Another freebie table book. I'm now trying to figure out when it was I quit reading the new Hillermans as they came out. I suppose the thing to do is go back to the beginning and read them all. At the moment, I can't remember what the stories were like when Chee and Leaphorn did not interact.
These later books seem to have more depth in the background story of the running characters. Similar to the changes I've observed in the later Francis books, although Dick Francis didn't have much in the way of running characters. This book brings back Chee's old girl friend, attorney Janet Pete, apparently for the purpose of completely disposing of their relationship, presumably to clear the decks for his romance with Bernie Manuelito (who has been a character since practically day one). And - since I read an even later book sometime recently - I know that this time he actually gets to the altar, or the Navajo equivalent.
On the other hand, whole categories of people were reduced virtually to stereotypes in this book. Can the FBI truly be as unconcerned with truth, justice, etc. as Hillerman has portrayed them. And, I have known many dedicated scientists and never ran into any that seemed likely to kill to protect their theories. Sadly, he also seemed to have descended to the Cooper vision of the noble native in positive stereotyping.
Also, the whole thing seemed a little transparent - although Hillerman was carefully hiding the scientist/murderer as a secondary character, it was fairly obvious quite early who the real killer was. The romances were pleasant reading, although I was unaccustomed to having them figure so largely in the stories. Chee and Janet are totally done - I thought they were done a long time ago. Leaphorn's lady friend, Louisa, who has been around for quite some time, seems likely to continue to be around in a "just good friends" mode - which definitely does not extend to the bedroom.
There was one significant event in the running story. I'm not sure that Hosteen Frank Sam Nakai ever actually appeared on the scene in earlier books. He was always in the background as Chee's mentor and guide as he worked to become a singer, sort of a permanent symbol of Chee's attachment to Navajo tradition. We meet him here, as he lies on his deathbed outside his hogan, as he passes on to Chee his final counsel.
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