Anne Hillerman

Anne Hillerman is an American author best known for continuing the Navajo Tribal Police mystery series created by her father, Tony Hillerman. She took over writing the series after her father's death in 2008, expanding the role of female protagonist Officer Bernadette Manuelito while maintaining the beloved characters of Joe Leaphorn and Jim Chee. Prior to writing fiction, Hillerman worked as a journalist and food critic, publishing several non-fiction works including "Tony Hillerman's Landscape: On the Road with Chee and Leaphorn" and "Santa Fe Flavors: Best Restaurants and Recipes." Her first novel in the Leaphorn, Chee & Manuelito series, "Spider Woman's Daughter," was published in 2013 and won the Western Writers of America Spur Award. The books in her continuation of the series maintain the southwestern setting and incorporate authentic details about Navajo culture, history, and traditions. Her novels typically focus on crimes that intersect with both modern and traditional aspects of life in the American Southwest. Hillerman serves on the board of Western Writers of America and lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico, where she continues to write and participate in literary events. Her work has helped maintain and expand one of the most significant Native American detective series in American literature.

Readers commend Hillerman for maintaining the cultural authenticity and sense of place established in her father's series while developing Officer Bernadette Manuelito's character. Many note her detailed research into Navajo traditions and Southwest landscapes. Readers appreciate: - Strong female perspective through Manuelito - Continuation of beloved characters Leaphorn and Chee - Accurate portrayal of modern reservation life - Rich descriptions of Southwest settings - Educational elements about Navajo culture Common criticisms: - Plot pacing slower than Tony Hillerman's books - Less complex mysteries compared to original series - Too much focus on domestic details/relationships - Repetitive character descriptions - Less suspense in crime elements Average ratings: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (across all books) Amazon: 4.2/5 Spider Woman's Daughter: 4.1/5 (22,000+ ratings) Rock with Wings: 4.0/5 (15,000+ ratings) One reader noted: "She honors her father's legacy while making the series her own through Bernie's eyes." Another stated: "Missing the tight plotting of the original books, but appreciate the female perspective."

Spider Woman's Daughter (2013) Officer Bernadette Manuelito witnesses the shooting of Joe Leaphorn and leads an investigation that weaves through Navajo tradition and contemporary crime, while dealing with threats to both her professional and personal life.

Song of the Lion (2017) A car bomb at a high school basketball game in Shiprock leads Officer Bernadette Manuelito and Sergeant Jim Chee into an investigation involving land development disputes, Navajo traditions, and dangerous adversaries.

Louise Erdrich writes crime fiction centered on Native American communities and culture, particularly focusing on Ojibwe characters and settings in North Dakota. Her works explore both contemporary issues and historical events through complex mysteries and investigations.

William Kent Krueger creates mysteries set in the northern Minnesota wilderness featuring Cork O'Connor, a part-Irish, part-Ojibwe former sheriff. His books incorporate Native American spiritual elements and traditions while dealing with crimes in small, rural communities.

Margaret Coel writes the Wind River Mystery series about an Arapaho lawyer and a Jesuit priest solving crimes on the Wind River Reservation in Wyoming. Her work demonstrates deep knowledge of Arapaho culture and history while presenting contemporary crime narratives.

Nevada Barr writes mysteries featuring National Park Service ranger Anna Pigeon, set in different national parks across the American Southwest and beyond. Her books incorporate detailed knowledge of park landscapes and operations while presenting crimes that connect to the natural environment.

Craig Johnson creates the Walt Longmire mystery series set in Wyoming, featuring a sheriff who works closely with the local Cheyenne community. His books blend contemporary police work with Native American traditions and explore crimes that cross cultural boundaries.