Book reviews

Sacred Clowns
Tony Hillerman Book Review

Read a book review online (click here to search reviews)
Books Movies  
Sci-Fi/Fantasy Mystery/Thriller Literature Romance Biography Video
Tony Hillerman Books
New book search
Tony Hillerman Message Board
Get more information about this book
Plot Summary of Sacred Clowns
"

    To Navajo Tribal Policemen Joe Leaphorn and Jim Chee, the two murders seem quite
unrelated. But nothing is as it seems in “Sacred Clowns” and author Tony Hillerman takes
care, patience, and expertise in making this one of his very best. A local Navajo school
teacher has been murdered; an official at the Tano Indian pueblo is dead. They seem
unrelated.   Of course, as we find out, they aren't. A runaway schoolboy helps provide some
missing links and Leaphorn and Chee “have their man.” Hillerman seems to have taken
more time with “Sacred Clowns” and has created a complex, readable, fascinating thriller.
He is at his descriptive best in the scenes where the kachinas (sacred clowns) dance their
way, mesmerisingly, into the ancient plaza. The solution, too, seems quite complex (thus
more rewarding). This is one book you won't want to miss.   

"

Bill Hobbs, Resident Scholar

"This story is very interesting, a detailed story of the investigation of two murders that relate to each other. Sometimes some stories tend to clutter but this story gave just enough detail, not too much. This was an excellently written book."
Jacky, Resident Scholar



Review Analysis of Sacred Clowns
Our unique search engine provides a wealth of detail about books by breaking them down into many different literary elements, all of which are searchable (click here).
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot

Composition of Book
descript. of violence and chases - 10%
Planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 50%
Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 30%
How society works & physical descript. (people, objects, places) - 10%




Tone of story - very upbeat
How difficult to spot villain? - Difficult, but some clues given
Time/era of story: - 1980's-1999
Spying/Terrorism Thriller Yes
What % of story relates directly to the mystery, not the subplot? - 80%
Murder of certain profession? - businessmen
Kind of investigator - no powwow with Indian killers
Kid or adult book? - Adult or Young Adult Book
Any non-mystery subplot? - searching for missing person
Crime Thriller Yes
Murder Mystery (killer unknown) Yes
General Crime (including known murderer) Yes
Who's the criminal enemy here? - drug dealers - finding a known killer

Main Character
Gender - Male
Profession/status: - government investigator - police/lawman
Age: - 20's-30's - 40's-50's
How much violence does he/she use? - none
How sensitive is this character? - sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor - Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence - Average intelligence
Physique - average physique

Main Adversary
Identity: - Male
Age: - 40's-50's
Profession/status: - trader
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in: - almost none - a moderate amount
Motive of antagonist - revenge - money/treasure
How sensitive is this character? - hard edged
Sense of humor - Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence - Average intelligence
Physique - average physique

Setting
United States Yes
The US: - West

Style
Part of a series? Yes
Person - mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death? - generic/vague references to death/punishment - moderately detailed references to deaths
How many deaths? - 1 - 3-4
Sex Yes
What kind of sex: - descript of kissing
Amount of dialog - roughly even amounts of descript and dialog - significantly more descript than dialog
Most similar books to Sacred Clowns
I'll Be Seeing You by Mary Higgins Clark
Dying for Chocolate by Diane Mott Davidson
Fatal Voyage by Kathy Reichs
Summerkill by Maryann Weber
High Country by Nevada Barr


Click here for more information about this book


Tony Hillerman Resident Scholar Profiles

TOP SCHOLAR:
  
Dorothea Lotter  

SCHOLARS:
David Gordon  Tena van't Foort  BethG  Chuck Nugent  Di Bingham  Jacky  


Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s).
Three ways to search for Thriller/Action books!

1) One-click plot searches! Simply click on a plot or subplot below!

Big vehicle disaster?

Crime Thriller

Disaster, natural or nuclear

Exploring into the wild

Horror Story?

Legal Thriller

Medical Thriller

Religious overtones?

Spying/Terrorism Thriller

War Thriller

Water adventure

Western



or 2) Simple lookup
(title or author)

or
3) Even more search options available with a Detailed Booksearch (click here)

Use our site!
17 FREE Sci-Fi Ebooks!
FREE "How to be happy" Ebook!
Feedback


Most recent discussions:

General Book Talk
Book writing discussion
Off-topic message board
Kin Platt 3:53:44 AM
James Patterson 12:08:13 PM
George W. Bush 2:32:02 AM
Anonymous 2:03:39 AM
Erin Hunters 9:00:01 PM
Betty Mahmoody 6:00:22 PM
Judith McNaught 11:55:44 AM
Iris Johansen 9:03:43 PM
Norah Lofts 1:11:37 PM
Jane Rubino 9:32:45 AM
Rabbi Dr. Abraham Twersky 11:28:51 PM
Faye Kellerman 12:37:41 AM
LaVyrle Spencer 7:25:23 PM
Robert James Waller 8:30:15 PM
Suzanne Weyn 12:50:03 AM
Deric Longden 2:54:11 PM
Wilma Counts 1:23:32 PM
Lilian Jackson Braun 10:05:52 PM
G.A. McKevett 10:03:31 PM
David Williams 10:03:01 PM

More message boards