A Thief of TimeA Thief of Time
Score Classic
What it's about
At a moonlit ruin where 'thieves of time' ravage sacred ground for profit, a noted anthropologist vanishes on the verge of a history-altering discovery. Among stolen goods and desecrated bones, two bodies are found, shot by bullets that match the missing scientist's gun, and the Navajo Tribal Police investigate.
Why it's worth reading
It was an Edgar Award finalist. Tony Hillerman's Leaphorn and Chee novels are classics of the mystery genre.
You'll love it if you liked
Dance Hall of the Dead
Ordinary Grace
Bluebird, BluebirdGood to know
It stands alone; the series is rich in Navajo culture and Southwest landscape.
By the numbers
- Readers68 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics21 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller5 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #271 of the 555 mysteries and thrillers we rank
- #480 of the 762 classics we rank
- #1674 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Gripping, Adventurous
More by Tony Hillerman
If you like this, read next
The Godfather
The Pillars of the Earth
In Cold Blood
The Day of the Jackal
Rebecca
Crime and PunishmentExplore the best-of lists
All 36 best-of lists →
Quick answers
Is A Thief of Time worth reading?
Yes. It was an Edgar Award finalist. It ranks #1,674 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 66.8 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is A Thief of Time about?
At a moonlit ruin where 'thieves of time' ravage sacred ground for profit, a noted anthropologist vanishes on the verge of a history-altering discovery. Among stolen goods and desecrated bones, two bodies are found, shot by bullets that match the missing scientist's gun, and the Navajo Tribal Police investigate.
How long does it take to read A Thief of Time?
About 9 hours (352 pages), or about 3 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after A Thief of Time?
If you liked it, try Dance Hall of the Dead by Tony Hillerman, Ordinary Grace by William Kent Krueger or Bluebird, Bluebird by Attica Locke.