Tony Hillerman Books In Order – Tony Hillerman, born in 1925 in Sacred Heart, Oklahoma, became one of America’s most acclaimed detective novelists. Best known for his Navajo series featuring Detectives Joe Leaphorn and Jim Chee, he blended mystery with rich portrayals of Native American culture and the Southwest.
A decorated World War II veteran, journalist, and professor, Hillerman later authored over 30 books, including 18 Navajo mysteries. His award-winning novels, translated into multiple languages, continue to honor the Navajo people and the landscapes that inspired him.
Tony Hillerman Books In Order
If you’re planning to dive into Tony Hillerman’s mystery novels, reading them in order is the best way to enjoy the full experience. Hillerman’s books, especially the Joe Leaphorn and Jim Chee series, are known for combining compelling detective work with Navajo traditions and Southwest settings. By following the publication order, you’ll discover how the stories connect, how the characters evolve, and why Hillerman remains a beloved name in crime fiction.
Publication Order of Leaphorn & Chee Books
| Book Title | Year | Buy at Amazon |
|---|---|---|
| The Blessing Way | (1970) | Buy Now |
| Dance Hall of the Dead | (1973) | Buy Now |
| Listening Woman | (1978) | Buy Now |
| People of Darkness | (1980) | Buy Now |
| The Dark Wind | (1982) | Buy Now |
| The Ghostway | (1984) | Buy Now |
| Skinwalkers | (1986) | Buy Now |
| A Thief of Time | (1988) | Buy Now |
| Talking God | (1989) | Buy Now |
| Coyote Waits | (1990) | Buy Now |
| Sacred Clowns | (1992) | Buy Now |
| The Fallen Man | (1996) | Buy Now |
| The First Eagle | (1998) | Buy Now |
| Hunting Badger | (1999) | Buy Now |
| The Wailing Wind | (2002) | Buy Now |
| The Sinister Pig | (2003) | Buy Now |
| Skeleton Man | (2004) | Buy Now |
| The Shape Shifter | (2006) | Buy Now |
| Spider Woman’s Daughter(By: Anne Hillerman) | (2013) | Buy Now |
| Rock with Wings(By: Anne Hillerman) | (2015) | Buy Now |
| Song of the Lion(By: Anne Hillerman) | (2017) | Buy Now |
| Cave of Bones(By: Anne Hillerman) | (2018) | Buy Now |
| The Tale Teller(By: Anne Hillerman) | (2019) | Buy Now |
| Stargazer(By: Anne Hillerman) | (2021) | Buy Now |
| The Sacred Bridge(By: Anne Hillerman) | (2022) | Buy Now |
| The Way of the Bear(By: Anne Hillerman) | (2023) | Buy Now |
| Lost Birds(By: Anne Hillerman) | (2024) | Buy Now |
| Shadow of the Solstice(By: Anne Hillerman) | (2025) | Buy Now |
Publication Order of Standalone Novels
Publication Order of Short Story Collections
| Book Title | Year | Buy at Amazon |
|---|---|---|
| The Best of the West | (1991) | Buy Now |
| The Mysterious West | (1994) | Buy Now |
| The Great Taos Bank Robbery: And Other True Stories | (2023) | Buy Now |
Publication Order of Children’s Books
| Book Title | Year | Buy at Amazon |
|---|---|---|
| The Boy Who Made Dragonfly | (1972) | Buy Now |
| Buster Mesquite’s Cowboy Band | (2001) | Buy Now |
Publication Order of Non-Fiction Books
| Book Title | Year | Buy at Amazon |
|---|---|---|
| The Great Taos Bank Robbery and Other Indian Country Affairs | (1973) | Buy Now |
| New Mexico, Rio Grande, and Other Essays | (1975) | Buy Now |
| The Spell of New Mexico | (1976) | Buy Now |
| Tony Hillerman’s Indian Country Map and Guide | (1987) | Buy Now |
| Indian Country | (1987) | Buy Now |
| Talking Mysteries: A Conversation With Tony Hillerman(With: Ernie Bulow) | (1991) | Buy Now |
| Hillerman Country(With: Barney Hillerman) | (1991) | Buy Now |
| Seldom Disappointed | (2001) | Buy Now |
| Kilroy Was There | (2004) | Buy Now |
Publication Order of Anthologies
| Book Title | Year | Buy at Amazon |
|---|---|---|
| The Perfect Murder | (1991) | Buy Now |
| 2nd Culprit | (1993) | Buy Now |
| The Oxford Book of American Detective Stories | (1996) | Buy Now |
| The Serpent’s Tongue: Prose, Poetry, and Art of the New Mexican Pueblos | (1997) | Buy Now |
| First Cases, Volume 3 | (1999) | Buy Now |
| A Century of Great Suspense Stories | (2001) | Buy Now |
| The Longman Anthology of Detective Fiction | (2004) | Buy Now |
| A New Omnibus of Crime | (2005) | Buy Now |
Tony Hillerman Biography
Tony Hillerman earned acclaim as one of America’s most respected detective novelists, celebrated especially for his Navajo series. These novels followed Detectives Joe Leaphorn and Jim Chee of the Navajo Tribal Police, blending mystery with Native American culture. Several of his works later became successful television films that highlighted both the suspense and the beauty of the Southwest.
Born in 1925 in Sacred Heart, Oklahoma, Hillerman grew up as the youngest of three children. His father worked as a farmer and storekeeper. From 1930 to 1938, Hillerman studied at St. Mary’s Academy, a boarding school primarily for Native American girls, where he developed a lifelong appreciation for Native American culture. He later attended Konawa High School, which also had a large Native American student body.
During World War II, Hillerman served as a mortarman in the 103rd Infantry Division, earning a Bronze Star, Silver Star, and Purple Heart. After the war, he worked as a journalist from 1948 to 1962, pursued a master’s degree, and taught journalism at the University of New Mexico. It was in New Mexico that he began his career as a novelist.
Hillerman wrote more than 30 books, including 18 Navajo mysteries and several memoirs about his life and the Southwest. His work earned him numerous honors, such as the Edgar Award, the Grand Master Award from the Mystery Writers of America, and the Navajo Tribe’s Special Friends of Dineh Award. Translated into over eight languages, his novels continue to reflect his deep respect for the Navajo people and the American Southwest.
Short Notes on Tony Hillerman Books
1. Shadow of the Solstice – 2025
The Navajo Nation police heighten their alert when a U.S. Cabinet Secretary schedules an unprecedented trip to Shiprock, New Mexico. The visit aligns with a controversial plan to resume uranium mining along the Navajo Nation border. Tensions rise further when officers discover the body of a stranger in a restricted zone used for radioactive uranium waste disposal. At the same time, a violent cult arrives at a private camp outside Shiprock to celebrate the summer solstice. Their erratic behavior unsettles their Navajo hosts, so Officer Bernadette Manuelito takes charge of monitoring the situation. She uncovers a young boy in grave danger, abused women, and other shocking truths that thrust her and Lt. Jim Chee into a volatile and deadly confrontation.
Meanwhile, Darleen Manuelito, Bernie’s spirited younger sister, notices that one of her home health clients has vanished, while the woman’s daughter shows no concern. Driven by curiosity and duty, Darleen investigates. She learns that the client’s grandson is also missing, and both have fallen victim to a sinister scheme exploiting indigenous people. Her discovery connects directly with a case Chee pursues, exposing the dark underside of human nature.
2. Lost Birds – 2024
Joe Leaphorn has long retired from the Navajo Tribal Police, but he keeps his detective skills sharp through his work as a private investigator. When a woman raised by a bilagáana family hires him to uncover her birth parents, he takes on the challenge. She believes she is Diné, guided by a single clue—an old photograph of a child wrapped in a classic Navajo blanket. Leaphorn soon uncovers troubling truths: her adoption may not have been legitimate, and her adoptive family hides dangerous secrets. His search leads him to an old trading post and a deadly cache of long-buried family revelations.
As the case grows more tangled, Leaphorn receives a desperate call from Cecil Bowleg, a man he met decades earlier. Before Cecil can explain his plight, an explosion cuts the call short, and Cecil vanishes. Determined to find the truth, Leaphorn presses forward despite the risks. Officer Bernadette Manuelito joins the investigation, uncovering a shocking connection to Cecil’s missing wife.
At the same time, Bernie tackles a troubling case of her own when someone ruthlessly kills an elderly weaver’s prize-winning sheep, blaming feral dogs.
Anne Hillerman weaves a gripping mystery that explores the emotional complexity of Indigenous children adopted by non-Native families, while vividly portraying the people, traditions, and landscapes of the American Southwest.
3. The Way of the Bear – 2023
An unexpected death on a lonely road outside Utah’s Bears Ears National Monument immediately draws the attention of Navajo Tribal Police officers Jim Chee and Bernadette Manuelito. They question why a seasoned outdoorsman and respected paleontologist would freeze to death within sight of his car. When a second man dies in a violent home invasion where little appears stolen, the mystery deepens. Who was this unidentified victim, and why was he killed?
The Bears Ears region, bordering the Navajo Nation, boasts rich archaeological sites and groundbreaking fossil discoveries that reshaped scientific understanding of ancient life. Chee and Manuelito admire the land’s beauty and cultural significance, but their visit quickly turns dangerous as unprecedented violence grips the area. A fossilized jawbone, a forbidden romance, whispers of witchcraft, and a disappearance during a blizzard all converge to raise the stakes.
Chee and Manuelito rely on their skill, intuition, and determination to unravel the web of deceit, navigate mounting threats, and deliver justice in the face of peril.
FAQ on Tony Hillerman Books
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Who was Tony Hillerman?
Tony Hillerman (1925–2008) was an acclaimed American author best known for his Navajo Tribal Police mystery series featuring detectives Joe Leaphorn and Jim Chee.
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What was Hillerman’s first book in the series?
The Blessing Way (1970) introduced Joe Leaphorn and launched the Navajo Tribal Police series.
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Which awards did Tony Hillerman win?
He received multiple honors, including the Edgar Award, the Mystery Writers of America Grand Master Award (1991), the Nero Award, and the Navajo Tribe’s Special Friends of Dineh Award for his respectful portrayal of Navajo culture.
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Did Tony Hillerman only write mysteries?
No. While most of his work focused on mysteries, he also wrote memoirs, nonfiction about the American Southwest, and children’s books.
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Who continued the series after his death?
His daughter, Anne Hillerman, continued the series, adding new novels that expanded Bernadette Manuelito’s role alongside Chee and Leaphorn.
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