Sacred Clowns is truly Tony Hillerman at his best. Both Leaphorn and Chee are at a personal crossroad in their lives while attempting to solve two crimes which may or may not be related. A complex mystery is interwoven with the care befitting a sacred blanket as we learn about the Navajo and their beliefs.The depth of understanding for each man's loneliness and their individual efforts to end it are poignantly portrayed by Hillerman in a mystery as good as any he has penned. Those who relish the way he educates the reader about Native American beliefs while entertaining us in grand fashion will not be disappointed. Perhaps more than any of his novels, Sacred Clowns gives us a better understanding of why the Navajo have survived, while so many other great tribes have all but disappeared.Chee's new assignment working directly for Leaphorn gets off to a shaky start when the former allows a missing boy to escape during a Tano ceremony soon after locating him. It is the boy's elusive nature and a murder during the ceremony that kick off one of the most satisfying mysteries in this fabulous series. Leaphorn is still trying to move on after Emma's death, and Chee is worried Janet may have a tie to his clan somewhere which would prevent him from romance.On the mystery side, a second murder turns this story into a complex puzzle which has Leaphorn and Chee going in different directions. Chee's carelessness at one point will even result in Leaphorn's suspension. Leaphorn's feelings regarding young Chee's conflicting spirit, torn between Navajo tradition and his career as a Navajo Tribal Policeman, are laid to bare here as well.Chee will weigh Navajo justice against the secular law he is sworn to uphold, and come to a startling decision. There is need and loneliness here for both men, Chee trying to begin, and Leaphorn attempting to start over. There is a depth and understanding mingling effortlessly in Sacred Clowns, a mystery engrossing enough to be of merit on its own.We've come to expect a lot of Hillerman's series, and this one really delivers. That magic blend of mystery and Native American beliefs, coupled with likable and very human characters is on glorious display in this one. The mystery is excellent, and you will come away from this one with a greater understanding of the Navajo and, perhaps, humanity.
I've enjoyed getting to know the characters of Jim Chee and Lt. Leaphorn. But the main reason that I'm attracted to these books is the setting...it's quite literally in my backyard. The location of all three books I've read so far cover a huge portion of the Navajo Reservation (or Navajo Nation, as the locals refer to it)...some places I see every day, some places I've already visited, and some I'll check out once the mud dries back into hard soil, making rural roads passable again!It's also interesting for me to see what has changed on the reservation from 30 years ago, when his earlier books were published, to today. I know that the books are fiction, but they truly hit the mark when describing much of what I see out here. The mysteries themselves aren't the most interesting, Hillerman tends to wrap them up quite neatly within the last twenty pages or so of each book. What I enjoy, rather than the mysteries themselves, is the way in which the two characters, Chee and Leaphorn, wrestle with solving the cases as well as solving their own personal dilemmas that surround them at the same time.If I can find any more used copy at the thrift store in town (or Kindle prices go down), I'll keep reading others that he's written.
What do You think about Sacred Clowns (2003)?
Every time I read a Tony Hillerman novel I wonder why it took me so long to get around to reading another on. These books are pure entertainment and brilliant writing. The strength of Hillerman is his characters and his obvious love of New Mexico and the native cultures that dwell there.This book deals with Hopi religious practices and money and environmentalists and the kind of personal justice that makes Tony Hillman so great.I love the feel of this early book, with Chee uncomfortable in his roll as Leaphorn’s junior and Leaphorn unsure of trusting a new associate. It’s quite a contrast to the later books where they are both veterans of reservation detective work.In this case there have been a couple of murders, and a counterfeit Lincoln cane. There is also a drive-by fatality with a twist and a cast of characters that are made to inspire empathy and instant recognition. Hillerman also sneaks in a little bit of lessons about Navajo and Hopi cultures.I would recommend this book to anybody, just like I would recommend any of Tony Hillerman’s books. This early one hasn’t picked up the writing quirks of the later books that make me twitch and the mystery will keep you guessing.
—Jesse Whitehead
Even though I'm hitting the Very Good 4 stars out of 5 button for my rating, I'd really like to give Tony Hillerman's "Sacred Clowns" 3-1/2 stars. Yes, everything's there in good Hillerman fashion: Leaphorn and Chee each pulling on their own end of an elephant and finally meeting up in the middle, wonderful settings, nice descriptions, bad guys getting what's coming to them, etc.. But, for my taste's, Hillerman has added just to much personal pain to Jim Chee's life. From the moment the book starts until darn near the end, it's almost like someone yelled "dog pile on Chee!" I suppose that Chee's difficulties allow an examination of some interesting conflicts between Navajo and bilagaana philosophies. But, still.... Also, I found there to be a bit too much politics in this book. Again, interesting, but not to my taste.Hillerman's "Leaphorn & Chee" novels are:1. The Blessing Way2. Dance Hall of the Dead3. Listening Woman4. People of Darkness5. The Dark Wind6. The Ghostway (Jim Chee Novels)7. Skinwalkers8. A Thief of Time9. Talking God10. Coyote Waits11. Sacred Clowns: Novel, A12. The Fallen Man13. The First Eagle14. Hunting Badger15. The Wailing Wind16. The Sinister Pig17. Skeleton Man18. The Shape Shifter
—David
One of the best of Hillerman's book as he contrasts the action of young Navajo policeman, Jim Chess with otherwise of Senior officer Joe Leaphorn. Jim manages to screw up by not really paying attention to what he is doing. It's spring all he thinking about is Janet Peete. His assignment is to locate a Indian lad who is missing from his school and tell him to call his grandmother. Jim asked Janet to go with him to the festival for romantic interlude and before he realizes it Janet has a couple of friends to join them. Needless to said he loose the boy and is present when the boy's uncle is MURDER. Meanwhile Joe Leaphorn is helping the FBI with a MURDER at the school. These affairs are skillfully brought together as one. I highly recommend this book .
—Betty
