This reviewer had the opportunity of reviewing the galley copy before it's release date scheduled for March 2003. Not surprisingly, Tim Fattig has chosen to follow in the footsteps of Stuart N. Lake and Water Noble Burns in lionizing Wyatt B. S. Earp. Though not a simple re-telling of the genre, the strength of this tome is the fluid prose, peripheral research into some of the characters that surround Wyatt Earp, and his masterful job of investigating and following up much of the previously unpublished information and personalities that effected Wyatt's story. While debunking many of the myths surrounding Wyatt's story, he has at times carried many to the forefront.

Though most of the biography is well researched and written, there are a few areas of controversy nonetheless. Many will be intriged by his assessment of the famed gunfight in Fremont Street known as the "Gunfight at the OK Corral" and his belief that Wyatt may have come back from Colorado in 1882 to hunt down and kill Johnny Ringo. Tim also possibly has Wyatt killing Pete Spence (AKA E. Lark Ferguson) when Pete actually passed away quietly from pneumonia at his home in Gila County, Arizona on January 31, 1914.

In a few cases the narrative is short and the all inclusive information included in the paragraph for brevity sake can be misconstrued by the reader. For example, in one paragraph he has almost 40 posse members riding to Charleston with Wyatt in search of Virgil's attempted murderers, when in fact, there were three separate posses (four if you want to include J. H. Jackson's two posses with two separate bench warrants) under Charles Bartholomew, J. H. Jackson and the Earp federal posse.

This reviewer would have liked to have seen Tim expand his coverage of Wyatt's controversial time in Coeur d' Alene, Idaho, Alaska and California. Maybe he will do these in subsequent volumns or articles. Despite some minor concerns, Tim Fattig has done a tremendous job with the source material and the book is readable. This book deserves a place in every reader's library of the Old West, especially those interested in Earpiana, Tombstone and Cochise County. This book is highly recommended.

I love everything about Jim Chee and Joe Leaphorn. I love their native blood, their corner of the world, their integrity, their skills as lawmen. I eagerly await each new Hillerman book and was on the list at amazon.com for weeks for his latest story.

With that said, I must admit that this was the first time since "Finding Moon" that I did not finish a Hillerman/Chee/Leaphorn story in one sitting. In fact, it took me almost a week to slog through to the conclusion.

The story had little, if any, cohesivenss -- I had to re-read parts to keep all the characters straight. I found several of the plot devices trite and so beneath the characters.

I did like Joe Leaphorn's new love interest and look forward to more stories with the two of them joining forces to solve crimes.

I was also very touched by the scene between Jim Chee and his beloved granduncle. I wept at the end of that chapter. Hillerman's talents were at full tilt during this scene and I wished for more of the same...it just wasn't to be found in this book.

"First Eagle" is not a true representation of Hillerman's abilities. If you're a first time reader, try ANY of the earlier stories. To me, they're heads above this latest effort.

Terry Mathews

As usual, I enjoy reading about the Native American issues touched upon in Hillerman novels. I knew next to nothing about life on a Reservation and little than nothing about the different Navajo traditions, beliefs and cultural taboos.

I find it wonderful how Hillerman weaves a regular whodunnit into all of that Native American background information.

On another point: for me, the bubonic plague is a scary thing, that symbolizes death and horrible suffering. Yet, it seems that the characters we meet in the story are quite casual about it. Hillerman's dialogue talks about it like I would calmly discuss a flu.

I did not like this story line as much as I have liked previous books. This is a definite read, just to revisit Leaphorn and Chee, but I wouldn't say this was the best of the series.

I don't like Chee's relationship with Janet and I will wait until the next issue to see what's up with that! Janet strikes me as being unsure of what she wants and is stringing Chee along. I imagine Chee as a "hero" character, the big, strong silent type and I don't want someone playing with his heart. Call me sentimental.

Good Book, not a great book. I finished in 5 days of evening reading before bed.

I felt Chee's character was developed more and, yes, he continues to struggle with his idea of the good life versus Janet Peete's, (Jim, she ain't worth it. Go after Bernie!!!) and he still feels inadequate next to Leaphorn's legend. But he is finding he is capable and I am sure will gain in confidence. Gee, if you people want realistic writing don't expect the characters' problems and insecurities to just disappear. Do yours?

Leaphorn is making an effort to keep busy after retirement and Hillerman succeeds in keeping him interesting and important to plot.

I found the plague plotline interesting as I had just read several newspaper accounts of real plague outbreaks in that area. Wow! How very timely of Mr. Hillerman. The medical and scientific descriptions were not hard to follow and I felt they helped flesh the story out more. The naysayers to all that detail(they had better not read Robin Cook or Michael Crichton) were probably intimidated by it, but Hillerman makes it easy for us ordinary folks.

One more point to defend. Some say the plot's too slow. Well, I felt it moved along quite nicely, was suspenseful and it most certainly made sense! And, anyway, haven't you people learned anything about Navajo patience and all that stuff in your other readings?