The Fallen Man: A Mystery Novel

By Tony Hillerman

Don’t miss the TV series, Dark Winds, based on the Leaphorn, Chee, & Manuelito novels, now on AMC and AMC+!  

From New York Times bestselling author Tony Hillerman comes another thrilling mystery featuring Leaphorn & Chee who must investigate a cold case that has far more personal consequences than expected.

“Gripping.”—New York Times Book Review

Human bones lie on a ledge under the peak of Ship Rock mountain, the remains of a murder victim undisturbed for more than a decade. Three hundred miles across the Navajo reservation, a harmless old canyon guide is felled by a sniper's bullet. 

Joe Leaphorn, recently retired from the Navajo Tribal Police, believes the shooter and the skeleton are somehow connected and recalls a chilling puzzle he was previously unable to solve. But Acting Lieutenant Jim Chee is too busy to take an interest in a dusty cold case . . . until the reborn violence of it hits much too close to home.

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperCollins
• Release date: Oct 13, 2009
• ISBN: 9780061800382

Tony Hillerman

TONY HILLERMAN served as president of the Mystery Writers of America and received the Edgar and Grand Master Awards. His other honors include the Center for the American Indian’s Ambassador Award, the Spur Award for Best Western Novel, and the Navajo Tribal Council Special Friend of the Dineh Award. A native of Oklahoma, Tony Hillerman lived in Albuquerque, New Mexico, until his death in 2008.

Reviews for The Fallen Man

[leslie398 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Such a great entry in this series! I particularly liked the resolution of the cattle rustling subplot :)

[phyllis2779 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Liked this a lot.

[ffortsa · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

A skeleton found on a ledge on the sacred Shiprock Mountain starts the first book featuring Joe Leaphorn in retirement, and it's a bit of a jolt, for the reader and, I suspect, the author. Leaphorn and Chee are circling each other, finding their way to a new and less formal working relationship. Janet Pete is on the mix as well, as public defender, which complicates her relationship with Chee. Not the best of the series, clearly a transitional book.

[janestarwood-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I always enjoy reading about the exploits of Jim Chee and Joe Leaphorn, and this one doesn't dissapoint.

[dougwood57 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Tony Hillerman began writing his Navajo mysteries way back in 1970 (The Blessing Way) when he first introduced readers to the Legendary Lieutenant Joe Leaphorn. Ten years later Hillerman introduced Navajo Tribal Police Officer Jim Chee (People of Darkness (Jim Chee Novels)). In 1986, Hillerman brought Leaphorn and Chee together in his bestselling book Skinwalkers that won that year's Western Writers of America Spur Award. Hillerman's familiar recipe keeps bringing us back again and again: usually a death in the Navajo Four Corners country, Leaphorn and Chee working independently to gather clues, the hauntingly beautiful scenery of the American Southwest, the often brutal weather of that land, and always, always, the Navajo culture often in conflict with white culture. Hillerman has now written eighteen Navajo mysteries and while they all contain those compelling elements, he has been guilty of some sloppy efforts or been the victim of poor editing or both at times (Hunting Badger (Joe Leaphorn/Jim Chee Novels)). `The Fallen Man', however, is one of his gems. Hillerman seamlessly develops two separate mysteries, one involving cattle heists and the other involving the discovery of a body of man who died some 11 years ago. The exact timing of that death is critical to the lives of several characters and the future of a beautiful valley near Cortez - will it be mined? Hillerman also furthers the larger story by developing the deteriorating relationship of Chee and part-Navajo attorney Janet Pete and by introducing officer Bernie Manuelito - she's all Navajo and works for Chee. The Fallen Man will delight old Hillerman fans and should make new fans too. Highly recommended for anyone who enjoys a good mystery, Navajo culture, or the American Southwest .

[buffalogr · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Another excellent mystery novel from Hillerman. When a body is found on Shiprock, (retired?) Leaphorn and (Lt) Chee go into action. The book contains Hillerman trademarks: ingeniously intricate plotting, splendid descriptions of the desert, insights into a venerable culture, and fabulous characters. Fun read.

[sandyamcpherson · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Novel centres around white residents in the Navajo area and an old missing persons case. A few false starts in pulling the story together but definitely a Hillerman classic.

[toniapicelli · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

For those who haven't had the pleasure of meeting Leaphorn, do give this book a try. Although Tony Hillerman's writing style is spare, he manages to create memorable characters and interesting stories. I plan to read all of his books.

[rosalita_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Joe Leaphorn has finally retired from the Navajo Tribal Police and Jim Chee has been named acting lieutenant. The young Navajo policeman quickly discovers that greater status mostly means greater amounts of paperwork, while he's still at the mercy of Captain Largo for his assignments. Of course, Leaphorn can't keep his nose out of anything on the reservation, so he ends up back in the thick of it as a newly discovered body on a sacred mountain is revealed to be a man whose disappearance was investigated by Leaphorn years ago. Was it an accident or murder (I mean, you already know the answer to that one, right?)? And who done it?Once again I have no quibble with the actual plot, but I'm sick of Chee's romantic soap opera and irritated that after mooning after one woman for several books in a row before catching her, he now appears ready to toss her aside in favor of a cute young Navajo policewoman. In other words, I think Chee's a dink. Meanwhile, Leaphorn's love life is strangely nonexistent after having undergone a revitalization in the last book when he was preparing to head off on a romantic trip to Asia with his anthropologist friend. She, like the title victim, has apparently fallen off the face of the earth, a place I'm beginning to wish most of the regular characters would follow her to.

[debbieaheaton · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

In Hillerman's suspense novel, Joe Leaphorn and Jim Chee return in the authors most intricate and atmospheric novel. The Navajo policemen whose exploits are brough together by the need to know how a man met his death in Shiprock, almost seventeen hundred feet above the desert floor. The Fallen Man is replete with Hillerman's trademarks--ingeniously intricate plotting, splendid descriptions of the desert, insights into a venerable culture, and fabulous characters.

[laurierking · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Another gorgeously crafted novel.

[dragonasbreath · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Hillerman is always fun.Jim Chee continues to learn from the legendayr Joe Leaphorn, and continues to try to free himself from his shadow.

[tjsjohanna_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Instead of following on the heels of 'Sacred Clowns', Mr. Hillerman jumps forward in time enough to find Leaphorn retired, and Chee's latest relationship coming to an end. Ms. Manuelito is introduced, and we get to see Leaphorn as a reluctant PI. The mystery is a good one - misdirection plays a big part, which is fun.

[mrslee_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Lt. Jim Chee is trying to adjust to his new responsibilities and his engagement to Janet. I've never liked Janet. Life seems pretty low-key, investigating cattle theft, identifying skeletal remains and paperwork. That is, until retired Joe Leaphorn enters the picture with questions that beg an answer.It is a pleasure to read a quality mystery which is also a well written story. Hillerman takes the Southwest and its culture and puts it within reach of our understanding. Not only are the characters well defined and personable, but the landscape takes on a life of its own. Very good reading.

[antiquary_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Joe Leaphorn, now just retired, and Jim Chee, with Bernie Manuelito, investigate the bones of a man who apparently fell off a cliff years before., and the recent shooting of an old guide.

[m.belljackson · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

If readers like mountain climbing and cattle rustling, they may enjoy THE FALLEN MAN.It is the only Tony Hillerman book that I started and read into around 30 pages, then skipped to the end.An odd Leaphorn and a strange Chee...

[lbswiener · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The Fallen Man is a good story from the beginning through the end. The settings and characters are all well described and the situations are all believable. As in all of Tony Hillerman novels, there is always a bit of humor when the characters do not take themselves too seriously. The Fallen Man is the reason to solve the mystery. Four stars were awarded to this book.

[aslinnrose · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

It made me think of home because it took place right around Shiprock, NM. The story was very intriguing. It sucked me right in. I like a good mystery now and then.