WHAT HAPPENED TO BERGEN MCKEE?: I have read nearly everything that Tony Hillerman has written and, ironically, I read THE BLESSING WAY, one of Hillerman's first books, last. Doing so has given me some interesting perspectives about Hillerman and his stories.

It's interesting to me, for example, that Joe Leaphorn emerged as such a hero in subsequent Hillerman stories while it is Bergen McKee who is literally the star of THE BLESSING WAY. Truly, Leaphorn, if you think about it, is a supporting cast member in a story that highlights McKee's adventures from start to finish. Had he wanted to, Hillerman could have based an entire series of stories on McKee. His character is absolutely compelling--kind of a nerdy Indiana Jones out to discover the darker side of Navajo mysteries and myths. But even with his more bookish nature, McKee is still resourceful enough to outwit virtually all of the villains that Hillerman puts him up against.

Don't get me wrong. I can certainly see how THE BLESSING WAY spawned Leaphorn and his legend. There is certainly enough of him here to keep things interesting. But I would have loved it had Hillerman chosen to include McKee in a few more of his stories.

THE HORSEMAN

I normally never read mysteries, but this author is an exception. I saw one f his books recommended on lj years ago and went and found it and read it. I loved it. The main character is a cop on a big Navajo reservation down in the US. The stories all involve Navajo culture as part of the plot and the descriptions of the landscape make you feel like you are really there. Honestly I enjoyed the first one a bit more than this one because I like the female lead better for the side plot of romance. But I still liked this one and am looking forward to the two other books in the series that I got out of the discard pile at work. ( )

I heard a lot about this series and I decided it was time to give them a try. The PBS version of [Skinwalkers] looked really good. I enjoyed the setting and the characters. But like many other reviewers, I liked the book until the ending. I felt like things were just explained at the end, but the reader wasn't shown how the motives were uncovered. I will read the next one in the series, and hope that they get better. ( )

Learning about the Indian culture was most of the fun of reading this book. ( )

Lt Joe Leaphorn investigates mystery death of boy found upon high plateau. ( )