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The Fallen Man (1997)

The Fallen Man (1997)

Book Info

Genre
Rating
4 of 5 Votes: 4
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ISBN
0061092886 (ISBN13: 9780061092886)
Language
English
Publisher
harpertorch

About book The Fallen Man (1997)

A skeleton is discovered 1,700 feet above the base of a sacred mountain in the four corners Indian reservation. Joe Leaphorn comes out of retirement to help investigate the case, believed to be the rich Anglo named Hal Breedlove who fell while trying to climb Ship Rock eleven years earlier. The Legendary former Lieutenant Leaphorn doesn't believe an Indian would climb the sacred mountain, nor would one kill on it. But then when it comes to mining rights, land claims and money, well, then its anyone's call. Meanwhile Jim Chee is busy on another case, but as usual his path crosses with Leaphorn's who is both his mentor and his thorn if only because he feels a bit incompetent in his presence.Hillerman always keeps the personal side going for both of these main characters. Although Leaphorn is still mourning the loss of his wife Emma, as the book ends, we find that he might be starting a new love interest. As for Jim Chee, it finally seems that he's going to marry Janet Pete. To impress her and to earn more money, he applies for the position of full time Lieutenant. But is Janet Pete really ready to give up Washington D.C.?When we were going down the Intracoastal Waterway and would stop to explore a town, a successful stop always included picking up one Hillerman book at a used bookstore. Since I started working on this web site, I've been meaning to pick up The Fallen Man and finally acquired a copy. I've been reading Hillerman's books for some time now and I always enjoy them. I must have missed Jim Chee and Joe Leaphorn more than I thought, because this book seemed like I was visiting long lost friends. This series isn't the most intellectually stimulating, but I enjoy them because they bring me to the Navajo Indian reservations. These fast paced mysteries, teach a little of the Navajo ways, especially of the conflict as Leaphorn and Chee try to work in white man's jobs, but maintain their Navaho ways. The Fallen Man is a good first introduction to Hillerman if you have not read his novels before or it has been awhile. If you like it, try to read the older ones in order; these characters evolve with each new novel.

This was enjoyable, since I've read Hillerman's books out of order and all the rest basically allude to this one in terms of Chee's relationship with Janet. However, maybe it was because I read it over a long period of time on back burner while reading a lot of other things and didn't pay enough attention, but I truly didn't grasp the ending. In fact, the reason I think I didn't pay enough attention is that the book moved at a snail's pace (cattle theft, blah blah) until about 1/4 of the way to the end when everything exciting started to happen. By then it was too late and my sleepily plodding through the first part of the book bit me. Did the cattle theft plot somehow meet up with the fallen man plot? I just don't get it. Ah well, I suppose I was being a dumb woman, paying most attention to the Chee-Janet romantic fallout (it was surprisingly well written-- didn't know Hillerman was capable of such close observation of feelings and relationships). Don't fault me, my reading this is the equivalent of an old man reading the Hunger Games in terms of intended-audience-mismatch.

Do You like book The Fallen Man (1997)?

Joe Leaphorn is retired (which is ridiculous to even imagine - true retirement would kill him), but he shows up to talk to Acting Lieutenant Chee about an eleven-year-old missing person case and a recent skeleton found on a sacred mountain. Then an old Navajo guide from Canyon de Chelly is shot several times in a murder attempt and Leaphorn begins to put the two together because of the circumstances of the disappearance of the missing person. There are lots of other things going on an misdirections to make it all a fun read. Janet Pete may be history as the girl friend and Bernadette Manuelito appears to be a possible replacement. Much better fit to Chee. Looking forward to the next installment.
—Maggie

This is going to be more about related issues than the actual book.First of all, I sometimes have a tendency to avoid really popular or trendy books, books that might be sold in airports. At some point, after all the people raving about him, I told myself I needed to take a look at a Hillerman book, but it took me a long time to get around to it. By all accounts, Tony Hillerman was a great guy. He had connections to my university, as well as two places I've worked. He spoke at a writer's conference I attended, and I've always kept in mind his advice for not falling prey to writer's block (though, clearly, it worked a lot better for him than it has for me; but that's my problem).I'd watched and liked the PBS Mystery movies of Coyote Waits and Skinwalkers; so when I found this book on my mother's bookshelf, I figured I wouldn't be lost jumping in mid-series. And I was right--watching those TV movies gave me enough background information about the featured characters.It took me too long to finish only because I designated it 'waiting room reading' and kept setting it aside for various other reasons.So, about the book itself: I feel guilty about it, but I didn't love it. There were some good passages, sparingly-worded but really on-target descriptions of the environment, especially; and I enjoyed the mentions of New Mexico places and things. I enjoyed the tidbits about Navajo culture, some I was aware of and others I wasn't. But the dialogue and characterisation tended to be what you'd expect to get from strong, often silent types. Everything kept at arm's-length (or maybe even farther) in terms of emotion. I understand people who play it close to the vest, because I tend to be one; but I prefer more of a peek into characters' internal lives when I read a book.
—Callista

Tony Hillerman's 12 th book in series of Navajo mysteries, "The Fallen Man" again features Joe Leaphorn and Jim Chee teaming up to solve a cold case. 11 years prior, inexperienced climber Harold Breedlove disappeared leaving his wife & brother in law to run his ranch. Amazingly one morning after 11 years a skeleton still dressed in climbing gear is found on rock ledge. The question of the exact date is of vital importance. Harold had to live to age 30 to receive his inheritance- Harold was 29, almost 30 when he vanished 11 years prior. Leaphorn now retired is working as a PI for the Breedlove family. Did Harold's wife, and brother do something funny to ensure they'd get inheritance ? Jim Chee now engaged to lawyer Janet Pete is having his own miseries. Chee must continually struggle with rookie officer Bernadette Manuelito. It's obvious to everyone but Chee that Bernadette has major crush on Jim. Another excellent read from Tony Hillerman that's enjoyable from first page to conclusion. Hellerman's colorful and unique characters continue to amaze with each passing page. It's really easy to root for Leaphorn and Chee even though they really don't get along too well. Another 5 stars out of 5 stars for "The Fallen Man", from Tony Hillerman. A true classic not to be missed.
—Jim

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