Customer Reviews

The Ghostway

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is the sixth of Hillerman's "Navajo Detective" series and the third in which Jim Chee is the main character. In "Ghostway" Hillerman explores the conflict of a Navajo drawn to the White world. Jim Chee is in love with a White school teacher, Mary Landon, and he contemplates marrying her and leaving the reservation to take a job as an FBI agent. But he is also pulled in the opposite direction to become a "singer" and preserve the Navajo ceremonies that are being forgotten as the old timers die off. Chee's preoccupation with the personal choices he must make are always near the surface of this mystery novel.

Hillerman, as always, celebrates the magnificience of the Navajo land and the Navajo's sensitivity to their natural surroundings. And, as always, the knowledge of their land and people give Hillerman's detectives the insight they need to solve the mystery.

"Ghostway" begins with a shootout in the parking lot of a laundromat in Shiprock, New Mexico that leaves two men dead. The story is not one of Hillerman's best or most credible but the character of Margaret Sosi, an entrancing, 15-year old girl wearing a black pea coat makes up for plot deficiencies. We want this girl to live -- but Hillerman readers know he has cruelly killed off children in other novels in the series.

Hillerman novels contain no sex whatsoever, but "Ghostway" comes closer than about any other to intimating that Jim Chee and Mary Landon might have engaged in something more than romantic conversation.

Tony Hillerman's book are often marketed as quick paperback reads. Sure they are mysteries at heart but they are more than mysteries. Hillerman asks the reader to think.

In this book, Hillerman is pondering heavy questions. The first underlying theme is whether Chee should leave the reservation for a job with the FBI. Since Chee does lots of driving in the book, we share many hours of internal debate on the issue. The second and more subtle theme involves aging and wisdom. While the core of the mystery involves middle-aged folks, many of the most valuable witnesses are very elderly. They are the people many investigators would ignore. I found the Chee's interviews with the seniors to be top flight writing.

The actual plot is ok. Chee has to spend more time in Los Angeles that I enjoyed. Still, city life for Native Americans is a reality. There were a couple of annoying redundancies as certain plot points were revisited. The survivalist bad guy was pretty over the top and his excesses were quite unnecessary.

Bottom-line: Not my favorite Hillerman but not a waste of time by any definition. For those who like to read their books in order, this is number six in the greater Chee/Leaphorn series.

This was my first Tony Hillerman book. I got it from the library as a book on tape (unabridged) read by George Guidall. I loved Guidall's delivery and the way he talked with detached irony when describing the idiosyncrasies of the characters. Great mystery with a nice punch at the end. There's a point near the end where I questioned the wisdom of one of Jim Chee's moves that kind of detracted from the story a little bit (and conveniently set up the final punch of the book), but overall, I give it two enthusiastic thumbs up.

The scene at the "death hogan" was painted in such a vivid way that I could really create a clear picture of its desolate creepiness in my mind. The same was true for other places described. I've never been to Navajo country in New Mexico, but I had no trouble entering it while listening to the story. I loved the way the Navajo culture (and Jim Chee himself) were presented. Absent was the macho hero-warrior junk that sometimes pollutes otherwise interesting stories. I could relate to Jim Chee (who was delightfully human) and found the Navajo culture description fascinating, particularly as it's juxtaposed to modern "white man's" society.

I definitely plan to read/listen to more of Hillerman's books, and highly recommend this one to suspense/mystery lovers.

I've read all of Hillerman's Jim Chee / Joe Leaphorn books, and this one is the best. A great detective story with a knockout ending. Hillerman carries the classic hard-boiled detective formula one step further, giving his detective a life beyond the crime. And Jim Chee is a great character: too modern to be a Navajo, too traditional to fit into white society. He's the ultimate loner. A great read!

I have been a huge fan of Tony Hillerman's work and find his writing refreshing and inventive. The Ghostway was an insightful look into the funereal ways and myths of the Navajo. It was not only a murder mystery but a look into the mind of a troubled soul searching for the right way to live. A good read! You won't be able to put it down until the end!

I have been reading Hillerman since he first starting writing the Leaphorn/Chee series and enjoyed them all. The books and characters have become almost legendary and after reading FIRST EAGLE, decided to see if my impression of the quality of his earlier writings was as captivating as I remembered. I picked up the unabridged audiotape and have been in listening heaven for the last few days. What a treat! Hillerman's style has changed a bit - Leaphorn and Chee have both become more verbose - but the essentials that have made his books so readable are still present. May there be many more!

This is one of the better books in Hillerman's series. We learn more about Jim Chee's life progress in the context of a murder mystery, which is neither too complex, nor too simplistic. Hillerman throws in the Navajo history, lore and lifestyle without preaching, or assuming knowledge on the part of the reader. In a neat touch, we learn an awful lot about Mary Landon without her actually appearing here as character: she's there in Jim's memory, in phone calls, and in a letter she sends Jim.

Well worth reading!

Sgt. Chee of Navajo Police, a solitary, reflective man, investigates a deadly gunbattle between two crooks. Hampered by the FBI, Chee goes to Los Angelos to find the keys to the puzzling burial of one of the crooks, and the disappearance of an old Navajo and his granddaughter. In the meantime, he ponders the difficulties of a relationship with a white woman.

Lyrical, steady and reflective, with colorful, plausible characters and solid details of the Southwest and the Navajo culture, this mystery encourages the reader to accept its pace. Chee is a likable protagonist, full of reflection but not angst.

The plot development is a bit slow at times, but the resolution is very satisfactory. For the beautiful job of world-building, solid characters and spare, apt style, this book is recommended.

I've read all of the Hillerman mysteries, but its been several years so now I'm listening to a few on tape as I drive to work. The "on tape" version is quite excellent. It is read (really it would be better to say 'performed') by Gil Silverbird, a Navajo actor and singer. He does an excellent job - the differences between Chee's conversations and interviews with Whites and Navajos become very obvious as Silverbird performs them. It adds yet another layer of cultural experience to the Hillerman books.

Four and one half stars. I am trying to read the Hillerman Navajo series in order. It has been a while since my last one, but it was a joy to read "Ghostway". There is a lot to appreciate. Hillerman not only spins his tale in all directions, but gives me an education in the ways and life of the Navajo today. In this work we learn about death and burial. It is an excellent context for the mystery: a land and a people by and large mysterious to us. Jim Chee is no supernatural hero, but very human, and is working through human issues. He also is an observant man, and puts his skills to use. Some readers may see the plot as slow, and bogged down. Living in the southwest can be the same. The rush rush of L.A. is not to be found in Shiprock, N.M.

Very suspenseful! Hillerman is not predictable, he builds his plot his way, and it is exciting. His characters are real, even teen Margaret Billy Sosi. You find yourself wondering with Chee how to get out of this predicament.

I recommend the Hillerman series to anyone. Although I enjoyed "The Blessing Way" I enjoyed this one more.