Indian Mystery Novelist, Tony Hillerman

From newspaperman to award winning novelist, Tony Hillerman has been known to give his readers an in-depth and insightful look at the Navajo way of life. Native American life in modern times is accurately depicted in his series of novels set in the American Southwest. The main characters, police officers Joe Leaphorn and Jim Chee delve into the various beliefs and customs of the Navajo people, discovering intriguing mysteries in the process.

Hillerman was born in Sacred Heart Oklahoma on May 27, 1925. He served in World War II and earned a purple heart, the silver star and a bronze star. He was married to his wife, Marie, in 1945 and they had 6 children. Hillerman's newspaper career began in 1948. He wrote his first novel, The Blessing Way, in 1970. This is also when the character of Joe Leaphorn was introduced. Tony Hillerman's novels are set in the area of the southwest known as the four corners. The beliefs, customs and superstitions that are a part of life in the Navajo Nation are the focal point of the novels. Hillerman’s masterful writing causes the reader to become completely immersed in the story.

Tony Hillerman has written 30 novels, with 18 of those being in the Joe Leaphorn series. Hillerman has also written about his beloved American Southwest in various books. Some have even been made into movies. After battling heart attacks and cancer, Tony Hillerman passed away on October 26, 2008 in Albequerque, NM. He was 83. This author will be sorely missed by readers everywhere.