The Shape Shifter

A Leaphorn and Chee Novel

By: Tony Hillerman

Narrated by: George Guidall

Don’t miss the TV series, Dark Winds, based on the Leaphorn, Chee, & Manuelito novels, now on AMC and AMC+!

“With The Shape Shifter, Hillerman once again proves himself the master of Southwest mystery fiction, working in a Hemingway-esque tradition of pared-down writing to bring the rugged Southwest into focus.”—Santa Fe New Mexican

Legendary Lieutenant Joe Leaphorn is drawn back into the past to solve a cold case that has haunted him for nearly a decade in this atmospheric and twisting mystery infused with the Native American culture and lore of the desert Southwest.

Though he’s officially retired from the Navajo Tribal Police, Joe Leaphorn occasionally helps his former colleagues Jim Chee and Bernie Manuelito crack particularly puzzling crimes.

But there is that rare unsolved investigation that haunts every lawman, including the legendary Leaphorn. Joe still hasn’t let go of his “last case”—a mystery involving a priceless Navajo rug that was supposedly destroyed in a fire. Nine years later, what looks like the same one-of-a-kind rug turns up in a magazine spread, and the man who showed Joe the photo has gone missing.

With Chee and Bernie on their honeymoon, Leaphorn plunges into the case solo, picking up the threads of this crime he’d long thought impossible to solve. Not only has the passage of time obscured the details, but a murderer long thought dead continues to roam free—and is ready to strike again to keep the past buried.

Great Story!

I read Hillerman's book but absolutely love listening them. Joe, Jim, and my favorite, Bernie are wonderful characters

Classic Tony Hillerman

I like hearing stories of The People’s mythology and Shape Shifter is rich with them. I struggled with the Tommy Vong character. He was infantilized and seemed too naive.

A worthy last Leaphorn/Chee book by Tony Hillerman

One of the best plots in the series, with twists that are believable and a resolution that is apt and satisfying. Good character sketch of Joe Leaphorn with cameo appearances by Jim Chee and Bernie Chee (Manuelito). And of course, the high desert and mountains of the Four Corners area are drawn as well as could be expected by this talented author.

The only thing I don't like is the framing narrative, which distracts from the core story, but that's not enough to drop this below a five-star rating.

This book and the entire series are highly recommended.

Delightful , Convoluted and Satisfying

This is Hillerman at his conniving best. I have been a dedicated fan since the 80s and have gorged myself on all of his Leaphorn and Chee detective books. These books are uniquely rich with insight and cultural details of life among contemporary Native Western Americans. Hillerman grew up in Oklahoma with Potawatomi children where he gained a unique perspective of a way of life shrouded by misunderstandings for most European immigrants. Far from being culture lectures, the stories are cracking good tales. The Shape Shifter, however, is my personal favorite, weaving Navaho legend into a contemporary evil with a resolution that leaves me smiling. It is an example of incredible wickedness being overcome by determined good people.

another good one

Love these books. great local interests. I really enjoy having local places incorporated in yhe stories