Call number
MYST HIL
Collection
Genres
Series
Publication
Harpercollins (1996), Edition: 1st, 294 pages
Description
Lieutenant Leaphorn of the Navajo tribal police comes out of retirement for a solution to a case which eluded him 11 years earlier. The case was the disappearance of a local rancher, shortly after he inherited money, while on a hiking trip with his wife. Now his skeleton has been found.
Subjects
User reviews
LibraryThing member dougwood57
Tony Hillerman began writing his Navajo mysteries way back in 1970 (The Blessing Way) when he first introduced readers to the Legendary Lieutenant Joe Leaphorn. Ten years later Hillerman introduced Navajo Tribal Police Officer Jim Chee (People of Darkness (Jim Chee Novels)). In 1986, Hillerman
Hillerman's familiar recipe keeps bringing us back again and again: usually a death in the Navajo Four Corners country, Leaphorn and Chee working independently to gather clues, the hauntingly beautiful scenery of the American Southwest, the often brutal weather of that land, and always, always, the Navajo culture often in conflict with white culture.
Hillerman has now written eighteen Navajo mysteries and while they all contain those compelling elements, he has been guilty of some sloppy efforts or been the victim of poor editing or both at times (Hunting Badger (Joe Leaphorn/Jim Chee Novels)). `The Fallen Man', however, is one of his gems.
Hillerman seamlessly develops two separate mysteries, one involving cattle heists and the other involving the discovery of a body of man who died some 11 years ago. The exact timing of that death is critical to the lives of several characters and the future of a beautiful valley near Cortez - will it be mined? Hillerman also furthers the larger story by developing the deteriorating relationship of Chee and part-Navajo attorney Janet Pete and by introducing officer Bernie Manuelito - she's all Navajo and works for Chee.
The Fallen Man will delight old Hillerman fans and should make new fans too. Highly recommended for anyone who enjoys a good mystery, Navajo culture, or the American Southwest .
Show More
brought Leaphorn and Chee together in his bestselling book Skinwalkers that won that year's Western Writers of America Spur Award. Hillerman's familiar recipe keeps bringing us back again and again: usually a death in the Navajo Four Corners country, Leaphorn and Chee working independently to gather clues, the hauntingly beautiful scenery of the American Southwest, the often brutal weather of that land, and always, always, the Navajo culture often in conflict with white culture.
Hillerman has now written eighteen Navajo mysteries and while they all contain those compelling elements, he has been guilty of some sloppy efforts or been the victim of poor editing or both at times (Hunting Badger (Joe Leaphorn/Jim Chee Novels)). `The Fallen Man', however, is one of his gems.
Hillerman seamlessly develops two separate mysteries, one involving cattle heists and the other involving the discovery of a body of man who died some 11 years ago. The exact timing of that death is critical to the lives of several characters and the future of a beautiful valley near Cortez - will it be mined? Hillerman also furthers the larger story by developing the deteriorating relationship of Chee and part-Navajo attorney Janet Pete and by introducing officer Bernie Manuelito - she's all Navajo and works for Chee.
The Fallen Man will delight old Hillerman fans and should make new fans too. Highly recommended for anyone who enjoys a good mystery, Navajo culture, or the American Southwest .
Show Less
LibraryThing member MrsLee
Lt. Jim Chee is trying to adjust to his new responsibilities and his engagement to Janet. I've never liked Janet. Life seems pretty low-key, investigating cattle theft, identifying skeletal remains and paperwork. That is, until retired Joe Leaphorn enters the picture with questions that beg an
It is a pleasure to read a quality mystery which is also a well written story. Hillerman takes the Southwest and its culture and puts it within reach of our understanding. Not only are the characters well defined and personable, but the landscape takes on a life of its own. Very good reading.
Show More
answer.It is a pleasure to read a quality mystery which is also a well written story. Hillerman takes the Southwest and its culture and puts it within reach of our understanding. Not only are the characters well defined and personable, but the landscape takes on a life of its own. Very good reading.
Show Less
LibraryThing member tjsjohanna
Instead of following on the heels of 'Sacred Clowns', Mr. Hillerman jumps forward in time enough to find Leaphorn retired, and Chee's latest relationship coming to an end. Ms. Manuelito is introduced, and we get to see Leaphorn as a reluctant PI. The mystery is a good one - misdirection plays a big
Show More
part, which is fun. Show Less
LibraryThing member iayork
ANY TONY HILLERMAN BOOK: A FRIEND RECOMMENDED TONY HILLERMAN AS SHE KNEW I READ MANY MYSTERY BOOKS. I BECAME ADDICTED TO HIS WRITING AFTER THE FIRST BOOK. I NOW HAVE COPIES OF ALL HIS BOOKS PLUS A MAP OF THE TERRITORY IN WHICH THE STORIES TAKE PLACE. IF YOU LIKE MYSTERIES WITH A SLIGHT TWIST AND A
Show More
REASONABLE ENDING, YOU WILL ENJOY ANY OF THE HILLERMAN BOOKS. Show Less
LibraryThing member dragonasbreath
Hillerman is always fun.
Jim Chee continues to learn from the legendayr Joe Leaphorn, and continues to try to free himself from his shadow.
Jim Chee continues to learn from the legendayr Joe Leaphorn, and continues to try to free himself from his shadow.
LibraryThing member ToniApicelli
For those who haven't had the pleasure of meeting Leaphorn, do give this book a try. Although Tony Hillerman's writing style is spare, he manages to create memorable characters and interesting stories. I plan to read all of his books.
LibraryThing member AslinnRose
It made me think of home because it took place right around Shiprock, NM. The story was very intriguing. It sucked me right in. I like a good mystery now and then.
LibraryThing member LaurieRKing
Another gorgeously crafted novel.
LibraryThing member debbieaheaton
In Hillerman's suspense novel, Joe Leaphorn and Jim Chee return in the authors most intricate and atmospheric novel. The Navajo policemen whose exploits are brough together by the need to know how a man met his death in Shiprock, almost seventeen hundred feet above the desert floor. The Fallen Man
Show More
is replete with Hillerman's trademarks--ingeniously intricate plotting, splendid descriptions of the desert, insights into a venerable culture, and fabulous characters. Show Less
LibraryThing member ffortsa
A skeleton found on a ledge on the sacred Shiprock Mountain starts the first book featuring Joe Leaphorn in retirement, and it's a bit of a jolt, for the reader and, I suspect, the author. Leaphorn and Chee are circling each other, finding their way to a new and less formal working relationship.
Show More
Janet Pete is on the mix as well, as public defender, which complicates her relationship with Chee. Not the best of the series, clearly a transitional book. Show Less
LibraryThing member JaneStarwood
I always enjoy reading about the exploits of Jim Chee and Joe Leaphorn, and this one doesn't dissapoint.
LibraryThing member antiquary
Joe Leaphorn, now just retired, and Jim Chee, with Bernie Manuelito, investigate the bones of a man who apparently fell off a cliff years before., and the recent shooting of an old guide.
LibraryThing member buffalogr
Another excellent mystery novel from Hillerman. When a body is found on Shiprock, (retired?) Leaphorn and (Lt) Chee go into action. The book contains Hillerman trademarks: ingeniously intricate plotting, splendid descriptions of the desert, insights into a venerable culture, and fabulous
Show More
characters. Fun read. Show Less
LibraryThing member rosalita
Joe Leaphorn has finally retired from the Navajo Tribal Police and Jim Chee has been named acting lieutenant. The young Navajo policeman quickly discovers that greater status mostly means greater amounts of paperwork, while he's still at the mercy of Captain Largo for his assignments. Of course,
Once again I have no quibble with the actual plot, but I'm sick of Chee's romantic soap opera and irritated that after mooning after one woman for several books in a row before catching her, he now appears ready to toss her aside in favor of a cute young Navajo policewoman. In other words, I think Chee's a dink. Meanwhile, Leaphorn's love life is strangely nonexistent after having undergone a revitalization in the last book when he was preparing to head off on a romantic trip to Asia with his anthropologist friend. She, like the title victim, has apparently fallen off the face of the earth, a place I'm beginning to wish most of the regular characters would follow her to.
Show More
Leaphorn can't keep his nose out of anything on the reservation, so he ends up back in the thick of it as a newly discovered body on a sacred mountain is revealed to be a man whose disappearance was investigated by Leaphorn years ago. Was it an accident or murder (I mean, you already know the answer to that one, right?)? And who done it?Once again I have no quibble with the actual plot, but I'm sick of Chee's romantic soap opera and irritated that after mooning after one woman for several books in a row before catching her, he now appears ready to toss her aside in favor of a cute young Navajo policewoman. In other words, I think Chee's a dink. Meanwhile, Leaphorn's love life is strangely nonexistent after having undergone a revitalization in the last book when he was preparing to head off on a romantic trip to Asia with his anthropologist friend. She, like the title victim, has apparently fallen off the face of the earth, a place I'm beginning to wish most of the regular characters would follow her to.
Show Less
LibraryThing member phyllis2779
Liked this a lot.
LibraryThing member SandyAMcPherson
Novel centres around white residents in the Navajo area and an old missing persons case. A few false starts in pulling the story together but definitely a Hillerman classic.
LibraryThing member leslie.98
Such a great entry in this series! I particularly liked the resolution of the cattle rustling subplot :)
LibraryThing member m.belljackson
If readers like mountain climbing and cattle rustling, they may enjoy THE FALLEN MAN.
It is the only Tony Hillerman book that I started and read into around 30 pages, then skipped to the end.
An odd Leaphorn and a strange Chee...
It is the only Tony Hillerman book that I started and read into around 30 pages, then skipped to the end.
An odd Leaphorn and a strange Chee...
LibraryThing member jetangen4571
detective, law-enforcement, lawyers, Navajo, murder, murder-investigation, relationship-issues, cattle-ranching, theft, teamwork, rock-climbing, greed, inheritance*****
Joe Leaphorn is not comfortable with his recent retirement nor the prospect of going private, especially when the client is a dodgy
Add in the skeleton of a man Leaphorn investigated as a man with an odd inheritance stipulation who who went missing eleven years ago while rock climbing on a sacred cliff.
The Leaphorn/Chee books never seem to get old even though this is the first time I've read this one and the last time I had the time to read him was last century!
Bought the audio on sale from Chirp.
Christian Baskous is the more than capable voice actor.
Joe Leaphorn is not comfortable with his recent retirement nor the prospect of going private, especially when the client is a dodgy
Show More
corporation bent on destroying the water for money. Jim Chee hates being an acting Lieutenant for the Tribal Police, but hates the aftermath of getting shot almost as much as facing the incompatibility between himself and Janet Pete. Rookie officer Bernadette Manuelito is uncomfortable with her superior officer, but does get him to back her up in the investigation of some unusual cattle rustling.Add in the skeleton of a man Leaphorn investigated as a man with an odd inheritance stipulation who who went missing eleven years ago while rock climbing on a sacred cliff.
The Leaphorn/Chee books never seem to get old even though this is the first time I've read this one and the last time I had the time to read him was last century!
Bought the audio on sale from Chirp.
Christian Baskous is the more than capable voice actor.
Show Less
LibraryThing member lbswiener
The Fallen Man is a good story from the beginning through the end. The settings and characters are all well described and the situations are all believable. As in all of Tony Hillerman novels, there is always a bit of humor when the characters do not take themselves too seriously. The Fallen Man is
Show More
the reason to solve the mystery. Four stars were awarded to this book. Show Less
Awards
Dublin Literary Award (Longlist — 1998)
Pages
294
ISBN
006017773X / 9780060177737