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Charlie Moon #17
The Old Gray Wolf: A Charlie Moon Mystery
OLD GRAY WOLF
James D. Doss
In James D. Doss’s final entry in his wild and witty mystery series, Colorado rancher and tribal investigator Charlie Moon faces his most challenging case—and enemy—to date.
Former police officer, sometime tribal investigator, and current rancher Charlie Moon was enjoying a relaxing vacation day in a nearby town with his friend, Police Chief Scott Parris. They weren’t looking for any trouble, and they would have been more than happy to just mind their own business. But then a lady’s purse is snatched—and things start to get seriously out of hand…
When the thief, LeRoy Hooten,makes a run for it, Charlie and Parris have no choice but to stop him with the only weapon they have on-hand: a can of black-eyed peas.Hooten dies and his grieving mother—who happens to be a brutal mobster’s widow—wastes no time in settling the score.With an assassin (code name: Cowboy) on the way, the FBI close behind, and the ominous visions of his shaman Aunt Daisy influencing his every move, Charlie’s going to need all the help he can get to restore law and order on the Ute reservation. And time is running out…
James D. Doss
In James D. Doss’s final entry in his wild and witty mystery series, Colorado rancher and tribal investigator Charlie Moon faces his most challenging case—and enemy—to date.
Former police officer, sometime tribal investigator, and current rancher Charlie Moon was enjoying a relaxing vacation day in a nearby town with his friend, Police Chief Scott Parris. They weren’t looking for any trouble, and they would have been more than happy to just mind their own business. But then a lady’s purse is snatched—and things start to get seriously out of hand…
When the thief, LeRoy Hooten,makes a run for it, Charlie and Parris have no choice but to stop him with the only weapon they have on-hand: a can of black-eyed peas.Hooten dies and his grieving mother—who happens to be a brutal mobster’s widow—wastes no time in settling the score.With an assassin (code name: Cowboy) on the way, the FBI close behind, and the ominous visions of his shaman Aunt Daisy influencing his every move, Charlie’s going to need all the help he can get to restore law and order on the Ute reservation. And time is running out…
336 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published October 30, 2012
43 people are currently reading
222 people want to read
About the author
James D. Doss
24 books119 followersJames 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
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Doss
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 63 reviews
July 16, 2013
I was eager to read this last of the series featuring part-time detective and rancher Charlie Moon and reaped a good harvest of chuckles and sweet sadness at saying goodbye to the ensemble of lovable and colorful characters that Doss brought to life in rural southern Colorado.
This one is somewhat a parable of the “butterfly effect”. A barmaid forcibly ejects an insulting drifter, causing a delayed fatal bleed in the brain. When he soon attempts a purse snatching, Sheriff Scott Parris beans him with a tossed can of peas and Charlie Moon decks him. They believe they have caused his death. After the escapade gets posted on the Internet as an egregious example of brutality, his mother in the Chicago area, widow of a mob boss, puts out a hit on Parris and Moon.
That much of the plot is in the publisher’s blurb. What I will add to that four other people have some information about the impending showdown, including an aspiring true-crime writer, a retired Texas ranger who is her grandfather, an old FBI friend of Charlie’s, and Charlie’s Aunt Daisy. Daisy Perika, a cantankerous Ute shaman, gets her cryptic premonition from the magical dwarf she communes with (a pitukupf).
While tension builds from these converging interests, Charlie is busy bonding and playing one-upsmanship games with his best friend Scott, dodging the usual barrage of insults from his aunt, studiously ignoring a crush on him by Sarah, an orphaned Indian girl in his household, and dreaming of marrying his librarian girlfriend and selling his cattle ranch to end his financial losses. When he finally hears something of the threat, all he knows is that the hitman has earned the moniker, “The Cowboy Assassin.” He and Scott feel some macho confidence in their abilities to deal with it. After all, the ex-Texas ranger pegs him: “All hat, no cattle.”
Many readers have trouble with Doss’s Puckish intrusion into the narrative as an omniscient observer with sly comments on all the action. On my part, I am used to this wry voice and find a benevolent backdrop to the action in the tradition of a god-like storyteller. To help potential readers judge what they would be getting into in terms of the humor and outlook of the narrator, I share a sample of the slapstick and sentimentality to be found in these books. Here Charlie announces his engagement at dinner one night, and Sarah chokes in her mortification, requiring the Heimlich Maneuver:
What one may say without offending delicate sensibilities is that the experience was extremely mortifying for Sarah, that Charlie Moon was embarrassed for the young lady, and Daisy Perika cackled like an old red-combed hen who’s just been told an old off-color joke by the lusty barnyard rooster.
It was do or die time for Sarah, who was obliged to offer a lady-like apology for spitting her beef into Aunt Daisy’s highly caffeinated beverage—and make her noble speech to Charlie Moon about how happy she was for him and patsy, the wonderful life they were bound to share, et cetera. So did she “do”—i.e. come through with flying colors? No. She died.
Miss Frank got up from her chair, walked calmly out of the dining room and down the hallway, entered her darkened bedroom, closed the door softly, fell down onto the bed—face in the pillow—and bawled. But, to her eternal credit—not like a calf who cannot find its mother. More like a twenty-year old china doll whose delicate heart has been fractured into a zillion smithereens. Oh, I’ll never be able to look Charlie Moon in the eye again.
This one is somewhat a parable of the “butterfly effect”. A barmaid forcibly ejects an insulting drifter, causing a delayed fatal bleed in the brain. When he soon attempts a purse snatching, Sheriff Scott Parris beans him with a tossed can of peas and Charlie Moon decks him. They believe they have caused his death. After the escapade gets posted on the Internet as an egregious example of brutality, his mother in the Chicago area, widow of a mob boss, puts out a hit on Parris and Moon.
That much of the plot is in the publisher’s blurb. What I will add to that four other people have some information about the impending showdown, including an aspiring true-crime writer, a retired Texas ranger who is her grandfather, an old FBI friend of Charlie’s, and Charlie’s Aunt Daisy. Daisy Perika, a cantankerous Ute shaman, gets her cryptic premonition from the magical dwarf she communes with (a pitukupf).
While tension builds from these converging interests, Charlie is busy bonding and playing one-upsmanship games with his best friend Scott, dodging the usual barrage of insults from his aunt, studiously ignoring a crush on him by Sarah, an orphaned Indian girl in his household, and dreaming of marrying his librarian girlfriend and selling his cattle ranch to end his financial losses. When he finally hears something of the threat, all he knows is that the hitman has earned the moniker, “The Cowboy Assassin.” He and Scott feel some macho confidence in their abilities to deal with it. After all, the ex-Texas ranger pegs him: “All hat, no cattle.”
Many readers have trouble with Doss’s Puckish intrusion into the narrative as an omniscient observer with sly comments on all the action. On my part, I am used to this wry voice and find a benevolent backdrop to the action in the tradition of a god-like storyteller. To help potential readers judge what they would be getting into in terms of the humor and outlook of the narrator, I share a sample of the slapstick and sentimentality to be found in these books. Here Charlie announces his engagement at dinner one night, and Sarah chokes in her mortification, requiring the Heimlich Maneuver:
What one may say without offending delicate sensibilities is that the experience was extremely mortifying for Sarah, that Charlie Moon was embarrassed for the young lady, and Daisy Perika cackled like an old red-combed hen who’s just been told an old off-color joke by the lusty barnyard rooster.
It was do or die time for Sarah, who was obliged to offer a lady-like apology for spitting her beef into Aunt Daisy’s highly caffeinated beverage—and make her noble speech to Charlie Moon about how happy she was for him and patsy, the wonderful life they were bound to share, et cetera. So did she “do”—i.e. come through with flying colors? No. She died.
Miss Frank got up from her chair, walked calmly out of the dining room and down the hallway, entered her darkened bedroom, closed the door softly, fell down onto the bed—face in the pillow—and bawled. But, to her eternal credit—not like a calf who cannot find its mother. More like a twenty-year old china doll whose delicate heart has been fractured into a zillion smithereens. Oh, I’ll never be able to look Charlie Moon in the eye again.
May 29, 2013
I discovered the Charlie Moon stories when Tony Hillerman passed away and there would be no more of his wonderful stories for me to read. I soon read every book by James D. Doss that I could get hold of and have enjoyed getting to know Charlie Moon, his Aunt Daisy Perika, his best friend Scott Parris, and all the others. Now I have read this last book from Mr. Doss, who passed away in 2012.
He certainly went out with a bang because this book was full of action and all sorts of twists. Then there was the surprise ending. I did not see that coming! Enjoy this last effort from James D. Doss- I did!
He certainly went out with a bang because this book was full of action and all sorts of twists. Then there was the surprise ending. I did not see that coming! Enjoy this last effort from James D. Doss- I did!
November 18, 2012
Even though James Doss's narrator in his Charlie Moon series has annoyed me for quite some time with his odd asides and strange humor, I stuck with them. I found the "Dear Reader" stuff a bit bizarre, but I enjoyed the characters in this series. The books are light and the mysteries are easily solved; nothing deep or profound here! Even so, I will miss the late Mr. Doss and his books.
July 21, 2025
As per usual there is about 80% boring and 20% action. Charlie gets engaged (again) and there were a LOT of murders, but the fiancée survived, which surprised me. Sorry for the spoiler.
It’s his last book so I made it through the series. I would not recommend it. He likes to talk directly to the reader, which I don’t care for. He seems to use lists a lot in his sentences, as if he feels a need to pad his word count.
It’s his last book so I made it through the series. I would not recommend it. He likes to talk directly to the reader, which I don’t care for. He seems to use lists a lot in his sentences, as if he feels a need to pad his word count.
January 8, 2017
This is the last of the Charlie Moon books since James D. Doss died shortly after completing it. It's always sad to see a good series come to the end, and I will miss Charlie (whom our golden doodle Charlie Moon is named for), Aunt Daisy, and Sarah. We'll never know the end of the Charlie and Sarah saga/sub-plot.
As with many of the later books in this series, the omniscient narrator takes perhaps too large a role. It's frequent commentaries and what's nexts are more distracted than helpful and slow the movement of the plot throughout, although things do pick up in the last half of the story.
For those who have not read Doss, I would suggest starting with his early books and would particularly recommend Grandmother Spider, perhaps my all time favorite mystery. As that story proceeds, you just can't figure out how Doss will pull it together without overly depending upon the mystical elements of the series exemplified by Aunt Daisy and the Pitikupf.
Nevertheless, Doss more often than not spins a good tale with interesting and unusual characters and insights into the culture of the American Southwest.
As with many of the later books in this series, the omniscient narrator takes perhaps too large a role. It's frequent commentaries and what's nexts are more distracted than helpful and slow the movement of the plot throughout, although things do pick up in the last half of the story.
For those who have not read Doss, I would suggest starting with his early books and would particularly recommend Grandmother Spider, perhaps my all time favorite mystery. As that story proceeds, you just can't figure out how Doss will pull it together without overly depending upon the mystical elements of the series exemplified by Aunt Daisy and the Pitikupf.
Nevertheless, Doss more often than not spins a good tale with interesting and unusual characters and insights into the culture of the American Southwest.
April 29, 2013
Vintage James D Doss. Sassy writing, colorful characters, twisting plot. Charlie Moon's transition from bachelor rancher to wealthy, married, smaller ranch, less cattle is interrupted by a what, at first, appears to be a routine thief whose connections lead to a plot to kill Charlie and Chief Paris. Doss has done it again.
My wife and I both love James D. Doss's books and the Charlie Moon series. Aunt Daisy is a special treat that we will sorely miss. The Old Gray Wolf may be his last in the series, but doesn't "wrap up" the series for me. The story and plot were vintage Doss, but the style seemed more rambling or fanciful than usual. Perhaps I was yearning for more knowing it was his last book, but I didn't sense from the book that he was aware it was his last book or that he was trying to wrap up the series.
The Charlie Moon series will last as a favorite and I am saddened that Mr. Doss has passed.
My wife and I both love James D. Doss's books and the Charlie Moon series. Aunt Daisy is a special treat that we will sorely miss. The Old Gray Wolf may be his last in the series, but doesn't "wrap up" the series for me. The story and plot were vintage Doss, but the style seemed more rambling or fanciful than usual. Perhaps I was yearning for more knowing it was his last book, but I didn't sense from the book that he was aware it was his last book or that he was trying to wrap up the series.
The Charlie Moon series will last as a favorite and I am saddened that Mr. Doss has passed.
November 20, 2012
Like every single book I've read by James D. Doss (and I have now read them all), The Old Gray Wolf was a delight--however, this one leaves me with an overwhelming sadness. Accustomed to anticipating his next, I find to my dismay that I'll be deprived of that joy--but to illustrate what a class act he was, he finished this final gem before he passed on. I, for one, will find my future reading choices greatly diminished.
June 13, 2013
Doss wrote OK stories with great characters. The last couple of books in this series, however, saw the growth of a gross, cutesy-pie, pseudo-folksy metafictional layer over the top of the real story. It was so bad on this last book in the Charlie Moon series that I skipped paragraphs repeatedly. Unfortunately, Doss has passed away. It was a good story to end on but not a good book to end with.
July 28, 2013
I really enjoyed this book and am sorry there will be no more. I have read all of James Doss' books and feel as if I know Charlie, Scott, Sarah, and Daisy who is one of my all-time favorite characters.
This book had quite a surprise in it as well as a suspenseful plot and a VERY bad villain. It was an excellent read.
This book had quite a surprise in it as well as a suspenseful plot and a VERY bad villain. It was an excellent read.
December 17, 2017
I was saddened to read that Doss had passed away and this would be the last of the Charlie Moon stories. The beginning was slow going and was a little too arch. The last 100 pages were excellent. I'll miss his characters.
January 21, 2022
The Old Gray Wolf is read for the telling rather than the tale. If one chooses to peruse this novel, you will quickly see what I mean. In between all the asides, advice, warnings, instructions, theorizing, philosophizing and out right gossip, one might find a plot of sorts. (A well-heeled mob boss’s widow has sent a professional hitman to Granite Creek to cause untold misery to Charlie Moon and Scott Parris, the local law.) The characters are over the top and the problem is solved through intuition rather than skill but I did like that the author took the time to establish the characters. There is a slight possibility that I am not the only one to come to this series at book 17 so the introductions were appreciated.
The narrator really is the main player. He doesn’t just take out the fourth wall, he torpedoes it out of existence. (Still, I wouldn't classify this as noir as the protagonists are far too gentlemanly and light-spirited to fit that darker genre.) The narrator then happily takes his place amongst the audience to regale us with his witty and continuous commentary on everything from the chapter titles to the characters' motivations. The substance and draw of the book is in those observations. At times, the interruptions had me going back several paragraphs to remember where the story left off and it isn't just me. Even the author, the late James D Doss, had a hard time remembering if Chief Parris was on or off duty.
The reader is likely to find this style either exceptionally hilarious or downright annoying. Hopefully you will be amongst the former.
The narrator really is the main player. He doesn’t just take out the fourth wall, he torpedoes it out of existence. (Still, I wouldn't classify this as noir as the protagonists are far too gentlemanly and light-spirited to fit that darker genre.) The narrator then happily takes his place amongst the audience to regale us with his witty and continuous commentary on everything from the chapter titles to the characters' motivations. The substance and draw of the book is in those observations. At times, the interruptions had me going back several paragraphs to remember where the story left off and it isn't just me. Even the author, the late James D Doss, had a hard time remembering if Chief Parris was on or off duty.
The reader is likely to find this style either exceptionally hilarious or downright annoying. Hopefully you will be amongst the former.
February 18, 2014
I was saddened when I read that James Doss had passed away because I had enjoyed all sixteen Charley Moon tales. I was glad that this seventeenth (and of course final) book was released shortly after the author’s death.
In some ways the story was tour de force of many of the major “minor” characters that have played larger parts in past tales who are at least mentioned. Of course there is always a murder (or two) and a mystery that is solved via the great interpersonal relationship of Charlie Moon and his best friend Scott Parris. Any Doss tale would not be complete without the shenanigans of the irascible Aunt Daisy who was in character in this tale. As always it was a rip-roaring, very engaging tale. I have found James Doss’ literary style of a series of first-person narratives with any overarching omniscient third-person orchestrator of the tale to be rather unique. I often feel when reading Doss’s books that I am sitting around a campfire on the Columbine Ranch listening to a grand teller of tall tales.
In some ways the story was tour de force of many of the major “minor” characters that have played larger parts in past tales who are at least mentioned. Of course there is always a murder (or two) and a mystery that is solved via the great interpersonal relationship of Charlie Moon and his best friend Scott Parris. Any Doss tale would not be complete without the shenanigans of the irascible Aunt Daisy who was in character in this tale. As always it was a rip-roaring, very engaging tale. I have found James Doss’ literary style of a series of first-person narratives with any overarching omniscient third-person orchestrator of the tale to be rather unique. I often feel when reading Doss’s books that I am sitting around a campfire on the Columbine Ranch listening to a grand teller of tall tales.
March 22, 2021
Oh my god – this was a painful read… As ever, Doss’s story ideas are great but his writing style has (had) deteriorated to be almost unreadable. I am so happy to be done with this series – yes, I could have abandoned it when it got intolerable, but the characters were great and the stories were also pretty entertaining… just the writing was oh so “cutesie” to the point of being horrible… Sigh.
August 15, 2020
The Charlie Moon series started off so good. About halfway through you can see the style changes, and they aren't necessarily for the better. Would work if this was an audible story, but not so well for reading. The author spends more time interacting with the reader than in the story line itself. Quite disappointing.
February 13, 2013
He will be missed : (
April 6, 2013
The writing style got in the way of telling the story. Did not finish it.
January 8, 2019
I'll miss Charlie and Aunt Daisy and all the others. RIP, Mr Doss.
December 13, 2022
Pretty good read a lot of twist and turns By the author trying to throw the reader for a loop and a surprise ending.
April 22, 2022
Another entry in the Moon/Parrish series. Interesting characters, great scenic setting, lots of humor. LOTS and LOTS and Lots of humor. This is the 17th in the series. The series started well, with the plot and characters driving the story and the setting playing an active part. Unfortunately, the series has rather steadily gone down hill to the point that Doss spends nearly all his effort in squeezing as much humor as he can. He tried way too hard in this book and the last several. He brings the plot back at the end of the book to resolve what mystery still remains. Unfortunately (or perhaps, fortunately) the author died after he finished this book, bringing the series to a close.
February 20, 2023
This is an unusual book…I’ve read several Charlie Moon by James Doss and they weren’t written in this syntax, I don’t know what to call it, sort of like a narrative by someone watching the events…the first half of the book I was confused because the narrative was confusing….I almost didn’t finish, but I like Charlie Moon so I did finish….not a favorite.
February 1, 2018
Doss has a very unusual writing style. Once I got beyond that, I really enjoyed this book. I found it very entertaining. Sometimes funny. Sometimes tense. Sometimes sad. But always entertaining. This book has a good plot, and a surprise ending. Who could ask for more?
January 25, 2025
This was Doss' last book before his death. If I hadn't read his others and liked the previous story lines, I would not have finished this one. He went down a lot of rabbit holes. It was hard to stay focused.
December 29, 2017
Although I really like this series, not all of them are equal. This one's style is a bit too precious for my taste. (Too many parentheses, if I must be blunt).
July 31, 2019
Not at all impressed with the narrative tone.
June 24, 2020
So sad that James Doss is no longer with us to write his wonderful novels - this one was not quite up to his former books, I suspect he died while it was still in the editing process.
May 28, 2022
I love this series ... was sorry to reach the end. Wish there were more!
September 20, 2024
Sadly, I have finished there last ever to be Charlie Moon book in an entertaining series. As work the previous 16, it was an enjoyable ride.
March 20, 2017
The last book in a 17 book series and the last one written by author, James D. Doss before his death in 2012 was a great read. Written with humor, this tale full of twists and turns keeps you turning the pages. It makes me think that I need to check out his other "Charlie Moon" mysteries.
September 16, 2014
Another great book in the series, although it was hard to bring myself to read this 17th and (apparently) final installment. Doss authored 17 “Charlie Moon Mysteries,” the first published in 1994, and the last of which was completed shortly before his death in 2012.
Doss thoroughly researched the background for his books about Southern Colorado and the Ute tribe in particular. His stories center around tribal investigator Charlie Moon and his irascible but endearing Aunt Daisy, his only living family. Doss's tales are enriched by humorous descriptions of Charlie's devotion to his snappish and shameless aunt. But they also recount the enduring friendship between Charlie and his best "pardner," Granite Creek's chief of police, Scott Parris, with whom Charlie shares his investigations. And these relationships are what I will miss most.
Informed by a sincere respect for the traditions and myths of the Utes, Doss mixed local culture, compelling narrative, and sly humor to make his books favorites among fans of the genre and readers of all kinds. Sadly, that has come to an end all too soon.
Thanks for giving us such satisfying and memorable stories. May they live on.
Doss thoroughly researched the background for his books about Southern Colorado and the Ute tribe in particular. His stories center around tribal investigator Charlie Moon and his irascible but endearing Aunt Daisy, his only living family. Doss's tales are enriched by humorous descriptions of Charlie's devotion to his snappish and shameless aunt. But they also recount the enduring friendship between Charlie and his best "pardner," Granite Creek's chief of police, Scott Parris, with whom Charlie shares his investigations. And these relationships are what I will miss most.
Informed by a sincere respect for the traditions and myths of the Utes, Doss mixed local culture, compelling narrative, and sly humor to make his books favorites among fans of the genre and readers of all kinds. Sadly, that has come to an end all too soon.
Thanks for giving us such satisfying and memorable stories. May they live on.
October 10, 2025
I have to say that I am again reading the last book Doss wrote before he died....drats on him not getting a few more books finished prior. Again....I had saved all of them from the first time and knew I was going to read them all again. I may still do it again in a couple more years. I have enjoyed this story of Charlie Moon, his cranky Aunt and each of the years of mysteries and events of these folks lives. It is a long story, takes 17 books (I call them chapters) to tell it. Doss writes on the Ute reservation and if you love Tony Hillerman you will want to read Doss. However, you might not have ever read any other author with the story telling style of Doss. He is funny in the way he tells his story....much as if he was talking just to you. So my post is just to acquaint some of you that are looking for a new author, sorry he quit on us, but his books are still there and I almost bet if you get them you will store them up to read some years down the road. Again. Oh, Ps, I would suggest you read them in order. My goodness, would you get a book and jump around the chapters?
Displaying 1 - 30 of 63 reviews