Deftly depicting the Southwest and the Indian cultures, this twisty, somewhat fatalistic mystery provides satisfaction.
Reviewed by David on January 09, 2002
Genre: Mystery (Police Procedural, Amerind)
Synopsis: This is an unabridged recording of Coyote Waits.
A Navajo policeman is killed not far from Jim Chee. An obvious suspect is in custody, and Officer Chee, suffering from the guilt of having failed his fellow policeman, is not inclined to pursue alternate perpetrators. But despite the FBI's taking over the case, puzzling circumstances force reluctant Chee as well as the experienced Liutenant Leaphorn to investigate the clues in this deadly mystery.
Full Review: The mystery shows Hillerman's usual strengths: solid feeling of the Navajo culture, the sparse, deadly beauty' of the Southwestern landscape. The two main characters, Chee and Leaphorn, are deftly and sympathetically portrayed, full of intelligence and flaws. Other characters are realistic as well.
Regretably, the mystery itself is a bit lightweight, and the resolution, while exciting, concludes a book lighter on plot than most in the series.
The recording is very well done, and the narration is competent. The book is read by Jay Robertson, who, perhaps due to my previous exposure to Recorded Books's George Guidall, seems a bit less appropriate to the narrative style.
In all, even if not the best of the series, this is a satisfying, solid police mystery.
Overall: 6; Plot: 5.5; Characters: 6; Style: 6.5; World-building: 6; Originality: 5.5;
Copyright date 1990, Books on Tape, 1990, Audio cassette, 7 cassettes
Order from: Books on Tape