A Thin Effort from Tony Hillerman
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If you are like me, you've reveled in learning about Native American culture, contemplating stunning vistas only available in the Southwest, and appreciating the challenges of being a law officer deeply steeped in two cultures as you read Tony Hillerman's earliest novels. In those books, you probably found either Lieutenant Joe Leaphorn or his some-time sidekick, Jim Chee, to be your favorites.
Naturally, you looked forward to The Shape Shifter after learning that both Leaphorn and Chee are in the book. I did, too.
But the book itself was a disappointment. I spent the first hundred pages trying to figure out why the details didn't fit in with the earlier stories and chronologies. Then, I simply gave up and decided that I should read the book like it's a standalone novel, rather than as part of a distinguished series.
Next, I kept looking for something mysterious to happen. The only mystery seemed to be why a big-time international crook was involved in petty crime in small towns and isolated areas. That part of the premise didn't seem to ring true.
Then, I looked for amazing detection. That, too, was missing.
Finally, I wanted to find intriguing characters that made me think. I didn't find those either.
Ultimately, I was most disappointed that the book's main premise, that a rare Navajo rug was photographed by a glossy magazine and identified as being linked to an old crime, didn't hold water.
So I found myself grading the book based on what I learned about the rug, which was quite interesting. I don't remember the last time that a rug was more interesting than the characters. But, well, that's the case here.
Based on the last few books in this series, I strongly recommend that Mr. Hillerman hire someone to help him write these books.
What's the story? Oh, well. You have a right to know before you consider reading the book.
Joe Leaphorn helped investigate a death of a wanted serial killer where an antique Navajo rug was destroyed. Leaphorn described the rug to an FBI agent, Mel Bork, at the time. Decades later, Bork contacts Leaphorn to see if the recent photograph in Luxury Living could be of the same rug. Bork decides to check into matters and disappears. Leaphorn follows the agent's trail right up to the house where the rug is kept. It seems to be the same rug. How could that be? From there, Leaphorn figures out what happened to the agent and the history of the rug. Before the book ends, Leaphorn finds himself in a quandary about how to bring the guilty to trial.
Unless you are dedicated to never missing one of the Hillerman books, this is one you could probably skip and not feel bad.
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cool
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I do enjoy Hillerman books and in the one, the Western setting combined with the supernatural mysteries and folklore made this incredible.
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