this is my favorite. ( )

The Shape Shifter is a good Leaphorn and Chee novel. Actually it is mostly a Leaphorn novel involving a 30 year unsolved crime involving Grandma Peshlakai complaining that someone stole her baskets and sap from the pinon trees. Leaphorn wound up working with his retired buddies to solve the problem. Humor was involved, Navajo politeness and police sleuthing to work on the case. Three stars were awarded to this book, as it was boring in many places and not one of Tony Hillerman's better stories. ( )

Not as compelling as some Leaphorn novels, and I also figured it out well in advance, but still an entertaining read. ( )

This started as another of the read-straight-through Tony Hillerman's and I was enjoying being as confused as Joe Leaphorn and his friends by all the unfolding mysteries. Then came a lot of repetition, followed later by always unwelcome in-depth hunting scenarios. (Sure happy I don't like fruitcake!)

The worst and still inexplicable was when Navajo Joe condoned the poisoning and
proceeded to watch the dying of a bird. This is not The Navajo Way. Yet, he requested no Healing Ceremony.
This supersedes the plot mysteries.

I skimmed the improbable Tommy Vang ending and tossed the book into the dumpster.

So great to have Anne's books to look forward to with hopefully no animal cruelty. ( )

Really enjoyed this final meeting with Leaphorn and Chee. Ignore the glaring plot holes; it doesn't matter when you're back in the desert southwest with Mr. Hillerman. R.I.P. dear man! ( )