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People of Darkness  By  cover art

People of Darkness

By: Tony Hillerman
Narrated by: George Guidall
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Publisher's summary

A dying man is murdered. A rich man's wife agrees to pay $3,000 for the return of a stolen box of rocks.

A series of odd, inexplicable events is haunting Sergeant Jim Chee of the Navajo Tribal Police and drawing him alone into the Bad Country of the merciless Southwest, where nothing good can survive...including Chee. Because an assassin waits for him there, protecting a 30-year-old vision that greed has sired and blood has nourished. And only one man will walk away.

©1980 Tony Hillerman (P)1990 Recorded Books, LLC

What listeners say about People of Darkness

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  • Overall
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    5 out of 5 stars

This story is really dark, with flashes of light.

This is a very good reading of Tony Hillerman's People of Darkness. It is both a simple story of a young Navajo tribal policeman, a simply told story of an assassin twisted by life, and a complicated story of an educated man's greed that resulted in the very nasty death of his allies. The plot is perfect, the murder weapon is amazing.

I read this book years ago and I could not put it down then. Even knowing where the story goes as it twist its way through Jim Chee's search for harmony and the assassin's search for home, It is still so interesting that I listened almost without pause.

An early reviewer noted that he didn't think Jim Chee, the young policeman is a coward.
When he survives gunshot wounds inflicted by a professional killer, the gunman comes after him in the hospital. Even though his wounds have in no way begun to heal, suffering from the effects of the anesthetic, he finds away to avoid the being killed. Unfortunately the gunman is careful, he is not smart and shoots the unconscious man in the next bed. I think Chee suffers from survivor's guilt, not cowardice. This novel is pretty realistic, I suppose Chee could have overcome broken ribs and bloody holes, grabbed an IV pole and tried to duel a man with a large caliber gun, but I don't think any reader whose ever been attached to one of those things would have bought it.

Although I do miss Joe Leaphorn in this book. Leaphorn and Chee are so very different and their differences are make them fascinating.

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26 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Chee to the Rescue

Jim Chee, Navajo policeman assembles three disparate clues into a final ending that blow your sox off. Brilliant police work, exciting characters and a dash of New Mexico Navajo culture tossed in. Engrossing and interesting, well paced. Chee is on the cusp of a life decision, which does not get made in this book...maybe next time?

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6 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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People of Darkness

I first read all of Mr Hillerman’s books starting in 1993 while attending college. It was required reading. I was hooked. Now I’m reliving the stories through audible. Audibles narrator is soothing and perfect to present these classic novels. The books carry new meaning for me after all these years. The Navaho were so connected to the necessary healings of sickness that people give other people. The respect that is lost to bilagaana. Thank you for providing this in audible.

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5 people found this helpful

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    4 out of 5 stars
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I am a Laguna Indian and half Navajo Indian .

I love reading Hillerman’s books about my people and the customs. The land descriptions make you feel the powdery sand and the blowing wind and rain. The pure peace and beauty of the area.

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3 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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I'm Hooked!

I read and loved the series when it came out. Listening is a totally new experience!

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2 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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AWESOME!

Terrific NARRATION. I've already purchased the rest of Hillerman's books. LEAPHORN, CHEE and MANUELITO are interesting characters, the plots and visuals, writing and HISTORY of the Navajo People and NW New Mexico are utterly intriguing. GOTTA HAVE MORE!

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  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars

Review on book

The book was very confusing and I did not understand the book. Maybe if I re read the book, I could understand it more.

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2 people found this helpful

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One of the best

People of Darkness is the first of the Chee novels and it is more character driven than the first three Leaphorn novels. It has a pretty good mystery, too, as well as the usual beautiful Southwestern settings and Navajo lore. Narrator Guidall is as good as ever.

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1 person found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Great Mystery

Enjoyed not only the unfolding mystery but also the details of the Navajo culture. Enjoyed listening to Guidall as a younger narrator. He's my favorite!

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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DIDN'T THINK JIM CHEE WAS A COWARD

What would have made People of Darkness better?

By not portraying Jim Chee as a coward. Being Navajo, Dine, does not make one a total coward. So as not to give anything away, I would just say there was an excellent chance for Jim to do the right thing and the writer failed.

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