I love a mystery!

Author Tony Hillerman, known for his Navajo Tribal Police mystery novels, is my subject this month.

His Navajo name means Who is Afraid of His Horse. Having lived in the southwest for severalyears, I can relate to and appreciate Hillerman's descriptions of New Mexico and Arizona's naturalbeauty, and his respect for our Native Americans is admirable.

Tony was a decorated combat veteran of World War II. He received the Silver Star, Bronze Star, and the Purple Heart. After the war he worked as a journalist for the Borger News Herald in Texas.  While there, he became acquainted with the sheriff of Hutchinson County, the man who he later would pattern the main character in his Joe Leaphorn novels. He taught journalism from 1966-1987 at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque, and he greatly admired and was influenced by Eric Ambler, Raymond Chandler, and Graham Greene.

Hillerman wrote over 20 books on the history and beauty of the southwest. He is noted for the cultural detail he provides for his subjects (Hopi, Zuni, and Navajo Tribal Police). His protagonist Lt. Joe Leaphorn was introduced in his first novel, “The Blessing Way” (1970). Sgt. Jim Chee was introduced in the fourth novel, “People of the Darkness” (1980). The popularity of the series increased when Leaphorn and Chee started working together in the seventh novel, “Skin Walkers” (1986).  

Between 1974-2007 Hillerman was nominated and won several outstanding literary awards but his greatest honor was in 1987 when he was named “A special friend of the “Dineh,” the Navajo word for the people. After his death in 2008, his memory was honored with the naming of a public library branch in Albuquerque: Tony Hillerman Library.

Since his passing, his daughter Anne Hillerman has taken over the Lt. Joe Leaphorn and Sgt. Jim Chee series.

Tony Hillerman's novel “Dance Hall of the Dead,” recipient of both the Edgar Award (1974) and the Grand Prix de Littérature Policière (1987) will be featured as part of Boothbay Harbor Memorial Library's Refreshing the Whodunit book club series. Come in, pick up a copy, and join in the discussion on March 10 at 10:30 a.m.

Happy reading mystery lovers!

Upcoming events

Refreshing the Whodunit: “Dance Hall of the Dead” by Tony Hillerman. Join this facilitated book discussion to explore the mystery genre with fellow readers. Saturday, March 10, 10:30 a.m. Fresh brewed coffee!

Books and Bites: Wednesday, March 21, St. Andrews Village, 2 p.m. “Carnegie’s Maid” by Marie Benedict.

Monday Night Book Club: Monday, March 12, 7 p.m. “Mrs. Sherlock Holmes” by Brad Ricca.

March Artist of the Month: Nathan Campbell oils on display in the upstairs Community Room.

Minecraft Play Club: Wednesdays, 2-3 p.m.

Friday Story Hour: Hear a story, make a craft, and sing a song with Miss Pam and Miss Harolyn. 10:15 a.m., ages birth to 5.