Anne Hillerman books

Anne Hillerman is an American mystery author who continues the Leaphorn and Chee series created by her father Tony Hillerman, set on the Navajo Nation in the American Southwest.

Leaphorn & Chee Reading Order

Title Published Buy on Amazon
The Blessing Way 1970 Buy
Listening Woman 1978 Buy
People of Darkness 1980 Buy
A Thief of Time 1988 Buy
Talking God 1989 Buy
Coyote Waits 1990 Buy
The Fallen Man 1996 Buy
The First Eagle 1998 Buy
Hunting Badger 1999 Buy
The Shape Shifter 2006 Buy
Spider Woman’s Daughter 2013 Buy
Rock with Wings 2015 Buy
Song of the Lion 2017 Buy
Cave of Bones 2018 Buy
The Tale Teller 2019 Buy
Stargazer 2021 Buy
The Sacred Bridge 2022 Buy
The Way of the Bear 2023 Buy
Lost Birds 2024 Buy
Shadow of the Solstice 2025 Buy
Dance Hall of the Dead 1973 Buy
The Dark Wind 1982 Buy
The Ghostway 1984 Buy
Skinwalkers 1986 Buy
Sacred Clowns 1992 Buy
The Wailing Wind 2002 Buy
The Sinister Pig 2003 Buy
Skeleton Man 2004 Buy

Non-Fiction

Title Published Buy on Amazon
The Great Taos Bank Robbery and Other True Stories 1973 Buy
Children’s Guide to Santa Fe 1984 Buy
Ride the Wind, USA to Africa 1995 Buy
Insiders’ Guide to Santa Fe 1998 Buy
Tony Hillerman’s Landscape: On the Road with Chee and Leaphorn 2009 Buy
Santa Fe Flavors 2009 Buy
Gardens of Santa Fe 2010 Buy
Tony Hillerman’s Landscapes: Southwest Guide & Map 2012 Buy
Done in the Sun: Solar Projects for Children 2012 Buy

Anne Hillerman took over the Leaphorn and Chee mystery series from her father Tony Hillerman, who had written eighteen novels featuring Navajo Tribal Police officers Joe Leaphorn and Jim Chee. Tony Hillerman published the first book, The Blessing Way, in 1970 and the last, The Shape Shifter, in 2006. After his death in 2008, Anne picked up the series with Spider Woman’s Daughter (2013), expanding the focus to include Officer Bernadette Manuelito as a primary point-of-view character.

Anne has now published ten novels in the series (through Shadow of the Solstice in 2025), bringing the total Leaphorn and Chee catalog to 28 books. She has also written nonfiction about the Southwest, including Tony Hillerman’s Landscape (2009), a guide to the real locations that inspired her father’s fiction, and several books about Santa Fe. The series remains one of the best-known mystery franchises set in the American Southwest.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many books has Anne Hillerman written?

Anne Hillerman has written 37 books across two series.

What was Anne Hillerman's first book?

Anne Hillerman’s first book is The Blessing Way, published in 1970.

What is the connection between Anne Hillerman and Tony Hillerman?

Anne Hillerman is the daughter of Tony Hillerman, who created the Leaphorn and Chee mystery series. After Tony’s death in 2008, Anne continued the series starting with Spider Woman’s Daughter in 2013, adding Officer Bernadette Manuelito as a lead character.

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