Pure southwest magic in an authentic cadre of Navaho culture with a totally satisfying mystery plot

books:


	• People of Darkness (Armchair Detective) Tony Hillerman Otto Penzler Books, 1994 - 282 pages average customer review:based on 16 reviews
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highly recommended

Pure southwest magic in an authentic cadre of Navaho culture with a totally satisfying mystery plot

Tony Hillermann stands out even better over time, as fresh and stimulating as ever. Interesting ethnic details draw us into the center of a way of life along with the eternal contest between the powers of good and evil residing in human beings and inexplicable spiritual forces anchored in the Rez.

Enjoyable Read

This is one of Tony Hillerman's better books. I heartily recommend it.

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Skinwalkers, Navajo Wolves and Witches

In "People of Darkness", Navajo tribal police Sargent Jim Chee stumbles onto a mystery and unravels multiple crimes after being asked to find a keepsake box belonging to a wealthy man outside of Chee's jurisdiction. The wealthy man's second wife specifically requested Chee as investigator because Jim Chee is considered an authority on his Indian tribe's religion, studying to be a "yataalii" (a medicine man or "singer") and the suspects are thought to be The People of Darkness.

It is in this book that blue-eyed blonde, Mary Landon first makes her acquaintance with Chee. I found her to be an unlikable character with an aggressive, pushy, prodding, provocative, smart-mouth personality and arrogant attitude and was glad to know, from reading subsequent books of this particular series, Chee and she never married.

Alas, it is also in this book that Chee is on another mission - to learn more about white people and their culture. His yataalii uncle, who was to train him in the art along the path of balance and beauty, instructed Chee that he must first truly understand the value system of the white people, knowing everything it contains, before fully being able to embrace his decision of following the traditional Navajo walk.

Tony Hillerman packed this book full of relevant Navajo culture and lore, as always. Near the end of the story, Chee explains, "We don't have much violence, we Navajos. What there is is mostly associated with witchcraft. Changing Woman taught us how to cope with the Navajo Wolves. We turn the evil around so it works against the witch." The story ends with Chee's spirit in need of repair: "But he knew the cause and the cure. Changing Woman had taught them about it when she formed the first clans of the Dinee from her own skin. The strange ways of strange people hurt the spirit, turned the Navajo away from beauty. Returning to beauty required a cure." Hence the planning for a traditional Enemy Way ceremony to be held.

As with all of the Tony Hillerman books, I would give more than five stars if I could.

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People of Darkness

Product was received in very good condition. This is a good read for those of us who like well written stories. I enjoyed every page of it.

Enjoyed it, but not Hillerman's best

I always enjoy Tony Hillerman. He has great, interesting characters with vivid descriptions of the landscape and a fascinating story. The characters and description were there; however, this was not my favorite storyline. Overall enjoyable.

reviews: page 1, 2, 3, 4

Jim Chee of the Navajo Tribal Police ventures into the southwestern Bad Country, where a bloodthirsty assassin waits to prevent the revelation of thirty-year-old secrets. Reissue.

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