A Dead Man's Tale - (Charlie Moon Mysteries) by James D Doss (Paperback)

About the Book

Book Synopsis

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.

From the Back Cover

At seven feet tall, Colorado rancher and Ute tribal investigator Charlie Moon is a larger-than-life figure--and a force to be reckoned with, on and off the reservation...

"Funny, even slapstick in places...memorable characters add zest to A Dead Man's Tale."--Booklist

Hard times have come to Colorado, and Moon's ranch is feeling the pinch. Not so for Samuel Reed. 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 Reed is quite confident when he makes a wager with Moon's best friend, Granite Creek Chief of Police Scott Parris, that Parris can't keep him alive.

"Moon mysteries charm us with Western voices and ways."--Rocky Mountain News

Even when Reed doesn't offer any details beyond the date and time of his impending demise, Moon has a sixth sense that everything will turn out just fine...until not one, but two men end up left for dead. Now it's up to Moon--along with the help of his Aunt Daisy, an aged Ute shaman who can communicate with the spirit world--to solve the case. Or die trying...

"Doss does for the Utes what Tony Hillerman has done for the Navajo."--The Denver Post

Review Quotes

"There's no denying that the plot is a lulu. If you've been brought up on Hillerman and don't realize that Native Americans like a joke as well as the next gazebo, let Charlie Moon, all seven feet of him, enlighten you. Insanely good." --Kirkus Reviews (starred review) on The Widow's Revenge

"Snake Dreams is the thirteenth novel in this series, and since it's a very good one--funny, smart, and totally different--it's a great place for readers to discover Moon." --Toronto Globe and Mail on Snake Dreams

"James D. Doss's novels about Charlie Moon... feel as if the author is sitting around a campfire, spinning a tall tale that engulfs a circle of listeners.... Doss's tale is evocative of the area and of Indian lore, and his chatty, down-home style shines." --Florida Sun-Sentinel on Three Sisters

"Doss's trademark humor keeps Charlie and Scott wisecracking as the plot spins smartly along to an unpredictable ending.... The most recent Charlie Moon mysteries still charm us with Western voices and ways." --Rocky Mountain News on Three Sisters

"Doss does for the Utes what Tony Hillerman has done for the Navajo." --The Denver Post

About the Author

James D. Doss is the author of the Charlie Moon mysteries, including The Widow's Revenge. Two of the Moon books were named one of the best books of the year by Publishers Weekly. Originally from Kentucky, he divides his time between Los Alamos and Taos, New Mexico.