ISBN: 1-55690-910-1 Order from: Recorded Books
Another satisfying police procedural, with a steady search for the truth, beautiful portrayal of nature and the Indian culture, and some social observation.
Reviewed by David on July 08, 2001
Genre: Mystery (Police Procedural, Amerind)
Synopsis: This is an unabridged recording of Sacred Clowns.
Two of Hillerman heroes of Navajo Tribal Police, Lt. Joe Leaphorn and officer Jim Chee work together.
In keeping with the style of the narrative and the Navajo culture, several puzzling crimes fall into a slowly emerging pattern. Chee is trying to find a Navajo boy who ran away from boarding school. A brutal hit-and-run death on the reservation presents almost no clues to the police. And a Pueblo Indian religious ceremony outside their jurisdiction ends in a murder.
Added to Chee's stumbling pursuit of the beatiful, half-Navajo lawyer Janet Pete, the investigations become a slow, exhausting, series of routine checks and wild theories, against the background of stark beauty, deep culture and abiding poverty of the reservation.
Full Review: In this novel, the intaraction of Leaphorn and the impulsive but bright Chee brings additional tension and satisfaction to the mystery set in the American Southwest. The mystery has romance, politics, spirituality and social observation. With all elements spare and understated, however, they subtly contribute to the mystery plot rather than distracting from it.
The solution to the mystery was apparent before the policemen discovered it, but despite that mild disappointment, the pacing was very good—neither slow nor too fast, as clues became evidence, and theories were either refined or ruled out.
on the whole, this is a pleasant, satisfying addition to Hillerman's series of novels, featuring as much the Navajo and Pueblo Indian culture as the crime investigation. Chee's social development is pleasant as well, adding human interest without superceeding the mystery.
Overall: 6; Plot: 5.5; Characters: 5.5; Style: 6.5; World-building: 6; Originality: 5.5;
Copyright date 1993, Recorded Books, 1993, Audio cassette, 6 cassettes
ISBN: 1-55690-910-1 Order from: Recorded Books