Anne Hillerman continues her father Tony Hillerman's legacy with Southwest mystery novels. Her popular work Spider Woman's Daughter revives beloved Navajo detectives in vibrant new stories.
If you enjoy reading books by Anne Hillerman then you might also like the following authors:
Books by Tony Hillerman transport readers to the landscapes of the American Southwest, similar to Anne Hillerman’s vivid depictions of Navajo culture and life.
In Dance Hall of the Dead, Lieutenant Joe Leaphorn faces a puzzling investigation after a young Zuni boy mysteriously vanishes, and another boy turns up dead.
The case pulls Leaphorn deep into Pueblo rituals and beliefs, challenging him to unravel clues tangled in cultural secrets. Hillerman brings readers into a world rich with authentic Navajo traditions, clever detective work, and fascinating characters.
If you enjoy Anne Hillerman’s stories featuring Navajo police officers immersed in cultural mysteries, Tony Hillerman’s novels provide another rewarding journey into Southwestern crime and spirituality.
Craig Johnson is a novelist known for his Wyoming-based mystery series featuring Sheriff Walt Longmire. His novel, The Cold Dish, introduces readers to Longmire, a thoughtful, weathered sheriff who balances a strong sense of justice with wry humor.
Set in the rugged landscapes of Wyoming, the story begins when a young man involved in a disturbing assault case turns up dead, prompting an investigation soaked in tension and gritty realism.
Johnson weaves vivid local color, crisp dialogue, and memorable characters into a story that keeps readers invested until the final page. Fans of Anne Hillerman, who appreciate richly drawn settings and deeply human characters, will find Craig Johnson’s work equally rewarding.
If you enjoy Anne Hillerman’s vivid mysteries set against the rugged landscapes of the American Southwest, you may also appreciate the novels of C.J. Box. Box’s work combines thrilling suspense and authentic depictions of life in the American West.
A great place to start would be his first novel, Open Season. This book introduces Joe Pickett, a Wyoming game warden who prefers integrity over popularity.
When Pickett discovers a local outfitter dead behind his woodpile, he’s thrust into an investigation that uncovers poaching, political corruption, and hidden agendas. Box weaves an absorbing mystery rooted firmly in character-driven storytelling and genuine western atmosphere.
Margaret Coel is an author who weaves mystery and Native American culture into intriguing narratives.
Her book The Eagle Catcher introduces readers to Father John O’Malley and Arapaho attorney Vicky Holden, two engaging characters brought together by a murder investigation on Wyoming’s Wind River Reservation.
After a tribal chairman is found dead, the duo must sift through strained community relationships, historical tensions, and hidden secrets to uncover the truth.
Fans of Anne Hillerman’s mysteries set in Navajo territory will likely appreciate Coel’s vivid storytelling and the richly-drawn cultural context of her stories.
Readers who enjoy Anne Hillerman’s mysteries set in the Southwest might appreciate the mysteries of James D. Doss.
His Charlie Moon series begins with The Shaman Sings, a story that introduces readers to Ute detective Charlie Moon and his elderly aunt Daisy Perika, a wise shaman with a sharp mind and an ironic sense of humor.
When a university student is found murdered near a sacred tribal landmark, Moon realizes early that the criminal he seeks may be tied to sinister forces and cultural secrets buried deep within his community.
Doss crafts stories enriched by Native American folklore, humor, and the striking Colorado landscape, creating a unique backdrop for his clever, character-driven mysteries.
Readers who enjoy Anne Hillerman’s Southwestern mysteries might appreciate Aimée Thurlo’s captivating novels set in the same region. Aimée Thurlo teams up with her husband David to craft engaging crime stories infused with Navajo culture and tradition.
In their novel Blackening Song, readers meet Ella Clah, a dedicated Navajo FBI agent who returns home to the reservation in search of her father’s killer.
Back in her familiar but complicated community, Ella must navigate tribal politics, family issues, and cultural conflicts to uncover the truth.
Thurlo’s vivid depiction of Navajo life and the authentic portrayal of Ella Clah create a mystery filled with suspense and cultural insight.
If you enjoy Anne Hillerman’s mysteries set in the Southwest, you’ll probably appreciate the books by David Thurlo, who often co-authored novels with his wife, Aimée Thurlo. Their stories follow vivid characters amid Navajo culture and traditions.
A good one to start with is Blackening Song, featuring Ella Clah, a Navajo FBI agent who returns home to solve her father’s murder.
Ella finds herself caught between two worlds—the familiar structure of her FBI training clashes with the spiritual beliefs and traditions from her upbringing.
Thurlo blends carefully-realized cultural details with suspenseful plots, giving readers an authentic and thoughtful journey through Navajo country.
Books by William Kent Krueger immerse readers in the rich landscape and deep cultural history of the American Midwest, especially Minnesota’s North Woods. In his novel Iron Lake, Krueger introduces Cork O’Connor, a former sheriff of mixed Irish and Ojibwe descent.
After losing his job, Cork finds himself caught between two worlds when a respected judge is found dead in what appears to be suicide.
Yet doubt lingered among the townspeople as Cork begins to uncover secrets buried in the snowy terrain and hidden tensions between the local community and Native reservation.
The storytelling captures the atmosphere of small-town life, blending mystery, thoughtful characters, and a respectful portrayal of Native American traditions that readers of Anne Hillerman’s Navajo-based mysteries might appreciate.
Books by Nevada Barr offer a great choice for those who enjoy stories by Anne Hillerman. Barr often sets her novels in vividly depicted national parks, giving readers a sense of natural wonder and suspense.
In her book Track of the Cat, readers meet park ranger Anna Pigeon, who investigates a suspicious death in the vast wilderness of Guadalupe Mountains National Park.
As Anna digs deeper into the case, she faces danger from both the natural terrain and human threats, uncovering secrets hidden beneath stunning landscapes.
Nevada Barr expertly balances intriguing mysteries with authentic details about park environments, wildlife, and ranger work, making her novels stand out for crime fiction fans seeking something fresh and captivating.
Books by Dana Stabenow offer vivid stories set in Alaska, featuring the rugged landscape and the lives of people who call it home.
In A Cold Day for Murder, Stabenow introduces Kate Shugak, a tough, independent investigator who previously worked for the Anchorage District Attorney’s office.
Kate returns to her family’s rural homestead, healing from past traumas, but soon is pulled into investigating the mysterious disappearance of a National Park ranger and a detective sent after him.
The narrative takes readers deep into the remote wilderness, blending gripping mystery with authentic portrayals of Native Alaskan culture and isolated small-town life.
Fans of Anne Hillerman, who love immersive settings and strong female protagonists working through complex crimes, will appreciate this thoughtful and atmospheric story.
Books by Paul Doiron offer gripping mysteries set in the rugged landscapes of Maine, centered around game warden Mike Bowditch. Readers who enjoy Anne Hillerman will feel at home with Doiron’s stories, where crime and nature intertwine vividly.
In The Poacher’s Son, Bowditch confronts a stark personal conflict when his estranged father becomes the prime suspect in a violent crime.
Loyalties and justice clash as Bowditch navigates through Maine’s wilderness and small towns to uncover layered truths about family, duty, and murder. Fans of Hillerman’s intricate plots and vivid settings will find Doiron’s storytelling equally engaging and atmospheric.
Readers who enjoy Anne Hillerman’s mysteries set in the American Southwest may also appreciate J.A. Jance. Jance offers strong characters, vivid settings, and intriguing mysteries that keep you turning pages.
One good example is her novel Desert Heat, the first book in the Joanna Brady series. The story follows Joanna Brady as she investigates the suspicious death of her husband, a county sheriff, in the Arizona desert.
What at first seems like a tragic accident quickly reveals dangerous secrets and hidden dangers rooted deep in their small desert town. Readers will find themselves connected to Joanna’s determination and bravery as she unravels the puzzle and confronts threats head-on.
Jance brings southern Arizona to life with authentic details and believable characters, making the series a promising find for fans eager to meet another relatable detective in a desert landscape.
Readers who enjoy Anne Hillerman’s vivid Southwestern mysteries might also appreciate Michael McGarrity’s crime novels set in New Mexico. McGarrity, a former detective himself, offers authentic insight into police work and Southwestern landscapes.
In Tularosa, Kevin Kerney, a retired police officer recovering from personal setbacks, agrees to help find a missing soldier from White Sands Missile Range. The investigation quickly becomes complex as Kerney uncovers dangerous secrets and illegal activities.
McGarrity paints a detailed picture of southern New Mexico terrain and captures vividly the tension of the mysterious case Kerney faces.
Kirk Mitchell is an author known for vivid and authentic portrayals of Native American characters and settings. If you’ve enjoyed Anne Hillerman’s novels set in Navajo country, you may appreciate Mitchell’s book, Cry Dance.
This novel introduces Emmett Parker, a Comanche investigator with the Bureau of Indian Affairs who teams up with FBI agent Anna Turnipseed, a Modoc woman.
Together they track a cunning killer in the Southwestern desert, uncover secrets from the reservation, and face the complex ties between tradition and modernity.
Mitchell combines Native American culture, strong characters, and thoughtfully crafted mysteries, offering an immediate sense of place and community in the heart of Indian Country.
Marcia Muller is a great choice for readers who enjoy Anne Hillerman’s blend of mystery, intriguing settings, and strong female characters. Muller’s detective Sharon McCone has a sharp, practical style and plenty of tenacity.
Try Edwin of the Iron Shoes, the first novel in Muller’s acclaimed series. In this story, McCone investigates the murder of an antiques dealer in San Francisco. What seems at first to be a straightforward case rapidly becomes tangled.
As she interviews suspects and follows unexpected clues, McCone finds herself deep in San Francisco’s eclectic art community. The city comes alive as McCone navigates complexity, danger, and an engaging set of characters.
Fans who appreciate Hillerman’s vivid settings and masterful plotting will find plenty to enjoy in Muller’s writing.