After finishing The Winter Sea, I resumed my re-reading of Tony Hillerman's series of Navajo detective Joe Leaphorn crime novels. Listening Woman is the third in the series and was first published in 1978. The story gets off to an exciting start with Leaphorn being nearly run over by the driver of a car during a routine traffic stop. The driver is wearing gold-rimmed sunglasses, and he is referred to in the book as "Gold Rims".
A view of the Chuska Mountains, often mentioned in Hillerman's novels
As always, I enjoy Hillerman's descriptions of geographical locations in the desert Southwest almost as much as the stories. When I read a book that vividly describes the scenery, I
sometimes stop what I’m reading and visit Realtor.com to look for homes there!
Listening Woman is Margaret Cigaret, a blind Navajo who has knowledge of Navajo "sings" and helps people with specific problems in their lives - spiritual and physical. While giving advice to Hosteen Tso about his illness, she walks outside his hogan for a few moments to ponder the situation and returns to find both Tso and his niece dead. Along with these murders and the search for Gold Rims, there is a missing helicopter, a Boy Scout troop being held hostage, and a harrowing 30 hours in a cave to offer many tense moments.
As always I enjoyed Leaphorn's thoughtful method of investigation and how the reader is invited along for the ride. Although he holds deep reverence for the spiritual and sometimes supernatural views of the Navajo people, he employs the logical reasoning of his police training to bring the case to an often surprising conclusion.
I am currently reading Tie Died: A Quilting Cozy, by Carol Dean Jones. It was recommended as a light read by someone whose blog I follow, but I cannot remember who - so if it was you please let me know - I am enjoying it!
I find it fun reading these books published in the 70'-90's again and the people looking for a phone booth to call, no microwave oven, no cell phones and kids actually going outside to play without a parent right next to them every moment.
ReplyDeleteListening Woman looks good, and I love the photo of the mountains. Also, the quilting book. Here are my WEEKLY UPDATES
ReplyDeleteI've only read the first book in the Tony Hillerman series. I do plan to read more but am reading so many series right now that I don't want to start a new one until I've finished a few. Come see my week here. Happy reading!
ReplyDeleteI've always loved Tony Hillerman's books, but haven't re-read one in a long time! Those are beautiful landscapes that he describes, aren't they? Enjoy your quilting mystery, too!
ReplyDeleteI have been reading Agatha Christie's Miss Marple books. This weekend it was The Carribean Mystery and the Nemesis and half of Murder in the Vicarage. Why can I not just read a chapter or 2 each day and do other things also? I sit up till all hours to finish the book.
ReplyDeleteGreat to have you joining in Linda. I read and enjoyed The Winter Sea. The Hillerman series sounds great and something dear to my heart - a quilting cozy, I am making note of that one.
ReplyDeleteI'm kind of between books right now, but I recently finished reading True Biz (interesting glimpse into the deaf community) and I Am Malala (interesting look from a different perspective in the culture of Pakistan).
ReplyDeleteYour description of Listening Woman has led me to add it to my TBR! Goodness! Tie Died was added as well! Thank you for sharing!
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