The Ghostway

The third of the Jim Chee books and the last where Leaphorn is not involved as well. This time Chee follows a murder trail to Los Angeles, and it's very interesting to see him evaluating the differences in culture, and the differences in the way poverty exhibits itself in the city and the res. There's a touch of the West Coast noir about it, as Chee spends time in the poorest sections of the city, and the most dangerous.

Driven by a romance that seems to require someone to adopt new ways, Chee once again wrestles with the choice between joining the FBI and sticking with the Tribal Police...ultimately a choice between two cultures. A missing teenager, a shoot-out on the street in broad daylight, a not-quite-right death hogan, and a boss who doesn't want Chee using his own initiative give him plenty of other things to think about. A very good entry in this series.

After a man is shot at the Shiprock Wash-O-Mat, Tribal Policeman Jim Chee sets off on a search that moves from a death hogan to the seedy underbelly of Los Angeles and through to a Ghost Way ceremony for one (or more...) of the story's characters. As usual, Hillerman's stories are filled with interesting details about Navajo life and culture, although this one widens the scope to include the FBI and their secret going-on as well. The personal issue that Chee is dealing with (stay with Mary and leave the Reservation or leave Mary and stay in close contact with his culture) is described in a realistic ways with the pros and cons of both decisions taking turns at winning in Chee's mind. This is a series I've read before and I am very happy show more that I still like it as much as I did the first time around. show less

There are three levels that the reader can look at regarding The Ghostway. The actual mystery is the least satisfying part of The Ghostway by far. The ending is convoluted and looses what ever tension Hillerman had been able to develop leading up to the conclusion.

The exploration of the Navajo way is really well done though and makes up for some of the let down the reader feels regarding the mystery. Even some of the boring parts where Hillerman has Jim Chee driving all over the reservation, even in blizzard conditions, helps to give the reader a sense of the vastness and the harsh nature of the reservation. To further expand on this theme he has Chee follow a young Navajo girl to Los Angeles where the contrast between the reservation show more and Los Angeles is only part of what Hillerman wants not only the reader but Jim Chee to see and recognize. There is a part where he has Chee observe a nursing home and recognize that what white people do with the old members of thier families is very different than what the Navajo have learned to do regarding their elders. But the real heart and soul of the exploration into the Navajo way is where the religious aspects intersect with the mystery. This part is very well done as Jim Chee has to question his values and how they have been formed in relationship to his religious beliefs.

**Spoiler Alert**

But the best part of the book is surely the realtionship between Jim Chee and his white girlfriend, Mary Landon. She does not actually appear in the book very much, but she is in Jim's thoughts at every step of the way. He is struggling with his relationship with her because she wants him to leave the reservation and become an FBI agent. Chee understands why she thinks this is best for them and their future children. And he tries very hard to do this for her throughout the book because he does love her. He knows she loves him and he wants to be able to do this for her. But the trip to Los Angeles and then the pull that his Navajo beliefs continue to have on him as he unravels the mystery, all lead to what we the readers believe about both Jim and Mary. He can not be a white man and she can not be a Navajo woman. They are what they are, even if they do love each other. show less

There is a murder in Shiprock, NM. Jim Chee can't investigate because the FBI is involved in the case. But he finds an angle, a missing girl who is related to one of the people involved.

His investigation takes him to Los Angeles, where we view the white poverty through his eyes. As usual in these books, the Navajo culture is a strong influence on the story. We learn about ghosts, and the ghostway, which is a cleansing ceremony for someone who has been in an infected hogan, by the chindi.

A third story line is with Joe's fiancé, Mary Landon. She is pressuring him to leave the reservation and join the FBI. He is torn between the world he knows and loves, and the unknown of the white world. And he is concerned for the Navajo culture, he show more is one of a very few young people who is studying the old ways. He is working to become a yataalii, a medicine man. If he leaves, that would be a great loss to the tribe.

Although the story involving the death and the FBI is the main mystery, the story is more about Jim Chee's struggle to resolve his relationship with Mary. Mary appears very little through the book, but plays a vital part. Tony Hillerman's storytelling is excellent, the pacing is right and he gives a very good feel for the New Mexico area and the Navajo culture.

This is an excellent read, and a must-read for any Hillerman fans. show less

After a man is shot at the Shiprock Wash-O-Mat, Tribal Policeman Jim Chee sets off on a search that moves from a death hogan to the seedy underbelly of Los Angeles and through to a Ghost Way ceremony for one (or more...) of the story's characters. As usual, Hillerman's stories are filled with interesting details about Navajo life and culture, although this one widens the scope to include the FBI and their secret going-on as well. The personal issue that Chee is dealing with (stay with Mary and leave the Reservation or leave Mary and stay in close contact with his culture) is described in a realistic ways with the pros and cons of both decisions taking turns at winning in Chee's mind. This is a series I've read before and I am very happy show more that I still like it as much as I did the first time around. show less

Mainly a good plot with a theme of using the WItness Program in a sneaky fashion to hide a Navajo. The excitement as the story neared the ending felt a bit rushed but the twists were engaging. Plot had a few annoying distractions: Chee's preoccupation with his floundering love life was boring; the runaway student, Margaret Sosi, was unrealistically adroit at eluding capture and fooling a seasoned assassin. The Navajo lore and philosophy brought the novel up to a 4-star rating.