A Dead Man's Tale

Charlie Moon #15

by James D. Doss

Charlie Moon, Ute rancher and investigator, isn’t afraid to throw the dice even when a man’s life is at stake, but when that man is betting against himself and Moon’s ability to save him, that makes for some awfully high stakes.

Hard times have come to Colorado, and Moon’s ranch is feeling the pinch. Investor Samuel Reed has never had that problem. He seems to have a special intuition when it comes to picking stocks and claims to be able to remember the future, which gives him quite a leg up on Wall Street. So it’s no surprise that Reed is confident when he makes a wager with Moon’s best friend, Granite City Chief of Police Scott Parish, that Parish can’t keep him alive.

Even when Reed doesn’t give them any details beyond the date and time of his impending demise, that’s more than enough information for Moon who wants in on the action and is just as confident that he’s well on the way to saving his ranch. But Moon’s best plans go awry when instead of one homicide on his hands, he ends up with two.

James D. Doss infuses the pages of A Dead Man’s Tale, the fifteenth in his popular series, with his potent brand of high spirits and homespun humor that has made him a favorite among mystery readers.

Genres: Mystery, Native American, Fiction, Westerns, Humor, Mystery Thriller, Action

304 pages, Hardcover

First published November 9, 2010

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

[Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am hooked on this murder mystery series because of its humor, colorful characters, evocation of the beauties of southern Colorado, and collision of Ute Indian and non-Native cultures. Unfortunately, Doss died last year, so reading from the last ones of the set becomes poignant process of saying goodbye. Only one of my Goodreads friends has partaken of these books, so I feel a special need to try to capture the pleasures of these tales.

The characters are the big draw. Charlie Moon is a tall, zesty hunk, a Ute who was formerly served with tribal police and now struggles with a failing cattle ranch and with finding a good woman. His main friends are the current Tribal Chairman and the Police Chief of the nearby town of Granite Creek, who are the usual source for getting him involved in baffling murder cases. His MO is to outwit the bad guys with some scam of his own devising. While Charlie doesn’t attend much to traditions, his old and cantankerous aunt Daisy Perika qualifies as a shaman and brings a different set of methods to bear on helping with his cases. I delight in her selfish, snooping, and meddling ways. She frequently communes with ghosts, talks with animals possessed by spirits, and regularly consorts with a dwarf oracle that lives in a badger hole (a pitukupf). The latter mythical creature is noted by Doss in an interview as something that drew his anthropological interests and led him to invent Daisy just to bring the idea to life. Then his characters took on a life of their own.

This particular entry is the series is the 15th out of 17. Previously, I enjoyed the first, “The Shaman Sings” and four from the middle of the run. I liked this one somewhat less than the others, though well satisfied nonetheless. The reason for slightly lower marks is that Charlie is more of a pawn in the unfolding of the mystery and that the story goes a bit too much over the top with a sci fi twist in the form of a character convinced he can remember the future. At the beginning of the tale, physics professor Reed has the memory of being killed about a month in the future. Having gotten filthy rich from playing the stock market and betting on sports, Reed engages Police Chief Parris and Charlie Moon through a 10-to-1 bet that they cannot prevent him from being murdered on the date in question. The premise made a pretty compelling hook for me. And the story takes a great comic twist when Daisy and the 18-year old housekeeper who moons for Moon learn of the scenario by snooping and take the initiative to help by staking out Reed’s wife for a possible affair as a motive for the future murder. Little do they know that a dangerous serial killer has taken up residence in the community.

The biggest objection to Doss among some readers is that they find him guilty of intruding too much in an overly clever way in his omniscient narrator. As this narrator who moves in and out of the minds of characters, he can come off as smug and distracting. I find his approach as an engaging emulation of traditional story telling of the tall-tales category. Here is an example of the worst extreme in this book:
If Reed is to be believed he has the uncanny ability to remember—. But we get ahead of ourselves. Perhaps it would be better to let Professor Reed describe what it is he does. As it is the obstinate fellow won’t do that until he is so disposed, and at present he is not.

The humor in the capers and dialog make up for such over writing. For example, when the teen housekeeper suggests helping Charlie by shadowing Reed’s wife, Daisy horns in:
“Well if you ask me, that’s a low and sleazy line of work—following a woman around, prying into her private affairs. No decent person would do such a thing.” The tribal elder beamed upon the smiling youth. “So you can count me in.”

And I like this piece on the impact of Catholicism on Daisy’s outlook:
After breakfast, when Daisy attended Sunday-morning Mass with Charlie Moon and Sarah Frank, the youthful priest delivered a homily that was deeply painful to the old sinner. His subject was “What the Ten Commandments Are Relevant Today.” During her earthly sojourn, this particular pilgrim had dealt frivolously with most of them—with two exceptions. Let it be noted in her behalf that the Ute woman had honored her parents. Moreover, never in all her life had Daisy made an idol to bow down to—not literally.

From the message that the outcome of Judgment Day depends on the balance between one’s good and sinful actions, Daisy decides to add some weight to the good side of the balance. But, just as Huckleberry Finn couldn’t keep the inspiration of church service alive for very long, Daisy soon stumbles with a homeless youth asking if she can spare some change:
She pointed a crooked finger at his running nose. ‘If I did I’d invest it in U.S. Savings Bonds. Now, hit the road, riffraff—before I jab my thumb in your eye and gouge it out!’
‘Boy, this is some tough town.’ The panhandler backed off and ambled away. ‘I’d better thumb me a ride up to Boulder.’

The humor, tall tales emulation, and magical realism approach to Native American mysticism in the Doss series contrast with the methods used by Hillerman in his stories involving the Navaho police. Hillerman excels in realism and in educating the reader in a more classical way on Native American culture and mythology. Doss grew up in Kentucky and spent decades working as an electrical engineer with the federal research facility in Los Alamos before retirement in 1999. He simply was drawn in by the southern Ute people, a relatively small tribe, and hopes to capture some of their qualities and culture within his stories. I hope more of my GR friends will give the books a try. I look forward to slowly finishing the nine I haven’t read and make a long goodbye.


James Doss (1939-2012)

[Mike · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am a longtime fan of Jame Doss' Charlie Moon mysteries. They began as conventional mysteries and evolved over time into mysteries with a lot of tongue in cheek humor. The interactions between Ute rancher Charlie Moon, Sheriff Scott Parris, the Ute-Papago orphan Sarah and the slightly demented Ute, Elder Daisy Perika are always fun. Most of this book keeps true to that tradition. Near the end it seemed to veer off track and not match the beginning of the book. I found the ending more than a bit muddled.

If you like the series, you will enjoy at least parts of it. This is not one that I would read first and is one of my least favorite in the series.

[Doneen · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is the last Doss book I'm going to waste time reading. His early books were entertaining, had decent plots, and contained Native American lore. These last few books are self-indulgent, boring, and aggravating. His infatuation with his own cleverness has ruined the plots and characters, as far as I'm concerned. And it's a shame. Please don't ever compare him to Tony Hillerman.

[Curt Hopkins Hopkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really fun book in a sunny series. Weirdly, this is a science fiction novel in the form of a western disguised as a detective novel. Love the world of southern Colorado, the Ute rez, the characters, especially Daisy Perika - who was a Ute version of my mother-in-law. Easy read and worth it.

[Laura Knaapen · Rating 3 out of 5]

The multiverse comes to Colorado. Interesting twists and I still like Daisy. Just two more to go.

[Bill · Rating 2 out of 5]

I would have rather watched television.

[M. O'Gannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Dead Man’s Tale – A Charlie Moon Mystery – Published 2010 - *** - Charlie Moon works with his buddy, Chief of Police Scott Parris, to keep a wealthy business man from being killed on a specific date and specific time. Does the business man actually foresee the future? Is there a way to change the future? This was a new twist on a murder mystery, and I give Doss kudos for the imaginative plot. All the characters are there that we enjoy including Daisy Perika. The book was an easy four start until frankly I got sick of all the cuties that Doss has made famous. The book would have been significantly better if it had been cut by a fourth and Doss had kept to the story instead of letting his keyboard run away from him with all the unnecessary witticisms. But it was still a fun and entertaining read even if I had to skim frequently.

[Terry Steinborn · Rating 2 out of 5]

James Doss' series set mostly on the Southern Ute Reservation in SW Colorado has gotten tired. Early in the series, the main characters seemed real and were involved in solving plausible crimes. Aunt Daisy came across as a wise but eccentric shaman figure, with enough mysticism to keep things from being mundane. Unfortunately, in this entry the 4 main characters have become caricatures of their former selves, and Doss works very hard to inject a lot of 'humor' into the text. The plot is absurd, and the resolution is not satisfying. The book could have used the help of a proof-reader who could stay awake and catch some more of the glaring minor errors. I was a fan of this series, but it will be a while before I get around to reading the last 2.

[A.J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this series, and increasingly love the "sidebar stories" of Charlie's aunt, Daisy Perika (Ute elder and shaman who talks to ghosts and sometimes shares her home with an ancient dwarf). Daisy is an amazing old woman ... wish I had half her strength of character (uh, well, maybe that's mostly stubbornness & I shouldn't wish for any more of that). If you like Daisy, you will enjoy her antics in this novel enormously. To quote one of my favorite childhood authors, "remember: there is such a thing as a tesseract!" (from A Wrinkle in Time, by Madeleine L'Engle)

[Sharon · Rating 2 out of 5]

A rich man reports to Sheriff Parrish and part time detective Charlie Moon Charlie that he is going to be killed on June 4th and makes a bet with them that they can not prevent his death. The tale that unfolds is an interesting one, but the method of telling the story- lots of asides to the reader and many, in my opinion, - failed attempts at humor - put a big dent in my enjoyment of the book and served as a distraction.

[Robin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Charlie Moon & aunt daisy are very entertaining. Loved how the author told the story.

[Chick Marks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Entertaining

[Roger · Rating 4 out of 5]

good read

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

James D. Doss is a worthy successor to Tony Hillerman whose Joe Leaphorn and Jim Chee mysteries provided solid story-telling as well as insights into the Navajo culture. Doss gives us Charlie Moon, a tribal policeman turned cattle rancher. The series is named for Charlie, one of the most engaging characters in recent fiction but Charlie has to share the spotlight with his aunt, Daisy Perika. Daisy isn’t exactly engaging. She is tough and there is no one on whom she is tougher than Charlie.

Daisy is a shaman. She acts as an intermediary between the natural and supernatural worlds. She claims to be able to see the future. Daisy converses frequently with the pitukupf whose home is a hole near a tree not far from Daisy’s trailer. When Daisy is perplexed, she seeks out the little man, plying him with tobacco for his pipe. Daisy sees no contradiction between her relationship with the Ute spirit world and her participation in the prayer life of the Catholic church she attends regularly.

In fact, every Sunday it is Charlie who accompanies his aunt to church. Daisy was widowed multiple times (no, she didn’t do it although some people think she is mean enough to hurry things along) and never had any children. Charlie has no family other than Daisy and he thoroughly enjoys making Daisy think that he is taken in by her various schemes. Daisy knows she knows more than Charlie and she guarantees that she knows at least as much by listening to his conversations with Scott Parris, a transplant from Chicago, who is the local police chief.

A DEAD MAN’ TALE is the fifteenth book in the Charlie Moon series. Charlie is close to 7 feet tall and lean. Daisy is close to 5 feet tall and not lean at all. Each is devoted to the other but would never admit it.

In A DEAD MAN’ TALE, Charlie and Scott are approached by Samuel Reed, a multi-millionaire investor who claims that his great financial success is the product of his ability to go into the future, find what he needs to know, and then return to the present time. He succeeds because he can remember the future. Sam doesn’t seek them out to talk about investments, although he gives Charlie some good advice about selling his cattle in the recession. Rather, he offers the two men a bet that they can’t keep him alive past June 5. Sam has his own version of a Doom’s Day clock and he has 31 days, 14 hours, 20 minutes, and 10 seconds to live. The minute Charlie and Scott heard “wager” they were in, although they don’t have any idea what they are in for.

Charlie still serves as a part-time member of the tribal police department. In that capacity, Charlie is asked to kill a man. Oscar Sweetwater, the Southern Ute Chairman, arrives at Charlie’s ranch with Lyle Thoms, a Chickasaw. Many years ago, Lyle performed a considerable service for Oscar and Oscar is now being asked to return the favor. Lyle gets right to the details. Posey Shorthorse has done a terrible thing to a member of Lyle’s family, leading to a death. Lyle wants Posey dead and Oscar has promised that Charlie is the man to do it. Lyle believes that Posey is less than a man and so he offers to pay Charlie twenty-five cents to avenge his loss. Charlie doesn’t tell either man that he has never used his police issue gun to shoot anything or anyone.

Scott needs Charlie, too. There have been a series of burglaries. So far, no one has been attaacked but it is only a matter of time before the Crowbar Burglar does serious harm.

Doss manages to create a different voice, a different inflection for each of his characters. Daisy, the self-described shaman, is a woman old enough not to be surprised by anything. She likes to pour a bit of mischief into people’s lives but Daisy is literally an old soul and with her years has come wisdom. Charlie is a decent, honest, and honorable man who finds his aunt annoying at times and a great source of amusement at other times. Scott is a man caught between two worlds – no longer the Chicago cop and not a member of the tribe. Charlie and Scott figure whatever comes up, they’ll be able to handle it together.

James Doss is one of my favorite writers; he is another who doesn’t

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

With 'Tale,' James Doss offers up another highly entertaining chapter in the adventures of Charlie Moon and and police chief Scott Parris. In the latest installment of these highly engaging mysteries, Moon and Parris have taken on the task of serving as bodyguards for a wealthy man who's convinced he will be slain in one month's time. How exactly he came to this knowledge he doesn't care to share.

The book is populated with the usual cast of colorful characters - the feisty, ill-tempered Daisy and lovelorn teen Sarah foremost among them. It's always fun to see Daisy getting into assorted trouble, although I do think she was portrayed a little over the top in this particular novel. As usual, Doss infused the book with a healthy dose of wry humor, although I would say he was maybe pushing the humor a little much, and I think the suspense suffered for it a little.

Overall, though, it's quite a fun read, and the ending had me – and I do say this is quite the right word – guffawing, yes, guffawing out loud, perhaps even slapping my knee. That Mr. Doss does spin a swell story. And being that tall tale telling is a running theme in the book, I daresay that's quite appropriate.

[Diana · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have read at least one other book by James Doss and it was not like this one. The book is told in different points of view. It opens being told in the first person by Professor Samuel Reed describing his death (by being shot). Professor Reed (a very rich man)enlists the help of Charlie Moon, an Indian rancher and sometimes policeman, and the local sheriff, Scott Parish. Story switches and is told in the third person. Later it is if it is being told by a narrator who intejects his own thoughts. Jist of the story is that Professor Reed's trophy wife is having an affair and he knows about it. He arranges it so that the boyfriend is shot by his wife....something he didn't plan on is that the boyfriend kills his wife before he dies.
Does this make sense?? Maybe not, but it gets even more far out and part of the end is almost fantasy Wierd !!

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Multimillionaire investor Sam Reed comes to Scott Parris and Charlie Moon with a strange problem. He knows he will be murdered on a certain date, and wants them to prevent it. Since he's taken the precaution of making it financially advantageous to them to keep him alive, the lawman and the rancher agree. Meanwhile, Charlie's wicked aunt Daisy has plans of her own. Doss's rather coy narration may not be to everyone's taste.

[Donna · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've read most of his Charlie Moon (Ute Detective/cattle rancher) books and have enjoyed them all. They are good mysteries full of quirky characters with a lot of dry humor in them (I keep wanting to write down quotes!)His Aunt Daisy is a sarcastic, elderly shaman who talks to an invisible dwarf and is continually stirring up trouble. They are the kind of books you just want to read from cover to cover.
This is the latest in the series.

[Fredrick Danysh · Rating 2 out of 5]

Wealthy Sam Reed thinks that someone is going to kill him in one month. He makes a bet with Sheriff Scott Parish and rancher Charlie Moon that the sheriff can not prevent his death. An Oklahoma Indian leader approaches Moon to hill the man that dishonored a family member and Aunt Daisy still communicates with a little spirit man. Two murders occur. Doss seems to be getting more into the mystic with each succeeding story. The latest Charlie Moon story is not up to the standard of the first few.

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first few books in this series were wonderful... the next few? Not so much. This one is back to very good. Doss has created a cast of characters and feeling of place in these novels that leave me wanting more... even the clunkers.

I didn't give it 5 stars because of Aunt Daisy. I usually find her antics... well... antics. This time it went way beyond that to the remarkably gruesome.

[Bill McNary · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book by Dos that I have read. His style is very creative with a sense of humour. Charlie Moon is an interesting character and I'll certainly pick up a couple of more to read. The western theme I generally avoid (perhaps because I grew up in Texas), but Dos' style is refreshing.

[Jmrathbone · Rating 3 out of 5]

Here is the story of a man who travels in time, but forward rather than backward.
Science fiction for sure, but it was fun anyway. There are some laughs in this book and Charlie Moon and his aunt Daisy are interesting characters. I’ll probably read another in the series.

[John Hanscom · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had read one other book by this author, and enjoyed it. This one was not as good. For some reason, the author not only narrated, but constantly gave asides, and this was both distracting and altogether too precious.

[Carma · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found it a chore to complete this book! Moss's writing style here was so folksy as to become irritating. I usually enjoy the Charlie Moon novels, but this one had too much cutesy for me, and not enough action.

[Dac Crossley · Rating 3 out of 5]

James Doss writes funny stuff. Well, he thinks its funny. He is snickering at us as we read. There is a story in there, and probably a good one. I couldn't get past the author intrusion. Guess that's just me. Doss intends to want you to feel that you are in on the joke. I gave it fifty pages.

[T J · Rating 5 out of 5]

Charlie Moon gets into a bet that is life and death to man needing his help to stay alive. This story has more twist and turns and mystery galore. Of course, Aunt Daisy is up to no good, when she steps in to help out. This one will keep you reading to the very end.

[Nancy Wilson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I haven't read any of this series in awhile and don't remember it being so low key and intellectual--but I enjoyed this book and was thankful that there was a minimum of violence. Aunt Daisy is my kind of cranky elder!

[Dena · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is not one of the best Charlie Moon mystery I've read. Maybe next time

[Dale · Rating 3 out of 5]

No Spoilers Good other than the reason why a character knew what they knew was beyond my belief level.

[Karen Kendall · Rating 5 out of 5]

James Doss at his finest. Charlie is hysterical. Must read if you like this series.