ISBN: 1-55690-405-3 Order from: Recorded Books
A somewhat strained mystery plot still leaves plenty of satisfaction in this tense story of greed, suspense and mild romance.
Reviewed by David on July 08, 2001
Genre: Mystery (Police Procedural, Amerind)
Synopsis: This is an unabridged recording of People if Darkness.
Jim Chee of the Navajo Tribal Police is asked to investigate a burglary outside of his jurisdiction. While puzzling, the minor mystery doesn't appear to have enough significance to explain what follows. Powerful men want Chee to stop the investigation. Other people connected to the crime are killed. What's even more puzzling, is that a number of Navajos believe there is witchcraft involved, for what else can explain a number of suspicious deaths going back decades.
Full Review: The mystery in this novel seems both far-fetched and realtively easy to guess. Thus, while the investigation itself is not as exciting as in other novels of this loosely connected series, the environment and Chee himself provide the major satisfaction in this book. Chee is an interesting chararter, a mostly intellectual policeman faced with deadly violence. His fascination and puzzlement of the White culture becomes more personal as he befriends and is attracted by a young white woman. And the Southwest, and the Indian culture are deftly portrayed.
This novel, while satisfying, features a less solid mystery and somewhat implausible villains. However, fans of Jim Chee and the Navajo Tribal Police will enjoy this installment of Hillerman's series.
Overall: 6; Plot: 5; Characters: 5.5; Style: 6.5; World-building: 6; Originality: 5;
Copyright date 1980, Recorded Books, 1990, Audio cassette, 5 cassettes
ISBN: 1-55690-405-3 Order from: Recorded Books