[(Shaman's Game)] [By (author) James Doss] published on

Charlie Moon #4

by James D. Doss

For tribes of the American Southwest, the annual Sun Dance is among the most solemn and sacred of rituals. But lately Death has been an uninvited guest at the hallowed rite.Ute tribal policeman Charlie Moon is puzzled. The deceased Sun Dancers sustained no visible, life-ending injuries, so he is reluctant to call it murder -- though there is surely nothing "natural" about the sudden, inexplicable deaths of two strong and healthy men. Unlike her skeptical nephew, however, Charlie's aunt, shaman Daisy Perika, trusts the signs the spirits have sent her of a great evil in their midst. And Moon's matukach friend, Police Chief Scott Parris, believes the stubborn, good-natured Ute lawman should look beyond the rational for answers. Yet Charlie Moon knows too well that hatred, bitterness, and delusion are often behind lethal acts -- and he hopes these very human failings will reveal to him a killer. But now a beautiful childhood friend has stepped into harm's way and time is running out. For death is on the prowl once more -- and it will surely darken the Sun Dance again.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Native American, Westerns, Indigenous, Crime, Mystery Thriller

Paperback

First published January 1, 1998

About the author

James D. Doss (1939, Kentucky, -17 May 2012) was a noted American mystery novel author. He was the creator of the popular fictional Ute detective/rancher Charlie Moon, of whom he wrote 17 mystery novels. James "Danny" Doss was born and raised in Kentucky and died in Los Alamos, New Mexico. He was also an electrical engineer who worked on particle accelerators and biomedical technology for the University of California's Los Alamos National Laboratory, while writing his novels. After retirement from Los Alamos National Laboratory, he continued to write his popular novels while living in Taos, New Mexico and Los Alamos, New Mexico.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Doss

Reviews

[Laura Knaapen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Spookier than the previous books. Was it a witch or just a wicked person? I'm not that fond of the pitukupf and Mr. Yaciiti could stop making appearances, but at least I'm more sure of which side he's on now.

[Denise Mullins · Rating 1 out of 5]

Book club selection that was sheer torture. An inept mishmash of pseudo tribal mysticism and Christian belief that manages to be both stereotypically insulting and devoid of writing skill. Doss vacillates from lengthy rifts of Native reverie(reminded me of the Chief's opening in "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" but he had the excuse of being in a mental ward) to failed attempts at humor spotlighting a protagonist often described as a gawky lug head. There wasn't a single character with whom one could sympathize or admire. A total waste of time.

[Judy · Rating 3 out of 5]

The 4th book in the series, and I'm still on the fence. The shaman aunt -- Daisy Perika -- is my favorite personality. Charlie Moon, the big police detective, isn't all that well-developed. Ute culture? Minimal.

Female characters? Always young, slim, and flirtatious. Ditzy schemers. They buy new clothes that are tight around the hips and try to 'catch' Charlie. Kind of sickening. Is this the way Doss perceived young women?

There's less action and more description in this volume. Some humor.

[Sherri · Rating 1 out of 5]

Too much going on in this book.

[Cheryl Z · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked up this book by happenstance at a library sale so I haven't read anything else by this author.

It was entertaining but I had a few issues. The women in the book all seemed to be conniving or had some ulterior motive. The main character/hero, Charlie Moon, could have been fascinating but all I learned about him is that he had a big appetite and didn't understand the ladies.

All in all though it wasn't an unpleasant read, although I didn't like that a couple of times we were in a central character's pov but some very important information about that character wasn't revealed until the end and in a letter. Things that the character actually would have had in their thoughts.

A light summer read, and I loved the nod to Native-American culture and traditions.

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Charlie Moon series keeps getting better. I found this book to be very interesting and much darker than his earlier books. It is also better written. Despite his detractors, Doss has done a very good job with this book. Some readers prefer Hillerman. If you have read all of them in order and have read the Hillerman books first, I can understand the sentiment. Hillerman was a master. But his first two books were not so good.

There also seems to be a bit of offense taken at the mysticism in the book. I find it appealing and as person of Native American Heritage, I do not find the book offending. Those who do have thin skin. If you are looking for political correctness read the dry tomes written for college cultural studies courses. They are full of fantastic and politically correct tales designed to place Native Americans in a state of victimhood and keep them there. Native Americans have a rich cultural history, but we are people who are no better or worse than other people.

I recommend this series to anyone who enjoys the Native American mystery genre. Enjoy the book, don't cherry pick it looking for things to be offended about.

[Caroline · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Charlie Moon series by James D. Doss is excellent! Always a good read.

[Fredrick Danysh · Rating 4 out of 5]

When people start dying at the Southern Cheyenne Sun Dance, Charlie Moon suspects something sinister even thought there are no overt signs of murder.

[JA J · Rating 2 out of 5]

i've always thought of the James Doss series (Charlie Moon) as the not-so-bright little brother series to Tony Hillerman's famous Navaho mysteries. As such, i found them less interesting. Hillerman's Navaho appeared to me to be more elegant, exotic and un-knowable than the Ute, as Doss profiled them. That was my impression from 10 yrs or so ago when i read the first in the series. Good to know that although #4 was a fairly entertaining read, that my first impression years ago was entirely correct. This novel started out a little slow, and to tell the truth, i was having trouble maintaining interest until the first 1/4 was past. It grows on you as the action picks up the pace though. But i didn't love one of the main characters, Moon's personal interactions seem unfocused and there is a fair amount of stumbling around without much progress being made. Also, I actively dislike when a protagonist at the very end uncovers a major plot point which has been totally kept out of sight for the entire book - just not up to Hillerman's standards.

[Glenda Clemens · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love James D. Doss's style of writing but especially like the laugh out loud moments that keep me tethered a tiny bit to reality rather than tied to a chair in a deep dark basement of horror of storytelling. This was a big deal for me in this novel! Each Charlie Moon story gets more and more intense. I started reading the series because I'm jumping off the cliff into suspense writing. I couldn't have chosen a better series! I don't know who I'm cheering the most for, Charlie or Aunt Daisy (don't be fooled by her sweet name).

[Calvin · Rating 4 out of 5]

James D. Doss is much like Tony Hillerman, but with a dash of paranormal thrown in.

This novel has that and a somewhat expanded view of Charlie Moon and his community.

I did not figure out the mystery by the end of the book and wonder if I missed something or
whether there was something needed that was held until late in the book.

In either case, I enjoyed the book (especially the characters) and would recommend it to
others. The series is very good so far.

[Jay Wright · Rating 4 out of 5]

The mystery involves the Sun Dance which is a Native American dance that involves endurance with a resulting connection with a vision and healing. A witch is killing participants and the hunt is on for this supernatural criminal. Charlie Moon and his Aunt, the shaman, are on the hunt for the witch before he strikes again. A good mystery is hard to solve as is this one.

[Lois · Rating 3 out of 5]

Poor Charlie Moon and his women - they find him appealling but he doesn't have a clue. I liked the quip about Horace being thought a half-wit but his father thinks he would need more schooling to be called that.

[Margaret · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like many a sitcom, but far better written, this plot rests on lacking and miscommunications. It balances the worlds of the mystic and logical without giving too much weight to either. Nice plot twist too.

[Jamie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I mean...it all tied together in the end, but it took 300 pages to get going.

[Marna Whitney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another good one with a surprise ending.

[Ginny Goldberg · Rating 4 out of 5]

By far this has been my favorite of the Charlie Moon series.

[Chick Marks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very intriguing somewhat dark story focused equally on Charlie Moon and his Aunt Daisy. The best of the Moon stories that I have read so far.

[A.J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this series - totally missed all the clues in this one - & the ending gave me chills.

[Maureen · Rating 2 out of 5]

While I enjoy Charlie Moon and his aunt Daisy, this book was too drag-y for me….

[Roger · Rating 4 out of 5]

good read

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like this series a great deal. But I wonder if it shouldn't be the Daisy Perils series. She us, by far, the best developed character so far in the series.

[Janice · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love James Doss's use of language, how he describes the landscape of southern Colorado, and Ute culture. This book may move too slowly for some, but I was thoroughly engrossed from the beginning. The book is about witchcraft, Ute style, as well as some Christian themes, and about Ute belief systems. The story surrounds the Sun Dance as performed in several locations, with Ute, Paiute, and Shoshone participants. During "dancing thirsty" the quest is for a vision, after several days in the southwest heat. However, dancers begin dying, maybe from natural causes, maybe from witchcraft. Charlie Moon, the 6'8" officer of the Ute Tribal Police force is the prime investigator, with the help of his friend Scott Parris, and his aunt, the elderly Ute Shaman Daisy Perika. I will keep reading this series.

[Brian Chafin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Perhaps it isn't fair, but any Indian-led mystery set in the Four Corners has to be compared to a Hillerman. Doss' plotting isn't as tight, his settings are not as vivid as Hillerman's. I would like to say that Charlie Moon is not fleshed out as well as Jim Chee. That would be unfair, since I've read many more Chee books. Moon has the potential to be more interesting than Chee, perhaps even rivaling the Legendary Lieutenant Leaphorn. Doss does a good job with the ceremonial description. The twist at the end is as good as any. Shaman's Game is early in the Charlie Moon series. I hope Doss polishes up his plotting in later books. If so, he'll be able to step out of Hillerman's shadow.

[Darlene · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was obvious this was a man writing this book because he didn't have a clue how women's minds think. I found his female characters very irritating. The story was interesting and had a good ending but I didn't feel the characters were fleshed out enough. I also would have liked more depth on the Indian legends and practices. Great descriptive writing about the location settings.

[Cat. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one, number 4 in the series, follows Charlie Moon almost exclusively as he tries to sort out his love life and figure out how come participants in several Ute-sponsored Sun Dances keep dying. It turns out not to be at all what anyone expected. Interesting and surprising. Scott Parris is barely in this one.

[Karenbike Patterson · Rating 2 out of 5]

On page 90 a sixty something Ute Sun Dance dies on day three. At first it looks like natural causes and then maybe not. The rest of the book has Charlie Moon, a Ute Policeman tracking down what happened. We don't know much about the original victim so it is hard to care much about his death. The next victim is well developed but the whole thing is resolved in a really silly explanation.

[Barbra · Rating 4 out of 5]

This mystery was very interesting once I got past the first couple of chapters. It was a bit slow at first, but after a few chapters my interest was caught and continued to the amazing end. Great read!!

[Avary Doubleday]

I picked this up on vacation in Utah because it was about the four corners area. It was a good story, with interesting info on the Native Americans of that region. Some would think it moved too slowly.

[Serena · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the characters, and their world and hope I get the chance to read the story again and/or to read more within the series.

My Rating System:
* couldn't finish, ** wouldn't recommend, *** would recommend, **** would read again, ***** have read again.