The Joe Leaphorn and Jim Chee mystery novels are set in the American Southwest, particularly among the Navajo tribal lands. Throughout the series, Navajo Tribal Police officers Leaphorn and Chee solve complex crimes using their deep understanding of the Navajo people.

Readers have long appreciated Tony Hillerman’s rich character-driven plots and thoughtful and detailed descriptions of Navajo culture and history. He first introduced Leaphorn and Chee in the 1970s and continued writing the books until his death in 2008. He wrote the first eighteen books in the series, followed by his daughter, Anne Hillerman, who began writing the series after her father’s passing. She honours her father’s legacy while making the characters her own, and many readers love her writing and what she has brought to the series. Anne begins with Spider Woman’s Daughter (Book 19).

Fans recommend reading the books in order to fully enjoy the character development and the rich background of Arizona and the American Southwest that is explored throughout the series.