Access a growing selection of included Audible Originals, audiobooks, and podcasts.
You will get an email reminder before your trial ends.
Audible Plus auto-renews for $7.95/mo after 30 days. Upgrade or cancel anytime.
Dance Hall of the Dead  By  cover art

Dance Hall of the Dead

By: Tony Hillerman
Narrated by: Michael Ansara
Try for $0.00

$7.95 a month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $11.66

Buy for $11.66

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

Publisher's summary

A Zuni Indian boy dies in a bizarre ritual slaying - and his best friend, a Navajo youth, is missing. Navajo police lieutenant Joe Leaphorn tracks the friend from Zuni village to Navajo hogan, from anthropological dig to hippie commune, across the desert of New Mexico and Arizona. In his search, Leaphorn discovers the ancient secrets of the Zunis and the hidden crimes of white men. Narrator Michael Ansara's experience with American Indian roles on stage and screen lends authenticity to his resonant reading of this Edgar-winning tale of murder and deception.
(P)1986 by The Audio Partners Publishing Corp.

Critic reviews

  • Edgar Allan Poe Award Winner, Best Novel, 1974

"High entertainment...An aesthetically satisfying glimpse of the still-powerful tribal mysteries." (The New Yorker)

More from the same

What listeners say about Dance Hall of the Dead

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    428
  • 4 Stars
    246
  • 3 Stars
    119
  • 2 Stars
    32
  • 1 Stars
    15
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    380
  • 4 Stars
    161
  • 3 Stars
    69
  • 2 Stars
    17
  • 1 Stars
    18
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    379
  • 4 Stars
    170
  • 3 Stars
    67
  • 2 Stars
    10
  • 1 Stars
    13

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Another Tony Hillerman Storty Story

It’s set on the Navajo Reservation adjacent to Arizona. Lieutenant Joe Leaphorn once again has to solve the murder of a Zuni student, The main suspect is a Navajo teen attempting to join the religious clan, the Zuni. Leaphorn not only has to deal with human suspects but also paranormal ones; Kachinas, life size not doll size.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

mystery and mythology by a g MacDonald b

tony. hillerman is stop notch storyteller who displays respect for his material. this narrator suits the book well .

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Dance hall of the dead

I just love Tony Hillerman books! I wish this one would have been longer and given us more lore. but I am very happy to have listened to the audio book version.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

A good read from a great author

I do enjoy Tony Hillermans novels. However I wasn’t so much into this story due to the monotone voice of the narrator. But, other than that, it was a good story reflective of a good author.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great book, misleading graphic

This is one of many great books by Tony Hillerman. The graphic for the book, however, says unabridged; this certainly has been abridged. You should know this going in, and consider the full version, which is also available on Audible.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

Pronunciation all wrong

A little research - or just talking to one Navajo person - could have been very helpful for the person reading this. “Hogan,” “Diné,” and “bilagáana” were all said wrong. Even “yá át tééh” was mispronounced. Super annoying listening to them constantly said incorrectly.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Really Engaging

I listened until the very last word. The narration put me right in the story, and it stirred curiosity. I will put it in my favorites and listen again, in New Mexico, to add to the experience. GREAT!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

First time reader/listener

This was my first time to read or listen to A Tony Hillerman story, wish I’d found him a long time ago. Very entertaining and narrator or was very good as well.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

Love Tony Hillerman Stories, Didn’t Like This Production

I have listened to and/or read several Hillerman books and loved them. But this time the combination of the complex nature of this story and the uninspired narration made it difficult to listen to the whole book. I made it through to the end without ever understanding why I should care about the characters or what the point of the story was. Too much detail, not enough heart.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

always great

Hillerman is a story teller like no other. once again great Chee series story.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!