Book Review: Coyote Waits: Tony Hillerman

Tony Hillerman writes mystery novels against the background of the Navajo Indian Reservation and the Navajo Tribal Police.  Coyote Waits was published in 1990.  Chee and Joe Leaphorn both work for the Navajo police in different departments.  The become involved in the same investigation for different reasons.  Chee for Janet Pete, who is a public defender for an old medicine man, accused of murdering a policeman when he was drunk on whiskey.  Joe Leaphorn as a favor to his departed wife.
It is interesting how each of the detectives play into the unraveling of the mystery, while conducting separate investigations.  This novel involves murder and greed.  It also involves the history of Butch Cassidy, and whether or not he actually returned form Bolivia, and also the ancient lore and legends of the Navajo people.  It is neat the way Hillerman weaves these things into his story.

Movie Review: *** Skinwalkers

***Skinwalkers  2002 PBS.  This movie is available through Netflix DVD.  It is not one of the horror films with the same name.  It is based on the Tony Hillerman novel and is a crime show based on the Navajo Reservation.  As such there is spectacular scenery.  The story is quite intense, and there is a definite twist in terms of who is the killer in the end.  There is a detective, as well as an officer working with him, who is also in training to become a medicine man.  I really enjoyed this show, and the look at the Navajo culture, which is part of the theme of the show.  How close the different officers are to their cultures, as well as the wife of the detective, makes for an interesting story.  Also part of the theme is medicine men vs. traditional medicine.