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    The Tale Teller: A Leaphorn, Chee & Manuelito Novel
    The Tale Teller: A Leaphorn, Chee & Manuelito Novel
    The Tale Teller: A Leaphorn, Chee & Manuelito Novel
    Audiobook10 hours

    The Tale Teller: A Leaphorn, Chee & Manuelito Novel

    Written by Anne Hillerman

    Narrated by Christina Delaine

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    About this audiobook

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

    NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

    Legendary Navajo policeman Lieutenant Joe Leaphorn takes center stage in this riveting atmospheric mystery from New York Times bestselling author Anne Hillerman that combines crime, superstition, and tradition and brings the desert Southwest vividly alive.

    Joe Leaphorn may have retired from the Tribal Police, but he finds himself knee-deep in a perplexing case involving a priceless artifact—a reminder of a dark time in Navajo history. Joe’s been hired to find a missing biil, a traditional dress that had been donated to the Navajo Nation. His investigation takes a sinister turn when the leading suspect dies under mysterious circumstances and Leaphorn himself receives anonymous warnings to beware—witchcraft is afoot.

    While the veteran detective is busy working to untangle his strange case, his former colleague Jim Chee and Officer Bernie Manuelito are collecting evidence they hope will lead to a cunning criminal behind a rash of burglaries. Their case takes a complicated turn when Bernie finds a body near a popular running trail. The situation grows more complicated when the death is ruled a homicide, and the Tribal cops are thrust into a turf battle because the murder involves the FBI.

    As Leaphorn, Chee, and Bernie draw closer to solving these crimes, their parallel investigations begin to merge . . . and offer an unexpected opportunity that opens a new chapter in Bernie’s life.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherHarperAudio
    Release dateApr 9, 2019
    ISBN9780062898685
    Author

    Anne Hillerman

    ANNE HILLERMAN is the bestselling author of the Leaphorn, Chee & Manuelito series. Lost Birds is her ninth novel in the series, which was created by her father, Tony Hillerman. She lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico, and Tucson, Arizona, and is at work on her next novel.

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    Reviews for The Tale Teller

    4/5

    167 ratings23 reviews

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    • 5/5
      Great new book in the series. Good plot, well written, great characters! I think I like Anne's book better than her dad's books, Keep up the good work Anne!!

      1 person found this helpful

    • 4/5
      Anne has made this series her own. I love revisiting these characters, especially those that have been with me for over thirty years.
    • 4/5
      This series is part of the continuation of Tony Hillerman’s well known Leaphorn and Chee mystery series. It’s written by his daughter, Anne Hillerman, and although continues the stories of the now retired Lieutenant Leaphorn, the mysteries are focused on the detective skills of Jim Chee and his wife Benadette Manuelito.Bernadette finds a body when she is out jogging along a popular trail.Jim investigates a museum worker who became ill at work and unexpectedly passes away. During Jim’s investigation he discovers that she has been working on an anonymous donation of very fine Navajo artifacts, but that according to a note listing the contents of the box, some of them are missing.The missing pieces include a valuable bracelet and an historically irreplaceable dress woven and worn by the wife of Manuelito, an early Navajo chief who led his people in 1864 on the Long Walk which returned them to Navajo territory.As always, I enjoyed relationship between Chee and Bernie and the other members of their family as the dynamics are flavored by Navajo traditions. I also enjoy learning a bit of the Navajo history in each book – in this one the brutal Long Walk of 1864. I looked up Manuelito and the long walk and saw the very few pictures of his wife, who went by several names.The mysteries themselves seemed a bit disjointed – almost as if two not-quite-long enough to be a-book plots ideas were joined together.3.5 stars due mostly for the Navajo influences.
    • 5/5
      This was a very interesting book with of turns. Thanks
    • 4/5
      Anne gets better with each book. This one is worthy of her father.
    • 4/5
      Really enjoyed this next installment of the long-standing series, particularly as I was traveling through the Navajo nation while reading it. I was surprised at how impatient Joe Leaphorn has become since his injury, and I suspect that his cantankerous behavior in this book will continue to be addressed in future. I like that it has already had an impact in this book, and that he is starting to heal and become aware of it even in this story.

      Advanced Readers Copy provided by Edelweiss.
    • 4/5
      The Tale Teller is a good edition to the Leaphorn, Chee and Manuelto series. The only drawback for me was the sections of interactions with Manuelto's mother and sister.
    • 4/5
      The Tale Teller is a story that takes place today. It has believable characters. Right from the first page the reader is drawn into the book. There are a few murders, stolen items and bad vibes. Every so often the author uses Navajo words which only adds to the story. This book was given four stars in this review and is highly recommended for an entertaining, suspenseful story. Enjoy!
    • 4/5
      Equal parts Joe Leaphorn, Jim Chee, and Bernie Manuelito, this is standard Hillerman fare. Interesting backstories with lots of pieces to the puzzle, and the story progresses more-or-less along a straight line as they are picked up and put into place. If you like books about the Southwest US, history, and culture then these books are always worth reading.
    • 4/5
      I was a big fan of Tony Hillerman's mysteries set in the American Southwest with native American police officers as the detectives. When Tony died I was delighted that his daughter took over writing books featuring some of the same people but adding her own female police officer, Bernie Manuelito. Since we won't be travelling to New Mexico/Arizona anytime soon this is a great way to armchair travel.Joe Leaphorn is retired as a police officer but he gets asked to investigate an anonymous museum donation that was missing a few items. When he goes to the museum to talk to the woman who wants to hire him they are interrupted by someone running into the building to report that a woman has collapsed in the parking lot. Upon investigating the incident they find that the museum director's assistant is the woman. She has been feeling poorly for some time; in fact, ever since the box with the donated articles came into the museum. Has she been sickened by something in the box? Or, as her father suspects, is she the victim of witchcraft? Leaphorn agrees to find out what he can about the donation. Meanwhile, Bernie Manuelito has discovered a dead body near a trail where she was running. The FBI is responsible for investigating deaths on Navajo land but Bernie is also needed for her knowledge of the area and the people who used the trail. Leaphorn's old partner, Jim Chee, is married to Manuelito and still works for the Navajo Tribal police as well. (I love how Bernie's mother and sister refer to him as Cheeseburger.) He is working on a series of thefts of valuable jewellery that ends up being tied in to the dead man that Bernie discovered. One of the things I like about this series is the opportunity to learn more about the native American tribes of the Southwest. Without being didactic Hillerman weaves in information about the Long Walk when the Navajo people were taken under guard from their homeland to a concentration camp called Bosque Redondo or Hweeldi in the Navajo language. In 1868, thanks to Navajo leaders Manuelito and his wife Jaunita, a treaty was signed that allowed the Navajo to return to their sacred homeland. Fascinating stuff.
    • 4/5
      Leaphorn's search for a lost treasure of the People crosses Chee's investigation of a dead body by a trail.
    • 4/5
      This book follows the success of several other Leaphorn/Chee books I have listened by this author. They are exactly what I want in a fiction-mystery book: good story, good character development, highly readable. When Manuelito visits her mother, I came envision the setting; for me that makes a good book even better. I am glad she has continued the story of these Navajo officers and their family, and their adventures. I have never been disappointed by either author.
    • 3/5
      A mystery with three distinct cases involving Chee, Bernie and Leaphorn. Navajo history and culture abounds in the plots and the people. Leaphorn as a major character again, The characters move all over NM and AZ...it was fun to recall places I've been and learn new ones.
    • 4/5
      4.5 stars.

      The Tale Teller by Anne Hillerman is a perplexing mystery with three distinct cases. Although this newest release is twenty-third installment in the Leaphorn, Chee & Manuelito series, it can easily be read as a standalone.

      Retired Lieutenant Joe Leaphorn is a private investigator and consultant to the Tribal Police. At his live-in companion Louisa's request, Joe is working to find a few missing items from a recent donation.  The bequest is anonymous so Joe is faced with the daunting task of trying to figure out what happened to a dress that is an extremely important part of Navajo history. A bracelet is also missing and Louisa is certain she knows who crafted the beautiful piece of jewelry. With her assistance, Joe begins the arduous task of tracking down who donated the items to the museum.  Early in his investigation, Museum Director Daisy Pinto's assistant Tiffany Benally dies under very mysterious circumstances. Joe cannot help but wonder if her death is somehow related to the missing relics, but will he unearth the connection between the two cases?

      Officer Bernie Manuelito is out for a jog when she discovers a dead body on a popular trail.  Quickly realizing his death was not accidental, she preserves the scene while waiting for the FBI to arrive. Although she is not officially assigned to the case, Bernie is curious about the victim's identity and the motive for his murder. FBI Agent Sage Johnson is surprisingly pleasant during their conversations, and she does reveal a few interesting facts about the case to Bernie.

      Meanwhile, Sergeant Jim Chee is working on a series of bewildering burglaries in which elderly people in the community have been targeted. The thefts are clearly the act of a pro since there is absolutely no evidence left the crime scenes. Chee finds it very intriguing that the thief zeroes in on where the items are hidden and does not damage the homes.

      The Tale Teller is a riveting police-procedural that is fast-paced. The various investigations are interesting and through slow but steady investigations, Leaphorn, Chee and Manuelito uncover the truth. As always, the desert and surrounding are vibrantly detailed which makes it very easy to visualize the different settings. With some unexpected twists and a few surprising turns, Anne Hillerman brings the the various investigations to satisfying conclusions. Old and new fans are sure to enjoy this outstanding addition to the Leaphorn, Chee & Manuelito series.
    • 4/5
      Anne Hillerman stepped into very big shoes, perhaps boots or moccasins when she chose to assume her very successful father's characters and storylines. She did very well but now with Manuelito in full bloom; she is master of her own world. The setting continues to be a source of wonderment to the characters which is communicated nicely to the reader. This book showcases some of the sad history and wondrous rebirth of "The People" as the plot addresses today's issues with peeks at the vivid past.
    • 5/5
      I really liked the story & most of the characters. I liked how the two stories were interconnected & woven together. I can not tell that this series is being written by a different person.A dead man found by Bernie while jogging, known to the FBI agent Johnson. A rash of thefts from Senior Citizens. The theft of an elder's bolo-tie found at the Flea Market & returned to him by the seller. An anonymous donation of artifacts, the historic Biil (Dineh woven dress) & silver/turquoise bracelet missing from the box. The death of the young woman working on the inventory of the box.All tie together in an interesting & engaging story.
    • 3/5
      Initial developments in the story felt choppy, with many short sentences, telling about the action, rather than a finely-nuanced character moving the situation forward through more subtle descriptions. Characters we became familiar with in previous novels, written by Tony Hillerman, and subsequently by Anne, act as if they've regressed in their behaviour, such as Louisa butting into conversations to interject her opinion. In Tale Teller, Bernie comes across as less assertive than her role in earlier narratives. I'm also not a fan of sudden reveals of family dysfunction from childhood as a reason for thefts and murder. There was nothing adroit about the plot twists and turns, especially as these were interwoven storylines that became rather laborious.I'm thinking that Anne Hillerman should write novels without trying to imitate her father's style or using his characters. Her plot ideas are not at fault so much as her writing style, which compares poorly with Tony Hillerman's in these chronicles. My biggest niggle is that Anne's work in this genre lacks his evocative style in writing of the native people of the American Southwest. In using different settings and characters, the reader is less likely to inadvertently make comparisons.
    • 4/5
      I very much enjoyed the strong sense of place in this novel. Even though it was the latest title in a series (that I haven't read) I thought it worked well as a "stand-alone." The elements of Navajo culture and history made it an above average "police procedural" and the interesting characters piqued my curiosity about their history. I'm looking forward to reading some of the previous books to fill in the blanks.
    • 4/5
      #5 in Anne Hillerman's Leaphorn, Chee & Manuelito series. Great addition to the series with more emphasis on scenery and less on lecture type inserts. Another enjoyable visit to Hillerman's Country.
    • 4/5
      This is another installation in the tales of Bernie Manuelito, her husband, Jim Chee, and Lt. Joe Leaphorn. This case involves a murder, missing valuable artifacts, and a mysterious death. It is very enjoyable.
    • 5/5
      THE TALE TELLER by Anne Hillerman is the latest Leaphorn, Chee and Manuelito novel.It is superb. I enjoyed and savored every word. Interesting. Cultural. A tense, well-conceived and written plot. Down-to-earth, hard-working, clever main characters.A mystery. A police (Navajo Police) procedural. A crime drama. Interesting characters. Culturally sensitive and respectful. Good readability.Ms. Hillerman has continued the series with great skill.Thank you for a great reading experience.
    • 5/5
      I was so pleased to discover that Ms Hillerman was continuing the saga begun by her father that I sent her a note being for more. Each new book has added to the pleasure. Certainly her approach has her own touch. She focuses on things a woman tends to notice more than a man. Still she brings her characters to life for the reader, and the plots are filled with clever twists and turns. For me there is no value in asking if her stories are as good as her father's are. I enjoy them for many reasons and always wait impatiently for the next. I hope she gets enough satisfaction from telling the stories to keep at it.
    • 5/5
      Anne Hillerman is one of my favorite authors. While the mystery part of her stories is always interesting and well written, I am fascinated by the Navajo history and culture she includes in each book. I learn something every time.