Mystery Book Reviews

Read two mysteries lately with distinctly different responses to them. The first was Murder at The National Cathedral, by Margaret Truman and the second was The Sinister Pig, by Tony Hillerman. The former was nominally entertaining – set as it was in good ol’ Washington, DC – having to do with a possible conspiracy within the church – bigger picture stuff – that ultimately, in my opinion, fell flat. And the characters fell flat. I really wasn’t drawn into their plights, their lives, etc. Normally, a mystery involving the church, whether it be Catholic or other, is very compelling, but this was a let-down. Also, Truman’s heavy-handed characterization of characters based on their political bent was off-putting (e.g., conservative preacher is painted as by-the-book, unyielding, uncaring, more concerned with obedience to rules than caring about “the little people.”)

Hillerman’s book, on the other hand, had the effect of coming home to people you know and like, of becoming immediately engaged in their situations, loves, etc. Of course, I have the benefit of having read other Hillerman books prior – but one doesn’t voluntarily read multiple books from one author if they’re not enjoyable. And his stuff is good – one gets some idea of Navajo culture, how it relates to neighboring cultures, and how it’s expressed/experienced by the characters. Jim Chee, Joe Leaphorn. Good characters. If you haven't already read some of his stuff, give it a go!