Cathy Schaber
If you have been interested in learning more about the lovely corner of America we call home, try some Southwestern-themed novels. Start with author Anne Hillerman. The Friends of SaddleBrooke Libraries has recently announced the appearance of this New York Times best-selling author at their Spring Author Luncheon.
Anne Hillerman is the daughter of famed Southwest novelist Tony Hillerman and has become a celebrated author in her own right. Ms. Hillerman continued her father’s series, which featured Lieutenant Joe Leaphorn, Jim Chee, and Bernadette Manuelito. With Anne taking over the series, the character of Joe Leaphorn has sometimes taken a back seat to the younger crime-solving team of Officers Jim Chee and his wife Bernie Manuelito. As with Tony Hillerman’s novels, they are all set in the Four Corners area and involve the Navajo Tribal Police. The descriptions of both the physical landscape, as well as Navajo traditions and heritage, make it easy for the reader to visualize. If you have never been to this corner of our state, this is a great way to familiarize yourself with the area. Ms. Hillerman has written about such locations as the Hubbell Trading Post, Winslow, Monument Valley, Chaco Canyon, El Malpaís, the Very Large Array Telescope, and many more.
Anne Hillerman’s character development of Bernadette Manuelito is detailed and refreshing. Bernie must balance her career as a Navajo Tribal police officer, her marriage to fellow officer Jim Chee, and her responsibilities to her aging mother and sometimes troubled younger sister. Her tender respect and care toward her mother and other community elders is identifiable to many readers. Bernie’s husband Jim Chee shows his deep love and concern for her. Although Joe Leaphorn may play a lesser role in Anne Hillerman’s novels, he is still the insightful resource he has always been.
The SaddleBrooke Community Libraries have all nine of Anne Hillerman’s current novels in either regular print, large print, or audio format. There are also copies in paperback at the SaddleBrooke One Library and the Cholla Library at MountainView. Anne Hillerman’s 10th novel in her series will be released in April of 2025. It is titled Shadow of the Solstice and will be purchased for the collection when available. Go to the libraries’ website at sblibraries.com for a link to the online catalog to reserve any of these items.
The DesertView Library also has the television series Dark Winds on DVD for check-out. This series is based on some of Tony Hillerman’s early novels but also includes Officer Bernadette Manualito in a more prominent role. Currently, Seasons 1 and 2 are available, and Season 3 will be released this month.
As always, the SaddleBrooke Community Libraries are grateful to the Friends of SaddleBrooke Libraries for their continued financial support. Without your membership, the libraries could not continue to purchase books to keep the shelves full. Please watch for further information regarding Anne Hillerman’s appearance on March 13 and ticket availability. The Friends of SaddleBrooke Libraries’ website is sbfsl.org.