In the end, though, two things about this novel stuck out to me. On the flip-side, the plot was, from the get-go, unnecessarily complicated-involving three separate cold-cases that come together to form one master crime scenario, the ending (though exciting) drug out far too long, and descriptions of action (dynamite exploding and killing people, notably) was rendered in such a way to make it unclear to the reader where people were and what exactly was going on. Listening Woman had a number of things to recommend it-good characterization, evocative descriptions of the harsh and beautiful landscape of the Navajo Reservation where the book takes place, and snappy pacing. This combined leads me to believe that I had a rather organic introduction to the Leaphorn series. It's also not one of the more high profile (read: multi-awarded, movie-versioned) novels. Jim Chee is introduced relatively early on in the series. A little further research and I now know that this is one of the few Hillerman mysteries featuring just Joe Leaphorn his counterpart (and subordinate) Sgt. This ended up being a good introduction, I think, even if it was pretty arbitrary. I started with Listening Woman because I was able to buy it for a dollar. (I was told by an enthusiastic library volunteer in Oro Valley, AZ that I should just start at the beginning and work my way through, but that seemed a little more time consuming than I was ultimately prepared for.) In the end, a discount book rack in Portland, Maine made my decision for me. The problem was I didn't really know where to start. When he died earlier this year, I decided to make like a good Southwesterner and rectify this omission in my reading list. Add to that, group of boy scouts go missing!.Had it not been for some unfortunate connotations that I had with Hillerman (he was the author of choice for a particularly Wicked Stepmother), I would have most likely read his whole oeuvre by now. In the meantime there is a bank robbery in Santa Fe & a missing helicopter on Navajo land so the FBI becomes involved.

Joe Leaphorn, who was working with boy scouts at the moment, senses the villian is human. Tribal members attribute it to witchcraft. She leaves an old man & his niece momentarily to chant and returns to find both dead.

Blind, Margret Cigaret, also known as Listening Woman, or, Blind Eyes is able to communicate with ghosts & witches. The novel was nominated for the 1979 'Best Mystery Novel' Edgar Award noted for drawing on two divergent cultures. 3rd mystery in the Navajo Tribal Police series from Tony Hillerman (1925 - 2008). Text/BRAND NEW, showing faint margin discoloration Softcover/Fine w/trace shelfwear.

Listening Woman by Tony Hillerman