Fallen Man fits the structure of the traditional detective novel, with the exception that the novel has two detectives, Leaphorn and Chee. The men represent two traditional types of detectives. Leaphorn is the rational, Sherlock Holmes type who attempts to reason through the case. Chee, on the other hand, is more the Mike Hammer type who becomes physically involved. Hillerman does a good job coordinating the two styles of detecting and in places uses them to good advantage. In several chapters, for instance, he has the two meet to discuss the case in order to summarize what has happened to date and to advance two main story lines.

The main problem with Fallen Man is Hillerman's failure to adequately coordi nate the two significant plot lines of the novel. The main plot concerns itself with the decade-old death of Hal Breedlove.

This plot is adequately explored and concluded...