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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, show more 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.
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Member Reviews
Enjoyable series. I think the whole series averages out to a four star review. Less serious than Tony Hillerman, more so than Carl Hiaasen. The locale, as with most of these Southwestern mystery novels, is a real part of the draw! If Daisy Perika's old homestead were real and being offered to me, I would be packing my bags instead of pecking away at this computer.
The characters are likeable, the stories interesting (especially the first ten or so) if occasionally a liitle over the top. Mr. Doss includes just a touch of the supernatural, that I usually find attractive. All in all I find the stories wonderfully escapist.. all that I look for in fiction. While not necessary, I would recommend reading the stories in order if possible.
The characters are likeable, the stories interesting (especially the first ten or so) if occasionally a liitle over the top. Mr. Doss includes just a touch of the supernatural, that I usually find attractive. All in all I find the stories wonderfully escapist.. all that I look for in fiction. While not necessary, I would recommend reading the stories in order if possible.
Dark Charlie Moon mystery well leavened by his devious wacky aunt Daisy. With an interesting ending that ties the trail of Native American mysticism off nicely.
“And all my days are trances,
And all my nightly dreams
Is where thy gray eye glances?
And where thy footstep gleams---
In what ethereal dances,
By what eternal streams.
Edgar Allen Poe – from one in paradise… “It is not known how many days the dance will last. It is like an angel comes and stands by his bed while he is sleeping and tells him he should be Sun Dance Chief, and tells him how he should run the dance, and how long it should be.” ___ Anne M. Smith, Ethnography of the Northern Utes…'thirsty Dancing'..This book was haunting but it also had laughter and was light and got darker at the end- it has unusal ending . It is one of those transformative stories that authors use to change directions with characters in a long show more running series. The author uses the differences in gender and age with grace and humor. He also shows the differences in perceptions that we all have of each other with the same grace and humor. It sets the stage where the focus becomes “Charlie Moon” and Daisy although Scott Paris is still the faithful friend… I still am waiting for some kind of Celtic – Druid connection between him and Daisy. show less
And all my nightly dreams
Is where thy gray eye glances?
And where thy footstep gleams---
In what ethereal dances,
By what eternal streams.
Edgar Allen Poe – from one in paradise… “It is not known how many days the dance will last. It is like an angel comes and stands by his bed while he is sleeping and tells him he should be Sun Dance Chief, and tells him how he should run the dance, and how long it should be.” ___ Anne M. Smith, Ethnography of the Northern Utes…'thirsty Dancing'..This book was haunting but it also had laughter and was light and got darker at the end- it has unusal ending . It is one of those transformative stories that authors use to change directions with characters in a long show more running series. The author uses the differences in gender and age with grace and humor. He also shows the differences in perceptions that we all have of each other with the same grace and humor. It sets the stage where the focus becomes “Charlie Moon” and Daisy although Scott Paris is still the faithful friend… I still am waiting for some kind of Celtic – Druid connection between him and Daisy. show less
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Author Information
22 Works 2,722 Members
James D. Doss was born in Kentucky in 1939. He is the author of the Charlie Moon series. He was also an electrical engineer who worked on particle accelerators and biomedical technology for the University of California's Los Alamos National Laboratory. He died on May 17, 2012. (Bowker Author Biography)
Series
Common Knowledge
- Canonical title
- The Shaman's Game
- Original title
- The Shaman's Game
- Original publication date
- 1998
- People/Characters
- Charlie Moon; Scott Parris; Daisy Perika
- Important places
- Colorado, USA
- Important events
- Sun Dance
- Epigraph
- And all my days are trances,
And all my nightly dreams
Are where thy gray eye glances,
And where thy footstep gleams -
In what ethereal dances,
By what eternal steams.
--Edgar Allen Poe, From To One in Pa... (show all)radise
"It is not known how many days the dance will last....It is like an angel comes and stands by his bed while he is sleeping and tells him he should be Sun Dance Chief, and tells him how he should run the dance, and how long it should be."
--Anne M. Smith, Ethnography of the the Northern Utes - Dedication
- For Jeremy Katz and Susan Ginsburg
- First words
- It is the final day.
- Last words
- (Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)This lovely young Ute woman who had attempted - perhaps even succeeded - in stealing strength from the strongest of men. Her name was...Delilah.
Classifications
Statistics
- Members
- 188
- Popularity
- 172,358
- Reviews
- 3
- Rating
- (4.13)
- Languages
- English, French
- Media
- Paper, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 6
- ASINs
- 3
