The Anne Hillerman books in order are best read with her Leaphorn, Chee, and Manuelito mysteries first, especially if you’re coming from Tony Hillerman’s original series or Dark Winds. Anne began as a nonfiction writer, but most readers are here for the novels she continued after Tony Hillerman’s death.
If you only want Anne’s novels, start with Spider Woman’s Daughter and read forward. Her books keep Joe Leaphorn and Jim Chee in the world Tony created, while moving Bernadette Manuelito into a much bigger role. If you want the full story from the beginning, start with Tony Hillerman’s books first, since Anne’s mysteries continue the same larger series.
Jump to:
- Leaphorn, Chee, and Manuelito Series
- Anne Hillerman Nonfiction and Related Books
- Should You Read Tony Hillerman First?
- How Anne Hillerman Connects to Dark Winds
- Who Is Anne Hillerman?
Leaphorn, Chee, and Manuelito Series
Read Anne Hillerman’s Leaphorn, Chee, and Manuelito books in publication order. The relationships, police work, family tension, and larger character changes build from book to book.
Anne’s mysteries continue the series Tony Hillerman began, so this list starts with her first continuation novel. If you want the full Joe Leaphorn and Jim Chee order from the beginning, start with my Tony Hillerman books in order guide.
- Spider Woman’s Daughter (2013)
- Rock with Wings (2015)
- Song of the Lion (2017)
- Cave of Bones (2018)
- The Tale Teller (2019)
- Stargazer (2021)
- The Sacred Bridge (2022)
- The Way of the Bear (2023)
- Lost Birds (2024)
- Shadow of the Solstice (2025)
- Bloodline (2027)
Spider Woman’s Daughter is the place to start if you’re beginning with Anne Hillerman. It picks up after Tony Hillerman’s final Leaphorn and Chee novel, but it also makes Bernie Manuelito feel like the true center of Anne’s version of the series.
Anne Hillerman Nonfiction and Related Books
Before Anne Hillerman became known for mystery novels, she spent years writing journalism, travel books, restaurant writing, children’s guides, and books about New Mexico and the Southwest. These don’t need to be read with the mysteries, but they show the background that shapes her fiction.
- Children’s Guide to Santa Fe (1984)
- Ride the Wind, USA to Africa (1995)
- The Insider’s Guide to Santa Fe (1998)
- Tony Hillerman’s Landscape: On the Road with Chee and Leaphorn (2009)
- Santa Fe Flavors (2009)
- Gardens of Santa Fe (2010)
- Tony Hillerman’s Landscapes: Southwest Guide & Map (2012)
- Done in the Sun: Solar Projects for Children (2012)
The most useful companion book for mystery readers is Tony Hillerman’s Landscape. It pairs places from the Leaphorn and Chee books with Don Strel’s photography, Tony Hillerman’s comments, and Anne’s own perspective as his daughter.
Should You Read Tony Hillerman First?
If you want the full Leaphorn and Chee story, yes. Tony Hillerman created Joe Leaphorn, Jim Chee, Bernadette Manuelito, and the mystery world Anne later continued. His books also establish the Navajo Tribal Police setting, the earlier relationships, and the long history behind the characters.
That said, you can start with Anne Hillerman if you want a more modern entry point. Spider Woman’s Daughter explains enough for new readers to follow the story, and Anne quickly makes Bernie the character you’re watching most closely.
My honest recommendation is simple. Read Tony first if you want the full series. Read Anne first if you mainly want Bernie Manuelito and the modern continuation.
How Anne Hillerman Connects to Dark Winds
Dark Winds is based on the Hillerman mystery world, especially the Leaphorn, Chee, and Manuelito characters. The show draws from the same character group, though it adapts and remixes the books instead of following them one-for-one.
Anne Hillerman’s novels are especially useful if you’re interested in Bernadette Manuelito. Tony Hillerman introduced Bernie, but Anne makes her a central lead. That shift matters. If you watched Dark Winds and came away wanting more of Bernie, Anne’s books are where I’d go.
The show may send readers back to Tony Hillerman first, but Anne’s books help carry the characters forward. They also keep the focus on Navajo law enforcement, family ties, community, memory, and the land in a way that feels connected to the original books without being frozen in the past.
Who Is Anne Hillerman?
Anne Hillerman is an American journalist and mystery author from New Mexico. She is the daughter of Tony Hillerman, but her writing career did not begin with his mystery series. She worked as a journalist, editor, restaurant critic, and nonfiction writer before publishing her first novel.
Her debut mystery, Spider Woman’s Daughter, continued the Leaphorn and Chee series after Tony Hillerman’s death. But Anne’s major contribution was giving Bernadette Manuelito a larger role. Bernie had already existed in Tony’s books, but Anne turned her into the heart of the continuation.
That’s why Anne Hillerman’s books deserve their own reading guide. They’re connected to Tony Hillerman’s legacy, but they’re also her own work, with a different balance of characters and a stronger focus on Bernie’s instincts, marriage, family, and work as a Navajo police officer.
Looking for similar books in order?
If you want more mystery authors and reading-order guides like this one, start with my Mystery Books in Order index.