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The First Eagle (1999)

The First Eagle (1999)

Book Info

Genre
Rating
4 of 5 Votes: 4
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ISBN
0061097853 (ISBN13: 9780061097850)
Language
English
Publisher
harpertorch

About book The First Eagle (1999)

Tony Hillerman has once again created a fresh and involving entry in his fine series about the Navajo Tribal Police. In this one, the retired Leaphorn is at loose ends after the death of his beloved wife, Emma. Chee, meanwhile, has become acting Lieutenant, but is experiencing reservations over the possibility that it might become permanent. There is a little less of the Navajo mysticism in this entry, but the vast territory covered by the Navajo Tribal Police is given its due as always.Hillerman dedicated First Eagle to six officers who had given their lives in defense of their people from the time he wrote his first book until this one. It is only fitting that while keeping true to the Navajo atmosphere always present in the series, good police work and the very real dangers involved for the Tribal Police are brought to the forefront.Leaphorn is asked to look for the missing Catherine Pollard and his unofficial inquiry will intersect with Chee's investigation into an officer's death. Chee's case is seemingly all wrapped up, but may be more complex than it first appeared. He is chagrined to discover he is still a little intimidated by Leaphorn, but as the two cases cross paths they will once again peel back a little more of the veneer and move closer to understanding each other.This one has everything from poaching eagles to the possibility of the bubonic plague being spread all across the Navajo landscape. Why a pack of prairie dogs are unaffected, and an old Navajo woman who claims to have seen a skinwalker will figure greatly into the exciting conclusion to this one. The ending is also heartfelt for Chee, as his relationship with the pretty lawyer Janet begins to flame out, for she may be Navajo in name only after her time in Washington.While this entry in the series is a bit different, I highly recommend it. Another fine read in a great series.

I really like Tony Hillerman's book. One of the things I like is that they are set in the 4 corners area and I have spent a little time there. Hillerman is good at explaining some things about Indian culture (several different tribes) This book is about a group of people, from several agencies, studying plague and other diseases that have become more virulent due to the overuse of antibiotics. At the beginning to the story a man has just died of plague contracted from fleas on prairie dogs. I have often wondered what will happen when we have a large outbreak of plague from the fleas on prairie dogs.....will people still think they are so cute and love them so much??? It appears that an Indian has killed a Navajo policeman (he is found kneeling over the policeman and has his blood on him) The Indian says he was illegally hunting eagles and the blood is from where an eagle got him. Office Jim Chee (long time Hillerman character) is the one of discovers the murder/murderer. It isn't long until retired Lt.Leaphorn is involved as a young, female health officer disappeared in this same area on the same day. Leaphorn has a lot of philosophy that he shares....such as, "there is no such thing as co-incidence." (I think that is true in live as well as solving murders) All in all, another good murder mystery by Hillerman. Too bad he died in 2008...I will miss his novels.

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A murder mystery and a medical mystery coincide with the appearance of bubonic plague on the reservation. The usual FBI swaggers appear as comic relief in the Hillerman style, referred to by Navajo Police Detective Jim Chee as the Federal Bureau of Incompetence.With the rich cultural backdrops, the brusque Feds always manage to overlook the sensitive worldview issues. They come off looking stupid due to their arrogance and ignorance of the local factors in a case. George Guidall's clear vocal acting enables us to identify and follow the interaction of the generous cast of characters peopling this Hillerman novel.In this story, a sideline plot is very important as Jim Chee undergoes training to become a shaman. The Mystical aspects of the culture flow along with the ominous challenges of the black death. Science and the supernatural cooperate to solve this mystery.
—Orville Jenkins

Tony Hillerman can always be counted on for a quick, enjoyable read. Unlike Patricia Cornwell's "Body Farm" I recently reviewed it doesn't have the handicap of sounding a bit dated no matter when it was published. That's because these mystery solvers don't rely on the latest forensics & computers to come up with the solution. It has to do with relationships. Relationships to their culture, community, & most of all the land of the four corners area of the American Southwest. The space & spirit of this special area is integral to the story lifting me out of my urban setting to soar, at least for a little while, over ancient vistas. Glimpsing with some slight understanding of another world view that often seems superior. Oh yeah, and there's usually a damn good mystery to go along with it. "The First Eagle" is certainly no exception.
—Ed Mestre

The legendary Lieutenant Leaphorn is retired but still investigating mysteries on the reservation, and it's a good thing, as his insights are invaluable to his longtime subordinate Jim Chee. In this mystery Chee's focused on the murder of a Navajo police officer under his command while Leaphorn is investigating the disappearance of a field scientist looking for the source of bubonic plague that's killed a couple of Indians. The researcher disappeared on the same day that the officer was murdered, and of course that's no coincidence.This is a really strong series with wonderful characters. Leaphorn is the gristled old pro who seemingly can't stay away, while Chee is the apprentice who's now stepped into Leaphorn's shoes. (Though right now he's only an "acting" lieutenant", and doesn't really like the job.) Both men have issues in their personal lives that Hillerman succeeds in actually making the reader care about. Leaphorn is a lonely widower while Chee is a traditional Navajo in love with the wrong woman. Thank goodness it seems that Chee has finally come to his senses regarding his relationship with the beautiful, smart and very ambitious Janet Pete. It's funny that Hillerman has done such a good job with these characters and yet, on page 243 of this edition, while writing about Chee he refers to him as Leaphorn. Near the end of chapter 24, Chee is going over in his mind various scenarios regarding how Janet might use some information he's given her, and at the end of a very long paragraph concerning scenario three Hillerman writes that "…and on that tape Agent Reynald could be heard ordering Leaphorn to get rid of the eagle and thus the evidence." In fact, the FBI agent was ordering Chee, not Leaphorn, to get rid of the evidence. That's some sloppy editing.
—Mark Robertson

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