Hunting Badger (Joe Leaphorn/Jim Chee Novels)

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The marvelous Hunting Badger is Tony Hillerman's 14th novel featuring Navajo tribal police officers Joe Leaphorn and Jim Chee. Here the two cops (who appeared in separate books early on but whose paths now cross routinely) are working two angles of the same case to catch the right-wing militiamen who pulled off a violent heist at an Indian casino. Hillerman serves up plenty of action and enough plot twists to keep readers off balance, leading up to a satisfyingly tense climax in which Leaphorn and Chee stalk a killer in his hideout. But through it all, the cardinal Hillerman virtues are in evidence: economical, pellucid prose; a panoply of Indian-country characters who seem to rise right up off the page; vivid evocations of the Southwest's bleak beauty; and rich insights into Navajo life and culture. (Hillerman once told an interviewer that the highest compliment he'd ever received was many Navajo readers' assumption that he himself is Navajo--he's not.)

While first-time readers will find plenty to enjoy in Hunting Badger, it holds special pleasures for longtime fans. There's more and deeper contact between Leaphorn and Chee, and we continue to see further into the prickly Leaphorn's human side (though without fuss or sentimentality). Chee finally begins to get over Janet Pete (it took about six books) and inch toward a new love interest. And in a moving section involving Chee's spiritual teacher Frank Sam Nakai, the shaman provides a key insight into the case.

In a world teeming with "sense of place" mysteries--set in Seattle, Alaska, the Arizona desert, or Chicago--it can be a shock to return to Hillerman, who started it all, and realize just how superior he is to the rest of the pack. --Nicholas H. Allison

Book Description

Three men raid the gambling casino run by the Ute nation and then disappear into the maze of canyons on the Utah-Arizona border. When the FBI, with its helicopters and high-tech equipment, focuses on a wounded deputy sheriff as a possible suspect, Navajo Tribal Police Sergeant Jim Chee and his longtime colleague, retired Lieutenant Joe Leaphorn, launch an investigation of their own. Chee sees a dangerous flaw in the federal theory; Leaphorn sees intriguing connections to the exploits of a legendary Ute bandit-hero. And together, they find themselves caught up in the most perplexing -- and deadly -- criminal manhunt of their lives.

Download Description

"Loaded with e-book extras (not available in the print edition), including Tony Hillerman's running commentary on his work, his series heroes Leaphorn and Chee, and a special profile of the Navajo nation. Hunting Badger finds Navajo tribal police officers Joe Leaphorn and Jim Chee working two angles of the same case -- each trying to catch the right-wing militiamen who pulled off a violent heist at an Indian casino. Three armed men raid the Ute tribe's gambling casino, and then disappear in the maze of canyons on the Utah-Arizona border. The FBI takes over the investigation, and agents swarm in with helicopters and high-tech equipment. Making an explosive situation even hotter, these experts devise a theory of the crime that makes a wounded deputy sheriff a suspect -- a development that brings in Tribal Police Sergeant Jim Chee and his longtime colleague, retired Lieutenant Joe Leaphorn to help. Chee finds a fatal flaw in the federal theory and Leaphorn sees an intriguing pattern connecting this crime with the exploits of a legendary Ute hero bandit. Balancing politics, outsiders, and missing armed fugitives, Leaphorn and Chee soon find themselves caught in the most perplexing -- and deadly -- crime hunt of their lives...."

Customer Reviews:

A good tale, well told.......2007-08-18

Three armed men rod the Ute tribe's gambling casino, and then vanish mysteriously into the desert near the Utah-Arizona border. It looks like an inside job, and the deputy sheriff wounded in the crime looks like he might have been in on it. But when Tribal Police Sergeant Jim Chee and retired detective Joe Leaphorn start investigating, parallels emerge in this case similar to a legandary Ute outlaw. And "helpful" citizens look like they may have some hidden agenda or grudge to settle, and it's up to Chee and Leaphorn to get to the bottom of things and find who's responsible. This is of course complicated by patronizing federal agents, who are simply out of their element in tribal lands.

Hilleman maintains a good story pace, that doesn't move too fast, as with the lifestyle of the four corners, and yet never meanders or drags. He gives us very human, believeable, and nuanced characters. And he keeps us guessing, yet engages us in Chee and Leaphorn's thinking. While first appearences can be decieving, the reader never feels manipulated. It's a very solid work.

OK..not good....but OK.......2007-05-22

[..]i have a very different opinion the adults. this is the third hillerman ive read and i was really exited to read this one. I WAS DISAPOINTED!!!! There is not much action as usual(not thats theres always much),its all driving and talking
This book starts where 3 bandits rob a ute casino,kill a cop and fly away in a plane. Jim chee teams up with joe leaphorn and they work together to find these men.One ends up killing himself,the second is a ruthless killer and the last man they actually find.The problem is that the FBI keeps trying to stop the two from solvin the crime.
The worst part of this book is that theres no climax. They kind of catch the badguys then it ends!!!!! I was very disapointed! Tony hillerman usually writes good interesting books but this was not his usual way of writing these books.

Navajo Culture Wrapped in a Four Corners Mystery - And Bad Editing.......2007-05-08

Addendum: I initially gave `Hunting Badger' 5 stars, but downgraded it to 4 stars for the following reasons. After I wrote my review I began to wonder why the ratings for this book seemed to be all over the place. A number of reviewers stated that they were Hillerman fans but downgraded `Hunting Badger' because of poor editing. Some of the complaints seemed ill-founded. The story does not tie up all the loose ends - the book's part of a series after all - and sometimes things just do not get neatly wrapped up with all the bad guys in jail and the good guys riding into the sunset.

However, one reviewer asserted that a conversation between Chee and Leaphorn concerning coal mine shafts was essentially repeated thirty pages later as if it was a new topic of conversation for them. That comment bugged me. I used the `search inside this book' feature on Amazon and, lo and behold, there it is on pages 192 and 222, the same basic conversation.

That's inexcusably bad editing. I still rate the book highly because for me Hillerman's tales are as much about the setting and the cultural background as it is about solving a mystery. What follow is my original review.

The Legendary Lieutenant, Joe Leaphorn comes back out of retirement and Jim Chee gets back from vacation just as a tribal casino is robbed of $400K. What is worse, two off-duty cops working as security guards are gunned down. As is their common motif, Leaphorn and Chee are simultaneously working on parallel tracks in ignorance of the other's efforts, but they come together to solve the crime.

Hillerman sets this story in the heart of the Four Corners area, the Big Empty, and by the time I was done I was pining for a trip to the desert canyons. Navajo culture is also interwoven into the fabric of the tale. And Hillerman again creates believable tension between the Navajo and the outside, especially between the tribal police and the FBI.

If you are already a Hillerman, I think you will find this work especially enjoyable.

If you are new to Hillerman, this book may very well make you a fan. Hillerman has written some 18 Navajo mysteries. Leaphorn and Chee first worked together in 'Skinwalkers' (1986) and did so for four more books before taking a break. 'Hunting Badger' (1999) was their first book back together after about 5 or 6 years. Reading this series in sequence is really not much of an issue, but you may want be aware of the background. Several of Hillerman's books were also made into PBS Mystery episode a few years ago.

Highly recommended for fans of the mystery genre.

From East To West.......2007-01-21

Having once been a big fan of John MacDonald's Travis McGee mystery series due to the settings and locations so familiar to me, I've found a new favorite with the Tony Hillerman crime mysteries and can see why he - the pioneer of this particular brand - has such a loyal readership.

The writing is flawless and smooth, the characters are interesting and likable, the dialog is believable and the reading is easy, pleasy and addictive.

Settings for the books I've read mostly surround the Navajo Reservation. The modern-day people enmeshed with the traditionalists and stories from the past create a rich cultural tapestry. I learn something new with every book and plan to eventually collect them all.

Fast paced.......2006-11-18

This book is fast paced and really easy to read. You'll be in the plot almost all the time and also you'll learn something about the Navajo culture. The plot is not quite thrilling and it repeat itself about the slaying of a police officer in 1998 so because of this you'll have many inklings about the book's end. The end is a little lame but you'll have a good reading with this one.

Carving & Painting a Pintail Drake With Jimmie Vizier (Carving & Painting Series)

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Jimmie Vizier book

Carving & Painting a Pintail Drake With Jimmie Vizier (Carving & Painting Series)
Curtis J. Badger , and Jimmie Vizier
Manufacturer: Stackpole Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Decorative Arts | Design & Decorative Arts | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

General | Sculpture | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

Landscape Painting | Instructional & How-To | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

Still Life | Painting | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

Fun with Paper & Wood, Stones & Knives | Crafts & Hobbies | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

General | Crafts & Hobbies | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 0811727017

Book Description

*204 color photos
* 7 x 9
* Step-by-step instructions with color photos and detailed captions
* Life-size pattern
* Photos of the live bird and background on its behavior in the wild

The pintail has been called "the most gracefully and symmetrically formed of all the duck tribe," and has long been a favorite of artists and hunters. Cajun master carver Jimmie Vizier grew up hunting pintails in the marshes of Louisiana and learned to carve decoys from his father and uncle. He has since taken the gunning-style carving to the level of art, and there is now a one- to two-year wait for his award-winning birds. In the fifth in Stackpole's popular Carving & Painting series, veteran author and photographer Curtis Badger follows Vizier through every step, from roughing out the raw block of tupelo gum to painting the vermiculation on the finished bird.

Curtis J. Badger is author of Stackpole's Bird Carving Basics and Fish Carving Basics, as well as the four previous books in the Carving & Painting series.

Customer Reviews:

Jimmie Vizier book.......2007-03-12

I enjoyed the book. I'm a very novice decoy painter and I found everything I wanted for painting a pintail drake. Jimmy did not hold anything back and I would say it is well worth it.

Tony Hillerman: Leaphorn, Chee, and More: The Fallen Man, The First Eagle, Hunting Badger

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Tony Hillerman: Leaphorn, Chee, and More: The Fallen Man, The First Eagle, Hunting Badger
Tony Hillerman
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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ASIN: B000I5YUL2

Average customer rating:

Hillerman does it again.

Hunting Badger (Large Print)

Manufacturer: Harpercollins
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0739406752

Customer Reviews:

Hillerman does it again........2006-07-11

While retired Lt. Joe Leaphorn and Jim Chee are hunting down the people responsible for a casino robbery, we learn that they may be tied to a legend of a mysterious indian (George Ironhand) that seems to have the ability to fly. Tied in with this is the concept of "Hunting Badger."

As with all of Tony Hillerman's stories you have the feeling you are there. In fact if you have visited or live in the area (Four Corners canyons) that the mystery takes part in, you will be better able to identify with the people and landmarks. And as with his other books there is an overt and covert story.

I have read the book but the addition of the voice of George Guidall ads a dimension to the story by helping visualize the people and correcting pronunciation of certain words. I suggest you read the book and listen to the recorded version.

Clams: How to Find, Catch, and Cook Them

Average customer rating:

Take your money and shred it instead of buying this book.

Clams: How to Find, Catch, and Cook Them
Curtis J. Badger
Manufacturer: Stackpole Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books

Hunting | Hunting & Fishing | Outdoors & Nature | Subjects | Books

General | Cooking, Food & Wine | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books

All 4-for-3 Deals | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
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ASIN: 0811730581

Book Description

This practical, illustrated how to book describes the best ways to clam, including where to find the creatures, what equipment to use, and how to collect and cook them with dozens of tasty clam recipes included. The author, a veteran clammer along Virginia's clam rich Eastern Shore, also examines the natural history of clams and answers frequently asked questions about them.

Customer Reviews:

Take your money and shred it instead of buying this book........2006-02-18

This book is a total rip off. 32 pages of text about clams and few more pages of recipes. Plus, this book could have been written by one of Jerry's kids, it is so poorly done.

Average customer rating:

Hunting Badger
Tony Hillerman
Manufacturer: Recorded Books, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio Cassette
ASIN: B000JF05AG

Reader's Digest Select Editions (2000 Volume 2) Follow the Stars Home; Hunting Badger; The Quiet Game; Second Wind

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Reader's Digest Select Editions (2000 Volume 2) Follow the Stars Home; Hunting Badger; The Quiet Game; Second Wind
Luanne Rice , Tony Hillerman , Greg Iles , and Dick Frances
Manufacturer: Reader's Digest
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000EGZD70

Average customer rating:

Enthusiastically recommended for anyone with an interest in true do-it-yourself waterfowling and decoy woodworking.
Great book for the traditional style decoy carver.
One of the best resources for the decoy carver

Making Decoys: The Century-Old Way
Grayson Chesser , and Curtis J. Badger
Manufacturer: Stackpole Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Decorative Arts | Design & Decorative Arts | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

General | Sculpture | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

General | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

General | Crafts & Hobbies | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 0811709868

Customer Reviews:

Enthusiastically recommended for anyone with an interest in true do-it-yourself waterfowling and decoy woodworking........2007-03-06

Written by expert decoy caver Grayson C. Chesser and wildlife art expert Curtis J. Badger, "Making Decoys The Century Old Way" is a step-by-step guide to carving, painting, weighing and rigging, and using lifelike waterfowl decoys. Black-and-white and color photographs illustrate each phase of traditional decoy crafting, including basic carving patterns, and the easy-to-follow text walks woodworkers of all skill and experience levels through the process. This new and expanded edition of "Making Decoys The Century Old Way" is enthusiastically recommended for anyone with an interest in true do-it-yourself waterfowling and decoy woodworking.

Great book for the traditional style decoy carver........2000-04-16

This is a great book for someone just getting started in the art of carving decoys, from either cork or wood. This is the book I bought for my father to help get him started. With it's many photo's and step by step instructions, you'll be creating your own masterpiece in no time. Aside from being a great how-to book there is also wonderful information on: the history of decoys, how to use them effectively, and the love and enjoyment of spending a day on the marsh hunting over your own decoys. No contemporary carver can rely on one source of instruction or reference material, but this book ought to be in your arsenal if you are serious about carving hunting decoys. This book does lack somewhat, in full color reference material. There are other books with this information available. All in all a great book, especially for the beginner.

One of the best resources for the decoy carver.......2000-03-26

The book contains detailed, step-by-step instructions for making working duck decoys from wood or cork, with numerous photographs and illustrations. A number of scaled down decoy patterns are included, as are lists of tools and materials, special painting techniques, and other areas of interest. My only quibble with the book is that I found some of the "recipes" for mixing paint to produce certain colors to be somewhat baffling. Aside from this minor point, this is an outstanding book - great for beginning decoy carvers.

Hunting Badger, A Jim Chee / Joe Leaphorn Mystery

Average customer rating:

Hillerman does it again.

Hunting Badger, A Jim Chee / Joe Leaphorn Mystery
Tony Hillerman
Manufacturer: Recorded Books, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio Cassette
ASIN: B000K3JWH4

Customer Reviews:

Hillerman does it again........2007-02-11

Wild life at the Land's End: Observations of the habits and haunts of the fox, badger, otter, seal, hare, and of their pursuers in Cornwall

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Wild life at the Land's End: Observations of the habits and haunts of the fox, badger, otter, seal, hare, and of their pursuers in Cornwall
John Coulson Tregarthen
Manufacturer: John Murray
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

Hunting | Hunting & Fishing | Outdoors & Nature | Subjects | Books
ASIN: B0008B9SMC

Book Description

It is a complete mystery why anyone would choose to murder the trusted old butler of Norton Manor. But, barrister turned amateur detective, Frank Amberley, has a couple of suspects in mind, when suddenly there’s a second body in this dramatic tale of upstairs, downstairs and family secrets.

Customer Reviews:

A Shortcut to Murder.......2007-08-05

"Why Shoot a Butler?" is a tale of lost heirs and blackmail. A most unimportant victim leads Frank Amberley to assist the police to solve a crime while visiting with relatives. The young woman he finds beside a car, on a dark road, is compelling and elusive until she turns up at a fancy dress ball.
Three persons die before the killer is brought to justice in a deadly ending. The tale has complex motives, which are explored at length for the unwilling bystanders who build the plot and aid the participants.
A good read is the second mystery written by Georgette Heyer with her standard sharp dialogue and humor.
Nash Black, author of "Qualifying Laps" and "Sins of the Fathers."

Yes, The Butler Did It.......2002-03-13

The dead butler was not the only one who did it.

Central to the plot is the femme fatale Shirley Brown. Unlike her uncharacteristic name, Miss Brown has caused quite a stir at two manor houses in an otherwise quite English countryside. Because of her, three people have been murdered, and she herself was a near victim. Needless the say, she has induced the Upstairs and Downstairs subjects, two dogs, and the local constables in a highly excited and distracted state of mind. All except Frank Amberley,of course.

This delightful Heyer mystery has the youthful barrister, Frank Amberley, sleuthing for clues as to the personage of Shirley Brown and the reasons behind the homicides.

Justice was meted out to the just and unjust. Shirely Brown has received hers all because of Frank Amberley's devotion to duty. And the latter couldn't have done it without the assistance of his butler, Peterson.

Wh y Shoot a Butler- Why indeed?.......2001-12-10

To find out, you'll just have to read the book! A typical Heyer, with a delicious hero, resourceful heroine, and an happily resolved ending, with a few murderous twists on the way. A must-read for any Heyer addicts.

typical british manor house whodunit.......1998-08-01

A lot of fun, written tongue-in-cheak. Not the way most mysterys are done, but this one works. Cocky young barrister on his way to visit family finds a young woman standing next to car with a dead butler in it. The plot involves him solving the murder but only after he is begged by the local police. Good fun.

A very well-written whodunit.......1998-05-13

This suspenseful mystery is most enjoyable for its dialogue and character development, much like a Dorothy Sayers novel. The hero is a very realistic, dynamic young lawyer. He finds himself in love with an enigmatic young woman who is a central figure in very mysterious circumstances, including a murdered butler. The plot and pace of the book are excellent, as is the ending.

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Why Shoot a Butler

Manufacturer: Bantam Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
ASIN: 0553105981

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WHY SHOOT A BUTLER?
Georgette HEYER
Manufacturer: Bantam Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
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ASIN: B000IZVFYC

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Manufacturer: EDGEWEAR
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WHY SHOOT A BUTLER?
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Georgette Heyer
Manufacturer: Bantam
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ASIN: B000JKXYPY

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