Dead Soul

Charlie Moon #8

by James D. Doss

When tribal chairman Oscar Sweetwater asks Charlie Moon to look into the murder of a fellow Ute, Billy Smoke, Charlie agrees, but he doesn't expect to find anything. After all, Billy's boss, U.S. Senator Patch Davidson, nearly died in the ambush that night, too, so the FBI handled the investigation and it's still unsolved. The senator does happen to be Charlie's neighbor, though-their ranches share a fence line-so maybe the senator will be more forthcoming with him than he was with the FBI.

Meanwhile, Charlie's aunt Daisy, an elderly tribal shaman whose visions are looked upon by Charlie with skepticism even when they ring true, has seen a woman desperate for Charlie's help. Daisy begins to badger Charlie to look for her, even though she can't tell him her name, where to look, or why she's in trouble.

All in all, it's shaping up to be another season in which the gentleman rancher spends more time being a reluctant investigator than working on his ranch, helping with the cattle or in the hunt for Two-toes, the bobcat who's been sneaking up on his men at work. And truth be told, he'd rather go after the cat, who doesn't seem as dangerous as Senator Davidson's enemies or Billy Smoke's "business" connections.

James Doss's novels are consistently acclaimed for their combination of tight, suspenseful plotting and lyrical, authentic rendering of Native American themes and images, and Dead Soul is no exception.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Native American, Indigenous, Crime, Magical Realism, Humor

352 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2003

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 3 out of 5]

Probably a 3.5. Strangely more violent than previous books. More adult and, to me, more interesting than previous books in the series.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of my lesser favorite Charlie Moon books so far only because of character details revealed and uncharacteristic behavior by our beloved protagonist, Charlie Moon. Won't stop me from reading the rest of the series! Story, as always, was good and I continue to be surprised at the endings.

[Amanda · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'll admit that I didn't like this one very much. Some of it was very over the top, and even though most of the Charlie Moon novels tend to bend the imagination, this one is a bit farfetched. I guess I'm not fond of the whole Washington-meets-the-West backdrop or the fact that the ending was bizarre and didn't explain what I thought it should.

[Terri · Rating 4 out of 5]

A re-read, but one of the better in the series. Sadly, the author, James D Doss, died in 2012 and Charlie Moon's adventures have ceased, too. It was like losing a friend.

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

I started reading the series in order beginning with Book 1. I enjoyed the stories a lot more when the main character was a police officer. It was not because he was a police officer but it was due to the author's style. This book moved along a little slow until about 2/3 of the way through, then it was a fast enjoyable read. There were fewer Indians involved in the book and the parts involving Aunt Daisy and her pitukupf were a bit disjointed, like they had been crammed in with a shoehorn. I will continue on with the series, I am in hope that the writing will get as good as it was in books 3 through 6.

It is a good book, but not the best in the series. Nonetheless, if you like the series as I do, you should read the book.

[A.J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am totally impressed with this series of mystery novels set on & around the Southern Ute reservation in Colorado. Charlie Moon and his aunt Daisy Perika are now "part of my family" and I cannot wait to read all the rest of their adventures. I'm only sorry that there won't be many more, due to the passing of the author. I love this series & recommend it to anyone who enjoys southwest mysteries. There is an element of mysticism here, as Daisy is a shaman, while Charlie is an absolute pragmatist who is firmly grounded in the "real" and has no use for anything he cannot touch. Still, "there is more in heaven and on earth" than what most people dream of ... and some dream about future events that will actually happen. Enjoy!

[Jay Wright · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the best yet. Charlie Moon is hired by the tribe to look into the murder of one of their own and while working this case, he is hired by the local U.S Senator to be a security consultant. He discovers a plot to kill the president along with Congress and along the way to solving the case he faces a number of threats. He works through each one and finds love along the way. This is a really good story with plenty of action.

[Laurel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really did not care for the way the book was written. I had no problem with the Ute spirit visions, feelings, and other. I didn't like 10 people doing narratives & a chapter would be a page or two. Good plot, just won't look for this author's work again. There are too many good writers with Native American characters and mysteries.

[Ginny Goldberg · Rating 3 out of 5]

This has been my least favorite of the Charlie Moon series. It seemed to get off to a great start and then would start to drag before picking back up. It seesawed between promising and trite. It was darker in theme compared to the earlier books which I wouldn't have minded because I like a good thriller; yet, it is like Doss was experimenting and just didn't follow through.

[Margaret · Rating 4 out of 5]

The summary as well as the illustration are in error, mentioning and showing a bobcat rather than Two Toes, the cougar featured in the story.
Hardly Doss' fault, as he spins another excellent story of logic and mysticism.

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Does has definitely settled into his character and writes a good, though convoluted mystery. The mystic touches are good but not overwhelming and Aunt Daisy is a delight. I really enjoy the word play and the "voice" Doss gives Moon. I am so reminded of my father who taught me to love words.

[Jaci · Rating 4 out of 5]

Need to read the earlier Charlie Moon novels.

[Mike Gowan · Rating 4 out of 5]

some good humor in this book. The characters and the color are the best parts. The plot was good and tightly wound.

[Mary Gunderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A 3 1/2. I love the cultural background and characters. Story a little choppy but still a good page turner. Second I’m the series I’ve read.

[Johan · Rating 4 out of 5]

James Doss

Is such a good writer. Book was a pleasure. Figured out who the antagonist was fairly early though. Recommended reading.

[Roger · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good read and series

[Diane Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really like both the author and his characters so much that I'm in the process of getting the entire serries, something I do with very few series.
Once more Charlie Moon works his magic and this time it affects him in surprising ways.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a recent fan of the Charlie Moon mystery series, I've noticed the author's use of humor in the novels has developed a pattern of slapstick (in its latter novels primarily) that can be overbearing and somewhat unrealistic, but Dead Soul gratefully avoids that trap. In fact, this is inarguably the best novel of the entire series I've read to date.

Warning: readers who prefer hard-boiled mystery will not find it in a Charlie Moon novel. The allure of the series is based on its combination of mysticism and humor. Detective noir, it's not, nor does it pretend to be. However, if you enjoy witty dialogue, scenic descriptions, Native American mysticism, outrageous antics, and laugh-out-loud humor, then you are in for a treat.

In this latest adventure, Charlie Moon--part-time tribal investigator and full-time rancher--is tapped by the tribal Chief to "unofficially" investigate the murder of fellow tribesman Billy Smoke, chauffeur to prominent Senator Patch Davidson, who was crippled during the attack. Coincidentally enough, the Senator's BoxCar ranch abuts Charlie Moon's Columbine ranch, and the Senator also asks Charlie to "unofficially" investigate a possible national security leak within his ranch headquarters. Charlie is reluctant to wade in waters already tread by the FBI and the Secret Service, but feels obligated to fulfill his responsibility to the tribe. As the two investigations begin to overlap, he is once again thrust into one dangerous (and outrageous) situation after another as he comes into contact with hardened BoxCar's foreman Henry Buford--formerly with the Defense Intelligence Agency, the Senator's stunning assistant Miss James, his spoiled nephew Allan Pearson, and a gang of burly bikers.

Meanwhile, Charlie's aunt and shaman elder Daisy Perika's latest vision of a red-haired campus policewoman adds intrigue to the mystery while her mystical conversations with the pitukupf--the dwarf who lives in a badger hole--add a touch of dry humor to the tale.

Unlike previous installments, the story ends on a slightly more serious note well worth the buildup of suspense, and the addition of a romantic interest for Charlie Moon enhances characterization of the series' enigmatic and happy-go-lucky main character.

[LAB · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well, let's see, where to begin? There's a US Senator confined to a motorized wheelchair, his driver who is angry about the death of his twin brother, an enigmatic personal assistant of stunning beauty, a handfull of scruffy cowboys and an even less well groomed batch of leather-clad motorcycle hoodlums. There are others, of course, who fade in and out of the scenery while part-time Ute Tribal detective Charlie Moon wanders his tall and ever hungry self through a maze of intrigue. And unlikely plot twists featuring secret meetings, backdoor deals, and a few dead calves.

If you are a reader of the Charlie Moon series by James D. Doss, you'll recognize these elements from Dead Soul (2003). If you have never met Charlie Moon then you probably don't want to start here. Without knowing Charlie from earlier books in the series, you'll not get a very good impression. And Doss's most interesting character, Charlie's Aunt Daisy, plays only a diminished role in this book. Read this one in the right sequence and hope that the next title is better.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

Artful blend of mystery and suspense, humor, and Native American spirituality in the beautiful setting in rural southern Colorado. In this 8th of 16 in the delightful series featuring Ute Indian rancher and tribal investigator Charlie Moon, our hero is tasked by the tribal chief to investigate the murder of the Ute driver of a powerful senator whose ranch abuts Charlie's. The senator, disabled in the attack, engages Charlie for the additional task of uncovering security leaks that has the federal antiterrorism forces very worried. As usual, Charlie's approaches bring a lot of dangerous characters out of the woodwork, and he gets special help negotiating his way from his cantankerous Aunt Daisy, a shaman whose dreams and visions require a bit of fermentation before he can glean some useful clues from them.

[George · Rating 4 out of 5]

#8 in the Charlie Moon, Southern Colorado Ute Indian rancher and part time Ute trial investigator, mystery series. Charlie finds himself involved with a highly connected Colorado U.S. senator who was beaten and his driver killed. Charlie is asked to investigate the Southern Ute driver's death. Things turn out to be far more complicated and Charlie becomes involved in national security issues and Ute spiritual complications.

This story is "heavier" that previous novels I have read in this series, but not less interesting.

[Randy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second book I've read by James D. Doss, and I'm really enjoying his stories. "Dead Soul" still has his excellent dialogs and is a darker novel than "Coffin Man". There is also more Southern Ute mystical content in this novel that helps in unraveling a very good murder mystery. If I'm able to find all of them, I suspect that I'll wind up reading all seventeen of his Charlie Moon books. It's great to discover an author like Mr. Doss!

[Ellen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love Charlie Moon and the tongue-in-cheek conversations he sometimes has with others. The problem with this one was that the author had him giving vital instructions to a cowhand but didn't reveal them to the reader until the conclusion. It was the "if I tell you this you'll figure out the answer" kind of lead-up to the end.

[T J · Rating 5 out of 5]

Charlie Moon's neighbor has made him an offer that he feels obligated to fulfill. On top of this, Daisy his aunt, runs into a young woman in desperate need of Charlie's help if only he could find her. These and his ranch keep him very busy. This one intense who-don-it that you won't be able to put down.

[Fredrick Danysh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Former policeman Charlie Moon is back. A fellow Navajo who drove for a US senator is killed and the senator is crippled. Charlei Moon is hired to investigate. Dead Soul is more mystic than James Doss's past noveels.

[Douglas Cook · Rating 5 out of 5]

First sentence, "THE parlor of the Columbine Ranch headquarters, Charlie Moon’s lean, seven-foot frame is folded into a maple rocking chair."

Doss, James D. (2010-04-01). Dead Soul (p. 1). Macmillan. Kindle Edition.

[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.

[Michael Starsheen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another good entry in this series

I gave this book five stars because it was suspenseful and well written. I enjoyed the characters and their interplay and their development. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good mystery.

[Greg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quite funny....

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I Love ALL of James D. Doss's Books!