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A Thief of Time by Tony Hillerman
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A Thief of Time

by Tony Hillerman

Series: Leaphorn/Chee (8)

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1,024153,880 (3.82)33
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English (14)  Dutch (1)  All languages (15)
Showing 1-5 of 14 (next | show all)
As good as usual: Lives up to all hillerman's books
  iayork | Aug 9, 2009 |
Things I really liked about this installment. First Leaphorn's personal life really comes to the forefront and there is an exploration of his coming to terms with the new realities of his life. Well done. Also, the relationship between Chee and Leaphorn begins to mature. They work together more as a team in this novel, with greater real regard for each other. Though the mystery is good, the character development really makes this novel shine in the series. ( )
  tjsjohanna | Apr 30, 2009 |
Joe Leaphorn and JIm Chee, two of my favorite detectives ( )
  dbree007 | Apr 3, 2009 |
I wanted to like this book but it was a struggle to even finish it. An interesting storyline, not helped by an unlikeable leading character. I also found the writing a little on the dry side for my tastes. Disappointing ( )
  theforestofbooks | Mar 1, 2009 |
Hillerman's mystery is set on and near a large Navajo reservation near the four corners area. An anthropologist goes missing, and native American policemen Joe Leaphorn
and Jim Chee become involved from different angles. The case involves "pot hunters," who sift ruins illegally for pottery
or other objects that collectors will buy. The missing anthropologist might have been meeting a pot hunter or digging illegally herself.

The veteran Leaphorn has submitted his resignation from the force as he nears the end of his bereavement leave after the death of his wife, but something about the case draws his interest. Chee, a younger man, is dealing with issues about being a Navajo or a modern American and the implications of this choice for relationships. The two men have a somewhat uneasy but respectful relationship.

The novel gives us a view of the anthropological world and the remote history of the area, as well as a look at the Navajo way of thinking about a problem. One feature that I liked a lot was the fact that when Leaphorn (or Chee) can't think of something to say, he remains quiet, rather than babbling as so many of us do. We don't get any sort of detailed view of the life on the reservation, but we get some hints.

The whodunnit aspect was ok, not great. I had guessed the
perpetrator fairly early, but there were a couple of nice unexpected twists. Hillerman's style is unexceptional but
unobtrusive and does not detract from the story. Overall a
good but not great read. ( )
  Jim53 | Jan 25, 2009 |
Showing 1-5 of 14 (next | show all)
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Epigraph
Dedication
This story is dedicated to Steven Lovato, firstborn son of Larry and Mary Lovato. May he always go with beauty all around him.
First words
The moon had risen just above the cliff behind her.
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(Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)
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Wikipedia in English (2)

Joe Leaphorn

Tony Hillerman

Book description

Amazon.com Product Description (ISBN 0061000043, Mass Market Paperback)

A noted anthropologist vanishes at a moonlit Indian ruin where "thieves of time" ravage sacred ground for profit. When two corpses appear amid stolen goods and bones at an ancient burial site, Navajo Tribal Policemen Lt. Joe Leaphorn and Officer Jim Chee must plunge into the past to unearth the astonishing truth behind a mystifying series of horrific murders.

(retrieved from Amazon Fri, 24 Apr 2009 07:58:03 -0400)

(see all 3 descriptions)

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