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Navajo Autumn A Navajo Nation Mystery edition by R Allen Chappell Literature Fiction eBooks

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Navajo Autumn A Navajo Nation Mystery edition by R Allen Chappell Literature Fiction eBooks

Words can't adequately describe how surprised and delighted I am to have stumbled upon this book, and thus, this author. Chappell R. Allen has just opened up a world of delight for us (my wife and me). We have been fans of Tony Hillerman since the 1970s, and have read all he had written. May he rest in peace. We also have read many of the books of the Thurlos, which were also entertaining.

But Chappell writes at a whole new level of intimate knowledge and understanding about the Diné Bikéya and her people that is so professional, so well-presented. It's a whole new world.

In fact, Chappell's very way of writing somehow--some way I can't put my finger on--his wordage, his style, his mood--is reminiscent of feelings one could get from earlier, great writers of the Four Corners Southwest: writers like Paul Horgan espcecially come to mind. I'm from pioneer Southern New Mexico-Far West Texas pioneer families, and my wife is descended from tough, good Northern Mexican Campesino stock, and we know and love the Southwest well, and have lived in Farmington and worked at a mine with the Diné, whom we like so well.

This story parrallels a lot of the action found in Thurlo and especially in Hillerman mysteries, but it is unique--I think the best way to express it is, it's written "imbedded," close to the ground; close to the people, the action. The plot and its development is also very unique and interesting. It is excitingly and pleasingly realistic! The plots, the action--it's all believable (so many similar books have these dialogs and relationships and developments that are too contrived, require the reader to accept too much too easily. But all Chappell writes sounds right! It really must have happened!

We are now instantaneous fans, and we want to read everything Chappell has written. My only question is, Why in the world isn't he better known! He should be. He writes first-class cultural literature.


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Navajo Autumn A Navajo Nation Mystery edition by R Allen Chappell Literature Fiction eBooks Reviews

After having read and loved all of Tony Hillerman’s Chee & Leaphorn books, I am glad to have found another good writer who has an entertaining Navajo mystery series. So far I have read the first four of Chappell’s six-part series (with more to come, apparently) and thoroughly enjoyed them.

While the books don’t have to be read in sequence, the first couple of books, at least, lay a foundation for the later books in terms of the main characters. And the plot in the first book, Navajo Autumn, lays a foundation for the plot in the second book, Boy Made of Dawn.

Other than perhaps drawing out the final scene a little more, there is not much I would change in this first book in the series, Navajo Autumn.

I like that Chappell’ books do not have too many characters (for my liking, at least) or complicated plots. He is a good story teller and writer, with a good sense of humor, who has you rooting for the heroes as they do battle with very bad people. I especially appreciate that Chappel is very knowledgeable about Navajo culture and strives to be accurate in his depictions of characters and scenes. In this respect, he writes about what he knows. For the most part, this was true of Hillerman also (although he did knowingly stray from accuracy on occasion, for example stating in one story that the Native American Church used Datura rather than Peyote), but each of the two writers have different styles and a different flavor of heroes. It is helpful that Chappell includes a glossary in some or all of his books.

Navajo Autumn is a good book and it is the beginning of a good series.
I am a big Tony Hillerman fan and have fallen in love with the 4 corners area in large part due to his works. I'm always looking for more great stories in that setting with the Dine as primary characters.

I wasn't sure what I was going to get with Mr. Chappell's work, but it was both inexpensive and relatively short, so I felt worth trying. And I am very glad I did! I found the story immediately engrossing and the narrative does a great job of establishing itself in the land and its people.

Like some other reviewers, I felt that I saw through the mystery quite early. But that didn't particularly disappoint me - I was more interested in how the characters were going to successfully resolve the central mystery and its related complications.

Other reviewers criticized the proofreading and grammatical structure of the story. I didn't find those issues to be a huge problem for me. Mr. Chappell is a good story teller and a good story is going to carry the reader past those things. A bad storyteller with excellent grammar is not preferable!

All that said, I did feel that the character development was inconsistent. Charlie is first established as a college-educated Navajo with ambitions. Later he is more of an altruistic friend who readily ignores his superiors. It was a tad difficult to get a fix on Charlie's character at first, but once I discarded the initial impression, it was fine. Still, not something readers should have to do.

Thomas was a bigger problem. A never-do-well drunk, his relationship with the mother of his ex is not really brought out till pretty far along in the book. And Thomas turns out to be stronger and better than the character you first meet. Two different people, in fact.

Forced to forgo drink for a while, Thomas suddenly becomes a sober, mature man working on his future. A nice ending, but I wasn't sold. Alcoholism doesn't let go so readily. I certainly WAS rooting for Thomas to turn things around, but there is simply no way it happens this quickly with this little pain.

Thomas runs into an abused woman with two children - children that turn out to be his! This would be a spoiler except that they exit the story as quickly as they entered it. Wow! I don't think the story needed this big revelation if it wasn't going to figure into things later. Grist for another story, in my opinion.

Finally, there is some snarkiness in the Prologue (actually placed at the end in the version) alluding to "mystery-novel Navajos". I didn't think this side-swipe was necessary. I wasn't looking for a Hillerman clone and I didn't find one. That's great! I have already bought the next novel by Mr. Chappell because I think he is a great story-teller with genuine insight into the character of the Dine and their land. I hope he can accept that without feeling the need to dig at a deceased author whose books have undoubtedly brought a lot of readers to Mr. Chappell's works.

Again, whatever issues I've raised, the fact is, this is a dynamite story that is (mostly) very well told. I am excited to have found Mr. Chappell and am eager to read his other books.

UPDATE My issue with the Thomas's children being a "throw away" literary device was off base - they are the focal point of the next book in the series.

Also in conversations with the author, he clarified that when he refers to "mystery-novel Navajos" he was NOT casting aspersions on Tony Hillerman, but alluding to the cottage industry that came in his wake.

Finally, I am well into the follow on novel and enjoying it as I thought I would.
Words can't adequately describe how surprised and delighted I am to have stumbled upon this book, and thus, this author. Chappell R. Allen has just opened up a world of delight for us (my wife and me). We have been fans of Tony Hillerman since the 1970s, and have read all he had written. May he rest in peace. We also have read many of the books of the Thurlos, which were also entertaining.

But Chappell writes at a whole new level of intimate knowledge and understanding about the Diné Bikéya and her people that is so professional, so well-presented. It's a whole new world.

In fact, Chappell's very way of writing somehow--some way I can't put my finger on--his wordage, his style, his mood--is reminiscent of feelings one could get from earlier, great writers of the Four Corners Southwest writers like Paul Horgan espcecially come to mind. I'm from pioneer Southern New Mexico-Far West Texas pioneer families, and my wife is descended from tough, good Northern Mexican Campesino stock, and we know and love the Southwest well, and have lived in Farmington and worked at a mine with the Diné, whom we like so well.

This story parrallels a lot of the action found in Thurlo and especially in Hillerman mysteries, but it is unique--I think the best way to express it is, it's written "imbedded," close to the ground; close to the people, the action. The plot and its development is also very unique and interesting. It is excitingly and pleasingly realistic! The plots, the action--it's all believable (so many similar books have these dialogs and relationships and developments that are too contrived, require the reader to accept too much too easily. But all Chappell writes sounds right! It really must have happened!

We are now instantaneous fans, and we want to read everything Chappell has written. My only question is, Why in the world isn't he better known! He should be. He writes first-class cultural literature.