Point of View

The point of view is always third person omniscient, and it comes from the perspectives of multiple characters. Most frequently the perspective is that of one of the two main characters, Joe Leaphorn and Jim Chee. There are two notable exceptions. In Chapter 1 the point of view comes from the perspective and Dr. Eleanor Friedman-Bernal, and this is one of only two times she is physically present in the novel and the only time she is coherent. The second example came in Chapter 11, and the point of view comes from the perspective of Harrison Houk immediately before his death.

Regardless of the character focus, the narrator remains omniscient with that particular character. Often as much or more information comes from the thoughts of the character as from the unfolding action. For example, Joe Leaphorn or any other character rarely speaks of his recently deceased wife, yet...