Tony Hillerman, a name well known with Southwestern mystery novels, was born on May 27, 1925, in Sacred Heart, Oklahoma. His unique blend of mystery and Native American culture not only entertained but also educated readers about the rich heritage of the Southwest.
Hillerman’s upbringing in Oklahoma, a state with a significant Native American population, ignited his lifelong interest in the cultures and traditions of the indigenous peoples of the Southwest. This early exposure played a crucial role in shaping the themes and settings of his later works.
During World War II, Hillerman served in the U.S. Army, where he was awarded the Silver Star, the Bronze Star, and a Purple Heart. His military service, marked by both valor and hardship, deeply influenced his worldview and his writing. After the war, Hillerman attended the University of Oklahoma, where he studied journalism, a discipline that honed his skills in storytelling and research.
His career began in journalism, but it was his turn to novel writing that made him a household name. Hillerman’s debut novel, “The Blessing Way,” published in 1970, introduced readers to Joe Leaphorn, a Navajo Tribal Police lieutenant. Leaphorn, along with Jim Chee, who was introduced in a later novel, became central figures in Hillerman’s mystery series set in the Navajo Nation.
What set Hillerman’s work apart was his deep respect for Navajo culture and customs. His novels are as much about the mysteries his protagonists solve as they are about the people and the landscape of the Southwest. Hillerman’s writing was praised for its authentic portrayal of Native American traditions, a rarity in popular fiction at the time.
Hillerman’s novels, while fictional, were grounded in real-world issues and challenges faced by Native American communities. His works offered a window into the complexities of life in the Navajo Nation, including the struggles to balance traditional values with modern realities.
Over his career, Hillerman authored 18 books in the Leaphorn and Chee series, along with several standalone novels, non-fiction works, and memoirs. His contributions to literature earned him numerous awards, including the Edgar Allan Poe Award from the Mystery Writers of America and the Navajo Tribe’s Special Friends of the Dineh Award.
Tony Hillerman passed away on October 26, 2008, but his legacy endures. His work not only captivated readers worldwide but also brought greater awareness and appreciation of Navajo culture and the American Southwest. Hillerman’s novels stand as a testament to his storytelling prowess and his deep respect for the land and peoples that inspired his writing.
Full & Complete Order of Tony Hillerman Books
Leaphorn & Chee Books In Order of Publication – With Anne Hillerman
| The Blessing Way | (1970) |
| Dance Hall of the Dead | (1973) |
| Listening Woman | (1978) |
| People of Darkness | (1980) |
| The Dark Wind | (1982) |
| The Ghostway | (1984) |
| Skinwalkers | (1986) |
| A Thief of Time | (1988) |
| Talking God | (1989) |
| Coyote Waits | (1990) |
| Sacred Clowns | (1992) |
| The Fallen Man | (1996) |
| The First Eagle | (1998) |
| Hunting Badger | (1999) |
| The Wailing Wind | (2002) |
| The Sinister Pig | (2003) |
| Skeleton Man | (2004) |
| The Shape Shifter | (2006) |
| Spider Woman’s Daughter (By: Anne Hillerman) | (2013) |
| Rock with Wings (By: Anne Hillerman) | (2015) |
| Song of the Lion (By: Anne Hillerman) | (2017) |
| Cave of Bones (By: Anne Hillerman) | (2018) |
| The Tale Teller (By: Anne Hillerman) | (2019) |
| Stargazer (By: Anne Hillerman) | (2021) |
| The Sacred Bridge (By: Anne Hillerman) | (2022) |
| The Way of the Bear (By: Anne Hillerman) | (2023) |
| Lost Birds (By: Anne Hillerman) | (2024) |
Tony Hillerman Standalone Novels in Order of Publication
| The Fly on the Wall | (1971) |
| Finding Moon | (1995) |
Publication Order of Short Story Collections
| The Best of the West | (1991) |
| The Mysterious West | (1994) |
| The Great Taos Bank Robbery: And Other True Stories(With: James McGrath Morris) | (2023) |
Publication Order of Children’s Books
| The Boy Who Made Dragonfly | (1972) |
| Buster Mesquite’s Cowboy Band | (2001) |
Publication Order of Non-Fiction Books
| The Great Taos Bank Robbery and Other Indian Country Affairs | (1973) |
| New Mexico, Rio Grande, and Other Essays | (1975) |
| The Spell of New Mexico | (1976) |
| Tony Hillerman’s Indian Country Map and Guide | (1987) |
| Indian Country | (1987) |
| Talking Mysteries: A Conversation With Tony Hillerman(With: Ernie Bulow) | (1991) |
| Hillerman Country(With: Barney Hillerman) | (1991) |
| Seldom Disappointed | (2001) |
| Kilroy Was There | (2004) |
Publication Order of Anthologies
| The Perfect Murder | (1991) |
| 2nd Culprit | (1993) |
| The Oxford Book of American Detective Stories | (1996) |
| The Serpent’s Tongue: Prose, Poetry, and Art of the New Mexican Pueblos | (1997) |
| First Cases, Volume 3 | (1999) |
| A Century of Great Suspense Stories | (2001) |
| The Longman Anthology of Detective Fiction | (2004) |
| A New Omnibus of Crime | (2005) |