Anne Hillerman is a well respected author in both fiction and nonfiction genres. She is the eldest daughter of Tony Hillerman, a former best-selling mystery author.
Anne has started to continue her father’s bestselling mystery series, “Leaphorn & Chee.” Anne won the Spur Award for Best First Novel from Western Writers of America for her debut work of fiction.
Due to her popularity, Anne Hillerman has served on the board of various writers organizations. Her writing covers various types of novels, thus, a lot of people can enjoy her work for different reasons.
However, this can make it confusing on knowing which order to read her books in. In this article, I have made everything as clear as possible for you. I’ll discuss in which order you should read Anne Hillerman’s 12 books.
About Anne Hillerman
Anne Hillerman first started off her writing career as a journalist, and then made the move to novels. Her first work was informational books surrounding Santa Fe.
Following the death of her father, she decided to continue in his hugely successful and popular crime and mystery book series. Due to her success in both divisions of books, she has gained numerous awards.
Her non-fiction books are various reviews and informational content about the USA and Santa Fe. While her continuation of the Leaphorn and Chee series, gives the character, Manuelito a bigger role to play than they had before.
When you want to read Anne Hillerman’s books in order, it is quite simple. You should divide her books into fiction and nonfiction and read them in publication order.
With that being said, her nonfiction work could be read in any order, but it is best to read her Leaphorn and Chee books in chronological order.
Officer Bernadette Manuelito hears a gunshot. After the dust settles, she finds someone lying in a puddle of blood. Bernie and Jim Chee, her husband, are assigned the task of locating the gunman.
They learn the shooting may be connected to an old case involving retired Joe Leaphorn.
Pros
Great continuation of her father’s beloved characters.
A tragic bombing forces Navajo Tribal police Jim Chee, Bernadette Manuelito, and their teacher, Joe Leaphorn, to go through the past in search of a vengeful killer. An old case from years ago has all the answers they seek.
On her hike, Annie, a young girl in a character-building program, came across human remains. Everyone is happy to have Annie back, but they are worried about the teacher who went into the wilderness to look for her.
Bernie will see the terrifying face of human wickedness as a result of solving both mysteries.
A missing bill, a ceremonial garment presented to the Navajo Nation, has gone missing. When the prime suspect passes away in inexplicable circumstances.
Joe Leaphorn begins to receive warnings, and his investigation takes a terrible turn.
Pros
Bernie is more developed.
Cons
Particular characters don’t add anything to the story.
Bernadette Manuelito’s regular day, takes an unexpected turn when she receives a call asking for assistance in tracking down an old acquaintance.
Former housemates Maya and Bernie split up due to Maya’s struggles with addiction. Bernie is now being asked by Maya’s brother to learn what happened to his sister.
Children may have a lot of fun in Santa Fe. In an accessible format, this book offers a tantalizing selection of places to see, and activities to do to occupy and amuse kids visiting Santa Fa.
There is also a calendar of events that visitors can use while in Santa Fe.
Pros
Clear format and colorful.
Cons
Certain activities may no longer exist due to this book being published in 1984.
On September 16, 1992, thousands of people watched the five balloons launch. By crossing the Atlantic at the quickest speed possible, the crews aspire to win the competition.
All the details of ballooning’s mechanics are revealed to readers. This account of a competitive transatlantic balloon flight is a legendary story of bravery and teamwork.
Pros
Clearly written with real transcripts and images of the events.
Anne Hillerman takes food lovers on a quick tour of some of the city’s most delicious restaurants in Santa Fe Flavors.
Hillerman offers customers the ability to recreate some of their favorite dishes using chef-contributed recipes. In addition to advice on where to discover genuinely memorable meals.
As a tribute to her father, this gorgeous collection of authentic factual photos of the terrain that was crucial to Tony Hillerman’s writing will transport you into the world of his novels.
Together with these breathtaking images, Hillerman’s novels are briefly summarized, with descriptive passages, personal observations from the author about the places, and narrative information.
Enjoy a visual tour of some of Santa Fe’s most breathtaking and vibrant gardens. They are home to an astounding variety of plants, animals, and flowers, including traditional succulents, drought-tolerant plants, roses, and fruit trees.
This is a new perspective on Santa Fe’s beloved but remote gardens.
Pros
Very informative.
Cons
You mainly want this book for the pictures, not the writing.
Anne Hillerman provides a beautiful how-to book for kids ages 6 and up in an easy-to-read manner.
The book offers enjoyable experiments that may be carried out at home or in the classroom while teaching the fundamentals of solar energy. Complete with line drawings in black and white and a bibliography.
Pros
Easy and enjoyable activities to complete.
Cons
This book is smaller than you would expect.
Final Thoughts
Anne Hillermna has created a wide collection of books, and she hasn’t stopped just yet. Since, there are more plans for her to write more Leaphorn And Chee Books.
Her writing is very descriptive, and Anne is well known for her inclusion of native cultures in her books. When it comes to reading Anne Hillerman’s books in order, you need to split them into fiction and nonfiction.
Her Leaphorn And Chee Books should be read in chronological order, as each book follows on from the other. While her nonfiction books can be read in any order you like, as they are more like standalone books.
I hope this article has been helpful, as you should now know which order to read Anne Hillerman’s 12 books in.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Many Books Are Part Of The Leaphorn And Chee Series?
Overall, there are 22 books a part of the Leaphorn And Chee series. Anne Hillerman has written 6 of these books, with a seventh on the way.
Do You Have To Read Anne Hillerman’s Books In Order?
It is best to read Anne Hillerman’s Leaphorn And Chee books in order, as each book continues on from the previous one. Yet, her nonfiction work on Santa Fe can be read in any order that you like.
What Was Anne Hillerman’s First Book?
Anne Hillerman’s first book was Children’s Guide To Santa Fe, which was all about traveling and points of interest in this area for children.
Noah Burton works as a Librarian full time, and is a blogger in his spare time. His goal is to write compelling recommendations for all of the most popular books he can find, from science fiction to romance.
With a passion for books, a drive to find new reads to get stuck into, and a love for sharing book recommendations with others, Noah can help you find the next novel for your bucket list.
