I’m bummed, Tony Hillerman died yesterday. He was one of my favorite authors. I love the stark desert country of the southwest and Hillerman brought the Navajo Reservation to life better than anyone I have ever read. He had a great love for the Navajo people and his books were engaging because he entwined their their thinking, rituals, and way of life into his mystery novels. Indian reservations are generally depressing places because they are usually economically depressed. But somehow Hillerman made them vibrant.

If you haven’t read any of Tony Hillerman, pick up one of his book today. They are quick and fun reads.

Try Skinwalkers, The People of Darkness, The Ghostway, Thief of Time, or Finding Moon to start (Finding Moon isn’t set on the Navajo Reservation, but it is still great).

The Christian Science Monitor has a good appreciation here.