 Deborah Stead, writing in the "New York Times", called this the breakout novel for author Hillerman, in a review of the author and his books at the time of the release of novel following this one, "A Thief of Time".She said that "despite a loyal following among mystery fans, book sales in the United States did not surge until "The Skinwalkers"," the first novel Hillerman wrote after quitting his university position to write full-time, and which joined his two Navajo police officers, Joe Leaphorn and Jim Chee.The novel won the 1988 Anthony Award for "Best Novel".