Tony Hillerman was an esteemed mystery novelist particularly celebrated for his Navajo tribal police series featuring characters Joe Leaphorn and Jim Chee. Books like The Blessing Way beautifully depict Southwestern landscapes and Native culture.
If you enjoy reading books by Tony Hillerman then you might also like the following authors:
Craig Johnson writes crime fiction set in Wyoming, featuring Sheriff Walt Longmire. His books blend engaging mysteries, authentic Western atmosphere, and strong, believable characters.
Johnson captures the natural beauty and tough living conditions of the West, often including Native American culture and lore. A great one to start with is The Cold Dish, the first Walt Longmire novel.
C. J. Box sets his page-turning mysteries in rural Wyoming, featuring game warden Joe Pickett. Box creates suspenseful and fast-paced stories filled with vivid descriptions of wilderness areas, tough ethical questions, and conflicts involving land-use and wildlife management.
His characters feel realistic, caught between criminal threats and challenging personal dilemmas. Try Open Season to follow Joe Pickett's first intense investigation.
William Kent Krueger offers mysteries set in Minnesota's rugged North Woods. His series follows Cork O'Connor, a former sheriff who is part Irish and part Ojibwe.
Krueger explores themes around family relationships, Native American culture, social conflicts, and small-town dynamics. His storytelling is thoughtful and atmospheric, filled with rich descriptions of landscape and community ties.
Consider reading Iron Lake to experience Krueger's memorable storytelling and characters.
Anne Hillerman continues Tony Hillerman's popular Navajo detective series featuring officers Joe Leaphorn, Jim Chee, and Bernadette Manuelito.
She maintains the thoughtful cultural insights and vivid Southwestern settings of her father's original works, yet puts her own stamp on the characters by expanding Bernadette's role. Anne Hillerman's style respects Navajo traditions and contemporary realities.
You might enjoy Spider Woman's Daughter, her first entry in the series.
James D. Doss wrote the Charlie Moon mystery series set in Colorado, featuring the Ute investigator Charlie Moon. Doss blended humor, traditional storytelling, and Native American legends with intriguing mysteries.
Readers appreciate the gentle humor, light-hearted atmosphere, and unique blend of rural Colorado life with mystical elements. Start with The Shaman Sings to discover Doss's enjoyable mixture of mystery and storytelling charm.
Dana Stabenow is a great choice if you enjoy Tony Hillerman. She captures Alaska vividly in her mystery series starring Kate Shugak, an investigator who knows her way around both tracking criminals and navigating local customs.
Like Hillerman, Stabenow pays close attention to cultural details and portrays her setting as vividly as any character. One of her popular mysteries is A Cold Day for Murder, where Shugak must solve a case involving missing park rangers and the rugged Alaskan wilderness.
Nevada Barr's national park ranger, Anna Pigeon, offers another appealing choice for Tony Hillerman fans. Barr focuses on majestic wilderness settings, crime mysteries, and the intricate relationships between people and nature.
In Track of the Cat, Anna investigates the mysterious death of a fellow ranger in the remote wilderness of Guadalupe Mountains National Park. Readers fond of Hillerman's rich sense of location and culture will enjoy Barr's immersive storytelling.
Arthur W. Upfield set his detective stories in the Australian outback, capturing its harsh environment, unique wildlife, and distinctive culture.
His detective, Inspector Napoleon "Bony" Bonaparte, uses deep knowledge of indigenous customs, keen observation, and logical deduction to solve crimes.
In The Bone is Pointed, Bony searches for a missing man in a remote rural area, uncovering secrets rooted within both the land and its people.
If you appreciate Hillerman's respect for indigenous cultures and rich atmospheric details, Upfield's mysteries could be just what you're looking for.
If you're drawn to books featuring strong consideration of setting and the outdoors, Paul Doiron's mysteries will be a perfect fit.
Set in the wilds of Maine, his novels star Mike Bowditch, a young game warden who faces both harsh physical challenges and complicated personal and professional dilemmas.
In The Poacher's Son, Mike confronts both dangerous criminals and personal conflicts as his estranged father is accused of murder. Fans of Hillerman who enjoy thoughtful mysteries tied to the landscape will appreciate Doiron's writing.
Michael McGarrity lets you experience the Southwest closely through his storytelling, much as Tony Hillerman does.
McGarrity offers crime fiction featuring detective Kevin Kerney, emphasizing detailed investigations, engaging characters, and vivid portrayals of the New Mexico terrain.
Tularosa is an excellent introduction, following Kerney through military cover-ups and murder mysteries beneath New Mexico’s vast sky. Readers who appreciate Hillerman’s careful blend of land, culture, and crime drama should consider Michael McGarrity.
Martin Cruz Smith is known for atmospheric mysteries set in vividly depicted locations, often exploring cultural tension and complex local politics.
Readers who enjoy Tony Hillerman's focus on the Southwest Native American world might appreciate Smith's evocative setting and culturally insightful storytelling in Gorky Park.
This novel introduces Arkady Renko, a Moscow investigator navigating through the political maze of Soviet Russia to solve a challenging murder case.
J. A. Jance writes engaging mysteries with strong regional flavor and well-developed characters, much like Tony Hillerman. Her series featuring detective Joanna Brady is set in the Southwest and delves into complex family dynamics and vivid landscape descriptions.
In Desert Heat, readers can meet Sheriff Joanna Brady, whose investigation into her husband's death reveals hidden tensions in a close-knit small-town community.
Steven F. Havill captures readers with stories set in fictional Posadas County, New Mexico, blending intriguing narrative with authentic small-town atmosphere and engaging characters. Fans of Hillerman's Southwestern style will find familiar comforts in Havill's writing.
Begin with Heartshot to follow undersheriff Bill Gastner as he solves crimes in a remote county where everyone seems connected.
Louise Penny sets her mysteries in the quiet yet intriguing village of Three Pines in Quebec, Canada. Like Tony Hillerman, Penny creates memorable characters within a deeply realized community, gracefully exploring human motivations, secrets, and relationships.
Her novel Still Life introduces Chief Inspector Armand Gamache, whose thoughtful approach and deep moral compass guide him through a nuanced murder inquiry.
John D. MacDonald created iconic private investigator Travis McGee, whose stories mix suspenseful plots with philosophical reflections on society, ethics, and the environment.
Readers appreciating Tony Hillerman's thoughtful observations and richly portrayed setting may relate to MacDonald's insightful perspective and atmospheric Florida backdrop.
Start with The Deep Blue Good-by, the first Travis McGee adventure featuring suspense, wit, and a strong sense of place.