Tony Hillerman

Tony Hillerman

Tony Hillerman is best known for his mystery novels featuring Navajo Tribal Police officers Joe Leaphorn and Jim Chee set in the American Southwest. Hillerman had a deep knowledge and love of the history and culture of New Mexico and received numerous awards throughout his writing career. These honours included the Edgar Award, the Grand Master Award from the Mystery Writers of America, and the Navajo Tribe’s Special Friend Award. His novels have been praised for their intricate plots, rich cultural detail, and respectful portrayal of Native American characters.

Hillerman was a decorated combat veteran of World War II. He earned the Silver Star, the Bronze Star Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, and a Purple Heart. Wounded in 1945, Hillerman sustained broken legs, facial burns, and temporary blindness.

Upon returning to the United States, he attended the University of Oklahoma and graduated with a degree in journalism. He worked as a journalist for several decades. He also taught journalism at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque. He was married to Marie Unzner for 60 years, and the couple had one biological child and five adopted children. He wrote more than 30 books, 18 of which were Leaphorn and Chee novels.

Hillerman passed away in 2008. His daughter, Anne Hillerman, is continuing on the Leaphorn and Chee series, beginning with Spider Woman’s Daughter, and has received praise for her ability to capture the essence of her father’s writing style while also bringing her own unique voice and style to the crime stories.

Recommendations For Tony Hillerman

Recommended by Amanda Scrip

Tony Hillerman then his daughter Anne Hillerman, mysteries set in the Navajo Nation in the Southwest

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Books By Tony Hillerman

The Great Taos Bank Robbery: And Other True Stories

Tony Hillerman's Landscape: On the Road with Chee and Leaphorn

The Best of the West: Anthology of Classic Writing From the American West

Kilroy Was There: A Gi's War in Photographs: A G.I.'s War in Photographs

Talking Mysteries: A Conversation With Tony Hillerman

Sacred Clowns: A Leaphorn and Chee Novel

Tips and Resources From Your Tony Hillerman Book Club Friends:

The Joe Leaphorn and Jim Chee books, written primarily by Tony Hillerman and continued by his daughter Anne Hillerman, are crime novels set in the American Southwest. The books feature thrilling mysteries to solve and both Tony and Anne are skilled at crafting compelling plots that keep you guessing until the very end. Both authors have been praised for their authentic depiction of Navajo customs, language, and beliefs, as well as their portrayals of Navajo Tribal Police officers Joe Leaphorn and Jim Chee. What captivates you the most in the books? Is it the blend of mystery, Navajo culture and the scenic settings? Or do the Native American characters engage you most? What aspects of Tony’s books do you enjoy most? Have you read any of Hillerman’s other books such as Finding Moon or The Fly on the Wall? Let’s discuss!

the order of the Books and all Related Books Available

All Tony Hillerman’s Book Series in Order of Publication

Find the right order of the books in the series.

Leaphorn and Chee Books In Order

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Recommended Books From Tony Hillerman Fans

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Vera Wong's Guide to Snooping (on a Dead Man)

“Everything is connected. The wing of the corn beetle affects the direction of the wind, the way the sand drifts, the way the light reflects into the eye of man beholding his reality. All is part of totality, and in this totality man finds his hozro, his way of walking in harmony, with beauty all around him.”

Tony Hillerman, The Ghostway

K.L. Kim

“For readers interested in mystery stories that will immerse you in a culture and geography you may not be familiar with, I highly recommend Tony Hillerman’s books. Great crime stories, great main characters, and set within the Navajo Nation. And his daughter Anne’s books are really good too!”

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