What is the author's style in Listening Woman by Tony Hillerman?

The tone of the story is generally positive and the reader has no reason to believe at any point that the "good guy" - Leaphorn, in this case - won't win. There are few words that will be unfamiliar to most readers other than those that refer to the Indian society and culture. The writer refers to "sings" on several occasions, and it seems that these are ceremonial gatherings in which a particular spirit or healing power is induced. This and several other terms are never formally defined, but an acceptable definition can be derived from the context of these words.