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As an on-the-mark political rant on the theft of Indian oil monies, drug smuggling, failure of the drug laws to reduce drug use, success of drug laws to maintain prices of illegal drugs, poltical influence on and misuse of federal agencies,one won't find better. Both as a novel and as a mystery, this harlequin romance is Hillerman's worst.

The "sinister pig" in this story is not just a machine used in pipelines. That would be pretty meaningless to us. Our sinister pig is the story's villain, sinister because he will kill anyone to further his goals, and a pig because, wealthy that he is, he never has enough. He is a very safe villain. Everybody can hate him. He's a politically correct villain. Some rich pig who is greedy as can be, and murderous. What's not to hate? This was my first Hillerman story, so I was not at all familiar with any of the characters. There isn't one character in this story that I feel compelled to read more about. I'm not rushing to find another Hillerman story. I didn't read the book. I listened to the audio book while at work. I'm always appreciative of someone reading a story to me while I'm stuck at work. I can't sit behind my desk and read. The opening of the book is a shocker. We are introduced to a nearly retired CIA agent. He is, apparently, the star of the book. But no, he's not. Boom, he's gone. The rest of the story has to play out without the main character. It is one of the oddest structured books I've ever come across. The first character, the one who dominated the first chapter, is gone. Bye. See ya. Now on to someone else. And there is no star after him. There is a handful of co-stars. I'm not used to that. This is very unique in that regard. Normally, a story has a star. This one doesn't. One drawback with being read to is that we are dependent on the person reading, and we have to listen to him do all the characters. I don't understand why they don't have a group of people reading, each taking one character. I'm tired of hearing the guy say "He said" over and over. I'm even more tired of hearing a male voice portray a female character by changing to a really horrible imitation of a female voice. Couldn't they hire a woman to read with him? We hear the guy talk in a higher voice. It is very poorly done. What else is he going to do? He can't make himself sound anything like a woman. There is only one interesting character in this story. He is an employee of the sinister pig. It falls to him to execute innocent girls. The story progresses in the most expected way. I could have written parts of the story line. It is so obvious. Is this good guy actually going to murder the girls? Somehow I doubt it. Are the good guys going to win in the end? Yeah, I kind of think they will. So that's the lowdown on this book. The people who rated it five stars were overrating it, and the people who rated it one star were underrating it, and you've just read the most definitive and accurate review you'll find on this website.

Hillerman is at his best again. This will keep you turning pages until you reach the last page. Hillerman's style is evident and welcomed.

I have read every Leaphorn/Chee book by Hillerman more than once and am a great fan. I just finished this book and discussed it with a friend.. we both agreed it was so disappointing.. we cannot believe it was written by the same person. The writing was awkward and heavy-handed... by the second page I suspected something was wrong here. It reads like some cheap Harlequin mystery/romance. The sensitive handling of Navajo spiritual beliefs, the beautiful rendering of the landscape, the terse but meaningful conversations are all missing. All I can say is, the publishers need to pay more attention to future manuscripts and insure that a writer of Tony Hillerman's caliber is not allowed to decline in the public eye... he has given us much enjoyment.... he deserves better. And if someone else is fleshing out Hillerman's plot lines.. the public should be warned.

If Tony Hillerman wrote this novel (novella actually), I sure can't tell. I have been a Chee/Leaphorn fan for many years, but this novel is not in the same league with Hillerman's other work. It is reminiscent of a 'B' movie. Instead of building suspense, the plot is laid out all too plainly, the characters are unreal, and the Chee/Bernie romance doesn't ring true. I am amazed that it was published.

Have read the whole Leaphorn/Chee series by Tony Hillerman. This is one of the better ones - the subject is topical and the characters take on more definition. The overall "feel" is that this time, the subject is of a more personal nature to Tony Hillerman? A good read.

PORK ANYONE! THE SINISTER PIG by Tony Hillerman combines all of that you have come to expect from a classic Hillerman mystery. It's all there: murder, intrigue, ominous messages from "The Man," political maneuvering and corruption. And, as usual, it's all set against the sweeping panoramas of the American Southwest, as vivid in Hillerman's descriptions as in a Maynard Dixon painting. Chee and Leaphorn are at there very best when a body turns up in their jurisdiction. Step by step, the pair untangle the deftly woven webs of deceit placed carefully to ensnare the curious while covering up one of the slickest crimes the two have ever encountered. Bernie Manuelito and Cowboy Dashee are along for the rollicking ride! THE HORSEMAN

I have enjoyed Hillerman's novels for many years. His strength is writing about the Navajo community and making Native American culture integral to plot resolution. It is great when I can enjoy a light mystery novel and feel I have learned something about a culture I am not very familiar with. I have counted on his accuracy since he seems to have the endorsement of the Navajo community to represent their culture in his books. This book, with emphasis on Washington, a few mentions of Homeland Security and Osama bin Laden, takes him away from where I perceive his strengths to be. His characters always seem to lack depth. They seem to exist to move the plot along. It would be great if he could write one of these books wherein he explores the inner life of some of his characters in a sustained, deep and meaningful way.

Leaphorn, Chee and Bernie romp all over New Mexico in this tale involving a heavy handed Washington bureaucrat with too much power under his belt. Bernie snaps some photos at a ranch near the Mexican border, and soon her life is in danger. Meanwhile, Chee and Bernie can't seem to admit they love each other, and Chee wants Bernie back off the border patrol and back into the Navajo Tribal Police where she belongs. If you like J.A. Jance's Joanna Brady series, you will love this one. It also has a touch of Clive Cussler's style in it.

This is one of Tony Hillerman's weakest mysteries, but it's worth reading for a plot twist that will make it interesting for long-term Hillerman fans. I suggest, as others have, that you first read several of the earlier books in the series to get to know Jim Chee and Joe Leaphorn, the Navajo detectives who surely deserve a place in the hall of fame for fictional detectives. You won't be able to appreciate fully this book without being familiar with the back story. Contrary to Hillerman's usual practice, most of the action in this book takes place off the Navajo reservation, way down in the New Mexico bootheel near the Mexican border. Hillerman's usual weaving of Indian culture into his mysteries is mostly absent. Hillerman also preaches in this novel, a bit unusual for him. He argues against the US war on drugs as futile and harmful and he exposes the theft of billions of dollars from Indian tribes by fraud in the payment of royalties on oil and gas revenues. Smallchief

It's a little ironic that Hillerman made his reputation as a chronicler of Din (Navajo) characters and culture, but tends to put other tribes in his novels as local color elements. I was interested to see Tohono O'odham characters in Sinister Pig, but disappointed when it became obvious that Hillerman knows little or nothing about the O'odham. They're not "locals" in the SE Arizona / New Mexico bootheel region any more than Navajo or Hopi are. He has Jim Chee think, "That tribe had its reservation on the Mexican border, lapping over into Arizona". Jeesh! Look at a map, Tony: the Tohono O'odham reservation, about the size of Connecticut, is right smack in Arizona southwest of Tucson. (Lots of O'odham live in Sonora, but not on designated reservation land.) Minor point? Yes, in terms of the novel overall. No, in terms of Hillerman's reputation as an amabassador of Native culture to a broader readership.

I am a big fan of all mystery and crime novels, so naturally I went out to get this book. I was sadly disappointed, and almost regret my purchase. There wasn't the usual umph I feel from his novels. I do have one spark of good that came out of this. I took the chance on a new author, I bought her book and loved it. It was "Waves of Deceit" by Marlene de Velasco. I would read that one again over this anyday.

I'm a big fan of his, and I have to say that this was a BIG letdown. It features: Stilted dialogue, no character development, no suspense, no description of Indian tradition and poor editing. Avoid at all costs.

i wouldn't bother with this one. it is a crashing bore. hillerman has been on a slide the past few years. he has reached bottom.

Tony Hillerman is such an accomplished writer, it's understandable that some reviewers are somewhat disappointed by this effort. Hillerman does an excellent job of presenting details of American Indian culture without resorting to the preachy tone some "politically correct" authors would use, and these details are missed in this novel. This novel also seems to lack some of the plot twists of some of Hillerman's earlier works-it winds up reading more like a straightforward crime story than the mysteries Hillerman has created in the past. These criticisms aside, I enjoyed the novel. It's a quicker read than some of Hillerman's earlier works, yet it still throws in a couple of twists. The characters Hillerman has created are interesting, and it's enjoyable to read another novel involving them. In short, the novel has its faults, but on balance I enjoyed it, and I look forward to reading Hillerman's new novel soon.

An interesting plot but all of Hillerman's strengths, careful delineation of place and characters is absent. Any characters from any author could fill the roles. Is someone writing for Hillerman now? I won't pay money for any further novels by this author until his writing improves. A shame because his early novels are among my favorites.

I normally enjoy Mr. Hillerman's works, and have a collection I like to return to over and over. This one, sadly, went straight into the box to go to the used book store. The editing was so horrible as to be a joke. It makes one wonder if his writing has always been this bad, and some UberEditor has been working magic for all these years, or if he was just under a huge rush to meet contractual obligations and couldn't be bothered to actually write a decent book. It is also disappointing in that the story could have been exceptional, given a bit of care. This is an important issue to all the tribes, but should be just as important as a history lesson to all Americans as an indicator of just how corrupt the American government was in the past, and remains today. Next time, I will take a little trip to the library before I automatically add the next Hillerman novel to my collection.

I agree with the reviewer who said 'read the others first'. Apart from the great spaces of the American Southwest, there's very little that's typically Hillerman here. Please Mr. Hillerman, stick with the various Amerindian cultures of the region - they're fascinating - give us more interplay & inter-reaction!

I love Tony Hillerman's books, but this one is a major disappointment. I have always found his descriptions of the Navaho culture and the lives of the characters to be very interesting with unique situations that distinguish him from the usual run-of-the-mill mystery writer. Substitute the character's names with any Anglo or Hispanic names, and you would not recognize this as a Hillerman book. I was sorry to see that Bernie's character devolve from a strong woman officer to the lady-in-distress rescued by the hero, and eager to become the little woman after all. I was also sorry that Jim seems to be losing interest in becoming a healer. They story was interesting and well written, if a bit of a stretch, but just not what I look for in a Hillerman book.

Reading Tony Hillerman's latest, I was at first thrilled by the congregation of old friends - Jim, Joe, Bernie, Cowboy et al - and a return to the delightfully atmospheric Four Corners. Then not too many pages further, my elation was undermined by a pathetically weak plot, a non-dimensional villan and female victim, and a rush to the totally predictable and maudlin denouemont. Let's hope that Tony finds a second wind; these characters and northern New Mexico are too good to waste on a comic book story.

Once again Tony lays out another vivid picture of New Mexico's enchanting lanscape. but this time the setting is the mysterious and lonely desert area of NM's boot heel. The characters are there. For the most part it reads like a typical Hillerman Leaphorn/Chee book but with an exception. The story is hurried along after a few chapters. It's like someone was bored and wanted to get the manuscript to the publishers quick and be done with it. All true Hillerman fans will read this book but I believe most will feel a bit cheated. It's a very short read even for a Hillerman. The beginning starts out with a perplexing and strange murder to solve but everything is unraveled quickly. I pretty much knew what to expect next from each character. The perfect chance to build suspense and a deep mystery was wasted by letting Joe Leaphorn solve everything way too quickly. It seems Joe only needs a few phone calls and a simple map to solve anything. The usually savy Chee and his intellegent cohort gal, now with another agency, are like bafoons relying mostly on the aging legendary Leaphorn to figure everything out. If you're a diehard Leaphorn/Chee fan like I am, you'll buy the book, even with its dissapointing 'not up to par' story. If it's your first one in the series, do yourself a huge favor. Read the first 15 before taking this one on. Otherwise you'll miss out on how good Hillerman can really be and might never bother to read the others.

I, like many of the other reviewers here, am a long standing fan of Tony Hillerman's mysteries featuring Joe "The Legendary Lieutenant" Leaphorn and Jim Chee. I, also like many other reviewers, found __THE SINISTER PIG__ to be a compelling mystery. It carries through many themes from earlier Hillerman mysteries: We have Sgt. Jim Chee of the Navajo Tribal Police, who is in love with Bernadette "Bernie" Manuelito, formerly of the Tribal Police, but now with the Border Patrol. Chee is afraid to tell her of his feelings for fear of rejection. We have the aforementioned Bernadette Manuuelito who is in love with Jim Chee, but also is afraid to express her love due to the same fear. We have the now retired "legendary Lieutenant" with his ever-present maps and his analytical mind. It's always a pleasure to meet these three again. We have a powerful businessman/criminal with money, political connections, and evil intentions who won't let anything or anyone stand in his way. We have a couple of ex-C.I.A. agents, one who is operating incognito and is murdered almost as the book opens, and the other who is working for our amoral rich man. Throw all of these characters into a pot and mix them with the search for 40 billion or so dollars of missing royalties never paid to various indigenous tribes, the C.I.A. man's murder, and a drug smuggling plot, and you have a mystery (or perhaps mysteries) that requires the best of Leaphorn's analytical abilities and Chee's intuition to begin to get to the bottom of things. Well, that's the plot in a nutshell, and it does make a story well worth reading, but, there is something missing that I have come to anticipate in Hillerman's novels. In the majority of his previous novels, he included, as an integral part of the plots, information that is not widely known about Navajo, or occasionally Hopi, customs, mythological history, and religious rites. I always felt that I was getting a cultural education as well as reading a good mystery. This unique aspect of his previous books was missing here, and I, for one, missed that aspect of his knowledge that he usually shares with us. Even with the unique aspect of his writing missing, __THE SINISTER PIG__ is a novel worth reading.

I love Tony Hillerman. I have read every book he has written including all his Chee/Leaphorn books, his children's book, his coffee table book, his memoir, his non-fiction books, etc. I even liked "Finding Moon". Having said this, his last several Chee/Leaphorn books are delivering a diminishing return of enjoyment. "The Sinister Pig" is an acceptable novel but without question the worst Chee/Leaphorn book to date. The books feel particularly strained in how Hillerman tries to bring all of the series characters (Chee, Leaphorn and Bernie) together in unlikely and implausible ways despite their natural separation by age, jobs and hundreds of miles. What I most enjoy about Hillerman are his steady pacing, sense of the environment and interweaving of Navajo and western culture. All of this is present in this novel. What is missing is carefully plotting and crisp dialogue.

I've read all his books. I found this a quick enjoyable read. I'll admit the captivating imagery of the 4 corners area that Hillerman created in earlier books is missing, but I still liked the book. It drew me in and got me emotionally involved. The story was actually more interesting to me than some of the stories in his more highly regarded books, including some of those which had that magical imagary that this book is missing. If you're a fan, you should read it coz you'll probably like the story.

I've read all of Hillerman's books, and this one is a major disappointment. It reads like a very rough first draft, a plot sketch. If you pay attention to the bewildering number of characters, the plot plods resolutely forward, no surprises -- and none of the intricate twists that Hillerman has dazzled us with in previous books. The characters are thinly developed (so-o-o-o little tension between major love interests) and seldom manage to rise above pot-boiler level. Unlike his other books that take place on the reservation, there is no interesting information about native Americans, their history, culture, etc. About the only thing this book CAN claim to do is keep you turning the pages. You keep believing that surely the real Tony Hillerman will appear to delight you. Alas, he's asleep at the wheel. It's a shame to see such a talent settle for so little. I am one disappointed fan.

I had the CD read by George Guidall who does an excellent job. Many of the other reviewers tell you the plot so I will just give you my impression. I thoroughly enjoyed the book keeping in mind I have read several other books with the characters of Chee and Leaphorn. I liked the suspense and timing of this book. I have no problem with Bernie being shaken by her ordeal. I really liked the element of Budge's part in the drama and I especially liked the ending.

I first read Mr. Hillerman in 1973 or so. I enjoyed his wonderful blend of Navajo atmosphere and crime. He has been straying. As he gets off the rez, his books lose their impetus. This book is a great example. Very little to do with Navajo interaction with the larger culture. A lot to do with a pretty silly plot. At many points in the book, I found myself re-reading it, trying to figure out how X happened, as it seems to have been edited very slackly as well. Can't recommend this book, unfortunately.

I gave THE SINISTER PIG 4 stars because, hey, it's part of a good series with very likeable characters and it is a page turner. However, on other accounts it is lacking. The strength of the Jim Chee/Joe Leaphorn mysteries has been character and cultural setting. This time out, the story is plot-driven and largely takes place off the Four Corners Navajo reservation. Much time is spent on the "guest star" characters and not so much on our old friends. Thus, there is a thinness to this book despite a plot that starts off ambitiously snuffling up Washington corruption, post 9-11 paranoia, corrupt CEOs, drug smuggling, and other zeitgeist. The good news is, those who have read earlier entries in the series will be amused to find all of the other regulars finally losing patience with Jim Chee's romantic klutziness and variously taking him aside and essentially saying, look here, the time has come to get on with things. Also, Hillerman takes what might be his best shot yet at satirizing the bureaucracy. There is a great scene where the FBI, New Mexico State Police, Bureau of Land Management, DEA, and representatives of at least two other agencies are disputing jurisdiction and who should show up but Homeland Security, insisting on authority over everything and everybody. A last comment: the hardcover edition is riddled with publishing errors, mostly misplaced punctuation. Isn't proofreading on editorial job descriptions anymore?

"Carl Mankin" a sort of nom de guerre is supposed to go to the four corners and find out how the pipeline system is bypassed to avoid paying royalties to the Interior Department for the Indians. The man has just retired from the CIA. His employer is named Slate. The amount not accounted for may be as high as forty billion. Mankin is afraid he will stand out as he did not stand out in the Mideast when in the petroleum producing areas. Mankin checks with the Department of Energy. A sort of target has been identified, Rowley Winsor, a sinister pig, who may have political connections. Winsor's grandfather made his money in liquor during Prohibition. Winsor's character is illustrated by the fact that he has arranged to have a Congressional intern killed because her pregnancy is an inconvenience to him. Jim Chee and FBI Agent Osborne learn that a dead man has been identified through the Visa card of Carl Mankin. The Carl Mankin credit card is in the possession of Delbert Chinosa who received it from Albert Desboti. Albert Desboti found the card in a billfold while cleaning a park. A renatal automobile has alson surfaced miles away from the body and the wallet. Joe Leaphorn, retired, is contacted by Chee and others seeking to unravel the identity and the goals of the dead man. Jim Chee finds a tie-in with information Bernadette Manuelito, a Customs Officer and his former employee, has discovered. He drives south to see her. It seems tht the dead man is really Gordon Stein. Both the FBI and the CIA as his former employer and other forces are withholding pertinent information. Bernadette Manuelito is in physical danger for having stumbled upon and photographed scenes yielding clues to the solution of the mystery. Fortunately Leaphorn and Chee come to the realization of the danger on time to be of assistance. The plotting is adroit. The characters, as always, are well drawn. The theme of the series may very well be Jim Chee's search for a mate.

For years, Tony Hillerman has been giving us wonderful plots, intricate characters and breathtaking verbal landscapes. With "The Sinister Pig," unfortunately, it seems Mr. Hillerman is growing tired of his Leaphorn/Chee series. The plot of "The Sinister Pig," his latest in the series, is promising, but Hillerman seems to have lacked either the energy or the desire to flesh it out into what could have been a fantastic novel. Instead, what we get is a partially realized concept that clocks in at an anemic 240 pages. (And it's 240 heavily padded pages, at that, with blank pages between chapters, large type and heavy leading on the part of the typesetter. Let's face it: This is more a novella masquerading as a novel than the real thing.) The book is also rife with proofing errors, including more missing question marks than one can count and at least one instance in which he accidentally refers to Chee as Leaphorn in mid-scene. That, plus a far-from-satisfying closing, makes "The Sinister Pig" feel like a rush job, as if Hillerman was more interesting in finishing this project quickly than crafting a quality piece. Fans of Mr. Hillerman's work have come to expect much more, and they all know he's capable of top-notch fiction. Unfortunately, "The Sinister Pig" doesn't fit that category.

Over the many novels in Hillerman's illustrious career, the readers have come to love the adventures of Joe Leaphorn and Jim Chee, however, the Sinister Pig seems to delve off onto a parallel tangent of the mysteries we've read for so long. While both characters are present, it seems as if Hillerman wanted to introduce something else besides yet another murder mystery, that is a little political commentary of his own. The novel starts with a preface regarding missing royalties to the Indian Nations as it ties into oil profits and the U.S. government. While I don't dispute his claims one way or another, Sinister Pig clearly is a vehicle for Hillerman to present his personal viewpoints in a fictional manner and to make the reader really aware of this. The story itself, while good, is missing the magical sense of Navajo country and traditions the readers have come to expect from Hillerman. Gone are the beautiful descriptions of the four corners area, and the deep culture of the Native Americans. Instead we find Jim Chee at a mid life crisis, contemplating his life as a bachelor and his love for former Officer Bernie Manuelito. Joe Leaphorn is present as well, but his character steps down as a main player to that of the supporting cast. And while Leaphorn has his momentous 'breakthrough' in the case, his involvement otherwise is minimal. However, who does step up to the plate is Bernie Manuelito. Now as a Border Patrol Officer assigned to lower New Mexico, she stumbles across a corrupt department, and some 'fishy' on-goings at the nearby Tuttle Ranch. Something in regards to drugs, gas and oil pipelines, illegal immigration, the apparent murders of undercover government officials and of course and errant and deviant U.S. government. The novel is pretty fast paced and is a very quick read. Chapters are small and to the point. It was a good diversion for a Hillerman book, but I hope this was just a half way point to a much larger novel that will bring our characters back to the forefront of Native American culture and its roots in northern New Mexico.

This is actually more of an agglomeration of more or less related short stories than a real mystery book with a central plot and a few sub-plots. While Hillerman has done this before and usually does this very well, this is not his best effort. It would not be a good book to start reading Hillerman, you need to know the characters to understand some of the allusions. One of the reasons I read Hillerman is his intimate acquaintanceship with a place and a people that I find interesting and yet know very little about. Usually he obliges by adding to my small store of knowledge about the southwest or Navajo life. This time the additions, and there were some, were very small. Hillerman needs to get back into Chee or Leaphorn and then write a story. This is when he is at his best - but he is still very good.

I really liked sinister pig, with the exception of the characterization of Bernie Manuelito, who I felt was short-changed somewhat. In this book, Bernie has decided to work for Border Patrol, out of frustration with her ex-boss Jim Chee, who has been a bit stand-offish. Instead of being satisfied with her new position, Bernie yearns for the rez and her friends. Jim Chee, meanwhile, is miserable without Bernie, but helpless as to how to express his growing affection I admit, I was a bit disappointed with the character development of Bernie Maneulito, who is my favorite character. Why must Jim Chee and the other male characters constantly rescue her? Bernie is a well-trained police officer and no longer a rookie! I was disapointed that the author chose to portray such a strong female character as a frail wilting flower, who just needed one of the men to help her out. Feh. It would be nice for Bernie to rescue Jim Chee for a change. Overall, a good book, with an interesting villian. But please, I'm a bit tired of the author selling Bernie short. What's wrong with Bernie being a cop? The book needs a few tough women to balance out the mostly-male cast.

In this latest book of several - the Joe Leaphorn/Jim Chee series - a well dressed corpse is found near the Jicarilla Apache Indian reservation without identification or visible means of transportation. Sgt. Jim Chee of the Navajo Tribal Police is dispatched to the scene and caught up in a spiral of intrigue and white man's avarice and greed. Here is an authentic tribal setting that is engaging in its freshness and ring of truth; this is a mystery of riveting vigor. Sgt. Jim Chee and retired Joe Leaphorn combine forces once again to sort and tie a variety of clues into a satisfying conclusion to the story. Along the way, as an essential part of the story, Jim resolves his interest in former NTP office Bernie Manuelito. From the scandal at the Department of Interior concerning a missing four or forty billion dollars of Indian Trust money to the capitol of the United States, this tale grabs and holds the reader. Here's suspense, greed, avarice, theft, murder, love and the wide open American Southwest wrapped up in a tidy bundle of reader enjoyment. This is Tony Hillerman as good as he has ever been and hopefully will continue.

I have read all of Tony Hillerman's books, and have learned a great deal about the Navajo people and their culture. I think I enjoy the descriptions of setting and folkways more than the plots of his books. This one was short on description of sky and mountains and weather. Hillerman seems to have decided that since he has written so much of Navajo ceremonies and the nature of the people, that he doesn't have to tell us any more. I felt a great lack of what I enjoy most. I also felt that the book lurched along from an unprepossessing start in Washington D. C. through a series of events that never quite explained everything. I expected more to be said of the ripoff of royalties for gas and oil, because it seemed to be introduced as an important problem early on. This won't stop me from reading the next thing Hillerman writes, but I hope the next one is more organic in structure and contains the old poetic quality when he writes of the people and the land.

Bernie Manulito (sp?) and Cowboy Dashee have joined the ranks of federal law enforcement officers and both figure prominently in this story. In a less gifted author, it would all seem too convenient but Hillerman's writing is seamless. Bernie has taken another job to get away from Jim Chee and what she perceives to be his ambivalence toward her. As a border patrol agent, she stumbles across some illegal activity which places her danger. This danger gives her an opportunity for more action in the book and gives Jim a reason to seek her out. Meanwhile Jim Chee is miserable without her but does not know what to do about it. Both Joe Leaphorn and Cowboy Dashee become involved in the mystery, and the people who pose the biggest threat to Bernie are taken down in the end. There is a pleasant surprise in the take-down scene. This was a delightful story that goes by much too quickly. It seems shorter than his other novels, but I liked it much more than the last one he wrote. I only gave it four stars because he has written other novels I like more that I would give five stars to, but taken by itself and not in comparison with his other novels, I'd give it five stars. Hillerman is by far one of the best novelists of our time. I dread the thought of his last book and with every new book, I fear it will be his last. I have learned a great deal about Navajo history, culture and religion from his books while having a good time with the mysteries therein.

Tony Hillerman falls off his stride when he attempt to plot a story around high-falutin' eastern types. But how can any story that features Joe Leaphorn and his magical maps--even if only tangentially--fail to enchant a listener? The final compilation is not Hillerman's best, but it is still a whole lot better than a whole lot else out there. The audio version is wonderfully read by Geroge Guidall.

I eagerly await each new Hillerman book spotlighting the compelling duo of Native American lawmen Leaphorn and Chee. The author has defined these two in a low-key, nicely detailed manner that makes them compelling and comfortable, story after story. Why, oh why does Hillerman keep his appealing heroes offstage for so long in this latest outing? He continually cuts away from the good guys to focus on the bad guys, who are uninteresting and mundane. I've devoured every Leaphorn/Chee mystery, and am sad to report that this is by far the weakest. But onward and upward, Mr. Hillerman. Bring on some more.

The Sinister Pig (2003) is the most recent installment of Tony Hillerman's series of mystery novels set in and around the Four Corners area of the Southwestern United States. It is another superb novel, and nearly on par with his other works. The Sinister Pig offers many characters familiar to Hillerman's readers. Jim Chee continues to be a main focus, as does his prospective love interest, Bernadette Manuelito, now a novice customs officer working in southern New Mexico. Manuelito stumbles into trouble, drawing Chee and a host of others into the picture. Not the least of these others is the "legendary" ex-Captain Joe Leaphorn and his new "sidekick" character, Dr. Bourbonet. Several new characters - a Guatemalan exile, a Washington DC attorney and an erstwhile law student -- are particular to this story. Still, they're well-written and compelling, and extend the depth of the story past the usual boundaries of a mystery. As the story develops, the reader will notice a series of evolutionary departures from Hillerman's standard fare. Foremost among these is the fact that story reads less like a mystery than a suspense novel. While it's true that there is a murder, and it is something of a mystery, the good guys and the bad guys all have their identities and roles out on the table pretty early on in the book. From there, the reader gets to anticipate whether the good guys (Chee, Manuelito, Leaphorn and a few others) will find and capture the bad guys before they succeed in any of their nefarious plans. Since the reader knows how the pieces fit together before the characters, the story really revolves around the suspense, rather than the "whodunit" aspect of the plot. At the same time, some other changes seem to be brewing in Hillerman's writing. First, while Hillerman has always shifted points of view frequently in his stories, it seems like no point of view is particularly dominant in this book. From my recollection, that's a little different than in his earlier writing. Chee, Manuelito, Leaphorn and three major characters particular to this book all get some time in front of the point-of-view lens. It doesn't hamper the story, but for those used to watching Chee or Leaphorn solve a mystery, it's a little new. The other key difference is that much of this novel takes place off the Navajo reservation that's so familiar to Hillerman readers. While that doesn't hamper the story either, for me it left the novel with a very different feel. Prior works were well-steeped in Navajo (and sometimes Hopi) cultural flavor, and I enjoyed this aspect of his works. That flavor, for me, got largely crowded out by other story elements in this book. It didn't ruin the work, but I did find that I missed that content, and hope he returns to it in the future. Far from harming the work, these differences and changes simply present the story in a different light. Sinister Pig is an excellent novel, and well lives up to the expectations that Hillerman's readers have. I give it five stars for it's strong story, good characters and compelling tempo. I don't think readers, whether they've read Hillerman before or not, could be disappointed by this book.

The acknowledgements at the beginning of this book tell the reader why this book was written. Mr. Hillerman mentions "the Department of the Interior's efforts to explain what has happened to $176,000,000 (billions!!!) of Indian oil, gas, coal, timber, etc-royalties which it can't seem to account for." In reading this book, it seemed as if Mr. Hillerman's outrage over this little publicized situation and his effort to call attention to it, led him to give less attention to his usual complexity of character and setting. This book was perfect for airplane reading and may lead me to learn more about the missing royalities. It may also lead me to read "Seldom Disappointed" to learn more about Tony Hillerman and what makes him tick.

As a longtime fan of Tony Hillerman's mystery series involving Navajo policemen Joe Leaphorn, Jim Chee, and now Bernie Manuelito, I picked this one up based purely on name recognition. As I read the book, however, I began to wonder if it had actually been written by Hillerman. The plot involves Washington, D.C. politicos involved in drug-running between Mexico and the U.S. There is some soap-boxing about missing royalties owed Native American tribes from the U.S. government, and a couple honorable assassins thrown in to spice things up. The setup is interesting enough, with a man sent out to the Four Corners region to do some investigating, shot in the back, and then a follow-up investigation by Sgt. Jim Chee. Meanwhile, Chee's would-be girlfriend has become Border Patrol Officer Manuelito down in the bootheel of New Mexico. In fact, most of the action in the story is done by Bernie, although Leaphorn figures out most of the details with his powers of deduction and a couple maps. Chee just kind of ties things together. What disappointed me is that although the characters are moving along, the spirit seems to have gone out of Hillerman's writing. The vivid details of the landscape and geography are missing, along with the spirituality of Chee. Most of the Navajo cultural notes that made the earlier novels interesting are just kind of hinted at and it is assumed that the reader has read the other works. If this was the first Hillerman mystery I picked up, I would probably skip the rest.

As I read this book, the thought that kept intruding that Tony Hillerman is no longer young (he'll be 78 this year). I strongly suspect that this book, which comes so strongly on the heels of "The Wailing Wind," may well be his last. Other reviewers have noted that this book adds nothing new to our understanding of the central characters. But it does leave them with fewer unresolved issues than prior books. Rather than being the cynical money-making effort depicted in some reviews below, this book appears to be a parting gift from an aging author who wanted to give the series a more satisfying closure than "The Wailing Wind" had left us with. That said, it's not a great stand-alone book. The first chapter, which introduces the retiring CIA agent who will soon become the murder victim, is painfully cliched, seemingly cobbled together from bad spy movies and political thrillers. The mystery is obvious (partly because huge chunks of it are told from the villains' perspective), and except for a little bit of magic with maps, Leaphorn and Chee get no chance to show off their detecting brilliance. The setting, in southern New Mexico's "boot heel" region, is rendered generically, without the detail for which Hillerman is famous-as though he'd written it from maps and memory. Plot elements never connect, and there are gaps in the police procedure (most notably involving a car, which is missing in one chapter but has been fingerprinted in another chapter, with no mention that I could find of its being discovered). The cobbled-together feel of this book, its lack of complexity, and its short length make me suspect that Hillerman's health is failing and that he rushed it to completion while he still could. Hopefully I'm wrong. Regardless, readers of the series this book should save this book for last-it's merely an epilog to a long and honorable series. If you've read all the books, this one is a must read. If you've not, you'll be disappointed. And if I'm right, thanks Tony, for making the effort to give us a parting gift.

Unless you are an absolutely die hard fan -- save your money. Otherwise, this book is bound to be a disappointment. The villain is utterly implausible, much of the plot centers in D.C. and Chee and Leaphorn are peripheral to the story. I have to say that I usually enjoy Hillerman for the descriptions of the landscape and insights into Navajo culture as much as the mystery itself. This time, however, the plot is so implausible and the writing so flat that it detracted from the usual pleasures. I also have to say, having lived in Washington, DC for the past 12 years, that I found the portions of the book dealing with DC and federal politics completely absurd. In fact, Mr. Hillerman so misunderstands the DC political game and his villain is painted in such broad strokes that it made me wonder whether his descriptions of Navajo culture are equally bogus and inaccurate. By the end of the book, I had come to question all his descriptions. I also have to agree with all those who criticized the writing in this book. Many of the scenes read like outlines, particularly in the later chapters. I've noticed that mystery writers with long established series frequently get lazy with the later books in the series (see Martha Grimes), but I do not understand why the publisher or editor does not insist that sparse scenes be fleshed out and that authors adhere to modicum of versimilitude. I know that the authors of Hillerman's stature will make money no matter how dreadful the writing but I would think the embarassment factor would kick in.

Tony Hillerman does a bit of traveling away from the Navajo Reservation in this outing. Officer Bernadette Manuelito has forsaken the tribal police for a job in the southern most regions of New Mexico, where she is training on the job to be a border patrol agent. Although she is still in love with Jim Chee, she sees only hurt and complications in staying so decides to move on and find solace in her work. Sgt. Chee is much better at police business than he is at expressing the personal stuff in his life, so poor Bernie is under the impression that the attraction she feels is never going to be reciprocated and she needs to get on with her life. Meanwhile, back on the res, a body turns up that is causing a lot more than the usual interest by federal agents. There is no identification on the body but the FBI immediately snatches the case from the local jurisdiction of the tribal police and all inquiries from the locals for progress in the case get a response of "this isn't your problem." Of course, Jim Chee is even more curious when he starts getting that answer and begins to hunt for information on his own. Retired Lieutenant Joe Leaphorn gets drawn into the same puzzle of the unidentified dead man by a different route. As usual, he gives insight based on his considerable years on the force dealing with both criminals and the bureaucracy. And in a final, bizarre twist, Officer Bernie (200 miles to the south of the reservation) finds a piece of the puzzle that has Jim heading down to the border for a visit and a feeble attempt at talking Bernie into coming home. Trouble is, Chee, the great problem solver can't untangle his feelings for this beautiful Navajo girl. Since his past relationships have always ended badly, he has no hope that this young woman just might be his perfect compliment, so unconsciously keeps pushing her away. But, personal relationships aside, the Sinister Pig moves inexorably toward an explosive final solution, tying all the strange coincidences and loose ends into a very nicely wrapped, well planned mystery. It all sounds complicated, but in Hillerman's deft hands, The Sinister Pig becomes completely plausible and thoroughly enjoyable.

When a man is found killed on Jim Chee's reservation, the FBI swoops in and D.C. headquarters determines it a hunting accident. Chee doesn't think so, but he doesn't know where to take it until he gets a letter from Bernie Manuelito--now a border patrol officer. Bernie has seen strange things on the border but when her boss takes her picture and then that picture shows up in drug runners' offices, she knows she is in trouble. She may value her independence, but she knows when she's in over her head and she is. With a little help from Lt. Joe Leaphorn, Chee untangles a mystery that involves a missing $40 billion of Bureau of Indian Affairs royalty money and the U.S./Mexico drug smuggling business. Whether he'll unravel the clues in time to save Bernie is another question. Tony Hillerman fans will be overjoyed to see a new mystery featuring the wonderful Chee and Leaphorn. Both men are still struggling with their love interests, unable to quite put things together, suddenly inarticulate in the presence of the women they love. THE SINISTER PIG takes the mystery largely off the reservation and so misses out on the Native American culture and religion that provides such a depth to many of Hillerman's earlier Chee and Leaphorn novels. Hillerman is cynical about the war on drugs, recognizing that its biggest supporters include the smugglers themselves--criminals who would be out of business if drugs were legalized and who are willing to do virtually anything to prevent this disaster. As always in Hillerman novels, the FBI is treated as incompetent and corrupt at the D.C. level, even as it sends its most talented agents into the hinterland. Hillerman also takes a dig at the Department of Homeland Security, recognizing that adding a layer of bureaucracy may not be the best way to improve safety. Hillerman's strong writing makes this short mystery a page turner. Fans will want to read it even as they hope that Hillerman will return to the Native American culture that makes many of his earlier novels so powerful.

I share the sentiments of my fellow reviewers - this was contrived, shallow and a total let-down. It was as if Mr. Hillerman hired out the writing. I am a total fan, and eagerly awaited the book. Now I will eagerly await the next one. I am always an optimist.

I, like many Hillerman fans, waited anxiously for Sinister Pig. Unfortunately, when it arrived I was disappointed. The story has potential, but fails to reach it. It's like Hillerman was told write your story using only X number of words, then you're done regardless of whether the story is filled out and completed or not. Is this the end of Chee and Leaphorn??

This novel demonstrates the spare, elegant prose and tight plot that characterizes Hillerman at his best - as in Blessing Way or Dark Wind. Then too, the characters we have come to love, Jim Chee, Joe Leaphorn and even the interloping Cowboy Dashee as well as Jim Chee's latest heartbreaker, Bernie Manuelito, are center stage. So why the grousing. Perhaps Hillerman fans expected more fireworks after the two most recent clunkers. Or maybe, with the same cast in place, readers expected Hillerman to continue his exploration and exposition of the cultures of the native peoples of the southwest. But as Hillerman moves his action further south, he leaves much of the Navaho ethos behind, and the distinct customs of a people fade as the writer brings the Sonoran landscape to the foreground. Tellingly it is described as even more vacant, more of a vacuum of living things than the "Four Corners" setting of earlier novels. Bernie, now with the Customs Patrol carries extra plastic jugs of water in her vehicle, and she will need them as she discovers thirsty illegals stranded in the desert. Principal characters getting lost because of undistinguishable landmarks ( unthinkable on Navaho land ) leads more than once to important plot turns. Readers similarly may be exploring new and unfamiliar territory which is a bit more uncomfortable because of the presence of the familiar in different roles. If this is not classic Hillerman, it is still very good Hillerman, a differently focused Hillerman, and an entertaining read.

It's quite clear that Tony Hillerman has squeezed the last ounce of blood from this turnip. You know he's run out of ideas for his venerable Native American heroes when he's more interested in the villains of the book than the cops. This book, definitely the worst in the series, is as flat as a pancake from start to finish, with a "mystery" as complex as an Encyclopedia Brown story. Chee and Leaphorn have basically nothing to do in this story except pass on endless, awkward exposition. Side characters slide in and out with no real purpose. The only cop who Hillerman seems to be interested in, the fetching Bernie Manuelito, becomes a helpless pawn in a macho boy's game of drugs and power. Even Hillerman's trademark Ansel Adams-esque descriptions of the southwestern scenery seem minimized and irrelevant. Hillerman can't even figure out how to end it properly, resorting to a horridly uncharacteristic "epilogue" that seems like it was written two hours before deadline. This series really does have a lot of legs in it, but Hillerman no longer seems to have the energy to keep it moving. Perhaps it's time for someone else to take over with Hillerman serving as consultant. Because it would be a shame for Chee and Leaphorn to continue on the downward spiral that has plagued Hillerman's most recent efforts.

This book seems to be Tony Hillerman attempting to masquerade as James Patterson. Some familiar characters, a murder and related violence, short chapters, almost continual action and extremely limited character development. (Eliminate the many blank pages between chapters and it is barely two hundred small pages of large type. Thus, it is overpriced.) The story has great potential. It has the well known characters of Sergeant Jim Chee of the Navajo Tribal Police and Bernie Manuelito, now separated geograpically from Chee as a rookie Border Patrol officer and with the future of their relationship in doubt. When a puzzling murder in Chee's jurisdiction intersects with Bernie's work, the retired "Legendary Lieutenant " Joe Leaphorn is called upon for consultation. At the same time there seems to be a puzzling interest emanating from a powerful source in Washington, D.C. concerning the ramifications of the case. There is an intimation that the dead man may have been investigating the actual scandal concerning the loss (probably due to a combination of theft, embezzlement, indifference and incompetence) of billions of dollars of royalties from the Indian Tribal Royalty Fund held in trust by the Department of the Interior. This is a topic with great potential for an author with Hillerman's skills and knowledge, but it becomes peripheral to a pretty standard police procedural combined with the mystery of how the romance between Bernie and Jim will conclude. There is some excellent misdirection regarding both the nature of the underlying crinimal activity and its participants and who or what is the real "SINISTER PIG". But a lot of the oppportunities to develop the potential plot complications and resultant suspense were simply never pursued. Also, there were several loose ends that were never satisfactorily tied up despite the attempt to do so in the epilogue. (I cannot go into details without revealing too much of the plot.) It is almost as if Hillerman had an outline for a wonderfully complex story and then decided it was too complicated and so decided to quickly bring this part of the story to a close and leave the rest for a sequel. As the title of my review implies, a few elements helped me decide to generously round up my rating to three stars. First, the plot is clever, and there is sufficient misdirection to keep the reader's interest. Second, it involves familiar characters. Third, this is a incredibly fast read. It is definitely a book for a short trip or a rainy afternoon. So if you are a Hillerman fan, lower your expectations and enjoy a few hours updating yourself on the latest happenings in New Mexico.

For the dedicated Hillerman reader, this latest may be disappointing. We have become accustomed to excellent mysteries which are also anthropology lessons. In almost if not every story of Joe Leaphorn and Jim Chee, Tony Hillerman has presented his readers with lessons about many facets of the southwestern Native American culture, the problems this culture faces. This novel is more a straight thriller, without significant overtones of cultural stress and adaptation. The basic plot line does have a Native American connection. It seems that the Department of the Interior is responsible for a trust fund for Native Americans. The trust is where royalties and other payments for oil, gas, timber, and other sales from reservation lands are deposited so that the money can be used for the benefit of the tribes. It also seems that tens of billions of dollars which should be in the trust are not, and there doesn't seem to be any explanation. A senator hires a retiring CIA specialist in pipelines to investigate what is happening in the "four-corners" territory, especially as it related to activities of a billionaire recluse who may be dabbling in hard drugs as well as petroleum. The implication is that the billionaire is diverting gas and oil from the pipeline and avoiding paying royalties-or anything else. The covert investigator is found murdered on the reservation and Jim Chee is the investigating officer. But the FBI claims jurisdiction, transfers case management to Washington, and then stonewalls. Chee wonders why the apparent cover-up and keeps on digging. Enough waves are made that DC people involved in investigating the trust fund situation wonder if there is a connection and ask Joe Leaphorn, now retired, to look into the case. What follows is a very good thriller, with unlikely "heroes" and bad guys getting their just desserts. The implications of Washington insider conspiracies are raised but never resolved; yet, while not quite up to Hillerman's stories which do have stronger cultural lessons, this is a very good book. PS: the sinister pig is not Native American but pipeline related. Read the book to find out what the title reference is about.

OK, I thought, "The Wailing Wind" was an aberration, a hiccup in the career of a very good author. But two points define a line, and "The Sinister Pig" plots Mr. Hillerman's career straight down. In the corporate world you sometimes see a luminary from an earlier era who is "RIP" -- retired in place -- just going through the motions, living on past glories and collecting the big bucks for his reputation, not his current work. Sadly, this describes Tony Hillerman, who has decided to stir around a few ashes, thow in a highly predictable conclusion, and call it a novel. I bet he's laughing at his readers all the way to the bank. As for the book itself, reviewers occasionally describe a film as "OK for a 10-minute sketch on SNL, but not a 90-minute feature." That's Sinister Pig for you: interesting premise but almost no plot or character development (call central casting for all the stereotypes), no suspense (you know from the start who's really a bad guy and who's really not), and the shallowest of literary style (like Wailing Wind, everyone is constantly "grinning" at everyone else). The initial plot device, investigating diversion of Indian royalty payments, is both interesting and topical -- it's really happening -- but couldn't lead to a facile wrap-up in a mere 224 pages, so Mr. Hillerman switches to just another standard contraband tale. Rest assured, the good guys prosper, the bad guys pay, and the bad guys who are really good guys ... well, what do you expect? I did like the little polemics on stealing of Indian royalties, the vested interest of both narcos and narcs in keeping the "War on Drugs" going full steam, and the pervasiveness of corruption in high office, but they weren't enough to salvage an otherwise trivial work. If Mr. Hillerman hasn't retired completely, I'll wait until his next book is available in the public domain before reading it.

The reading of this book became a real chore....I found myself reading just to be reading, but not really enjoying. The beginning of the book was confusing, boring and not very well written. The pace did seem to pick up when there was more of Chee/Leaphorn. The last 9-10 chapters, which were good, sort of balanced out the first 17-18 which were mediocre, hence the 3 star rating instead of 1 star. And, while I'm crabbing, I want to address the fairly recent practice of putting out 200 page books for $.... I'm beginning to read some of the lesser known authors with "hefty" books so that I feel that I am getting my "money's worth".

This is not really a Chee/Leaphorn novel. It does not take place on the Navajo Reservation, neither Chee nor Leaphorn is really involved in the crime, and the crime really has nothing to do with Navajo culture in any way. In fact, the effort to involve them comes off as contrived. While Bernie is more of a central character, she is a weak central character. All we find out about her is that she is sad and misses Jim Chee. We don't even get to see her as a very professional cop. The most interesting character is actually Budge (a hatchet man for a cartoonish Very Bad Rich Guy). If only the novel had been written about him, from his viewpoint, it could have been great. As it was, it was just an OK but forgettable standard cop/mystery story. It couldn't even decide if it was going to be a story about exploitation of Indian resources or about smuggling drugs. And while I support legalization of most drugs, the discussion of that in the book was heavyhanded and simplistic. It really seemed as though Hillerman had a bunch of topics and series plot developments on a checklist, but was searching for a real novel to slip them into. Sadly, he came up with this threadbare framework instead. The stylistic skill was as good as ever (thus the three stars), but you know what they say about putting lipstick on a pig....

I am a huge Tony Hillerman fan -- I've read each of his novels multiple times and have enjoyed all of them. My favorites are Dance Hall of the Dead and Skinwalkers. The Sinister Pig, simply put, is an awful book, and is not even close to the level Hillerman has set for himself. Much of the action takes place on airplanes and in limousines, and next to nothing occurs anywhere close to the Navajo reservation. Hillerman tries to introduce the flavor of the New Mexico/Mexico border region, but his descriptions do not even come close to the standard he set for the Four Corners area. Had I not been to this area many times myself (I grew up in Arizona) I wouldn't be able to distinguish the border region from Kentucky. Finally, the subtlety and grace of earlier Hillerman character interaction -- Leaphorn and Emma, Chee and Mary Landon, and so on -- has been blown away by a sudden urge by Hillerman to make everything explicit. Yes, Tony, we know Chee loves Bernie and Bernie loves Chee -- why do you have to pound it in to us in every single scene? This book was, simply put, painful to read, and I wouldn't have finished it at all were I not such a big Hillerman fan. If you are new to Hillerman, please please please do not begin with this poor work. And if you haven't read every Hillerman novel, probably multiple times, my advice is to put this one aside and go back to those books you haven't read, or haven't read in a while. I really wonder, seriously, if Hillerman farmed this out to some ghost writer -- it really has the feel of some poor shmuck trying to mimic Hillerman's characters....... it's sad, because I had really hoped that Tony had one or two good novels still left in him, but if The Sinister Pig is any indication, he doesn't. Very, very sad.

It almost seems as if Hillerman is trying rush the Leaphorn/Chee serial to a happy ending for his readers so he can quit writing them. In true Hillerman form, the plot had great potential rooted in current events, but came up shallow. For me it was reminiscent of some of Hillerman's work in the 80s when he seemed obsessed with the professional killer who was in turn obsessed with his parents (which isn't necessarily bad, it worked very well in "People of Darkness"). There are some twists and surprises, but not enough to save it. Even a bad Hillerman Leaphorn/Chee story is a good read for me, but I was spoiled by "Sacred Clowns" and "Hunting Badger"!!

There is something immensely satisfying, comfortable, and compelling about a Tony Hillerman mystery. None of those is quite the right word, but they will have to do. Other readers have reviewed the plot, so I'll skip that. Perhaps the characters are what are so electric. One just has to like Jim Chee, the patient Navajo policeman, and his lieutenant emeritus, Joe Leaphorn. By now they are old friends to Hillerman's many readers. In the book just previous to this, we are introduced to Janet Pete's replacement--Ms. Pete went off to the city and left Jim Chee brokenhearted. Chee's new love interest (most obliquely) reprises here and is even more charming than last time. Still, it may not be the characters that drive a Hillerman mystery. Perhaps it is the very land itself, the Four Corners high desert of New Mexico, the Navajo people, their culture, the sacred mountains, the dusty, rutted roads, the hogans, the ceremonies and shamans and fears and prejudices. All I know is that I eagerly await Hillerman's novels, and I'm a bit sorry I read this one already, since the wait for the next one will be even longer.

Great book and lots of fun but absolutely no Indian or Southwest anthropology or cultural flavor. It could have taken place in Manhatten or Miami or anywhere and the characters could be anyone. The legendary Leaphorn plays Nero Wolf or Spencer and Che is his legman or HAWK. This is the happiest of all his stories but is the only one that you do not learn anything except the meanings of "Sinister Pig".All the new and old loose ends with some surprises, but you close the book happy. For the first time in a dozen books, you don't find yourself hoarse yelling at CHE to say the right thing.

I am a big Hillerman fan but found this book sadly lacking in the normal quality that I would expect from Mr. Hillerman. The story line as noted in other reviews was weak and thin to say the least. Character development was left at the sketch level, and the plot was not supported by the narrative. Several examples of this include the plot line between Chee and Officer Bernadette Manuelito. It was simplified to the point where all we read about was his yearning for her, and her for him. The level of which was dime store at best. Secondly, in trying to tie all the lead character's in, we find ourselves jumping from one simple story line connection to another. Chee to Leaphorn to Bernadette Manuelito, to an unknown power broker in Washington, etc. The resolution of the story lines would have better off in a typical weekly tv show. Since when did we see in a Hillerman book, the paid killer letting his feelings get the better of him and saving both Bernadette Manuelito and the Senator's girlfriend. If someone wanted to read Hillerman I would send them back to any of the previous books and tell them to stay away from this one.

I love Tony Hillerman. In my mind, he cannot write a bad novel. Also he seems to be a very genuine individual. The characters he creates are unique in mystery fiction. I would love just reading about them going to the mall. This is most conventional Hillerman yet, and I don't mind. It starts with a mysterious man who gets killed in the first chapter (in Hillerman novels, the murder always happens in the first chapter). It then brings Jim Chee in, them switches to Bernie Manuelito far from home and eventually in enters Joe Leaphorn with his professor friend. And eventually even Cowboy Dashee (?) enteres the story. Its like a gathering of old friends. It even has a sympathic hitman. I agree with most all of the criticism of this book and I don't care. A few years ago, Mr. Hillerman had a case of cancer and didn't write anything for a while. I guess I count every book after that a bonus book. As you can tell, this is not an objective review. I'll take a book like this from Hillerman over about every other author I read which includes Jonathan Kellerman, Ruth Rendell and Colin Dexter. I like Alex Delaware, Inspector Wexford and Chief Inspector Morse, but the Navajo people as portrayed by Mr. Hillerman are uniquely interesting.

It's not on the agenda for this year, or even next year, but while I still have all of my wits about me, I want to sit down and read all of Tony Hillerman's Joe Leaphorn and Jim Chee novels in chronological order. Hillerman has masterfully evolved both of these characters over the past couple of decades, introducing Leaphorn, then Chee, and having them meet at respectful loggerheads and gradually develop a mutual admiration as their respective worlds evolve and change. Hillerman has done this so well that one would think he had everything planned out before he even set the first word to paper lo those many years ago, though that seems impossible. No matter. Hillerman remains unrivaled in his ability to capture the people and culture --- and the nuances of both --- of the American Southwest. THE SINISTER PIG, Hillerman's latest novel, finds Leaphorn adjusting to retirement and life as a widower, while Jim Chee investigates the mysterious death of a stranger on the edge of the Jicarella Apache natural gas field. Though the Navajo Tribal Police have jurisdiction, the FBI quickly moves in and classifies the incident as a hunting accident. Chee, however, is not satisfied. The victim was not dressed for hunting and was stripped of identification. The proximity of his body to the natural gas field indicates that he might have been investigating charges that billions of dollars from the sale of gas have been embezzled from the Indian Tribal royalty trust. But if that was the case, for whom was he conducting the investigation? The stakes become personal for Chee as he finds that photographs taken by Bernie Manuelito may have some bearing on the matter. Manuelito, a former member of Chee's squad and now with the Border Patrol, took the photos in the course of her investigation of suspicious activity around a ranch in southern New Mexico. She is unaware, however, that her photographs tie in with Chee's case and put her in terrible danger from an unexpected source. Chee must rely on his own knowledge, as well as Leaphorn's wise counsel and connections, if he is to resolve the mystery of the dead stranger and save Manuelito's life. THE SINISTER PIG contains all of the elements that Hillerman is known for --- the interplay between Leaphorn and Chee, the strong characterization, and the intimate knowledge of Indian tribal culture and relationships. Chee is a particularly subtle delight here, as he struggles to come to grips with his feelings for Manuelito and his almost painful inability to articulate them. The most significant aspect of THE SINISTER PIG, however, is the villain of the piece who gives this novel its name. A sinister pig is one who has more than he or she can use, but still wants more. The shadowy Rawley Winsor, in this case, is the sinister pig, and he is one of the more interesting adversaries you'll encounter in literature this year. And his assistant, the enigmatic Budge, practically makes the book all by himself. One almost gets the feeling that THE SINISTER PIG could easily have been twice the length of its 224 pages, that the story wants to burst out of its binding with more that could be told. Regardless, THE SINISTER PIG remains a worthy addition to Hillerman's canon. --- Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub

In "The Sinister Pig," Tony Hillerman tackles more universal concerns. His Navajo Reservation gang is up to its elbows in trying to solve yet another homicide. This time, it's a mysterious agent whose death extends clues in numerous directions, not the least to the very center of America itself, Washington D.C. Hillerman's action takes place almost entirely off the Reservation. The complicated web he has woven involves primarily the drug trade, massive fraud by oil and gas organizations, and the smuggling of illegal aliens across the Mexican border. Hillerman has chosen to take his socially significant themes to a much broader horizon and readers may feel they're reading from a daily newspaper (lately described as "America's newest fiction form!") editorial page. Still, the issues he present couldn't be more relevant. Granted, he takes care of his established characters. The Legendary Joe Leaphorn contributes heavily and Jim Chee faces a complicated and complex set of personal struggles: his relationship with Bernie, his responsibility to his native culture, and his loyalty to his job. Hillerman has no problem with any of this, yet "The Sinister Pig" seems to move at a pace unusually fast for the author. This book seems to concentrate on action rather than devote much time to personal philosophy and Navajo culture. Nonetheless, Hillerman has another winner.

I just wish Tony Hillerman could write faster. I seem to need a dose of a new book by him about twice a year. His books featuring Leaphorn and Chee, for me, are the best of the lot, so Sinister Pig goes right to the top of the list. Here's the thing: Hillerman and his editors KNOW anything he writes is going to sell like thermal longjohns in Alaska. But still, his books read like they've actually been edited and checked and coddled a bit. Sinister Pig deals with murder - of course - dum-de-dum-dum: otherwise, it wouldn't be a Hillerman mystery. It also deals with lots and lots of $$$ missing from the Tribal Trust, drugs, greed, and hanky-panky on the 'rez.' I just wish Janet Whatzername, Chee's first love interest, hadn't vanished from the series so early... Here comes Bernadette Manuelito, however, to take up the slack. Don't miss it - but here's the thing lots of casual readers don't realize: You can take a Hillerman book, a topographical map of the Four Corners area, and a 4-wheel drive vehicle, and actually track down every single rock and arroyo and mesa and creek that's mentioned. Trust me: I've done it.

Not since FINDING MOON have I been so disappointed in Tony Hillerman. When I buy a Hillerman book, I don't want to read about an evil, faceless puppetmaster who pulls string in Washington and wrecks havoc in the Jim Chee and Joe Leaphorn's 'four corners' of the world. I want to read about problems on the reservation...or difficulties within the Navajo Tribal Police...or about how the native Americans are trying to preserve their ancient knowledge.....or about how Joe Leaphorn is finding a new life after the death of his beloved wife...or about how Jim Chee can't ever get it right with women. I also want the book to be more than 240 pages. This story felt like formula fiction, something Hillerman has avoided up to now. The story about siphoned off oil and gas probably needs to be told, but I think a non-fiction expose would be a better venue for unveiling what could possibly be the biggest heist in history. I had another issue with the story. I never for one minute believed the author's reasoning behind Bernadette Mauelito's leaving the Navajo Tribal Police for a job with the Board Patrol. Bernie was too close to her family/clan to move to the Mexican border. It was completely out of character for her. I would have understood a 'temporary assignment' with the feds, but having her choose to make that kind of radical move just never felt right. For Jim Chee fans, the book does contain a pleasant surprise. I look forward to seeing how Chee handles it in the next story. This is not Hillerman's best -- but after so many good ones, he's due a hiccup.

This latest Hillerman mysery features all the usual (by now) characters, Joe Leaphorn, Jim Chee, Louisa Bourbonette, Bernie Manuelito, Cowboy Dashee, and a new hero, whose name I won't mention, because to do so might spoil some of the surprise, but I hope we will be seeing more of that person. The action takes place in southwestern New Mexico, the location of Bernie's new job, and therein lies the missed opportunity. If only Tony Hillerman had gotten together with Judith A. Jance and brought Joanna Brady in to help, there might have been two novels about the same events, this one and another by Jance, from Joanna Brady's viewpoint. I, for one, would have loved to read both, and I am sure I am not alone. Nonetheless, "The Sinister Pig" is a very enjoyable read, for which thank you, Tony Hillerman! Let us hope for many more to come! watziznaym@gmail.com

I've fallen in love with Joe Leaphorn and Jim Chee in all the other books involving one or both of these Navajo Tribal policemen. It's usually so satisfying to see the way the Legendary Lieutenant approaches a problem, especially in contrast to his younger colleague. So I've always must see what they're up to, and so should most readers who consider the mystery capable of plenty of literary satisfaction. As always, Hillerman's descriptions of the Navajo Nation landscape are wonderful; so real you can almost feel the charged air as summer thunderstorms build, hear water racing down the wash, see and touch the earth. Unfortunately, this latest book strays too far from home. Hillerman doesn't capture the beauty of the more southern desert and Apache country. While Bernie Manuelito is usually somewhat endearing, in this book her behavior is almost too wide-eyed to be plausible, especially considering she's a cop. And Chee and Leaphorn, as well as the ever-appealing Cowboy Dashee, seem like minor characters in what turns out to be a fairly stock spy/thriller caper, with a bad guy so bad he's almost comic. And the ending--please Mr. Hillerman--you've got to keep Jim Chee forever lost and questing! If he grows up, the world will grow old...

It is always wonderful to open another Hillerman and follow the latest law enforcement adventure in the Four Corners. Meeting up with Jim Chee and Joe Leaphorn is just like meeting up with old friends. And reading this newest Hillerman brings one quite up-to-date with each of the men, their current love life, and their efforts to solve a mystery of international intrigue. This is not Hillerman's best novel, but one can forgive him because he does present a fast page turner and educates along the way. Chee's romantic interest, Bernie Manuelito has gone to work for the Feds in the Border Patrol, and unlikely as it may seem, she becomes linked to a murder in the Four Corners. The pig involved takes on several meanings, but would be especially familiar to anyone in the pipeline trade. The double meaning, of course, indicates the greed that leads to corruption within governmental bodies. This tale involves Washington, D. C. subterfuge, and enlists the Navajo Tribal Police, U. S. Bureau of Land Management, U. S. Border Patrol, the F. B. I., and the Office of Homeland Security. Hillerman skillfully sets his tale in the midst of the real world worries of the 21st century. Will "third time's charm" work for Chee in his stumbling romance with Bernadette? The romance and the mystery intertwine for a comfortable quick read and satisfying solution. Can't wait for the next Hillerman in order to meet up Leaphorn and Chee once more. If you are a Hillerman fan, this is a must read.

The Sinister Pig is one of Tony Hillerman's deftest plots and best designed stories. Be careful not to read reviews that tell too much of the plot, or much of the book's pleasure will be needlessly spoiled for you. Some will not like this story as much as previous ones because it moves into new ground, both geographically and story-telling-wise. Having that reaction is like failing to appreciate the latest model of Ferrari while being totally fixated on the 1950s versions. Be open to the evolution of Mr. Hillerman's skill and the potential of his characters. Because this book relies so much on past character development to establish its story, it would be a major mistake to make this the first book you read in the series. If you start with this book, the big mystery will be finding out who all of the people are and why the story involves them. I think this is one of those series where you really should start at the beginning and work on from there. This story is told from the perspective of several different characters, none of whom know everything that is going on. As the reader, you are privy to more of their thoughts and knowledge than any of them have which helps you anticipate what will happen next. Yet, until near the end, the ultimate meanings of the book's title will be hidden from you. It's a nice job of misdirection and a gradual, tasty unpeeling of the story grape. Neither Jim Chee nor Joe Leaphorn are the center of this story, although they play major roles. This is Bernie Manuelito's story although she doesn't appear in the book's opening. She has left some of her frustrations with Jim Chee and the Navajo Tribal Police to join the U.S. Customs Border Patrol near the border of Arizona and New Mexico. This takes her 200 miles from the reservation, and she's lonely despite making friends there. She alternates pining for Jim and being annoyed by his seeming aloofness in letters. He misses her desperately, but cannot bring himself to do anything about it. Bernie finds her new job emotionally and physically challenging because it involves both stopping illegal immigrants who may be in trouble after being abandoned by the coyote guides who lead them and dangerous drug smugglers who will stop at nothing to get their valuable, illegal cargoes through. In the background to the story are a mysterious investigation of misappropriation of billions in royalties due to Tribal Trust Funds from oil and gas sales, an unexplained death which the FBI hushes up, a Washington power broker who desperately wants the war on drugs to continue, former CIA agents and operatives, blackmail, a missing mistress, an exotic game ranch, an investigative reporter, and unexplained construction in the middle of nowhere. The book's only flaw is that the villain is portrayed in terms that are a little too extreme to be credible. He's more like a James Bond foe than a Tony Hillerman criminal. The overall theme of this book is about how our misperceptions of what is going on are likely to lead us astray. These misperceptions may be based on differences in language and culture, knowing only parts of the facts, having facts be withheld from us, or by assuming what others tell us is true when it is not. Mr. Hillerman does a masterful job of portraying all of these problems, and showing that it is important that we act on our desire to know more . . . rather than being satisfied with what appears to be going on at the surface. Better solutions are at hand, if only we grasp them. After you finish this fine book, I suggest that you think about where you may be misperceiving the potential around you. How can you test the accuracy and completeness of those perceptions where it's important? Donald Mitchell Co-author of The 2,000 Percent Solution, The Irresistible Growth Enterprise and The Ultimate Competitive Advantage

I hadn't been expecting to hear from Tony Hillerman again so soon. It hasn't been that long since THE WAILING WIND. This one is a very rapid read, with much of the action happening away from the Navajo reservation (Always a bad move, Tony). The plot centers around the murder of a retired CIA operative who's investigating the theft of billions of dollars in Indian oil, gas, coal, and timber royalties for a United States senator. Bernie Manuelito has taken a job with the border patrol to get away from Jim Chee, her pushy boss, when she stumbles across a suspicious construction project in the middle of the desert. Unknowingly, she has become embroiled in a smuggling operation and her picture is being spread around by Mexican drug traffickers as a DEA agent to be on the lookout for. Meanwhile, Chee is pining away for Bernie, trying to think of a reason to go get her and ask her to marry him. This is where Joe Leaphorn enters the picture. He gets out his maps and is able to tie the original murder scene to some abandoned oil and gas pipelines leading from Sonora, Mexico, to the site of the murder. The Sinister Pig of the title is a device used to clean the insides of the pipelines. Joe quickly grasps the possibilities. Hillerman uses multiple viewpoints to help us follow the action. There's a billionaire drug smuggler, his former CIA pilot (the most interesting character in the book), and a corrupt border patrol supervisor and of course our friends Joe, Jim, and Bernie. I'd be surprised if this book is over 70,000 words it reads so fast. I liked a couple of things about it, besides Chee and Leaphorn of course, two of the best characters in the mystery genre: the factual basis of the book, the royalty money which the Department of the Interior lost or stole and the great character, Budge C. de Baca, the billionaire's pilot, a romantic felon I haven't seen anywhere else. I also like Cowboy Dashee, a recurring character in the Leaphorn/Chee series, who is now working for the Bureau of Land Management. He and Chee add comic relief to what might otherwise be a pretty conventional mystery.

Enjoyed it with my grandchildren.

My grandson loves it.

Enjoyed this story as a child (I'm now 71) so thought our almost-here Great Nephew would love them as well.

my favorite book as a child, now in a nice new edition, love this! so do my grandchildren!

Mom and Pop read it to my godson at bedtime. He loves it!

One of my favorite books from childhood and Im sharing it with my grandbabies. The artwork is colorful.

I am so glad Amazon had this version of The Little Engine That Could book. Also was happy to have it in hardcover. I wasn't sure at first if my almost 4 yr. old would like the old fashioned looking pictures but she was very excited pointing to all the animals, toys, trains and clown as I was reading the book to her. I would definitely recommend buying this classic book for any child 5 and under.

Grandson loves it

This story is good way to teach children the importance of helping others and believing in yourself. The other engines reminded of the Good Samaritan story from the Bible because the first two engines said they were important, but they didn't help the little train at all. The little blue engine was just like the Samaritan because she was the one who helped the train get on the way.

classic!

This is my favorite childhood book. It has a great message for kids about the power of believing in yourself.

Was it always a girl train? I feel I remember the story differently as a kid

A classic! Should last through several kids!

This was my favorite as a child. I just wish it was available as a board book

good

every kid needs this. WORKs for adults too.

Really lovely book!

We all love the classics.

As a kid, I *loved* this book. However, as an adult, it is quite painful to read. The wording is awkward and unnecessarily complex. My parents gave me my old copy of the classic, which I initially thought was an amazing gesture of love to have saved it all these years. Too late I realized it was sweet revenge for making them read it to me so many times. Unfortunately my kids enjoy the book quite a bit.

great

A very nice replica of the original classic.

Great book!

This is a great book, but make sure you get the original illustrations. The illustrations by Phil A. Smouse (isbn 1577480813) are insipid, a big contrast to the original illustrations (by George and Doris Hauman) which are charming. The version I have is isbn 0448405202 but it appears that other versions probably also have the originals.

Great

I think I can! I think I can! I think I can recommend this book as a classic that should be in the library of every young child!

This is a very cute little story that young children will enjoy. I definitely recommend purchasing this book for the child in your life. I purchased this for my young nephew and he really enjoyed it.

Perfect story to help illustrate the 7 Habbits!

Oldtime favorite

Childhood favorite my grand enjoy

I love it

Just exactly the book that I wanted and illustrated beautifully! I recommend it for kids of all ages!