Tony Hillerman was born in 1925 in Oklahoma. In 1943 he joined the US Army. While serving his time in the army he was wounded and this won him a silver star, purple heart and a bronze star with an oak leaf cluster. After the war he attended the University of Oklahoma and there he worked as an journalist. Eventually he became the editor of the New Mexican. After becoming editor in 1963 he continued his education at the University of New Mexico. In 1966 Tony joined the journalism faculty team at the University. In 1970 he published his first Navajo mystery called The Blessing Way.

Tony lived and wrote in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He went on to write twenty nine different mystery books. This included seventeen mystery novels about officers of the Navajo Indians. The police officers' names were Jim Chee and Joe Leaphorn. Tony continued by writing two children books, two non series novel, and his nonfiction books. He received every major honor for his mystery books. He received awards from the Navajo Indian Tribal Council's commendation to the France esteem Grand prix de literature policiere. In 2008, the Western Writers of America with the Wister award for lifetime achievement.

Tony Hillerman passed away on October 26, 2008. He had wrote a memoir before passing call the Seldom Disappointed. He resided in Albuquerque with his wife until his death. In 1996, in New Mexico he was ranked as the twenty second wealthiest man. His writing was known for the cultural detail of his characters.