Tony Hillerman Books In Order / Anne Hillerman Books in Order

Tony Hillerman was an American mystery writer popular for his Leaphorn & Chee crime mystery series. One of New Mexico’s most prominent writers, he has written until his death over 20 fiction books and more than 10 non-fiction biographies, memoirs, and non-fiction books. Here are the Tony Hillerman books in order for his fiction writings, followed by the novels his daughter, Anne Hillerman, continued writing.


New Anne Hillerman Books

The Way of the Bear
The Way of the Bear (Leaphorn, Chee, Manuelito #8), 2023

Leaphorn & Chee Series In Order

  1. The Blessing Way, 1970
  2. Dance Hall of the Dead, 1973
  3. Listening Woman, 1978
  4. People of Darkness, 1980
  5. The Dark Wind, 1982
  6. The Ghostway, 1984
  7. Skinwalkers, 1986
  8. A Thief of Time, 1988
  9. Talking God, 1989
  10. Coyote Waits, 1990
  11. Sacred Clowns, 1992
  12. The Fallen Man, 1996
  13. The First Eagle, 1998
  14. Hunting Badger, 1999
  15. The Wailing Wind, 2002
  16. The Sinister Pig, 2003
  17. Skeleton Man, 2004
  18. The Shape Shifter, 2006

Leaphorn, Chee & Manuelito Series by Anne Hillerman

  1. Spider Woman’s Daughter, 2013
  2. Rock With Wings, 2015
  3. Song of the Lion, 2017
  4. Cave of Bones, 2018
  5. The Tale Teller, 2019
  6. Stargazer, 2021
  7. The Sacred Bridge, 2022
  8. The Way of the Bear, 2023

Other Novels By Tony Hillerman


Book Anthologies by Tony Hillerman

  • Best of the West: An Anthology of Classic Writing from the American West, 1991
  • The Mysterious West, 1995
  • The Oxford book of American Detective Stories, 1996
  • Best American Mysteries of the Century, 2000
  • New Omnibus of Crime, 2005

Nonfiction Books by Tony Hillerman

  • The Great Taos Bank Robbery, 1973
  • The Spell of New Mexico, 1976
  • Indian Country, 1987
  • Talking Mysteries (with Ernie Bulow), 1991
  • The Tony Hillerman Companion: A Comprehensive Guide to His Life and Work by Hillerman, Martin Greenberg, 1994
  • Canyon De Chelly, 1998
  • Seldom Disappointed: A Memoir by Tony Hillerman, 2001
  • Kilroy Was There: A G.I.’s War in Photographs, 2004

About Tony Hillerman – Author Biography

Tony Hillerman books in orderTony Hillerman (Anthony Grove Hillerman) was born in 1925 in Sacred Heart, Oklahoma, and died in Albuquerque, New Mexico in 2008 at the age of 83. He was raised in Pottawatomie County, Oklahoma, where he attended elementary and high school classes with Pottawatomie children. He was a decorated combat veteran who served as a mortar man in World War II between August 1943 and October 1945.

After the war, he enrolled at the University of Oklahoma, where he met his wife Marie Unzner, who was a microbiology student at the time. Between 1948–1962 he was a journalist, and in 1966 he moved with his family to Albuquerque, where he enrolled at the University of New Mexico, earning a master’s degree.

While working at the Borger News-Herald in Borger, Texas, he met the sheriff of Hutchinson County, who would become the model for his Joe Leaphorn series. Between 1966 to 1987 he taught journalism at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque, where he lived until he died in 2008. While teaching journalism, he also began writing his first books.

Overall Tony Hillerman wrote more than 30 books, 18 of which were part of the Navajo crime procedural series. His books are known for their compelling descriptions of the Southwestern region, along with its history and the Navajo experience, which he drew upon the knowledge acquired during his many years living in the area.

In 2008 The Tony Hillerman Library in Albuquerque was named in his honor, and in 2009 the city opened the Tony Hillerman Middle School.

During his life, he received numerous awards both for his writing and his patriotic duty during World War II.

After his death, his daughter, Anne Hillerman, continued the Leaphorn and Chee series, which was now renamed to Leaphorn, Chee & Manuelito.

Tony Hillerman Awards

A decorated combat veteran of World War II, he earned the Silver Star, the Bronze Star, and a Purple Heart as a mortarman in the 103rd Infantry Division.

For his novels, he received the following awards:

  • Edgar Awards Best Novel, 1974 for Dance Hall of the Dead
  • Grand Prix de Littérature Policière, 1987 for Dance Hall of the Dead
  • Western Novel Award, 1987 for Skinwalkers
  • Anthony Awards Best Novel, 1988 for Skinwalkers
  • Macavity Awards Best Novel, 1989 for A Thief of Time
  • MWA’s Grand Master Award, 1991
  • Nero Award and the Navajo Tribe’s Special Friends of the Dineh Awards for Coyote Waits
  • Macavity Awards Best Critical/Biographical, 1992 for Talking Mysteries
  • Anthony Awards Best Anthology/Short Story Collection, 1995 for The Mysterious West
  • Parris Awards by Southwest Writer’s Workshop for his outstanding service to other writers, om 1995
  • Agatha Award, 2001 for Seldom Disappointed: A Memoir
  • Anthony Awards Best Non-fiction/Critical Work, 2002 for Seldom Disappointed: A Memoir
  • Agatha Malice Domestic Award for Lifetime Achievement, given by Malice Domestic for mystery novels in the spirit of Agatha Christie, 2002
  • Best Western Short Novel Awards, 2007 for The Shape Shifter

He was nominated for the following awards:

  • Edgar Awards Best Mystery Novel, 1972 for The Fly on the Wall
  • Edgar Awards Best Mystery Novel, 1979 for Listening Woman
  • Edgar Awards Best Mystery Novel, 1989 for A Thief of Time
  • Edgar Awards Best Critical or Biographical, 1992 for Talking Mysteries
  • Anthony Awards Best Novel, 1994 for Sacred Clowns
  • Macavity Awards Best Biographical/Critical Mystery Work, 2002 for Seldom Disappoints: A Memoir

15 Comments

  1. Thanks. My parents started reading these books decades ago. I have read all the ones they had, several times, and am now so grateful to find a bunch of titles I have not yet seen. PLUS Anne Hillerman’s series! Thank you

  2. Hey, thanks for the information.
    Slight corrections there is no Chee in Blessing way, and in fact the first book of the great Mr. Hillerman is not really a Leaphorn mystery. Leaphorn plays a part, but as a friend of Bergin McKee, about whom the book really spins it tale, he and Navajo traditions and beliefs.
    The first Leaphorn Mystery is Dance Hall of the Dead, the next is Listening Woman.
    The first time we meet Sgt. Chee is in People of Darkness, book number four in Tony Hillerman’s Classic stories about the Navajo and the Navajo Reservation/Tribal Police.
    But the stories are so great and the writing by the masterful Tony Hillerman beyond compare.

  3. Sgt Chee doesn’t appear until Book 4 in the Series: The People of Darkness

  4. I have read and re-read Tony Hillerman’s Navajo friends so many times. When times were rough or my time so strung out, I’ve gone back to my books. The real thing. Hillerman, Dick Frances, Elis Peters, Elizabeth Peters, my dear friends. My eyes are beginning to give out on me now. Don’t know what I will fill up those hours with once they’re gone. I will keep the books though. Maybe some of my kin will discover the Real Things.

    1. Maryemma, the Elizabeth Peters books of Amelia Peabody are absolutely WONDERFUL as audio books. Barbara Rosenblat is a terrific narrator. She does the voices perfectly and gets all the sarcasm in pitch perfect. Hope you enjoy them.

      Natasha

  5. Have enjoyed Tony Hillerman’s series over the years. Sorry about his Passing, but happy that Anne will be continuing. Looking forward to further adventures, after “The Shape Shifter” which I’m about to start. _steve altig 01022021

  6. I’ve loved Tony Hillerman’s books but after reading all of Anne Hillerman”s books I believe they are even better!

  7. Just finished reading Anne Hillerman ‘s “The Tale Teller.” So good to be back in company of Joe Leaphorn and Bernie Manuelito and the Navaho Nation! Thank you for continuing your father Tony’s wonderful series! Great job!

  8. You need to correct the last line of Hillerman’s bio … AFTER HIS DEATH, HIS DAUGHTER, ANNE HILLERMAN,
    CONTINUED THE LEAPHORN AND CHEE SERIES.
    I just returned from an author talk in Las Cruces New Mexico given by Anne Hillerman on the publication of her latest book.

    1. Yes, that information was already listed at the end of each book (in the form of “by Anne Hillerman”). However, I have also now added an entry in the actual bio with the comment that his daughter is continuing the series.

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