Sacred Clowns

By: Tony Hillerman

Narrated by: Christian Baskous

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

First there was the trouble at Saint Boneventure boarding school. A teacher is dead, a boy is missing, and a council woman has put a lot of pressure on Lieutenant Joe Leaphorn and Officer Jim Chee to find her grandson. Sitting on a rooftop watching sacred clowns perform their antics in a Pueblo ceremony, Chee spots the boy. Then, suddenly, the crowd is in commotion. One of the clowns has been savagely murdered. Without a single clue, Chee and Leaphorn must follow a serpentine trail through the Indian clans and nations, seeking the thread that links two brutal murders, a missing teenager, a band of lobbyists trying to put a toxic dump site on Pueblo land, and an invaluable memento given to the tribes by Abraham Lincoln in a fast-paced, flawless mystery that is Hillerman at his lyrical, evocative, spellbinding best.

Well written as usual. Nice plot twists.

A good story to listen to. Narrator does a great job of characterization and timing. Depictions of ceremonies are good. Depictions of life on the reservation are interesting.

Enjoyable, miss Guidell

Another enjoyable Leaphorn and Chee tale. Nothing earth shattering, but a fun whodunnit. I must say that I miss George Guidell as the narrator. I probably would like Christian Baskous better if he was the narrator I’d started the series with. His performance isn’t bad, but it’s very slow paced and his inflections often miss the mark for me. Not a reason to pass it up, but if you are used to George Guidell’s narration from some of the previous books you might feel the same as I do.

Naration is painful

If I wasn't so invested in the series I'd stop listening and return the book. I'm powering through it at 1.5 speed.

Good Story Overall

Have to pay close attention at opening scene and remember for later...nice to see love life of both Joe and Jim move to next level...learned a true piece of American history about the Lincoln Canes...although how long does it take to find a missing schoolboy? Apparently the whole book! Ha ha!

Great

Tony Hillerman’s books are so relaxing and soothing to listen to. I love the history in learning about the Navajo culture.