The Blessing Way

"This is about the detective novel; for the episode of The X-Files, see The Blessing Way (The X-Files)."

"The Blessing Way" is a 1970 novel by Tony Hillerman, his first. It introduces Navajo Tribal Police Lt. Joe Leaphorn, who works with anthropologist Bergen McKee to investigate a series of murders, possibly involving the supernatural, in the Four Corners area.

In his autobiography, Hillerman explained that McKee was the main character, and initially Leaphorn had a minor role. However, at the advice of his editors, he expanded Leaphorn's role, and in later books Leaphorn would become a main character.

The book has references to the Anasazi and the Hopi, though it is mainly about the Navajo (see: "Blessing Way").

The Blessing Way is also referred to in the novel "Blaphemy" by Douglas Reston that is situated on a Navajo reservation in the Southwest US. It is referred to in the novel as a Navajo ceremony performed by a medicine man that "restores balance and beauty in a person's life - after trouble with drugs or alcohol, time in jail". It also discusses two other native ceremonies, the Enemy Way and the Falling Star Way.