Rock with Wings (A Leaphorn, Chee & Manuelito Novel) Mass Market Paperback – November 24, 2015

Worth the read. Prose is a little choppy. More emotions revealed than in books Tony Hillerman wrote. Overall, not bad.

Number 2 in this series

Enjoyable and educational reading. Learned a great deal about “Rez “Iife plants, living conditions and thinking. Thanks sooooo much.

I waited a while to start reading Anne's books. I didn't think it was a good idea for she or anyone to try to write such books. But after I reread all of Tony's books from 2018-2022, I decided to try her first one. I was delighted. Then I read her second, Rock with Wings and was amazed at how satisfying it was. For me, the experience of reading Anne's books is very similar to the way if feels to read Tony's books. Rock with Wings set a high bar for Anne. Amazingly there are SIX more of her "Leaphorn, Chee & Manuelito" books left for me. That tells me the quality of the next one is probably high, and so I'm am ordering it.

The characters, for the most part, are well-developed and are likable ones. There is definitely mystery to the story, but it is not overly suspenseful. It is just the right amount; however, to keep one turning the pages. Even though there is quite a lot of Navajo culture/legends thrown in, some of it doesn't really have much to do with the plot. The style of Tony Hillerman is still there, but the focus is now mainly on police officer Bernie Mnuelito who is married to officer Jim Chee. I am a bit disappointed that Chee and Leaphorn are not the main focus, but they are still around helping to solve crime.The plot seemed a bit weak, and the story a bit disjointed sometimes. It jumps around frequently from place to place and character to character. In fact, I found the whole story a bit slow moving, and it did not really become fast paced until toward the end. The story overall is a good one, and I hope Ms. Hillerman keeps this series going. Maybe those of us who are Tony Hillerman fan's expect Ms. Hillerman's style of writing and storyline to follow exactly in her father's footsteps. That might not happen as Ms. Hillerman may develop her own storyline and style of writing which might become just as interesting.Joe Leaphorn is still recovering from a gunshot to the head, but does play a small part in the story. Chee and Bernie were trying to have a vacation, but it just did not happen. They are both back at work in two separate locations. Chee finds himself in the midst of the making of a movie. Bad guys are lurking, but there are several suspects and several acts of crime. There is also a mysterious grave. What is the significance of that? Hmm, Well, it's tribal police business, and it's business as usual for Chee. I was really expecting something significant with the mysterious grave site, but I was disappointed that was not developed. Bernie's job is a bit routine, but wait.....some boxes of dirt must have a real mystery attached to them. Bernie has a bit of frustration with Sister and her drinking. Mama needs TLC and Sister needs a good talking to! What's the deal about solar panels and movie moguls. They are somewhat connected, but not overly successful. Bernie does find herself in a somewhat dangerous situation that might have something to do with those panels. The story did have some very scary moments, and it was a good Southwest/Navajo story.

I was a great fan of the late Tony Hillerman's Navajo police mysteries. I loved the vast panoramas he drew of the Navajo reservation, the great distances that forced a slowing down of life. I drank in the Navajo culture, and I admired the characters of Joe Leaphorn and Jim Chee. When Hillerman passed away in 2008, I mourned not only the loss of a talented writer but also the characters he created. So I was delighted when I read that Tony's daughter, Anne Hillerman, was resurrecting the Leaphorn/Chee series.Rock with Wings is Anne's second novel, but the first of her books I've had the chance to read. And I can honestly say I was not disappointed.Like her father, Anne has a talent for creating vibrant characters and a sense of environment. But Anne is not merely picking up where her father left off. While Leaphorn and Chee are still main characters, Anne focuses most of the book on Bernie Manuelito, Chee's wife and fellow Navajo police officer.Nor is the "rez" her father's reservation.The Navajo Nation is modernizing, with all the good and bad that comes with change. Instead of simple hogans, more Navajos are moving into modern homes. Local farms are being replaced by solar farms providing energy to the reservation and beyond. A younger generation is losing touch with its historic roots and culture. Gangs are now part of the problem facing Navajo law enforcement.In Rock with Wings, a simple night time traffic stop leads Bernie into a baffling mystery involving endangered cacti and a man with a shadowy past, Meanwhile, Chee's assignment as a police liaison with a movie production crew leads to discovery of a mysterious grave and the killing of an abusive security guard. Just when these mysteries seemed to be wrapped up, Anne surprises the reader with the real plot behind them.While Anne may be following in her father's footsteps, she definitely is not standing in his shadow.

I can't begin to say how utterly thrilled I was finding Spider Womans Daughter, an excellent, excellent book. Then to find out that Rock with Wings was available, just made things even better. Anne Hillerman has her Father's way with words a fine Hillerman trait. These two new Leaphorn and Chee stories are fantastic. Thank you for taking up the torch and giving us these incredible stories. Your Father would/is so proud. Thank you

A well written detective story in the tradition of Tony Hillerman with Manuelito as the lead police officer helping Chee solve a problem started by movie people working in Monument valley. Slight links to the original Leaphorn saga make it a pleasure for any one familiar with the latter. Highly recommended:Onclejon

Thank goodness Anne has carried in writing about these characters who are like familiar old friends that you like so much.

Another successful follow up by Anne Hillerman to her father Tony Hillerman. Absolutely couldn't put it down!

I really liked it. The plot is bit tortured in places, a bit unbelievable and maybe Bernie is becoming more important than Chee? But still a good read and I'm looking forward to the next one.