Dance Hall of the Dead

By: Tony Hillerman

Narrated by: Michael Ansara

A Zuni Indian boy dies in a bizarre ritual slaying - and his best friend, a Navajo youth, is missing. Navajo police lieutenant Joe Leaphorn tracks the friend from Zuni village to Navajo hogan, from anthropological dig to hippie commune, across the desert of New Mexico and Arizona. In his search, Leaphorn discovers the ancient secrets of the Zunis and the hidden crimes of white men. Narrator Michael Ansara's experience with American Indian roles on stage and screen lends authenticity to his resonant reading of this Edgar-winning tale of murder and deception.(P)1986 by The Audio Partners Publishing Corp.

Critic reviews

• Edgar Allan Poe Award Winner, Best Novel, 1974

"High entertainment...An aesthetically satisfying glimpse of the still-powerful tribal mysteries." (The New Yorker)

Dancehall of the Dead

Hillerman is an easy read and has a pleasant way he approaches his characters. This is the first book I have listened to but have read 6 or 7 and they are just as good anyway you take them. I would like to see more audibles done as I don't mind listening over and over. I highly recommend him to anyone who enjoys a good wholesome story with intrigue and down to earth approaches.

More Tony Hillerman

Tony Hillerman weaves together the complexities of Navajo metaphysics and murder mystery with great skill and produces a fascinating story of a different world. The character ofJoe Leaphorn is so well defined that he almost seems like a friend.

I have read all of Hillerman's books, and it is a great pleasure to now listen to them on audible. Well written and well read. The perfect combination. My only complaint - that all the rest of the Joe Leaphorn/Jim Chee books are not yet available on audible.

Another great Tony Hillerman

Almost no point in writing it, because as everybody well knows, Tony Hillerman wrote nothing but very particular, convincing and wonderfully rich stories filled with atmosphere, culture, respect and humanism intertwined with interesting crime stories. I read them all some years back in the right order, and was so fascinated by his magical description and love of the landscape and it's people that I later traveled from Europe to visit the area. It is just as remarkable and beautifully, overwelming and strange as he described it. I got this book for free at Audible, and thought I should revisit. Still great. But it desereves a higher quality of the sound and even the performance could perhaps benefit from a little less rumbling drama. Do not let that discourage you, though. It is well worth your time. And if you never have read or listened to this series of stories, you are in for a unequally great time. My suggestion, though, start with the first book, and read/listen in order.

Classic Hillerman

I forgot how fabulous Tony Hillerman was in drawing you into the Navajo world - the culture, the poverty, the beauty.

mystery and mythology by a g MacDonald b

tony. hillerman is stop notch storyteller who displays respect for his material. this narrator suits the book well .

A great listen

I read some of tony Hillerman story’s several years ago...This is narrated so we’ll the story is great.I loved it

good story!

What did you love best about Dance Hall of the Dead?

I liked the authenticity of its depiction of reservation life. I am partial to Tony Hillerman novels for that, and I like her characters. The archaeological references were a plus, too.

What three words best describe Michael Ansara’s performance?

Good narrator, mostly. He's not so great at female voices, but that's only to be expected. What can I say?

🤗🤗🤩🤩😅🤣😂😊🙄😏😐🤨🤔

it was gode uh h u you y y y y r s a friend

Strugglec

I am disappointed with this purchase. Cost too high, short read and performance was lacking. Doubt if Hillerman will make my list in the future.

would have given 5 stars except for narrator

I've read and listens to many of Tony hillerman's books. while Michael Ansara is an experienced actor his narration of this book was dreadful. George Guidall who narrates other Hillerman books is much better and easy to listen to.