Skinwalkers 3.5 stars. ( )

This review is my reaction to the three novels of this trilogy ( Skinwalkers, A Thief of Time and Coyote Waits), and two more, The Sinister Pig, and Skeleton Man. All of these novels feature Leaphorn and Chee.

My reaction to the novels by Hillerman is that he is a pretty good mystery writer in the tradition of Agatha Christie, Ngaio Marsh and others. The plots are good, there is human interest in the form of a continuing story about Leaphorn the older, more experienced Navajo policeman (and, in addition of a more reflective temperament), and the younger officer Chee, more impetuous, and, in addition, wanting to be a policeman and also involved with Navajo spirituality. There are also a few important woman characters, all of whom have some relationship to the male characters. In the books that I read all but one of them were revealed through the point of view of the male characters, but it may be that one of them becomes more important in later novels, because she has at least segments of the last two novels told from her point of view.The characterizations are not really deep in the style of a P.D. James or Martha Grimes at her best (in the Paradise Hotel series and a few of the Richard Jury mysteries), but they are likable characters. There are a few stereotyped bad guys - mostly rich white guys play this role - but for the most part even the doers of bad deeds are treated pretty sympathetically.

What distinguishes these novels is how they reveal pieces of Native American culture, mostly Navajo, but occasionally others, such as Hopi or Anasazi. This comes in the form of spiritual practices, description of characters like Coyote or Kokopelli (the flute player), or just the description of how conversation is different among Navajos, who wait for information instead of asking questions and allow longer pauses before jumping in.

Though they aren't great books, they are easy reading and enjoyable. People who like mysteries, and, in addition, have an interest in other cultures, would probably enjoy them. ( )