My sister just sent me a link to an article in The New York Times about the death of Tony Hillerman, one of my favorite mystery writers. I was saddened to hear of his passing. I’ve enjoyed his Joe Leaphorn and Jim Chee series set on Navajo lands in the Southwest. Someday, I plan to visit Shiprock, New Mexico; Window Rock, Arizona; Canyon de Chelly National Monument and all the surrounding areas Hillerman detailed in his books. He was one of those writers who could make me feel like I’d been somewhere when I hadn’t. I think part of it is a tribute to his writing and part to the fact that a series allows the reader to keep going back to a setting over and over, learning more about it each time. That’s why I often credit mystery authors such as Hillerman, Dana Stabenow (Alaska) and Nevada Barr (various national parks) with being very good at making setting a character itself.
Anyone out there a fan of Hillerman’s? Of mysteries? What series do you like?
October 28th, 2008 at 3:24 pm
I love mysteries, but I’ve never read Tony Hillerman’s books.
October 29th, 2008 at 9:30 am
I never could get into Tony Hillerman or Nevada Barr, but I do like Dana Stabenow. Maybe I relate more to the cold than the desert, being from the northeast? Stabenow’s heroine is so cool, and I love that scar on her throat (hmm, what does that say about me?). I also like the setting, which is so exotic and different from anything I know.