Grandmother Spider

Charlie Moon #6

by James D. Doss

A lawman with a hardy appetite for life and an unshakable faith in the explicable, Southern Ute Acting Chief of Police Charlie Moon is not prepared to accept a purely supernatural explanation for the recent strange events of April 1. Nevertheless, something carried off Tommy Tonompicket and his unlikely drinking companion, research scientist William Pizinski, in the black chill of the Colorado night. And something ripped the head off a man outside a lonely cabin in the mountains...and left two large, fanglike punctures in his chest. And though Charlie's eccentric old aunt, the shaman Daisy Perika, claims the gargantuan avenging arachnid Grandmother Spider has risen up from the depths of Navajo Lake, the hulking, good-natured tribal policeman feels in his gut that this is murder, pure if not simple, and most probably by human hands.

Genres: Mystery, Native American, Fiction, Indigenous, Westerns, Native Americans, Humor

388 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 9, 2001

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

[Francis · Rating 4 out of 5]

You need to think twice before you read this book.

Have you got yourself a large pile of books you've been meaning to get to? You notice every time you finish one of those books that your pile somehow mysteriously made itself higher? You got a lot of authors you really like, so you been having a really difficult time keeping up? You been swearing to yourself lately about all the money you've been spending on books? And..., you can't make eye contact with your spouse, cause you might lose your place if you look up?

Well then, you got yourself some serious problems and reading this book ain't gonna help.

The protagonist is this seven foot Ute Indian. Kinda a gentle giant type but real smart and got a good sense of humour too. Doesn't need to scrap a lot, cause most people don't care to scrape with seven foot Indians wearing guns. His Aunt? Well she's a hoot and knows her way around a shot gun ...so don't get her started, either.

The story? Well it starts with one of the weirdest and wildest premises you ever heard this side of science fiction and you're going keep telling yourself, "no way he can make this thing come out believable." Well, he does and that's just part of the magic.

So, like I said, you don't want to read this book, cause there's sixteen other books in the series, and I know you're sensible and need to limit your book spending money.

So, heed the warning.

[Laura Knaapen · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story was good and interesting, but I didn't like the ending and I don't really care about the characters. I think I'm expecting more supernatural activity than Doss wants to write.

[Wendy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finally...a mystery so outrageous it seems unsolvable without breaking the bounds of reason...and a solution outrageous enough to work!! I loved how this book mixed elements of a modern police/detective story with Native American shamanism and even a little of the supernatural. I also enjoyed the characters, especially the old shaman Daisy ,a cranky, fiesty woman with a shrewd sense of humor, and Charlie Moon, the soft-spoken Ute police chief with an appetite for unhealthy food.

After Daisy's young charge Sarah smashes a spider with her biology book, the Shaman tells her of how Grandmother Spider will rise from Navaho Lake to revenge her spider people. That very night something carries off two men...and then the strangely mutilated body of a third victim is found--the victim of a spider attack? Soon, Charlie Moon finds himself sorting through evidence so bizzare, even HE is starting to believe in Grandmother Spider...

[Kylin Larsson · Rating 3 out of 5]

The writing was good (especially the utter lack of cliches) but I found the overall story disappointing. Charlie Moon, the acting police chief of the Ute reservation, investigates reports of a giant spider roaming the landscape and snatching people. Although Moon's Aunt Daisy regularly sees ghosts and other spirits, the reason for the disappearances is decidedly pedestrian. The spider is actually a hot air balloon shaped like an octopus. The driver of a delivery truck, taking a beer break at a local lake en route to a restaurant, decides to take the octopus out for a spin. People get tangled up in the balloon and that's why they disappear.

The story really illuminated the difference between genre fiction and what I usually read, literary fiction. The characters felt drawn; they were there, but I have no faith they go on existing after the last page.

[Randy · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you like Tricia Fields, Michael McGarrity, Craig Johnson, or Tony Hillerman, then you will most likely enjoy reading James Doss. This novel is full of Indian lore and beautifully described scenery of southwest Colorado and New Mexico. Doss combines a good story with a lot of humor and an ending that satisfies a bizarre set of circumstances. This was my first Charlie Moon book, but the sixth in the series. I will definitely read more from Mr. Doss.

[Jay Wright · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was already a fan of Charlie Moon. This large Ute is the Acting Chief of Police on the reservation. He is easy going with a sense of humor, but people always confuse these traits with intelligence. Charlie is intelligent. Here is how the story starts, two guys, one Indian one white, come across one another, and consume a few beers together. Hold my beer, it appears that a giant spider came from the air, spewing flames, ripping the hood of a truck off, throwing it hundreds of yards. The Indian is found in the top of a tree and the white guy roaming the forest grabbing a sandwich from a person cutting firewood. Also a prominent attorney his beheaded trying to take pictures of a flying octopus. So what really happened, takes the next 200 pages to find out. This story is hilarious and a mystery to boot.

[Tanja · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was so much fun to read! Grandmother Spider is #6 in the Charlie Moon series, but my first to read as I happened to acquire this book at a library book sale. It felt like reading a book from the Longmire series by Craig Johnson, except this time the Native American is the main character and the white cop is his sidekick. Expressing what the characters were thinking (which most often was the exact opposite of what they were saying) made the story extra hilarious at times. I loved how the woven mystery unraveled in the end and I absolutely enjoyed most of the characters, especially Charlie Moon and Scott Parris, but even more so quirky Daisy Perika, Charlie Moon's shaman aunt. Can't wait to read more books of this series!

[LAB · Rating 2 out of 5]

Charlie Moon and his friend Scott Parris are called to investigate the disappearance of two men and the presence of an odd orange light. Soon a murder is added to the list and then Moon's Aunt Daisy has to defend her house from Grandmother Spider. The tale she spins about Grandmother Spider is an uncanny match for what Moon and Parris are finding. Running through the background are Moon's likely promotion and a woman he finds very attractive. I found the plot a bit far-fetched but it came together and explained all the clues. Not my favorite James D. Doss book but it won't stop me from reading another.

[L · Rating 4 out of 5]

Right off the bat, Doss grabbed me with what promised to be a fine mystery, all wrapped up with a traditional story of Grandmother Spider and family. Then, with no warning, he used the word "comprise" correctly. If that weren't enough, he mentioned linear differential equations, again, correctly. I think I might be in love.

For those of you who are not total freaking nerds, in addition to a solid story and respect for tradition and family, Doss gives us solid characters (including both location and community).

[M. O'Gannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Grandmother Spider – A Charlie Moon Mystery – Published 2001 - **** - This is the third in the Charlie Moon series that I missed somehow. I much prefer the Doss early series books. This book has a little more action and mystery and less of all the creative phrases that Doss does so well but that get tiring in big doses as happens in his later books. Charlie Moon must decipher all the BS especially from his aunt Daisy - head chomping huge spiders - try to solve that. Fun, amusing, easy going, enjoyable are all words to describe this book. Great work by Mister Doss.

[Shelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked it, but it was hard to lose myself in this book. Wasn't happy about the ending. It wasn't bad, just leading into the next book maybe? ... Just gonna give it 3 stars though, especially because of the cheating counsil member! Hated her!!
Not really what I was expecting by reading the blurb on the back cover, but it was a good enough story.

[Kate Corcoran · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great story in the Hillerman tradition of a Southern Ute lawman, his family, community and friends. Doss is an excellent writer of scenes and dialog. This story had wonderful twists with entertaining quirky characters. I'll be going back for more.

[Mike · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Mr. Doss had a wry sense of humor. I had no idea where the story was going until the last few chapters. It was a complete turn around and a surprise ending for me. I am very much enjoying the series.

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a favorite of mine! I cannot stop recommending this book. It had me laughing out loud and the ending was a great surprise! Since reading this book I have been collecting all the other Charlie Moon books I can find.

[Janine Bourdo · Rating 4 out of 5]

This mystery had the most surprising and different solution of any of the probably thousand or so I’ve ever read. It’s the only one of the series that I’ve read and I’ve seen other reviews saying it is the best one. Not surprising! Still, I lan to read others.

[A.J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating juxtaposition of modern technology and native lore. Kept me interested and surprised me more than once. Recommended to anyone who likes mysteries, or who has any interest in native American culture.

[Judy · Rating 2 out of 5]

didn't finish

It took 5 books for me to confirm that this series wasn't for me. This 6th title is more of the same.

There's little, if any, factual info about the Utes ... maybe some of the locations on the reservation actually exist, but fantasy dominates.

[mandy newell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was definitely a plot twisting spin for Charlie Moon/Scott Parris and Daisy Perika. Couldn't put this rollercoaster ride of a book down long enough. James Doss is an artist with Ute fiction.

[Shauna Thompson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyed Doss's style of writing. Cute, good story, mystery and insight about the Utes and living on a reservation.

[Marna Whitney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the twists in this book - did not see the ending coming at all.

[Ginny Goldberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

[Chick Marks · Rating 4 out of 5]

My first exposure to Charlie Moon. I have already picked up two more books at the library. Hop it will be a long friendship.

[Maureen · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little far fetched but sort of believable...don’t know how I feel about Charlie moon...sometimes too laid back, sometimes very smart..guess I’ll have to read another one to make up my mind..

[Rick Molitor · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Charlie Moon series is great entertainment. The cast of characters and will keep you amused as you move quickly to figure out what actually happened. Well written, a great read.

[Cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

want this on my list so I remember to read the others

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely a mystery that's not easy to solve. I really didn't try, just enjoyed the ride.

[Jaci · Rating 3 out of 5]

p.43: The Taos Pueblo man had been raised in the oldest continuously occupied apartment building in the United States.

[Katie Stack · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definetly going to look for kore Charlie Moon books!

[Brian Carrigan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very good story made me laugh a few times and kept me interested.

[Ronna Webb · Rating 4 out of 5]

everything

Ute mythology, humor, characters, suspense, friendship and a little romance to boot. Can’t ask for more. Fun story all the way through.