The Blessing Way: A Leaphorn & Chee Novel (A Leaphorn and Chee Novel Book 1)

I don't know how I missed it before but suspected I'd read it almost fifty years ago when it was first published. I hadn't. It reminded me of why I enjoyed Tony Hillerman. "The Blessing Way" had more of the culture of the Navajo than any Hillerman book I'd read and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The story was a little rough, it was the first of the Navajo series and I believe the first book he'd had published. The writing was, in my opinion, excellent.Later books became more focused on relationships but this one was a wonderful visit with the Navajo on their reservation.I'll probably read it again.

I bought this book for a policeman of the Navajo Nation after being stopped and cited for exceeding the posted speed limit. As part of the process I enquired if the officer had ever read or heard of the Hillerman books about Lt Leaphorn or Officer Jim Chee,. They are fictional officers of the Navajo Nation police force. He had not. I, however, have read everyone in the series and they are among my all time favorite books. The Blessing Way is the first in this series and I felt the officer might like a read by an author known and celebrated as a mystery writer who set plot within a realistic framework of life in the desert of Arizona and New Mexico that is the Navajo Nation. I mailed the book to the office at his last know station. I know the book arrived. I have no idea if he has read it or not. YOU should buy and read it if you like a good police mystery. An added benefit is the reader will catch a glimpse into the Navajo culture. Plus, it is fun to visit some of the beautiful desert places Hillerman mentioned in the books.

I am reading the Leaphorn Chee books in order.....I always loved the Southwest, since my first trip to and through in 1990. I decided after 25 plus years and reading two of Hillerman's books, to go back to the beginning and read them all. I enjoyed this book mostly. The setting, the descriptions of the landscape and people and their activities kept my attention. I am remembering that it was 1970 that this was published, because the cigarettes and the lack of dimension of the women characters, especially the white women, almost had me laughing out loud. The intricate details of Navajo ways were hard to keep separate and distinct, and did not necessarily move the plot along. I did however, enjoy reading the book, and will keep going to the next one in line.

I have read the entire Leaphorn and Chee series which were recommended to me by my late husband and read them in order with each one better than the last. I didn't review the books at the time of the first reading but will do so now. I began the series again after spending a wonderful vacation in "Hillerman" country and seeing the places described in his novels first hand. This first book, The Blessing Way, is more about the Navajo culture and traditions than about Leaphorn and, as other reviewers have said, a bit rough in places, nonetheless, it was a good read. No one describes this amazing part of the country or the Navajo people like Tony Hillerman and I highly recommend all of the books in the series.

I really enjoy Tony Hillerman's work. I read most of his books years ago (probably like 20 years ago) and decided to re- read one that was coming up as free for my Kindle. Well I got completely back into it and I am on his fourth book now. All of his books take place on a Navajo reservation in New Mexico and the main characters are Lt. Joe Leaphorn and Sgt. Jim Chee of the Tribal Police. There are lot's of references to different Navajo ceremonies and customs which I find very interesting. They are a bit dated in that there were no cell phones or computers when these were written, but they are still good and still kept my attention all of the way through...

Despite the uninspired writing style, time and again Hillerman manages to throw us off his path of mysterious twists and turns. To be truthful, by the time the rather implausible denouement dragged itself around, I was too fatigued to care much.As always, his knowledge of Navajo ways gives rise to some fascinating reading.

This is the first of Hillerman's Leaphorn series, and it's a good introduction to what to expect in the following books. I hadn't read this in a number of years so could appreciate how the writing and plots improve over the series. Here you'll meet Joe Leaphorn, begin to learn your way around the Navajo Nation, see how Tribal police interact with their constituency and other agencies, pick up some Navajo words and enjoy a good mystery. I recommend the entire series.

I always love reading Tony Hillerman's books, for so many reasons. First, as a child of the 70s, I like reading about an era that I remember from my childhood (although most of the books I have read are from later years). Second, and most important to me, is how well Hillerman describes a culture that is completely alien to me. I grew up in small town USA, but nowhere near a reservation. The closest thing we had to Indian Culture was the Trail of Tears which passed through our area of Kentucky. Lots of artifacts, but no people to teach me about the different ways. I love that he shares an exotic way of life without exoticizing the Navajo peoples. It is wonderful to have a tiny window into a world beyond anything I've experienced. Third, and I consider this to be no substantial thing, he writes good stories. There is always a satisfying plot, realistic characters, and usually a sense of urgency without the feeling of a rushed story. In the Blessing Way, I completely enjoyed the insight into Leaphorn's character as a Navajo who must maintain the fine line between respecting the ways of his people while respecting the law he's been hired to uphold.

I found some words and terms confusing but that is not a big deal, just go and look them up. If I knew more about the terrain I would have been better off as it was I skimmed some parts, and there is quite a lot of scene setting at the beginning of the book.The story was interesting once it got under way and I preferred it when Joe Leaphorn was centre stage. The story is mainly set around Bergen McKee, archaeologist friend of Joe's, who has to navigate his way (and that of his female colleague) out of some very serious trouble with some very violent men.The insight into some Navajo customs is really good but I do not know if I would rush back for second helpings (if I saw it somewhere though, I might well give it another go).

Loved it! Even if it was an abridged version - 3 hours instead of the six that most of the other Hillerman audio books are. It was also interesting to listen to the voice of the author spinning his tale . . . .

Ich fand in den anderen Hillermans (die ich alle gelesen habe), die Kombination von dem "Legendary Lieutenant" Leaphorn, bei dem das Leben bestimmten Prinzipien folgt und dem eher intuitiv handelnden Chee, der ständig sein Herz an irgendwelche Balacana-Damen verliert, sehr unterhaltsam und die entsprechenden Fälle auch plausibel und spannend, ganz davon zu schweigen, dass man "nebenbei" auch Informationen über Vergangenheit, Gegenwart und Kultur der Navaho erhält.Hier liegt bei diesem Buch in meinen Augen auch der "Knackpunkt des Buches: Leaphorns Weltanschauung wird gut beschrieben und führt letztendlich auch zur Lösung des Falls. Vermisst habe ich allerdings bei einer "Leanhorn and Chee Novel, ...) den guten Chee, der noch nicht einmal Erwähnung findet.

Tony Hillerman is one of America's treasures - a fine writer in the mystery genre, incorporating into his novels wonderful and interesting details about the Navajo way of life in a seamless way. His mysteries are intriguing, his characters seem so real they could step off the page, and he is second to none in evoking the scenery and atmosphere of the Four Corners area of the United States. We visited that area after reading his novels and were delighted to recognize so many of the landmarks and places Hillerman described, and to find ourselves falling in love with the stark beauty of the landscape and the quiet friendliness of the people. This purchase was to introduce my brother to the works and I hope he enjoys them as much as we have.

Das Buch wurde von einer Amerikanischen Freundin empfohlen. Ich geniesse "Krimis" zu lesen, besonders wenn die gut geschrieben sind und noch etwas zum Hintergrund bieten. Der Inhalt dieses Buch ist eingebettet in Native American Kultur und Geschichte, und das gefiel mir sehr. Der Krimi selber war auch spannend zu lesen. Das zweite Buch habe ich schon bestellt.