The Recurring Cast
Character · The Navajo Tribal Police · 15 books

Joe Leaphorn

Navajo Tribal Police lieutenant, later retired · Tony Hillerman

Joe Leaphorn is a Navajo Tribal Police lieutenant, logical and sceptical, later retired.

Spoiler-free profile written for The Recurring Cast.

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Character facts

First appearance
The Blessing Way (1970)
Latest appearance
The Shape Shifter (2006)
Books
15 (15 as lead)
Series
Leaphorn and Chee
Author
Tony Hillerman
Circle
The Navajo Tribal Police

Where to meet Joe Leaphorn

Joe Leaphorn first appears in The Blessing Way (1970), as the lead, book 1 of the Leaphorn and Chee series.

Buy The Blessing Way

Every book with Joe Leaphorn

In publication order, with the size of their role in each.

  1. 1970LThe Blessing Waylead · Leaphorn and CheeBuy
  2. 1973LDance Hall of the Deadlead · Leaphorn and CheeBuy
  3. 1978LListening Womanlead · Leaphorn and CheeBuy
  4. 1986LSkinwalkerslead · Leaphorn and CheeBuy
  5. 1988LA Thief of Timelead · Leaphorn and CheeBuy
  6. 1989LTalking Godlead · Leaphorn and CheeBuy
  7. 1990LCoyote Waitslead · Leaphorn and CheeBuy
  8. 1993LSacred Clownslead · Leaphorn and CheeBuy
  9. 1996LThe Fallen Manlead · Leaphorn and CheeNewly retiredBuy
  10. 1998LThe First Eaglelead · Leaphorn and CheeBuy
  11. 1999LHunting Badgerlead · Leaphorn and CheeBuy
  12. 2002LThe Wailing Windlead · Leaphorn and CheeBuy
  13. 2003LThe Sinister Piglead · Leaphorn and CheeBuy
  14. 2004LSkeleton Manlead · Leaphorn and CheeBuy
  15. 2006LThe Shape Shifterlead · Leaphorn and CheeRetired, taking one last caseBuy

Appears most often with

CharacterBooks together
Captain LargoChee’s commanding officer12
Jim CheeNavajo Tribal Police officer studying to be a healer12
Bernadette ManuelitoOfficer, later Chee’s wife7
Louisa BourebonetteProfessor and Leaphorn’s companion7
Emma LeaphornJoe’s wife5
Janet PeteLawyer and Chee’s girlfriend4