The Shape Shifter by
Tony Hillerman
hbk out November 06
Published by Allison Busby
at £18.99
Tony Hillerman is a writer with an impressive list of books behind him, as
well as being a Past President of the Mystery Writers of America and
recipient of a number of prestigious awards, including some from Native
American organisations. It is the last that is relevant in this book, as
probably one fifth of the story concerns the mythology and folk beliefs of
the Navajo and Hopi peoples. I don't know whether Hillerman has their
blood in him, but he certainly knows an enormous amount about them,
with a sympathy that seeps through every page.
The main character is Joe Leaphorn, a detective lieutenant recently retired
from the Navajo Tribal Police and feeling somewhat lost with his sudden
leisure. However, his new time is quickly filled up after a call from a ex-
cop private eye, who tells him that he has seen a magazine photograph of
a house in which a rare Navajo story-rug is visible, which was supposedly
destroyed some years before in a fire which killed a murderer wanted by
the FBI. This rug was woven by women to commemorate the scandal of
Bosque Redondo, where in the 1860's a concentration camp was set up
by the Federal Government, where large numbers of Indians evicted
from their homelands died.
Leaphorn's own investigation re-traces the former events and leads to the
death of the private-eye, as well as to danger for himself.
A good story, very unusual compared to the general run of crime books in
that it opens a window on to a period of American history which many
white citizens would prefer to ignore, if they had ever heard about it.
Well-written and with an authoritative ring to it, the book is well worth
reading.
(
Bernard Knight
ex Home Office Pathologist and author of the highly acclaimed Crowner John series)
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The Shape Shifter by
Tony Hillerman
