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Don't miss the TV series, Dark Winds, based on the Leaphorn, Chee, & Manuelito novels, now on AMC and AMC+!First there was the trouble at Saint Boneventure boarding school. A teacher is dead, a boy is missing, and a council woman has put a lot of pressure on Lieutenant Joe Leaphorn and Officer Jim Chee to find her grandson. Sitting on a rooftop watching sacred clowns perform their antics in a Pueblo ceremony, Chee spots the boy. Then, suddenly, the crowd is in commotion. One of the clowns show more has been savagely murdered. Without a single clue, Chee and Leaphorn must follow a serpentine trail through the Indian clans and nations, seeking the thread that links two brutal murders, a missing teenager, a band of lobbyists trying to put a toxic dump site on Pueblo land, and an invaluable memento given to the tribes by Abraham Lincoln in a fast-paced, flawless mystery that is Hillerman at his lyrical, evocative, spellbinding best.
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Sacred Clowns is Tony Hillerman at his very best. Both Leaphorn and Chee are at a personal crossroad in their lives while attempting to solve two crimes which may or may not be related. A complex mystery is interwoven with the care befitting a sacred blanket as we learn about the Navajo and their beliefs.
That crossroad for both men is fully explored during this one, each man's loneliness and their individual efforts to end it, poignantly painted by Hillerman in a mystery as good as any he ever penned. Those who relish the way he educates the reader about Native American beliefs while entertaining us with a good mystery will not be disappointed. Perhaps more than any of his novels, Sacred Clowns gives us a better understanding of why the show more Navajo have survived, while so many other great tribes have all but disappeared.
Chee's new assignment working directly for Leaphorn gets off to a shaky start when the former allows a missing boy to escape during a Tano ceremony soon after locating him. It is the boy's elusive nature, and a murder during the ceremony that kick off one of the most satisfying mysteries in this fabulous series. Leaphorn is still trying to move on after a terrible loss, and Chee is worried Janet may have a tie to his clan somewhere which would put an end to their romance.
On the mystery side, a second murder turns this story into a complex puzzle which has Leaphorn and Chee going in different directions. Chee's carelessness at one point will even result in Leaphorn's suspension. Leaphorn's feelings regarding young Chee's conflicting spirit, torn between Navajo tradition and his career as a Navajo Tribal Policeman, are explored here as well.
Chee will eventually weigh Navajo justice against the secular law he is sworn to uphold, and come to a startling decision. There is need and loneliness here for both men, Chee trying to begin, and Leaphorn attempting to start over. There is a depth and understanding mingling effortlessly in Sacred Clowns, a mystery engrossing enough to be of merit on its own.
We've come to expect a lot of Hillerman's series, and this one really delivers. That magic blend of mystery and Native American beliefs, coupled with likable and very human characters is on glorious display in this one. The mystery is excellent, and you will come away from this one with a greater understanding of the Navajo and, perhaps, humanity. Highly recommended. show less
That crossroad for both men is fully explored during this one, each man's loneliness and their individual efforts to end it, poignantly painted by Hillerman in a mystery as good as any he ever penned. Those who relish the way he educates the reader about Native American beliefs while entertaining us with a good mystery will not be disappointed. Perhaps more than any of his novels, Sacred Clowns gives us a better understanding of why the show more Navajo have survived, while so many other great tribes have all but disappeared.
Chee's new assignment working directly for Leaphorn gets off to a shaky start when the former allows a missing boy to escape during a Tano ceremony soon after locating him. It is the boy's elusive nature, and a murder during the ceremony that kick off one of the most satisfying mysteries in this fabulous series. Leaphorn is still trying to move on after a terrible loss, and Chee is worried Janet may have a tie to his clan somewhere which would put an end to their romance.
On the mystery side, a second murder turns this story into a complex puzzle which has Leaphorn and Chee going in different directions. Chee's carelessness at one point will even result in Leaphorn's suspension. Leaphorn's feelings regarding young Chee's conflicting spirit, torn between Navajo tradition and his career as a Navajo Tribal Policeman, are explored here as well.
Chee will eventually weigh Navajo justice against the secular law he is sworn to uphold, and come to a startling decision. There is need and loneliness here for both men, Chee trying to begin, and Leaphorn attempting to start over. There is a depth and understanding mingling effortlessly in Sacred Clowns, a mystery engrossing enough to be of merit on its own.
We've come to expect a lot of Hillerman's series, and this one really delivers. That magic blend of mystery and Native American beliefs, coupled with likable and very human characters is on glorious display in this one. The mystery is excellent, and you will come away from this one with a greater understanding of the Navajo and, perhaps, humanity. Highly recommended. show less
Tony Hillerman's name is as familiar to me as that of Charles Dickens. For decades his books were in every bookstore I ever visited. I knew he was a fellow New Mexican and I always meant to read something by him.
I just did.
The entire novel was a trip down memory lane for me, with all the references to NM town and city names, the state's scenery I know so well, and even old Kit Carson that we studied in middle school mentioned. In addition to the NM references, it was a flashback to familiar American culture like CB radios, rotary dial telephones, drive-in movie theaters, and even an old Western movie by John Ford, "Cheyenne Autumn" starring Jimmy Stewart, where the Cheyenne extras were played by Navajos, speaking and singing in show more Navajo.
All that was fun. But it was more than fun.
In spite of being a New Mexican, I knew little about the tribes there. Hillerman seemed to know a lot, and shared his knowledge, their history and culture with a lot of respect in his novels. This novel is part of a series about two characters, policemen for the Navajo Tribal Police in NM, older Joe Leaphorn and younger Jim Chee.
As I read, I wondered if a white man writing about Native Americans would have fallen out of favor by now. But apparently, he has not. I think that must be because he wrote with respect and knowledge, while addressing many of the major issues facing the various tribes even to today.
Mysteries are not a genre I often read, but this book was much more than a mystery. It was a bit of an education for an old homesick New Mexican.
Listened via Libby with narrator Christian Baskous.
Addendum
Well, blow me down. There is a 2022 streaming series based on Leaphorn and Chee, Dark Winds. I may give that a try sometime. show less
I just did.
The entire novel was a trip down memory lane for me, with all the references to NM town and city names, the state's scenery I know so well, and even old Kit Carson that we studied in middle school mentioned. In addition to the NM references, it was a flashback to familiar American culture like CB radios, rotary dial telephones, drive-in movie theaters, and even an old Western movie by John Ford, "Cheyenne Autumn" starring Jimmy Stewart, where the Cheyenne extras were played by Navajos, speaking and singing in show more Navajo.
All that was fun. But it was more than fun.
In spite of being a New Mexican, I knew little about the tribes there. Hillerman seemed to know a lot, and shared his knowledge, their history and culture with a lot of respect in his novels. This novel is part of a series about two characters, policemen for the Navajo Tribal Police in NM, older Joe Leaphorn and younger Jim Chee.
As I read, I wondered if a white man writing about Native Americans would have fallen out of favor by now. But apparently, he has not. I think that must be because he wrote with respect and knowledge, while addressing many of the major issues facing the various tribes even to today.
Mysteries are not a genre I often read, but this book was much more than a mystery. It was a bit of an education for an old homesick New Mexican.
Listened via Libby with narrator Christian Baskous.
Addendum
Well, blow me down. There is a 2022 streaming series based on Leaphorn and Chee, Dark Winds. I may give that a try sometime. show less
This is a re-read for me and still a great philosophical crime mystery of Hillerman's. I am fully engaged by the novel's balance of suspense, action, and mystery embedded in tribal customs. An irritating flaw in the plot for me is the angst that Chee has in his interactions with Janet Pete. I find that the relationship, which persists through several of the novels, utterly tedious . As ever, the author seems intimately connected to the land and the people of the American southwest.
Jim Chee has joined Joe Leaphorn as his assistant, still not a sergeant, but he has to solve a hit-and-run to get it. We learn a little (not much) about the Tano tribe, part of the larger Pueblo group in this episode. Besides the hit-and-run to solve, there are a few murders connected to the Tano celebration that opens the book and gives us the title. Maybe more important is the developments of the relationships between Jim Chee and Janet Pete, and between Joe Leaphorn and Louisa Bourebonette.
I realized, looking for the spelling of names in the text, that Hillerman uses the women's first names in the narrative way before he uses the men's first names. Chee is always Chee except in dialog, but Janet is Janet almost immediately. It show more doesn't ruffle me. Just noticing.
Anyway, a good mystery in the series, and I liked the fact that we are finally getting Leaphorn and Chee together (see, even I do it). 4 stars. show less
I realized, looking for the spelling of names in the text, that Hillerman uses the women's first names in the narrative way before he uses the men's first names. Chee is always Chee except in dialog, but Janet is Janet almost immediately. It show more doesn't ruffle me. Just noticing.
Anyway, a good mystery in the series, and I liked the fact that we are finally getting Leaphorn and Chee together (see, even I do it). 4 stars. show less
Sacred Clowns examines both the Navajo and Hopi cultural and religeons, steeping the murder mystery in a rich cultural tapestry that Hillerman was known for. As always, the story involves the human elements of both Chee and Leaphorn, their love lives and their personal struggles. This has it all.. mystery, politics, history, intrigue, and yes, two murders to solve.
Joe Leaphorn asked Jim Chee to find a runaway schoolkid. During this investigation, he is on the scene of a murder during a Tano ceremony. This murder had similar characteristics to another murder, but they couldn’t be related. Of course all three threads tie together in a fascinating story.
Side stories include a hit and run accident. A relationship between Jim Chee and Janet Pete in which Jim has trouble resolving a possible clan violation in their seeing each other. At the same time, Joe Leaphorn is planning a trip to China with Louisa Bourebonette.
Tony Hillerman gives the reader excellent insights into the Navajo culture, especially in the way that Jim Chee resolves his personal issues. Through his investigations, we also get a show more glimpse into the Tano culture, a branch of the Pueblo tribes.
The book is a very good read, it keeps moving forward and has interesting developments in the mysteries. show less
Side stories include a hit and run accident. A relationship between Jim Chee and Janet Pete in which Jim has trouble resolving a possible clan violation in their seeing each other. At the same time, Joe Leaphorn is planning a trip to China with Louisa Bourebonette.
Tony Hillerman gives the reader excellent insights into the Navajo culture, especially in the way that Jim Chee resolves his personal issues. Through his investigations, we also get a show more glimpse into the Tano culture, a branch of the Pueblo tribes.
The book is a very good read, it keeps moving forward and has interesting developments in the mysteries. show less
Sacred Clowns is an excellent Leaphorn and Chee suspense novel. It takes place in the desolate New Mexico Indian reservations. There is a lot of culture and humor involved with the characters. Tony Hillerman knows how to write an excellent story and Christian Baskous knows how to read it. This book received four stars in this review and is highly recommended. Enjoy.
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Tony Hillerman was born in Sacred Heart, Oklahoma on May 27, 1925. During World War II, he enlisted in the Army and was awarded the Silver Star, the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart after being severely injured during a raid behind German lines. He received a bachelor's degree from the University of Oklahoma in 1948. From 1948 to 1962, he covered show more crime and politics for newspapers in Texas, Oklahoma, and New Mexico, eventually working his way up to the position of editor of the Santa Fe New Mexican. He taught at the University of Mexico and went on to chair the journalism department for more than 20 years. He retired in 1985. His first novel, The Blessing Way, was published in 1971. During his lifetime, he wrote 29 books, including the popular 18-book mystery series featuring Navajo police officers Jim Chee and Joe Leaphorn, two non-series novels, two children's books, and nonfiction works. He received numerous awards during his lifetime including the Edgar Allan Poe Award for Best Mystery Novel for Dance Hall of the Dead in 1974, the Western Writers of America's Golden Spur Award for Skinwalkers in 1987, the Mystery Writers of America's Grand Master Award in 1991, the Navajo tribe's Special Friend Award, France 's Grand Prix de Litterature Policiere, the 2002 Malice Domestic Lifetime Achievement Award, the Agatha Award for Best Nonfiction Book for Seldom Disappointed, and the Wister Award for Lifetime achievement in 2008. He died from pulmonary failure on October 26, 2008 at the age of 83. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
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Is contained in
Pick 6 Tony Hillerman Paperbacks (A Thief of Time, Talking God, Dance Hall of the Dead, The Fallen Man, Sacred Clowns & Finding Moon) by Tony Hillerman
Joe Leaphorn and Jim Chee Mystery Series Complete Set by Tony Hillerman, Volumes 1-18. Also known as the Navajo Tribal Police Mystery Novels. (Titles include: The Blessing Way / Dance Hall of the Dead / Listening Woman / People of Darkness / The Darkwind / The Ghostway / Skinwalkers / A Theif of Time / Talking God / Coyote Waits, / Sacred Clowns / The Fallen Man / The First Eagle / Hunting Badger / The Walking Wind / The Sinister Pig / Skeleton Man / Shape Shifter) by Tony Hillerman
Common Knowledge
- Canonical title
- Sacred Clowns
- Original title
- Sacred Clowns
- Original publication date
- 1993
- People/Characters
- Joe Leaphorn; Jim Chee; Janet Pete; Louisa Bourebonette; David Streib; Harold Blizzard (show all 11); Hosteen Nakai; Delmar Kanitewa; Roger Applebee; Asher Davis; Sgt. Harold Blizzard
- Important places
- Navajo Reservation, Arizona, USA; Arizona, USA
- Dedication
- This book is dedicated to Fr. Doug McNeill, director of Saint Bonaventure Indian Mission, Thoreau, NM 87323, and to the volunteers who donate part of their lives to run its classrooms, kitchen, school buses, and water trucks.... (show all) They come from all parts of the country, from different generations and different religions, united only in the desire to help their fellow humans.
- First words
- At first, Officer Jim Chee had felt foolish sitting on the roof of the house of some total stranger.
At first, officer Jim Chee had felt foolish sitting on the roof of the house of some total stranger. - Last words
- (Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)"I need you."
(Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)“I need you.” - Publisher's editor
- Guérif, François
- Canonical DDC/MDS
- 813.54
- Canonical LCC
- PS3558.I45
- Disambiguation notice
- Hmmm...
this ISBN seems to be tied to both Sacred Clowns and Ghostway. Might need to check on that.
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- ASINs
- 18