Tony Hillerman Reading Order: Complete Guide to the Leaphorn & Chee Navajo Mysteries

Ever since I unearthed The Blessing Way at a dusty secondhand bookstore, hooked on Tony Hillerman’s world of Southwestern mystery fiction, the way the desert sun paints the mesa, how Navajo traditions and folklore weave through gritty detective work and how Leaphorn’s steady calm contrasts with Chee’s restless spirit.

Starting that first novel felt like stepping into New Mexico itself. And honestly, once I looked up the full reading order, I realized it’s one of those series where the order truly matters, like watching dust settle on tracks in all the best ways.

Tony Hillerman Books in Order (Leaphorn & Chee Mystery Series Publication Sequence)

I always follow the books in the exact order they were released, and here’s how the mystery unfolds:

1. The Blessing Way (1970)
2. Dance Hall of the Dead (1973)
3. Listening Woman (1978)
4. People of Darkness (1980)
5. The Dark Wind (1982)
6. The Ghostway (1984)
7. Skinwalkers (1986)
8. A Thief of Time (1988)
9. Talking God (1989)
10. Coyote Waits (1990)
11. Sacred Clowns (1992)
12. The Fallen Man (1996)
13. The First Eagle (1998)
14. Hunting Badger (1999)
15. The Wailing Wind (2002)
16. The Sinister Pig (2003)
17. Skeleton Man (2004)
18. The Shape Shifter (2006)

… and then, carried on by his daughter Anne Hillerman:

19. Spider Woman’s Daughter (2013)
20. Rock with Wings (2015)
21. Song of the Lion (2017)
22. Cave of Bones (2018)
23. The Tale Teller (2019)
24. Stargazer (2021)
25. The Sacred Bridge (2022)
26. The Way of the Bear (2023)
27. Lost Birds (2024)
28. Shadow of the Solstice (2025)

Getting to Know Tony Hillerman: and What Makes This Series Click

A Writer Shaped by Place and Culture

Tony Hillerman wasn’t just spinning tales, he infused them with his own life tapestry. Born in Oklahoma in 1925, he grew rooted in southwestern culture, and later served as a decorated WWII veteran. After turning to journalism and earning his master’s, he settled in New Mexico, where he taught, traveled, and he began writing the Navajo detective novels, a cornerstone of crime and mystery fiction, that made him a household name

Leaphorn & Chee: Two Poles of Mystery-Solving

The early books spotlight Lieutenant Joe Leaphorn, methodical, thoughtful, grounded in Navajo lore, while Jim Chee, introduced later, is more emotional, intuitive, sometimes caught between modern training and traditional ways. By Skinwalkers, they’re working together, and the chemistry keeps evolving in rich, compelling ways—creating one of the most enduring detective partnerships in modern mystery literature.

A Legacy Continued: Anne Hillerman’s Gentle Hand

In 2013, Anne Hillerman stepped into her dad’s footprints, continuing the narrative with Bernadette Manuelito (Chee’s partner, turned detective in her own right) at the forefront. Death threats, ancient lore, shifting desert landscapes, they persist, but with Anne’s fresh perspective and a touch of a new era. She honors the tone while opening new vistas.

Tales Beyond the Mysteries (And What to Explore Next)

Stand-Alone Gems & For a Lighter Touch

If you’re craving something different: The Fly on the Wall (1971) plunges into political intrigue with a reporter’s eye, while Finding Moon (1995) travels to Southeast Asia, both offering a taste of Hillerman’s wider creative range.

Collections and Non-Fiction Treasures

Fancy shorter reads or real-world views of the Southwest? Try his anthologies like The Mysterious West, or immersive nonfiction such as The Spell of New Mexico, Indian Country, and his memoir Seldom Disappointed, a reflective, warm look into his journey.

FAQ : Quick Answers You Didn’t Know You Needed

Q: Are the books connected, can I jump in at any point?
A: They’re absolutely connected, characters develop, relationships shift, backstories deepen. I’d recommend reading in publication order is the best way to follow the series chronology and appreciate the narrative arc of both detectives.

Q: Should I start with Dance Hall of the Dead instead of The Blessing Way?
A: I’ve stumbled across that tip online, some say Dance Hall captures Hillerman’s tone more swiftly, making it a gripping start. But personally, I think The Blessing Way sets the foundation beautifully. If you’re torn, starting with Book 2 isn’t wrong, but the journey from the beginning is rewarding.

Q: Does the TV show Dark Winds follow the books closely?
A: Totally inspired by Hillerman’s work! The first season adapts Listening Woman, and the second takes on People of Darkness. While some character depth is expanded, the show stays true to the books’ heart, even adding cultural consultation along the way.

Verdict : Why This Series Still Feels Alive

Reading Tony Hillerman’s Leaphorn & Chee series is like being invited on a road trip across the Navajo Nation, tracking mysteries, sipping chili, feeling the cadence of traditional stories in modern investigations. The characters evolve realistically, the Southwestern landscape acts as a character itself, and the blend of mystery fiction with cultural storytelling keeps the series unique and Anne Hillerman’s continuation ensures the legacy stays vibrant.

So, if you’re looking for mysteries that ground you in place and culture, make you think, and keep you turning pages, this is your series. Pour yourself some tea, pick a book to start (in order, of course), and let that desert wind whisper secrets right into your mind.