woman’s Daughter does not disappoint.
Nor does it disappoint in its slow burn of world building and situation building, nor in its final and dynamic 20% of storyline. Electric.
A great deal of time is spent on world building, environment building, situation building. About 3/4 of the storyline. So that 3/4s is the slow fuse. The final 1/4 is the extended explosion of the story picking up speed and climaxing.
All that to say this is not Jason Bourne or even Longmire. The speed at which this story moves along is more like a mystery similar to Christie’s Hercules Poirot or Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes. Then, in the final 15% or 20% we have more of an Ian Fleming’s Bond, more of a Thunderball.
What I enjoy most is the exploration of New Mexican and Navajo culture, mythology and spirituality, and in that area Spider Woman’s Daughter does not disappoint.
Nor does it disappoint in its slow burn of world building and situation building, nor in its final and dynamic 20% of storyline. Electric.
March 29, 2016
This is Anne Hillerman's first attempt at continuing the Leaphorn and Chee series her father started.
It's good. It's definitely different than Hillerman's writing: darker, and she writes solely from female Bernie Chee's perspective.
When Bernie is washing the blood of Joe Leaphorn off her hands on page ten, I knew we weren't in Kansas anymore. LOL No, this book is a bit darker and more violent than her father's books. It opens with Joe Leaphorn being shot in the head right outside his favorite restaurant. Bernie and Chee and determined to catch the shooter while Leaphorn lingers in CCU on the verge of death.
So the book is only told from Bernie's perspective. We get one or two glimpses of scenes where Chee is going solo, but Anne Hillerman is focusing on a female's view here. Perhaps she's a bit nervous about writing men. I can't blame her. I think she made the right choice.
The mystery disappointed me. The angle of "Someone shot Joe Leaphorn. Who would do such a thing?" was interesting and a strong start to the book. But it quickly devolves as Anne Hillerman makes it apparent that the bad guy or bad guys are based in what happened in a previous Hillerman novel: A Thief of Time. I would have much rather had Ms. Hillerman dream up a new plot that didn't rely so heavily on the readers knowledge of Book 8. Also, the person who ends up being the bad guy (no spoilers) has done a complete switcho-chango of their personality in Book 8. It was supremely weird.
Another thing that annoyed me was the introduction of Bernie's little sister, Darleen. Darleen is portrayed as a high school dropout who gets drunk a lot and doesn't work towards getting her GED. She lives with her and Bernie's elderly mom (who I must say has mellowed out considerably since Tony Hillerman wrote her o.O) and is supposed to be caring for her, but she often leaves and/or gets drunk instead. Bernie thinks her younger sister is a failure who is wasting her life and they get into fights a lot. I really didn't enjoy this subplot. It was horrible.
Both Bernie and Chee are hit on by slime: Bernie has a disgusting FBI agent saying stuff to her like
"I might steal some ideas from you." [Bernie says]
"Stealing, huh? I might have to take you out to lunch as a punishment and give you a lecture about that."
Ew. Ew. That's just disgusting. For one thing, they work together. For a second thing, he knows she's married. For a third thing, HE HIMSELF is married... he was just slime.
And Chee knows it and he's a little jealous and Anne Hillerman's like "Chee shouldn't be jealous" and I'M like "Chee should pull this slime aside and have a 'little chat' with him."
Chee himself is hit on by a slime, a woman who thinks it's sexy to talk to married men like "Oh, you're so cute, perhaps I could consider bending the rules for you, handsome" etc. etc. etc. And I'm like, "WTF?" It's strange to me that neither Chee nor Bernie really call their respective slimes on their respective shit. They don't say, "Don't fucking talk to me that way," or "I'm married," or in Bernie's case, "I'm going to report you if you don't cut it out." Instead, they both just ignore it and let it slide. Perhaps Anne Hillerman is saying it is a cultural thing? Cultural thing or not, I was creeped out by both slimes and wanted both Bernie and Chee to be protected from this kind of behavior. It was just weird. It was just weird how much creepy sexual harassment-like behavior was featured in this novel.
Tl;dr - Meh. I could see why staunch Hillerman fans would get upset about Anne Hillerman's interpretations of the world he'd created. But since I've always been "meh" about the Navajo Mysteries, I can't get too upset with what Anne Hillerman has done here. She's not a bad writer. But I was annoyed with some of her plot-decisions here: namely, tying the plot in closely with what happened in a previous book and introducing Bernie's little sister.
Now it's on to the last book as I wrap up my Hillerman journey! Rock with Wings is my next stop.
It's good. It's definitely different than Hillerman's writing: darker, and she writes solely from female Bernie Chee's perspective.
When Bernie is washing the blood of Joe Leaphorn off her hands on page ten, I knew we weren't in Kansas anymore. LOL No, this book is a bit darker and more violent than her father's books. It opens with Joe Leaphorn being shot in the head right outside his favorite restaurant. Bernie and Chee and determined to catch the shooter while Leaphorn lingers in CCU on the verge of death.
So the book is only told from Bernie's perspective. We get one or two glimpses of scenes where Chee is going solo, but Anne Hillerman is focusing on a female's view here. Perhaps she's a bit nervous about writing men. I can't blame her. I think she made the right choice.
The mystery disappointed me. The angle of "Someone shot Joe Leaphorn. Who would do such a thing?" was interesting and a strong start to the book. But it quickly devolves as Anne Hillerman makes it apparent that the bad guy or bad guys are based in what happened in a previous Hillerman novel: A Thief of Time. I would have much rather had Ms. Hillerman dream up a new plot that didn't rely so heavily on the readers knowledge of Book 8. Also, the person who ends up being the bad guy (no spoilers) has done a complete switcho-chango of their personality in Book 8. It was supremely weird.
Another thing that annoyed me was the introduction of Bernie's little sister, Darleen. Darleen is portrayed as a high school dropout who gets drunk a lot and doesn't work towards getting her GED. She lives with her and Bernie's elderly mom (who I must say has mellowed out considerably since Tony Hillerman wrote her o.O) and is supposed to be caring for her, but she often leaves and/or gets drunk instead. Bernie thinks her younger sister is a failure who is wasting her life and they get into fights a lot. I really didn't enjoy this subplot. It was horrible.
Both Bernie and Chee are hit on by slime: Bernie has a disgusting FBI agent saying stuff to her like
"I might steal some ideas from you." [Bernie says]
"Stealing, huh? I might have to take you out to lunch as a punishment and give you a lecture about that."
Ew. Ew. That's just disgusting. For one thing, they work together. For a second thing, he knows she's married. For a third thing, HE HIMSELF is married... he was just slime.
And Chee knows it and he's a little jealous and Anne Hillerman's like "Chee shouldn't be jealous" and I'M like "Chee should pull this slime aside and have a 'little chat' with him."
Chee himself is hit on by a slime, a woman who thinks it's sexy to talk to married men like "Oh, you're so cute, perhaps I could consider bending the rules for you, handsome" etc. etc. etc. And I'm like, "WTF?" It's strange to me that neither Chee nor Bernie really call their respective slimes on their respective shit. They don't say, "Don't fucking talk to me that way," or "I'm married," or in Bernie's case, "I'm going to report you if you don't cut it out." Instead, they both just ignore it and let it slide. Perhaps Anne Hillerman is saying it is a cultural thing? Cultural thing or not, I was creeped out by both slimes and wanted both Bernie and Chee to be protected from this kind of behavior. It was just weird. It was just weird how much creepy sexual harassment-like behavior was featured in this novel.
Tl;dr - Meh. I could see why staunch Hillerman fans would get upset about Anne Hillerman's interpretations of the world he'd created. But since I've always been "meh" about the Navajo Mysteries, I can't get too upset with what Anne Hillerman has done here. She's not a bad writer. But I was annoyed with some of her plot-decisions here: namely, tying the plot in closely with what happened in a previous book and introducing Bernie's little sister.
Now it's on to the last book as I wrap up my Hillerman journey! Rock with Wings is my next stop.
May 8, 2014
If you find yourself missing Hillerman country since the master died in 2008, take heart. His daughter Anne is continuing the series with good success in reviving their special flavor. That special mix of a puzzling mystery, showcasing the natural world of New Mexico and Native American spirituality, and colorful characters. She puts her own imprint on the formula by making Jim Chee's wife and fellow officer with the Navajo police, Bernadette Manuelito, the main character. She also adds more humor and sentimentality to the mix with her portrayal of Bernie's domestic life with Chee and her family.
The mystery here starts with Bernie witnessing her old boss and Chee's god, Joe Leaphorn, getting shot. As usual with violent crimes, the Navajo police have to work in the shadow of the FBI. Was this a crime of revenge for an old police case of Leaphorn's or the work of a more recent enemy? Unfortunately, he is in a coma and can't contribute to the case. They soon get on the trail of a case Leaphorn was recently working on as a private investigator having to do with the provenance of ancient pottery from the Chaco Canyon archeological site. A number of suspects come into focus, some of whom mysteriously disappear. As with Tony's books, the tale leans more toward a police procedural with a lot of charming human elements than an action based thriller.
It works well enough for me. A caveat is that the culprit was a bit eccentric and implausible with respect to motives. I expect the author will improve on this first outing. Previously she has done journalism with an anthropological focus, and after her father died in 2008, she wrote a tribute book combining plot synopses with lots of photos of the landscapes featured in his books.
The mystery here starts with Bernie witnessing her old boss and Chee's god, Joe Leaphorn, getting shot. As usual with violent crimes, the Navajo police have to work in the shadow of the FBI. Was this a crime of revenge for an old police case of Leaphorn's or the work of a more recent enemy? Unfortunately, he is in a coma and can't contribute to the case. They soon get on the trail of a case Leaphorn was recently working on as a private investigator having to do with the provenance of ancient pottery from the Chaco Canyon archeological site. A number of suspects come into focus, some of whom mysteriously disappear. As with Tony's books, the tale leans more toward a police procedural with a lot of charming human elements than an action based thriller.
It works well enough for me. A caveat is that the culprit was a bit eccentric and implausible with respect to motives. I expect the author will improve on this first outing. Previously she has done journalism with an anthropological focus, and after her father died in 2008, she wrote a tribute book combining plot synopses with lots of photos of the landscapes featured in his books.
March 18, 2023
This is my first Hillerman, father Tony, or daughter Anne book, although I have long enjoyed the Navajo (Dine') culture, to the extent that we have spent weeks in Navajoland on RV trips and I have a small collection of antique and more contemporary (1960's) Navajo rugs.
Legendary Inspector Joe Leaphorn has retired from the Navajo Nation Police Department but, nevertheless, attends their breakfast meetings to spend time with his ex-colleagues who are delighted and honored to welcome him. Just before one such breakfast, the Inspector has gotten out of his car when another car pulls up next to him, the driver immediately gets out and shoots Leaphorn in the head, jumps into their car and speeds off. The only real witness is Navajo Nation Police Officer Bernadette ¨Bernie¨ Manualito but she is far enough away that she misses many details.
Every Navajo is shocked to hear of the shooting since all have heard tales about or perhaps met Inspector Leaphorn. Bernie's memory of the incident isn't as clear as she feels it should be but, eventually, additional fragments come back to her. Since she was a witness, the only witness, to the shooting she is told, by her boss, to take some time off and not involve herself in the investigation. Knowing Bernie's character well, he has no real hope that she will refrain from involvement but he continues to remind her of his order.
Bernie's husband Chee, also a Navajo Nation Police officer and Inspector Leaphorn's protege, is put in charge of the investigation and, as one would expect, he cannot dissuade Bernie from participating.
Since the story is set in Navajoland and most of the characters are Navajo, the reader is exposed to a great deal of Navajo history and culture although, make no mistake, this is a mystery of the cop investigation variety. I mention the inclusion of Navajo stuff because that will make the book more fascinating for many, as it did for me. Or it will bog the reader down if such material is of no interest - that would be very shortsighted but also very true.
Hillerman grew up in New Mexico and through her studies, her direct exposure, and her father, learned about as much about the nature of being Navajo as anyone, not a Navajo. Now, clearly, that expresses my personal bias but, have I ever led you wrong? ..... Okay, except for those times.
Hillerman's style is straightforward and somewhat inelegant which is very appropriate to the setting and to the story. The characters are true to life, or so I am assuming because the Navajos that I have met didn't really show me much of their character. I was, after all, an outsider of the worst sort - a tourist.
One thing that I loved about the book was the memories that it evoked and, in fact, since finishing it, my wife and I have talked about taking another RV trip there. Since we now live in France, it will be a longer journey than when we lived in Texas or even Michigan.
This book is the 19th in the Leaphorn and Chee series but the first written by Anne Hillerman. It's the first that I have read and I thoroughly enjoyed it as a stand-alone book. You'll have to decide whether you want to read any of the preceding Tony Hillerman books.
Táá ákodí (if you've read any of my reviews, you know what this is)
Legendary Inspector Joe Leaphorn has retired from the Navajo Nation Police Department but, nevertheless, attends their breakfast meetings to spend time with his ex-colleagues who are delighted and honored to welcome him. Just before one such breakfast, the Inspector has gotten out of his car when another car pulls up next to him, the driver immediately gets out and shoots Leaphorn in the head, jumps into their car and speeds off. The only real witness is Navajo Nation Police Officer Bernadette ¨Bernie¨ Manualito but she is far enough away that she misses many details.
Every Navajo is shocked to hear of the shooting since all have heard tales about or perhaps met Inspector Leaphorn. Bernie's memory of the incident isn't as clear as she feels it should be but, eventually, additional fragments come back to her. Since she was a witness, the only witness, to the shooting she is told, by her boss, to take some time off and not involve herself in the investigation. Knowing Bernie's character well, he has no real hope that she will refrain from involvement but he continues to remind her of his order.
Bernie's husband Chee, also a Navajo Nation Police officer and Inspector Leaphorn's protege, is put in charge of the investigation and, as one would expect, he cannot dissuade Bernie from participating.
Since the story is set in Navajoland and most of the characters are Navajo, the reader is exposed to a great deal of Navajo history and culture although, make no mistake, this is a mystery of the cop investigation variety. I mention the inclusion of Navajo stuff because that will make the book more fascinating for many, as it did for me. Or it will bog the reader down if such material is of no interest - that would be very shortsighted but also very true.
Hillerman grew up in New Mexico and through her studies, her direct exposure, and her father, learned about as much about the nature of being Navajo as anyone, not a Navajo. Now, clearly, that expresses my personal bias but, have I ever led you wrong? ..... Okay, except for those times.
Hillerman's style is straightforward and somewhat inelegant which is very appropriate to the setting and to the story. The characters are true to life, or so I am assuming because the Navajos that I have met didn't really show me much of their character. I was, after all, an outsider of the worst sort - a tourist.
One thing that I loved about the book was the memories that it evoked and, in fact, since finishing it, my wife and I have talked about taking another RV trip there. Since we now live in France, it will be a longer journey than when we lived in Texas or even Michigan.
This book is the 19th in the Leaphorn and Chee series but the first written by Anne Hillerman. It's the first that I have read and I thoroughly enjoyed it as a stand-alone book. You'll have to decide whether you want to read any of the preceding Tony Hillerman books.
Táá ákodí (if you've read any of my reviews, you know what this is)
February 12, 2023
3.75 Stars
I absolutely loved the Dark Winds TV series which was based on the Leaphorn & Chee books by Tony Hillerman. SPIDER WOMAN'S DAUGHTER is the first of the series written by his daughter Anne after his death in 2008, and one that's been on my TBR stack for a while.
In this 19th addition to the series, married Navajo Nation police officers Chee and Manualito set out to solve the case of who shot their dear friend and mentor. (I don't know why the synopsis leaves out who the victim is, but I'll not mention names either.)
What I liked:
• Stunning Southwestern descriptions of the Navajo Nation.
• Realistic and genuine cast of characters.
• Strong and clever woman protagonist.
• Enjoyed learning about indigenous art, rugs, and pottery.
What wasn't my cup of tea:
• Mystery was hard to follow at times.
• Dozens of characters!
• The backstory of the mystery relied heavily on a previous book that I haven't read. Lots of mentions of this book, so I felt like I was missing something.
• Chee made a careless and seemingly uncharacteristic mistake toward the end.
Overall, this was an enjoyable and unique police procedural, and I'm looking forward to catching up with the series.
I absolutely loved the Dark Winds TV series which was based on the Leaphorn & Chee books by Tony Hillerman. SPIDER WOMAN'S DAUGHTER is the first of the series written by his daughter Anne after his death in 2008, and one that's been on my TBR stack for a while.
In this 19th addition to the series, married Navajo Nation police officers Chee and Manualito set out to solve the case of who shot their dear friend and mentor. (I don't know why the synopsis leaves out who the victim is, but I'll not mention names either.)
What I liked:
• Stunning Southwestern descriptions of the Navajo Nation.
• Realistic and genuine cast of characters.
• Strong and clever woman protagonist.
• Enjoyed learning about indigenous art, rugs, and pottery.
What wasn't my cup of tea:
• Mystery was hard to follow at times.
• Dozens of characters!
• The backstory of the mystery relied heavily on a previous book that I haven't read. Lots of mentions of this book, so I felt like I was missing something.
• Chee made a careless and seemingly uncharacteristic mistake toward the end.
Overall, this was an enjoyable and unique police procedural, and I'm looking forward to catching up with the series.
August 30, 2016
Tony Hillerman, after years of penning excellent mysteries featuring the thoughtful Lieutenant Joe Leaphorn and the impetuous Sergeant Jim Chee of the Navajo Tribal Police, ended his career with the inferior The Shape Shifter. Hillerman’s daughter, Anne Hillerman, continues the series with her first novel. I was doubtful about Spider Woman’s Daughter and the odds that a debut novelist could come close to matching the Edgar Award-winning author, but I’m happy to say that Anne Hillerman has returned the series to its former glory.
In the novel’s first few pages, an assailant shoots the retired Leaphorn and leaves the latter in a coma. Chee and his wife, fellow officer Bernadette Manuelito, unofficially cooperate in uncovering the identity and motive of the would-be murderer. The novel’s style varies only slightly from Tony Hillerman’s own; only a quibbler would bother to complain. Like her father, Anne Hillerman weaves Navajo customs, legends, and history throughout the novel, and I enjoyed learning about the remarkable Hosteen Klah and his weavings. And, as with so many of her father’s stories, Ms. Hillerman’s tale picks up threads from a previous Leaphorn-Chee novel, the Macavity Award-winning A Thief of Time, although you don’t have to have read A Thief of Time to understand and enjoy Spider Woman’s Daughter. Ms. Hillerman pens as suspenseful an ending as many of those of her Edgar Award-winning father.
I was initially disturbed that narrator George Guidall, who narrated all of the other Leaphorn and Chee books, wasn’t back on the Audible Audio Edition of this book; however, the new narrator did a competent enough job to resolve my resentment.
Spider Woman’s Daughter probably doesn’t rise to the level of Dance Hall of the Dead or Skinwalkers, but the novel is definitely worthy. I hope that Ms. Hillerman proves at least as prolific as her father, who wrote 18 novels. I highly recommend Spider Woman��s Daughter, both to longtime fans and those new to the series.
In the novel’s first few pages, an assailant shoots the retired Leaphorn and leaves the latter in a coma. Chee and his wife, fellow officer Bernadette Manuelito, unofficially cooperate in uncovering the identity and motive of the would-be murderer. The novel’s style varies only slightly from Tony Hillerman’s own; only a quibbler would bother to complain. Like her father, Anne Hillerman weaves Navajo customs, legends, and history throughout the novel, and I enjoyed learning about the remarkable Hosteen Klah and his weavings. And, as with so many of her father’s stories, Ms. Hillerman’s tale picks up threads from a previous Leaphorn-Chee novel, the Macavity Award-winning A Thief of Time, although you don’t have to have read A Thief of Time to understand and enjoy Spider Woman’s Daughter. Ms. Hillerman pens as suspenseful an ending as many of those of her Edgar Award-winning father.
I was initially disturbed that narrator George Guidall, who narrated all of the other Leaphorn and Chee books, wasn’t back on the Audible Audio Edition of this book; however, the new narrator did a competent enough job to resolve my resentment.
Spider Woman’s Daughter probably doesn’t rise to the level of Dance Hall of the Dead or Skinwalkers, but the novel is definitely worthy. I hope that Ms. Hillerman proves at least as prolific as her father, who wrote 18 novels. I highly recommend Spider Woman��s Daughter, both to longtime fans and those new to the series.
October 12, 2013
It was very enjoyable for me to read Spider Woman’s Daughter by Anne Hillerman. I was a big fan of the Joe Leaphorn and Jim Chee books written by Tony Hillerman (her late father). Since his death I have missed those two Navajo Nation police officers and the unique Navajo/Hopi culture in the Arizona/New Mexico area, which includes Window Rock in AZ and Gallup, Shiprock and Santa Fe in NM. Thankfully, Ms. Hillerman has produced a wonderful new Leaphorn and Chee story that enabled me to once again enmesh myself in another criminal investigation by the Navajo police and in that unique and fascinating culture. This book focuses on Sargent Jim Chee and especially on his wife, Officer Bernadette (Bernie) Manualito, who is also a Navajo Nation police officer. As Chee and Manualito investigate the shooting of one of their colleagues, Ms. Hillerman methodically takes them through a complex investigation that introduces the reader to many interesting characters and many intriguing aspects of the Navajo culture and the local environment. Chee and Manualito also endure violent physical attacks during their pursuit of the shooter. Ms. Hillerman adroitly resurrected the characters and the culture that her father had created. She also demonstrated the ability to produce an engrossing story with suspenseful action sequences and a satisfying conclusion. She has written a remarkable first novel. I recommend this book to anyone who appreciates mysteries/detective novels, and especially to those who enjoyed Tony Hillerman’s novels.
January 4, 2016
3.25★
This is a daughter’s first attempt to continue on with her father’s legacy; the stories surrounding the characters of Jim Chee, Lieutenant Joe Leaphorn, and Bernadette Manuelito. If you are a Tony Hillerman fan or love the four corners area of the the American Southwest and its rich Native American history I think you’ll enjoy this mystery. Well done Anne Hillerman. You did your dad proud and I enjoyed spending reading time with some of my favorite fictional characters again.
This is a daughter’s first attempt to continue on with her father’s legacy; the stories surrounding the characters of Jim Chee, Lieutenant Joe Leaphorn, and Bernadette Manuelito. If you are a Tony Hillerman fan or love the four corners area of the the American Southwest and its rich Native American history I think you’ll enjoy this mystery. Well done Anne Hillerman. You did your dad proud and I enjoyed spending reading time with some of my favorite fictional characters again.
October 28, 2013
As an author, I get the heebie-jeebies whenever I hear someone has decided to continue a series when the original author passes away. Authors - the good ones, at least - are not interchangeable.
Take the recent books written under the Robert B. Parker imprint. Not saying they're not good books, but they're not Robert Parker. Parker's voice was his own, and nobody else will ever completely capture it. IMHO, anyway.
That being said, I have to admit Anne Hillerman has done a creditable job of taking over where her dad, Tony, left off with the Navajo mystery series. I enjoyed Spider Woman's Daughter. It starts off with a bang (literally) and picks up speed from there.
So why only 3 stars? Well, I gave Hillerman's latter works 3 stars, too, simply because I prefer the first couple novels to the ones he wrote later. (Personal opinion, so take it or leave it.) I loved the voice of the first few, the way Hillerman seemed to capture the character of the Dineh in the language he used, the pace he set, the songs he included.
THAT being said, I never read a BAD Hillerman novel. Good writing is hard to come by these days, so I grab it with both hands wherever I find it, and I found it here. Burned my way through the whole series in just over a week. Pick up the Navajo mysteries. Start at the beginning with The Blessing Way and work your way forward. You won't be sorry.
Take the recent books written under the Robert B. Parker imprint. Not saying they're not good books, but they're not Robert Parker. Parker's voice was his own, and nobody else will ever completely capture it. IMHO, anyway.
That being said, I have to admit Anne Hillerman has done a creditable job of taking over where her dad, Tony, left off with the Navajo mystery series. I enjoyed Spider Woman's Daughter. It starts off with a bang (literally) and picks up speed from there.
So why only 3 stars? Well, I gave Hillerman's latter works 3 stars, too, simply because I prefer the first couple novels to the ones he wrote later. (Personal opinion, so take it or leave it.) I loved the voice of the first few, the way Hillerman seemed to capture the character of the Dineh in the language he used, the pace he set, the songs he included.
THAT being said, I never read a BAD Hillerman novel. Good writing is hard to come by these days, so I grab it with both hands wherever I find it, and I found it here. Burned my way through the whole series in just over a week. Pick up the Navajo mysteries. Start at the beginning with The Blessing Way and work your way forward. You won't be sorry.
February 11, 2014
I really wanted to like this book, and on certain levels I did.
Picking up someone else's legacy, even if that someone is your father, is a difficult undertaking. Anne Hillerman tackled the immensely daunting task of writing, as her debeut novel, the 19th book in a very popular series.
In the vast expanse that is the Leaphorn/Chee universe, I'd say Ms. Hillerman did as well as her father did on the last three novels, though the books which followed "The Wailing Wind" were not on par with Tony Hillerman's earlier works. But those are some big, big shoes to fill.
Anne Hillerman's style is different. It is not just a difference of technique of telling a story or a different point of view - she keeps the story centered around Bernie Manuelito - but her writing lacks the lyrical and poetic descriptions that filled her father's books, descriptions of the desert southwest that often filled me - still fill me - with a kind of melancholy joy. Tony Hillerman's books are painted with the beauty of the southwest, the characters a natural and organic part of that landscape, and that is missing from this book.
Anne Hillerman also lacks her father's gift at building and maintaining mystery. Even unseasoned mystery readers will figure out who the killer is long before any of the characters figure it out. As others have pointed out, the fact that Jim Chee, who has a well established history of having an excellent memory, seems incapable of remembering details and people from previous books. It is a little exasperating.
The ending is sadly unconvincing although thoroughly expected.
All that being said, this is not a bad book. The writing is OK, if not as skilled as her father's was, and does not suffer from a lack of editorial polish. If you are a Hillerman fan give it a read, but keep in mind, and make allowances for, Anne Hillerman's fledgling status. If she continues the series - and by all appearances this looks like that is the intention - and hones her craft this may well be a good series as it matures.
Picking up someone else's legacy, even if that someone is your father, is a difficult undertaking. Anne Hillerman tackled the immensely daunting task of writing, as her debeut novel, the 19th book in a very popular series.
In the vast expanse that is the Leaphorn/Chee universe, I'd say Ms. Hillerman did as well as her father did on the last three novels, though the books which followed "The Wailing Wind" were not on par with Tony Hillerman's earlier works. But those are some big, big shoes to fill.
Anne Hillerman's style is different. It is not just a difference of technique of telling a story or a different point of view - she keeps the story centered around Bernie Manuelito - but her writing lacks the lyrical and poetic descriptions that filled her father's books, descriptions of the desert southwest that often filled me - still fill me - with a kind of melancholy joy. Tony Hillerman's books are painted with the beauty of the southwest, the characters a natural and organic part of that landscape, and that is missing from this book.
Anne Hillerman also lacks her father's gift at building and maintaining mystery. Even unseasoned mystery readers will figure out who the killer is long before any of the characters figure it out. As others have pointed out, the fact that Jim Chee, who has a well established history of having an excellent memory, seems incapable of remembering details and people from previous books. It is a little exasperating.
The ending is sadly unconvincing although thoroughly expected.
All that being said, this is not a bad book. The writing is OK, if not as skilled as her father's was, and does not suffer from a lack of editorial polish. If you are a Hillerman fan give it a read, but keep in mind, and make allowances for, Anne Hillerman's fledgling status. If she continues the series - and by all appearances this looks like that is the intention - and hones her craft this may well be a good series as it matures.
July 30, 2018
3.5 stars. While not great, this is still enjoyable, as the story starts in a shocking way, and we follow Bernie Manuelito as she copes with the incident, and also attempts to find the culprit. I liked Bernie, and I also liked how, unlike many mysteries I've read, she's in a stable marriage, has a loving relationship with her mother, and is good at her job. Bernie also has concerns about her mother's health and her sister's behaviour, and a good portion of the book is devoted to how central family is to Bernie.
It's also great to see the members of the Navajo Nation Police work together, and gripe about the FBI. Speaking of which, the FBI agent in charge of the case is a creep, flirting repeatedly with Bernie.
I'm pretty sure I'll be checking out more Bernie Manuelito's cases.
It's also great to see the members of the Navajo Nation Police work together, and gripe about the FBI. Speaking of which, the FBI agent in charge of the case is a creep, flirting repeatedly with Bernie.
I'm pretty sure I'll be checking out more Bernie Manuelito's cases.
April 17, 2021
This is both the 19th book in a series and the first one. The author of the first series with these characters died and his daughter continued the series. I'm not sure how this is different as I haven't read the previous series but I did enjoy this story and would most likely continue on with this. I found the main character Bernadette to be quite the interesting characters and I'm interested to see where the story goes next. I think it don't matter too much that I started here but if I ever find the books written by Anne's father I would pick them up as well.
September 14, 2013
Although she has published a number of non-fiction books, Spider Woman's Daughter is Anne Hillerman's first novel. Some of you may know her as the daughter of Tony Hillerman, famous for his numerous mystery novels, set primarily in Arizona and New Mexico, describing the exploits of two Navajo Indian policemen, Joe Leaphorn and Jim Chee. Tony Hillerman died almost five years ago. It must have seemed an enormous and intimidating challenge for Anne to continue these stories. Tony Hillerman fans have been anxiously awaiting this book (publication date is Oct 1, 2013).
First impression? I thoroughly enjoyed Spider Woman's Daughter. I had no problem staying with it in spite of competing activities. When I finished reading it, it took me hours to gradually leave the world I experienced while reading her book and return to the here and now. Any novel that draws you into the author’s world that deeply has to be a good novel.
My experience in New Mexico certainly biased my enjoyment of this book. Her description of police road trips such as Shiprock to Santa Fe or into the Chaco ruins really hit home. My wife and I have also stayed in Santa Fe enough times to be familiar with the roads and places she described in that town. Anne Hillerman's detailed descriptions provide a very strong sense of place. Anyone who's experienced New Mexico will enjoy this book that much more.
I especially liked that Anne chose Bernie as the primary protagonist. I always enjoyed the banter between Jim Chee and Joe Leaphorn, but her focusing on Bernie and Chee’s relationship (they are both Navajo police, recently married) added a whole new and welcome dimension. Though some of her dad’s fans might be looking for just a continuation of his Chee/Leaphorn stories in this novel (a few early reviews confirm this), I was delighted that Anne chose your own path. She's managed to maintain the place and feel of her dad’s stories but has done so in her own voice with somewhat different emphases. I hope Bernie continues to be the main protagonist in future novels. I like her mom (traditional Navajo), and her younger sister (not so traditional) is certainly an interesting character. My guess is that Anne Hillerman will pick up a larger percentage of female readers than her dad. I hope so. She sends a good message to young women with respect to their role in what was once mostly a man’s world.
As a mystery novel, there were plenty of suspects, false leads, and unanswered questions. I’m not a huge mystery fan, per se, but I found Anne's plots intriguing and compelling. This novel is definitely a page-turner. She provides just enough information to let the reader do some sleuthing on their own, but not so much that the ending is self-evident. Lots of excitement and suspense as she closes in on the ending. The ending was just right, left a good feeling of closure and all-is-well, except for Joe Leaphorn’s fate, which might be the topic of another novel?
Her book will surely pleasure lots of readers. Congratulations, Anne, on a great first novel!
First impression? I thoroughly enjoyed Spider Woman's Daughter. I had no problem staying with it in spite of competing activities. When I finished reading it, it took me hours to gradually leave the world I experienced while reading her book and return to the here and now. Any novel that draws you into the author’s world that deeply has to be a good novel.
My experience in New Mexico certainly biased my enjoyment of this book. Her description of police road trips such as Shiprock to Santa Fe or into the Chaco ruins really hit home. My wife and I have also stayed in Santa Fe enough times to be familiar with the roads and places she described in that town. Anne Hillerman's detailed descriptions provide a very strong sense of place. Anyone who's experienced New Mexico will enjoy this book that much more.
I especially liked that Anne chose Bernie as the primary protagonist. I always enjoyed the banter between Jim Chee and Joe Leaphorn, but her focusing on Bernie and Chee’s relationship (they are both Navajo police, recently married) added a whole new and welcome dimension. Though some of her dad’s fans might be looking for just a continuation of his Chee/Leaphorn stories in this novel (a few early reviews confirm this), I was delighted that Anne chose your own path. She's managed to maintain the place and feel of her dad’s stories but has done so in her own voice with somewhat different emphases. I hope Bernie continues to be the main protagonist in future novels. I like her mom (traditional Navajo), and her younger sister (not so traditional) is certainly an interesting character. My guess is that Anne Hillerman will pick up a larger percentage of female readers than her dad. I hope so. She sends a good message to young women with respect to their role in what was once mostly a man’s world.
As a mystery novel, there were plenty of suspects, false leads, and unanswered questions. I’m not a huge mystery fan, per se, but I found Anne's plots intriguing and compelling. This novel is definitely a page-turner. She provides just enough information to let the reader do some sleuthing on their own, but not so much that the ending is self-evident. Lots of excitement and suspense as she closes in on the ending. The ending was just right, left a good feeling of closure and all-is-well, except for Joe Leaphorn’s fate, which might be the topic of another novel?
Her book will surely pleasure lots of readers. Congratulations, Anne, on a great first novel!
July 20, 2019
Years ago I enjoyed reading some of the Leaphorn and Chee novels. Anne Hillerman continued her father's series, beginning with this installment. Leaphorn spends most of the novel in the hospital with readers uncertain whether or not he'll survive an attempt on his life. Officer Bernadette "Bernie" Manuelito witnesses the incident and is placed on administrative leave. Her husband Jim Chee is put in charge of the Navajo side of the investigation with the FBI in charge of the case. As they puzzle through Leaphorn's computer and other case files to seek someone with a grudge, attention focuses on an appraisal Leaphorn performed for the AIRC in Santa Fe--mostly because a report that should have arrived did not. When it did show up, parts of the report were missing. Although the "whodunit" was fairly obvious, I still enjoyed the book. I listened to the audio book, and I appreciated the cadence of the narrator's voice which seemed to work well with the Navajo nation setting. I now want to re-read/read the older series as well as forge ahead with Anne's extension of it. (3.5 stars)
March 14, 2016
I am always skeptical when another author continues a series. The original author in this instance is Tony Hillerman and the series is Leaphorn and Chee. There were 18 novels featuring Lt. Joe Leaphorn and Sgt. Jim Chee of the Navajo Tribal Police. The settings are usually in the Four Corners area of New Mexico and Arizona. However, the author who is continuing the series is his daughter Anne Hillerman. Another factor that I thought added something to her continuing the series is that the central character in Spider Woman's Daughter is Navajo Nation Police Officer Bernadette Manualito, wife of Jim Chee.
The story opens with Police Officer Bernadette "Bernie" Manualito witnessing the cold blooded shooting of Lt. Joe Leaphorn. Bernie swears she’ll find the person responsible but as a witness is removed from the case and is relegated to finding Leaphorn’s family. Jim Chee is put in charge, but he knows very well that Bernie won’t stand aside, especially when someone she considers an “uncle” is the victim. As the investigation progresses Bernie and Jim discover that an old case Lt. Joe Leaphorn worked on may hold clues to his shooting. A "ghost" from the past. Elements from A Thief of Time play a part in this story.
This is Anne Hillerman first work of fiction and I found the literary style somewhat lacking. Or maybe I was just biased from having read several of Tony Hillerman's novels? That is one of the problems with continuing another author's series / characters. The spiritual elements prominent in previous Leaphorn-Chee books are not as evident here. On the positive side is Bernie herself, a young Native American balancing her heritage and family obligations with the demands her job. The author also does an admirable job of describing the locale, especially Chaco Canyon. Several times I envisioned being in New Mexico and seeing the landscape Bernie and Jim saw. I plan to read her next novel Rock with Wings
The story opens with Police Officer Bernadette "Bernie" Manualito witnessing the cold blooded shooting of Lt. Joe Leaphorn. Bernie swears she’ll find the person responsible but as a witness is removed from the case and is relegated to finding Leaphorn’s family. Jim Chee is put in charge, but he knows very well that Bernie won’t stand aside, especially when someone she considers an “uncle” is the victim. As the investigation progresses Bernie and Jim discover that an old case Lt. Joe Leaphorn worked on may hold clues to his shooting. A "ghost" from the past. Elements from A Thief of Time play a part in this story.
This is Anne Hillerman first work of fiction and I found the literary style somewhat lacking. Or maybe I was just biased from having read several of Tony Hillerman's novels? That is one of the problems with continuing another author's series / characters. The spiritual elements prominent in previous Leaphorn-Chee books are not as evident here. On the positive side is Bernie herself, a young Native American balancing her heritage and family obligations with the demands her job. The author also does an admirable job of describing the locale, especially Chaco Canyon. Several times I envisioned being in New Mexico and seeing the landscape Bernie and Jim saw. I plan to read her next novel Rock with Wings
October 20, 2013
I loved all of Tony Hillerman's books, but like every mystery writer, the early ones were better than the later ones. Still, I never tired of Joe Leaphorn and Jim Chee and the rest of the Navajo Tribal Police in Hillerman's world. He was at his best describing the scenery of Northwestern New Mexico, from the terrible roads to the glorious sunsets. His daughter Anne takes up where her father left off. Chee and Leaphorn are back, but this book focuses on Mrs. Jim Chee, Bernadette Manuelito. We get a glimpse of Manuelito's family, especially her mother. Anne Hillerman lives in Santa Fe, and I love Santa Fe and visit there at least twice a year. Much of the action takes place in that city, and I very much enjoyed the fact that she uses real places that I recognized.
The plot is logical and organized, and she managed to conceal the perpetrator until two-thirds of the way through the book. There is enough suspense to please those who like scary books, but most of the book is a traditional whodunit. I won't spoil the plot, so I can't discuss specifics. She does achieve the remarkable feat of getting a character trapped without a cell phone in an unforced and logical manner. I highly recommend.
The plot is logical and organized, and she managed to conceal the perpetrator until two-thirds of the way through the book. There is enough suspense to please those who like scary books, but most of the book is a traditional whodunit. I won't spoil the plot, so I can't discuss specifics. She does achieve the remarkable feat of getting a character trapped without a cell phone in an unforced and logical manner. I highly recommend.
November 14, 2013
Disappointing. Avoid.
Mild spoilers follow.
Although advertised on the cover as a Chee and Leaphorn novel this is in fact a Bernie Manuelito novel. Chee is reduced for much of the novel to a series of loving platitudes and Leaphorn is comatose. Much of the dialogue is clichéd, the plot unoriginal and at times incredible.
In the Tony Hillerman novels the conflict between the Navajo way and the modern way of the white culture surrounding Dinétah (the Navajo homeland) provides the moral core of the novels, and often the conclusion of the novels is an attempt by Chee and/or Leaphorn to stake out a middle ground between the two that is acceptable to both. Anne Hillerman's insights into Navajo culture, however, feel secondhand and tacked on. She has clearly read all of her father's novels since she constantly makes reference to them, but she either lacks her father's empathy for the Navajo people, or lacks the skill to express it.
The final unintended irony is that the plot of Spider Woman's Daughter revolves around some faked Anasazi art works. As there, those familiar with Tony Hillerman's novels will be able to tell the difference.
Mild spoilers follow.
Although advertised on the cover as a Chee and Leaphorn novel this is in fact a Bernie Manuelito novel. Chee is reduced for much of the novel to a series of loving platitudes and Leaphorn is comatose. Much of the dialogue is clichéd, the plot unoriginal and at times incredible.
In the Tony Hillerman novels the conflict between the Navajo way and the modern way of the white culture surrounding Dinétah (the Navajo homeland) provides the moral core of the novels, and often the conclusion of the novels is an attempt by Chee and/or Leaphorn to stake out a middle ground between the two that is acceptable to both. Anne Hillerman's insights into Navajo culture, however, feel secondhand and tacked on. She has clearly read all of her father's novels since she constantly makes reference to them, but she either lacks her father's empathy for the Navajo people, or lacks the skill to express it.
The final unintended irony is that the plot of Spider Woman's Daughter revolves around some faked Anasazi art works. As there, those familiar with Tony Hillerman's novels will be able to tell the difference.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 12, 2014
Very near the end of this novel, Bernadette Manuelito says something to the effect of "I should have seen this a lot earlier." I'm sure I wasn't the only one who read that and thought "Yeah. No shit, Sherlock."
The basic plot is this: in the first chapter Bernie watches as Leaphorn is shot in the parking lot of a coffee shop. She isn't able to identify the shooter because the shooter was wearing a hoodie. But she sees that the shooter is about 5'2" tall and is wearing a silver bracelet. Just to be clear, Hilllerman shoots Leaphorn in the head _in the first chapter_, so you can forget about any ideas you might have of this being a Leaphorn/Chee novel. That's a major negative for me, because I always found Leaphorn to be the more interesting character.
Bernie is given administrative leave, and Chee is put in charge of the case (though nothing in the rest of the novel would suggest that he was actually "in charge" of anything except doing various scut work assigned by his boss). But, naturally, Bernie stays involved in the case, so we can enjoy the always pleasant banter between her and her husband Chee.
Since Bernie had definitively identified the shooter as being 5'2" the police (including Bernie and Chee) naturally named as their suspect someone who is 5'8". Naturally! And since Louisa, Leaphorn's longtime companion, left town on the morning of the shooting, she also became a suspect. Of course!
Meanwhile, Bernie meets the actual shooter, who gives her all sorts of clues that anyone who had been paying attention would have been able to connect the dots. But not Bernie. The reader, yes. Bernie, and later Chee, seem completely oblivous.
If all that weren't enough to ruin the novel, we have the following:
1. Truly irrelevant and boring detail. For example, the succession of buildings and businesses when entering some town between Shiprock and Santa Fe; a description of various people in a hospital waiting room; tedious coffee shop discussion.
2. A completely implausible chance encounter at a national monument that leads to the discovery of the murder of someone who was peripherally involved in the Leaphorn shooting. Deus ex machina!
3. A pointless side-plot about Bernie's alcoholic sister and aged mother, replete with an extra character "Stoop Boy" who is introduced into the story, given a possibly interesting backstory, and then dropped altogether.
Overall, though I'm happy enough that Hillerman is continuing her father's series, this was pretty disappointing. Maybe the next one (if there is a next one) will be better. We can hope.
The basic plot is this: in the first chapter Bernie watches as Leaphorn is shot in the parking lot of a coffee shop. She isn't able to identify the shooter because the shooter was wearing a hoodie. But she sees that the shooter is about 5'2" tall and is wearing a silver bracelet. Just to be clear, Hilllerman shoots Leaphorn in the head _in the first chapter_, so you can forget about any ideas you might have of this being a Leaphorn/Chee novel. That's a major negative for me, because I always found Leaphorn to be the more interesting character.
Bernie is given administrative leave, and Chee is put in charge of the case (though nothing in the rest of the novel would suggest that he was actually "in charge" of anything except doing various scut work assigned by his boss). But, naturally, Bernie stays involved in the case, so we can enjoy the always pleasant banter between her and her husband Chee.
Since Bernie had definitively identified the shooter as being 5'2" the police (including Bernie and Chee) naturally named as their suspect someone who is 5'8". Naturally! And since Louisa, Leaphorn's longtime companion, left town on the morning of the shooting, she also became a suspect. Of course!
Meanwhile, Bernie meets the actual shooter, who gives her all sorts of clues that anyone who had been paying attention would have been able to connect the dots. But not Bernie. The reader, yes. Bernie, and later Chee, seem completely oblivous.
If all that weren't enough to ruin the novel, we have the following:
1. Truly irrelevant and boring detail. For example, the succession of buildings and businesses when entering some town between Shiprock and Santa Fe; a description of various people in a hospital waiting room; tedious coffee shop discussion.
2. A completely implausible chance encounter at a national monument that leads to the discovery of the murder of someone who was peripherally involved in the Leaphorn shooting. Deus ex machina!
3. A pointless side-plot about Bernie's alcoholic sister and aged mother, replete with an extra character "Stoop Boy" who is introduced into the story, given a possibly interesting backstory, and then dropped altogether.
Overall, though I'm happy enough that Hillerman is continuing her father's series, this was pretty disappointing. Maybe the next one (if there is a next one) will be better. We can hope.
February 3, 2015
Maybe 3.5 stars
It's been a few years since I re-read one of my Tony Hillerman novels so it's hard to accurately compare her style and his. From what I recall of his, based on this book she's more emotional, more about the personal lives of the characters. Once I adjusted my expectations, I enjoyed the story and investigation. Parts of the mystery I figured out early on and parts not at all. I loved the descriptions of the countryside and the atmosphere of the setting was perfect. I felt as if I there were.
Leaphorn himself is a minor character as he spends most of the story injured and in the hospital. The story is told from the POV of Jim Chee and his wife Bernie Manuelito. Hillerman uses the shooting to give us more insight into both of them as well as Leaphorn, and we learn quite a but about them. The story is not only a mystery but a character study and even a bit of a love letter to Leaphorn.
The narrator was fantastic. She was a bit better at the womens voices than the mens but she did a superb job of differentiating each character. It was easy to tell who was speaking by her voice and inflections.
"Spider Woman's Daughter" was a solid, engaging story that has brought me back to the series after being away for years.
It's been a few years since I re-read one of my Tony Hillerman novels so it's hard to accurately compare her style and his. From what I recall of his, based on this book she's more emotional, more about the personal lives of the characters. Once I adjusted my expectations, I enjoyed the story and investigation. Parts of the mystery I figured out early on and parts not at all. I loved the descriptions of the countryside and the atmosphere of the setting was perfect. I felt as if I there were.
Leaphorn himself is a minor character as he spends most of the story injured and in the hospital. The story is told from the POV of Jim Chee and his wife Bernie Manuelito. Hillerman uses the shooting to give us more insight into both of them as well as Leaphorn, and we learn quite a but about them. The story is not only a mystery but a character study and even a bit of a love letter to Leaphorn.
The narrator was fantastic. She was a bit better at the womens voices than the mens but she did a superb job of differentiating each character. It was easy to tell who was speaking by her voice and inflections.
"Spider Woman's Daughter" was a solid, engaging story that has brought me back to the series after being away for years.
June 30, 2019
This is my introduction to this series begun by the author’s father, Tony Hillerman. Anne Hillerman’s Spider Woman’s Daughter (Leaphorn & Chee #19) continues with the characters who were created by her father and beloved by many. I now count myself as a devotee of these skillfully written characters who were (Leaphorn-retired) and are (Chee) members of the Navajo Nation Police Force along with Bernadette Manuelito (Chee’s wife) who is also an officer of the Navajo Nation Police Force. The author does not wait to involve, deeply involve, the reader as on page 3, there is a shooting which Bernie Manuelito sees, and she is the only witness. Bernie races to the crumpled victim immediately checking for his pulse. She finds one and begins to whisper in Navajo, “Stay with me.” to the dear friend and respected older member of the Navajo Nation Police Force. The author provides Native American lore and spiritualism, descriptions of the geographical location-Four Corners-of which the author includes New Mexico, Colorado, and Arizona, and archeology of Native American artifacts. A gripping read! 5 stars.
March 25, 2023
Pretty interesting story involving Navajo reservation cops, attempted murder and the manhunt for whoever was responsible. I'm new to the series, but I didn't have to have read previous books to enjoy.
January 30, 2015
While continuing the characters and settings from Tony Hillerman’s books, Anne Hillerman has her own style and voice as a writer. I didn’t feel as if I was reading one of her father’s books, but I felt fully at home with her mastery of the series. She has the understanding of Navajo culture that’s central to the stories, and she knows the characters well. Jim Chee, Joe Leaphorn and Bernie Manuelito are familiar and fully developed, with touches ranging from Chee’s off-beat humor to Joe Leaphorn’s meticulously detailed little notebook to Chee and Bernie’s deep spirituality. Even the secondary characters like Captain Largo are immediately recognizable as the same people from the earlier part of the series.
The setting is portrayed vividly— the land, the cities, the small towns, and the people. Accurate details and human touches make the places come alive. The bone-jarring washboard roads going to Chaco Canyon have livestock wandering them. A local can’t give directions for driving in downtown Santa Fe. The groundskeeper Mark Yazzie, a minor character, stood out as delightfully real and original. The tenacious and amusingly ferocious Gloria Benally is another unforgettable supporting character. Even if I weren’t a New Mexican, I think Hillerman’s writing would make me hear the voices, feel the air and see and smell the place, from the plants in Santa Fe gardens to the hot wind in June before the rains come.
This book kept me awake at night reading it, and I found myself thinking about it between times, wondering what would happen next. The suspense is effectively structured, but it’s depth of the relationships that make the story powerful. Bernie’s dedication isn’t just to her job, but to people, and that dedication drives the story.
It was intriguing to see characters from Tony Hillerman’s A Thief of Time come back. I hadn’t read it for a long time, and think it would have been fun to re-read it before entering this story, but I’m going to rediscover it after instead.
The setting is portrayed vividly— the land, the cities, the small towns, and the people. Accurate details and human touches make the places come alive. The bone-jarring washboard roads going to Chaco Canyon have livestock wandering them. A local can’t give directions for driving in downtown Santa Fe. The groundskeeper Mark Yazzie, a minor character, stood out as delightfully real and original. The tenacious and amusingly ferocious Gloria Benally is another unforgettable supporting character. Even if I weren’t a New Mexican, I think Hillerman’s writing would make me hear the voices, feel the air and see and smell the place, from the plants in Santa Fe gardens to the hot wind in June before the rains come.
This book kept me awake at night reading it, and I found myself thinking about it between times, wondering what would happen next. The suspense is effectively structured, but it’s depth of the relationships that make the story powerful. Bernie’s dedication isn’t just to her job, but to people, and that dedication drives the story.
It was intriguing to see characters from Tony Hillerman’s A Thief of Time come back. I hadn’t read it for a long time, and think it would have been fun to re-read it before entering this story, but I’m going to rediscover it after instead.
November 19, 2013
Well, I was in tears as I finished this book and read the acknowledgements at the end. What the tears were about I'm not sure; maybe joy that a series I loved has come alive once again, or that "the one who was shot" is still alive. Or maybe it was sadness that I am again leaving behind the world of Joe Leaphorn, Jim Chee, and Bernadette Manuelito, although hopefully not for good, as I thought had happened after the death of Tony Hillerman, the wonderful author who created this series. Or maybe it was just the poignancy of the words of Anne Hillerman as she discussed why she is picking up this series following the death of her father. Whatever the reason, I loved this book and the opportunity to read of these characters once again. Ms. Hillerman has done an excellent job at picking up and further developing these characters, of continuing her father's weaving of Navaho beliefs and culture into the story, and of incorporating events from past books in the series. As with many inexperienced writer of fiction, this author seems to rush a little as the book nears the end and the mystery is resolved. As more skill with fiction is developed I hope to see the ending a little better timed and plotted.
Tony Hillerman had such a talent for writing vivid descriptions of the southwest landscape that I could feel I was there, and for a first time novelist, Ms. Hillerman does quite well with this as well. As she continues to write, I hope that her skill at this kind of writing will approach the level of her father's as well.
There is a line near the end of this book as Jim Chee discusses what Joe Leaphorn has meant in his life: he says that Leaphorn taught him "how to walk in beauty despite the evil and disharmony that the world gives us". I hope to read more of these wonderful characters as the series continues.
Tony Hillerman had such a talent for writing vivid descriptions of the southwest landscape that I could feel I was there, and for a first time novelist, Ms. Hillerman does quite well with this as well. As she continues to write, I hope that her skill at this kind of writing will approach the level of her father's as well.
There is a line near the end of this book as Jim Chee discusses what Joe Leaphorn has meant in his life: he says that Leaphorn taught him "how to walk in beauty despite the evil and disharmony that the world gives us". I hope to read more of these wonderful characters as the series continues.
August 21, 2014
I was going to give this book 2 stars but decided I was allowing the narration of the audiobook to unduly influence my impression of the book.
I think Anne Hillerman did a good job of continuing her father's series. I liked that she chose to write it from the point of view of a female character. Write what you know best. The information about Navajo pottery and weaving, as well as the Navajo traditions surrounding death was quite informative and interesting.
I was a little lost in the story line. I'm not sure if it was the fact that I prefer something meatier, or if I was so focused on the narrator's performance, that I missed it. Perhaps it was a bit of both. There was a sub-plot with Bernie's mother and sister that took quite a bit of bandwidth, yet was never resolved. I wondered if this story line is to continue in the series. It seemed that there was more plot devoted to Bernie's personal life than to the mystery of who shot Leaphorn.
The biggest downfall in the audiobook was the narration. It was unfortunate that the narrator attempted to use Navajo accents. She made the characters sound uneducated with the halting, stilted speech you hear actors affect in the old westerns. One reviewer on Audible stated that he was Native American from Sante Fe, New Mexico (the setting of the book) and that the narration was almost offensive.
The other problem with her narration was enunciation. Instead of pronouncing the name Chee as it's spelt, she pronounced it "she". I thought she was reading, "She said..." instead of "Chee said..." I thought she was speaking as a female. Very confusing.
I wish I had read the book in print format. I may have enjoyed it better. I still could since I have the Kindle version, but I will give it a pass. Why have hamburger when I could have steak?
I think Anne Hillerman did a good job of continuing her father's series. I liked that she chose to write it from the point of view of a female character. Write what you know best. The information about Navajo pottery and weaving, as well as the Navajo traditions surrounding death was quite informative and interesting.
I was a little lost in the story line. I'm not sure if it was the fact that I prefer something meatier, or if I was so focused on the narrator's performance, that I missed it. Perhaps it was a bit of both. There was a sub-plot with Bernie's mother and sister that took quite a bit of bandwidth, yet was never resolved. I wondered if this story line is to continue in the series. It seemed that there was more plot devoted to Bernie's personal life than to the mystery of who shot Leaphorn.
The biggest downfall in the audiobook was the narration. It was unfortunate that the narrator attempted to use Navajo accents. She made the characters sound uneducated with the halting, stilted speech you hear actors affect in the old westerns. One reviewer on Audible stated that he was Native American from Sante Fe, New Mexico (the setting of the book) and that the narration was almost offensive.
The other problem with her narration was enunciation. Instead of pronouncing the name Chee as it's spelt, she pronounced it "she". I thought she was reading, "She said..." instead of "Chee said..." I thought she was speaking as a female. Very confusing.
I wish I had read the book in print format. I may have enjoyed it better. I still could since I have the Kindle version, but I will give it a pass. Why have hamburger when I could have steak?
March 1, 2014
Tony Hillerman was and still remains my all-time favorite author. His books were introduced to me by an anthropology professor I had in college. I loved them from the minute I picked up Coyote Wind. I immediately devoured every single one of his books. When Hillerman passed away, I was saddened at his passing and at the thought I would never get to read about the adventures of Lt. Joe Leaphorn, Jim Chee, Bernie Manuelito, and the many other wonderful characters that populated these mysteries situated in the southwest.
It was with much joy when I heard that Tony's daughter was going to pick up the torch and continue the stories of these much beloved characters. At first, I was skeptical that anyone could duplicate the tone, richness, and depth of Mr. Hillerman, but his daughter has done a wonderful job of keeping the legacy alive. It was truly wonderful being immersed once again into the world of these characters and the incredible world they inhabit. Like her father, Anne has a great feel for the these characters and the surrounding land they are a part of. The descriptions of the land and surrounding areas are descriptive and evocative. She understands these characters and who they are. She hasn't reconfigured Jim, Bernie, and others which would have been a sacrilege to the many legions of fans of Mr. Hillerman.
She also hasn't skimped on the central mystery which twist and turns until the end. What sets this story off is a shooting in a restaurant parking lot. Who gets shot won't be revealed by me, but it helps propel the story forward as the mystery of who and why deepens and widens. The book is only 300 pages in length, but I loved being back in this world. I hope Ms. Hillerman picks up a pen and continues the adventures of these characters I love.
It was with much joy when I heard that Tony's daughter was going to pick up the torch and continue the stories of these much beloved characters. At first, I was skeptical that anyone could duplicate the tone, richness, and depth of Mr. Hillerman, but his daughter has done a wonderful job of keeping the legacy alive. It was truly wonderful being immersed once again into the world of these characters and the incredible world they inhabit. Like her father, Anne has a great feel for the these characters and the surrounding land they are a part of. The descriptions of the land and surrounding areas are descriptive and evocative. She understands these characters and who they are. She hasn't reconfigured Jim, Bernie, and others which would have been a sacrilege to the many legions of fans of Mr. Hillerman.
She also hasn't skimped on the central mystery which twist and turns until the end. What sets this story off is a shooting in a restaurant parking lot. Who gets shot won't be revealed by me, but it helps propel the story forward as the mystery of who and why deepens and widens. The book is only 300 pages in length, but I loved being back in this world. I hope Ms. Hillerman picks up a pen and continues the adventures of these characters I love.
August 1, 2014
Had this been written as a first novel without claiming that they were a continuation of Tony Hillerman’s Leaphorn and Chee novels, I would have probably rated it higher. This book had no beautifully described landscape, no rich characters, and no interesting mystery to be solved that we were so accustomed to in Tony Hillerman’s books. The characters in Spider Woman’s Daughter are cartoon-like, especially the “killer”.
I don’t really understand why the author decided to butcher the characters of Leaphorn and Chee. Joe Leaphorn is shoved into the background early in the book and then only referred to occasionally. As for Jim Chee – what on earth happened to him? This author made him a whiney lapdog for his rough and tough wife. His constant use of terms of endearment and rushing home to cook were cringe-worthy. The dialog between those two was laughable, and she decided to add jealous husband to his list of character traits. He is also shoved into the background as his wife Bernadette Manuelito is the focus of this book. Her character is rather bland and boring with no sense of a deep heritage I expected.
I received this book in exchange for an honest review.
I don’t really understand why the author decided to butcher the characters of Leaphorn and Chee. Joe Leaphorn is shoved into the background early in the book and then only referred to occasionally. As for Jim Chee – what on earth happened to him? This author made him a whiney lapdog for his rough and tough wife. His constant use of terms of endearment and rushing home to cook were cringe-worthy. The dialog between those two was laughable, and she decided to add jealous husband to his list of character traits. He is also shoved into the background as his wife Bernadette Manuelito is the focus of this book. Her character is rather bland and boring with no sense of a deep heritage I expected.
I received this book in exchange for an honest review.
March 5, 2014
I love this book and am so grateful to Anne Hillerman for continuing the life of her father's characters. Tony Hillerman created memorable characters in Leaphorn, Chee and Bernadette Manuelito. I read everything he wrote and hope that the stories will continue with Anne in the future.
December 18, 2013
This is a wonderful continuation of her father's (Tony Hillerman)Leaphorn & Chee series. It felt like comfort food. It fits beautifully.
October 6, 2013
Originally published at Reading Reality
Navajo Nation Police Officer Bernadette “Bernie” Manuelito witnesses the shooting of the “legendary” retired Lieutenant Joe Leaphorn while she is talking on the phone with her husband, Officer Jim Chee. Bernie sees a slim white figure conceal a gun and drive away in a battered blue truck as she rushes to the aid of the fallen father figure of the Navajo Nation Police.
If the opening scene of this story isn’t a metaphor for the way that Anne Hillerman is bringing back her own late father’s evocative mystery series following the cases of Joe Leaphorn and Jim Chee, I’ll eat my own hat.
Instead of following Leaphorn and Chee, with Leaphorn in the hospital in Santa Fe clinging to life, we follow Bernie and Chee, but primarily, and this is where Anne takes the series and makes it her own, we follow Bernie. This allows the author to show us a perspective on life in the Four Corners that is different from what we saw in the earlier series that started with The Blessing Way and ended with The Shape Shifter.
Although Bernie is an officer in the Navajo Nation Police, just as her husband is, she also has more traditional roles to play as her mother’s oldest daughter and as the older sister of a young woman who may be falling into alcoholism.
The case is a troubling one, and it’s one that Bernie is not supposed to be working on. Seeing a fellow officer gunned down is a traumatic experience. Feeling that if you had been just a few seconds faster you might have prevented the whole sad business leads to an endless cycle of “what ifs”.
And it’s not as if there aren’t plenty of potential suspects. Leaphorn had a long and successful career with the Navajo Nation Police before he became a private investigator. Like any good cop, he put away a lot of bad guys, any of whom might want some payback. Or the shooting might be related to one of his current investigations.
Or it might be a random cop killer.
The worst part of the whole investigation is that the person that every single officer in the Navajo Nation Police usually takes their thorniest cases to is the one man who can’t help them this time. It’s up to Bernie and Chee to discover how well the “legendary” Lieutenant’s lessons have stuck.
Escape Rating A+: Striking Leaphorn down at the beginning of Spider Woman’s Daughter was a brilliant move on the author’s part; it clearly hands the reins of the case, and the series, over to Bernie (and Anne). Even though the case turns out to be rooted in Leaphorn’s past, the perspective on solving it needs to be different and new.
There’s definitely a new sheriff in town and she’s got one hell of a mystery to solve. Bernie (and the reader) are sure from the beginning that it isn’t any of the easy suspects that the other cops go after. Figuring out who the would-be killer really is (and why they did it) takes the reader on the investigation of Bernie’s life. This one keeps everyone guessing up until the very end.
And Bernie has to juggle her two roles in a way that neither Leaphorn nor Chee ever did. Leaphorn was a skeptic about many traditional beliefs, and Chee tried to straddle two worlds, but not in the way of being sandwiched by caring for actual individuals. Bernie’s need to both be “all officer” on the job and still be “traditional daughter” for her mother is a role-split that faces women much more often than men in any culture.
I can’t help but think there is some wish fulfillment on the part of the author at the very end of the story. And I understand.
Navajo Nation Police Officer Bernadette “Bernie” Manuelito witnesses the shooting of the “legendary” retired Lieutenant Joe Leaphorn while she is talking on the phone with her husband, Officer Jim Chee. Bernie sees a slim white figure conceal a gun and drive away in a battered blue truck as she rushes to the aid of the fallen father figure of the Navajo Nation Police.
If the opening scene of this story isn’t a metaphor for the way that Anne Hillerman is bringing back her own late father’s evocative mystery series following the cases of Joe Leaphorn and Jim Chee, I’ll eat my own hat.
Instead of following Leaphorn and Chee, with Leaphorn in the hospital in Santa Fe clinging to life, we follow Bernie and Chee, but primarily, and this is where Anne takes the series and makes it her own, we follow Bernie. This allows the author to show us a perspective on life in the Four Corners that is different from what we saw in the earlier series that started with The Blessing Way and ended with The Shape Shifter.
Although Bernie is an officer in the Navajo Nation Police, just as her husband is, she also has more traditional roles to play as her mother’s oldest daughter and as the older sister of a young woman who may be falling into alcoholism.
The case is a troubling one, and it’s one that Bernie is not supposed to be working on. Seeing a fellow officer gunned down is a traumatic experience. Feeling that if you had been just a few seconds faster you might have prevented the whole sad business leads to an endless cycle of “what ifs”.
And it’s not as if there aren’t plenty of potential suspects. Leaphorn had a long and successful career with the Navajo Nation Police before he became a private investigator. Like any good cop, he put away a lot of bad guys, any of whom might want some payback. Or the shooting might be related to one of his current investigations.
Or it might be a random cop killer.
The worst part of the whole investigation is that the person that every single officer in the Navajo Nation Police usually takes their thorniest cases to is the one man who can’t help them this time. It’s up to Bernie and Chee to discover how well the “legendary” Lieutenant’s lessons have stuck.
Escape Rating A+: Striking Leaphorn down at the beginning of Spider Woman’s Daughter was a brilliant move on the author’s part; it clearly hands the reins of the case, and the series, over to Bernie (and Anne). Even though the case turns out to be rooted in Leaphorn’s past, the perspective on solving it needs to be different and new.
There’s definitely a new sheriff in town and she’s got one hell of a mystery to solve. Bernie (and the reader) are sure from the beginning that it isn’t any of the easy suspects that the other cops go after. Figuring out who the would-be killer really is (and why they did it) takes the reader on the investigation of Bernie’s life. This one keeps everyone guessing up until the very end.
And Bernie has to juggle her two roles in a way that neither Leaphorn nor Chee ever did. Leaphorn was a skeptic about many traditional beliefs, and Chee tried to straddle two worlds, but not in the way of being sandwiched by caring for actual individuals. Bernie’s need to both be “all officer” on the job and still be “traditional daughter” for her mother is a role-split that faces women much more often than men in any culture.
I can’t help but think there is some wish fulfillment on the part of the author at the very end of the story. And I understand.
April 16, 2018
I've been a big fan of Tony Hillerman's mystery novels ever since I first discovered them 20-something years ago. My grandparents were living in Sante Fe at the time, and the whole family started reading the novels. I quickly devoured the whole series.
I was thus a little leery of reading "Spider Woman's Daughter," a continuation of the series by Hillerman's daughter Anne. Later writers so rarely manage to live up to the standard set by the original author of an iconic series.
However, "Spider Woman's Daughter" proves to be a happy exception to that rule. Anne Hillerman has her father's knack for atmosphere, setting, and evoking a foreign yet familiar culture. As I am reading this entirely from the outside, as it were, I can't speak with too much authority about the actual authenticity of the Hillermans' depiction of Navajo culture, but it certainly *feels" authentic to someone who spends a lot of time reading about and studying other cultures.
This is probably a good time to dive into the issue of cultural appropriation, which I'm sure some people are going to raise. Is it okay for someone who is not Navajo to make a lot of money writing about Navajo characters and Navajo culture? Some might say "No," but most of what I know about Navajo culture, and most of the positive feelings I have towards Navajo culture and Native Americans in general, come from reading these books. Translators serve an important purpose, and one could argue that what Tony Hillerman and now his daughter Anne are doing is acting as translators of a sort, bringing Navajo culture to the wider, English-speaking world.
Anyway, fans of the original novels are likely to enjoy "Spider Woman's Daughter" as well. It is not, however, just a copy of Hillerman pere's work; Anne Hillerman brings her own fresh voice to the series, focusing more on female cop Bernie Manuelito and the women's side of Navajo culture. Certainly worth reading if you are already a fan, and also worth checking out if you want to read some mystery that's a little bit different from a lot of the mainstream fare out there.
I was thus a little leery of reading "Spider Woman's Daughter," a continuation of the series by Hillerman's daughter Anne. Later writers so rarely manage to live up to the standard set by the original author of an iconic series.
However, "Spider Woman's Daughter" proves to be a happy exception to that rule. Anne Hillerman has her father's knack for atmosphere, setting, and evoking a foreign yet familiar culture. As I am reading this entirely from the outside, as it were, I can't speak with too much authority about the actual authenticity of the Hillermans' depiction of Navajo culture, but it certainly *feels" authentic to someone who spends a lot of time reading about and studying other cultures.
This is probably a good time to dive into the issue of cultural appropriation, which I'm sure some people are going to raise. Is it okay for someone who is not Navajo to make a lot of money writing about Navajo characters and Navajo culture? Some might say "No," but most of what I know about Navajo culture, and most of the positive feelings I have towards Navajo culture and Native Americans in general, come from reading these books. Translators serve an important purpose, and one could argue that what Tony Hillerman and now his daughter Anne are doing is acting as translators of a sort, bringing Navajo culture to the wider, English-speaking world.
Anyway, fans of the original novels are likely to enjoy "Spider Woman's Daughter" as well. It is not, however, just a copy of Hillerman pere's work; Anne Hillerman brings her own fresh voice to the series, focusing more on female cop Bernie Manuelito and the women's side of Navajo culture. Certainly worth reading if you are already a fan, and also worth checking out if you want to read some mystery that's a little bit different from a lot of the mainstream fare out there.
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