Marilyn Stasio said that Hillerman is never better than when he is circling a puzzle from various angles, playing with the perceptions of his detectives as well as the reader's.
Publishers Weekly says Hillerman repeatedly shines in the masterfully complex new novel: The 15th Chee/Leaphorn mystery (after 1999's relatively weak Hunting Badger) finds MWA Grand Master Hillerman back at the top of his form as his two Navajo peace officers look into both a past and present mystery.