the only really good thing i can say about this movie be that it inspire me to re read the book . the book have some scene that would have make wonderful cinema such a the interogation of a murder suspect who gleefully confess to the commit the crime but claim to have use a rifle instead of a knife and the surprise reception for chee at his first session a a healer and the discovery of the true identity of the shotgun artist and leaphorn rescue of chee that unintentionally deliver him into the hand of the real murderer and and the ironic circumstance that rescue chee for the second time . what be the reason for discard these potentialy terrific moment and replace them with a script that be almost on the same level a the type of hollywood tv detective series that get justifiably cancel in it first season . some other element from the book that be miss or barely noticeable in the movie include the thrill of chee be able to prove himself to the legendary leaphorn and the intricate convergence of both detective towards the same suspect from different evidence and leaphorn map and the evidence of how some navajo endure the hassle of nearly impassable road in order to live in location of isolation and visual splendor and and of course the original method use by the murderer to commit his crime . perhaps someday america will produce a mystery series on par with the best that england have to offer . tony hillerman novel be certainly the proper raw material for such an endeavour and but to me this movie be a major irritant a i can not help see how it squander the opportunity to have create something truly excellent .