Product Description

A noted anthropologist vanishes at a moonlit Indian ruin where "thieves of time" ravage sacred ground for profit. When two corpses appear amid stolen goods and bones at an ancient burial site, Navajo Tribal Policemen Lt. Joe Leaphorn and Officer Jim Chee must plunge into the past to unearth the astonishing truth behind a mystifying series of horrific murders.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #15580 in Books
• Published on: 1990-02-01
• Released on: 1990-01-05
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Mass Market Paperback
• 352 pages

From Publishers Weekly
Here, kicking off a new mass market paperback line, tribal police officers Joe Leaphorn and Jim Chee head a big and skillfully realized cast involved in the disappearance of an anthropologist. "Hillerman's new novel seamlessly unites drama, pathos and naturally humorous incidents in the continuing story of Navajo life set in the American Southwest," lauded PW. $250,000 ad/promo.
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal
YA-- Hillerman's fans have another hit to celebrate, another surprising mysterious adventure. It may be a toss-up as to what draws them most strongly: varied, detailed, and fascinating revelations of contemporary culture; or compelling, complex, and original murder mysteries. Against the backdrop of the puzzle of the long-ago vanished Anasazi people, a complex mystery emerges in which Anglo culture and values pull against those of the Navajo, resulting in a bizarre series of murders solved by the Navajo Tribal Police. Fast, literate, absorbing reading with unique settings and characters, this title is for lovers of adventure as well as mystery.
- Annette Demeritt, Houston Public Library
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From The Washington Post
"Vintage Tony Hillerman: suspenseful, compelling! Hillerman transcends the mystery genre and this is one of [his] best."

Customer Reviews

Hotshots take Potshots at Pot Hunting
Joe Leaphorn, recently widowed, has little interest in life. In fact, he plans to resign from the Navajo Tribal Police. But a friend and fellow lawman insists he ride along to check out a complaint against an anthropologist doing research at Chaco Canyon. But the woman has disappeared--did she want that badly to avoid an interview with the law? Leaphorn is intrigued to discover an elaborate meal in the refrigerator--Dr. Eleanor Friedman-Bernal was expecting a special guest but never got to serve the meal. Almost against his will, Leaphorn decides to investigate.

Jim Chee is steamed. He was told to keep an eye on the motor pool but he got a call about an obnoxious drunk and while he was taking care of that someone stole a backhoe. He's going to track down the culprit if it kills him.

This authentic and beautifully written mystery exposed the practice of "pot hunting" -- of stealing pots and artifacts from undiscovered ruins to sell for high prices at fancy auction houses. Tony Hillerman is said to have regarded this book as his favorite; it is certainly mine. The interaction between Leaphorn and Chee makes for dynamic reading, and the ending is one of the best and most moving in all literature.

Tony Hillerman passed away on Oct. 26, 2008 and this review is being written by a grateful fan.

Stunning mystery, beautifully complex and blending life and thrillers
The Thief of time is a beautifully written and observed piece, it is thriller, mystery, life, saga and page turner. Jim Chee is set on detecting just who has stolen the flat bed truck from the police depot - a theft that seems to be more about buck passing within the force rather than detection. While he is supposed to be watching a back hoe is stolen from the depot.

Meantime Joe Leaphorn, only days away from retirement after the death of his beloved, Emma, is put on to a case of Grave Robbing. A respected archaeologist, Eleanor Double-barrelled-surname, has been accused of stealing pots from Anasazi grave sites. Only when Leaphorn turns up at the accommodation it seems she is actually missing.

Leaphorn's second senses are aroused when it turns out the backhoe and flatbed truck appear to be related to whatever has happened to the missing woman too.

The ensuing novel is a wonderful crossing over of crimes, of lives intertwined, of coincidences which turn out to be significant later on, and nicely observed human foibles. Beaneath all of this Leaphorn is mourning for his lost wife and trying to come to terms with his life without her. It is a nice intertwining of his life prior to meeting her and his life how, and reflected in the lives of the two archaeologists who are left at the site.

Jim Chee, meanwhile, the more traditional of the two policemen, is struggling with his own personal life - the teacher he loved has gone back to her life away from the reservation, and he is left wondering if the lawyer, Janet Pete, could be the one for him. Their personal lives are anything but straightforward. While the personal lives does not play at centre stage, as the reader, you are aware of what underlies the personal lives of the detectives.

The climax of the novel draws all the seeming loose strings in together beautifully. There is redemption where it is needed and loss is muted.

I have really enjoyed these novels, the places, the people, the culture and characters. I would highly recommend this series, in fact it has my hightest recommendation!

PERFECT
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