Book Review: The Witch's Tongue

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

The Witch's Tongue     Amazon US HC Amazon Canada HC
James D. Doss
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Ethnic   Police Procedural
Series: Charles Moon # 9
St. Martin’s, Oct 2004, $24.95, 320 pp.

All hell has broken loose on the Ute Reservation in the Granite Creek, Colorado area. After physically abusing his wife, Jacob Rattle vanishes in Spirit Canyon (to the joyful relief of his spouse). At about the same time, someone steals coins and cameos that museum owner Jane Cassidy claims is worth millions. Antiques dealer Ralph Briggs tells Ute tribal investigator Charlie Moon about a shady deal when he is shot. At a roadblock to catch the museum thieves, Felix Navarone is “treed” by Officer Jim Wolfe landing in jail.

Legal Aide trainee Eddie Ganado visits Felix; who not long afterward is released. . Charlie ignores the mess to work on his ranch but his aunt pressures him to become involved as Jim stole corpse powder from her. Charlie really changes his mind when he meets FBI Special Agent Lia McTeague in charge of the investigation. He is attracted to her and like any male needs to show off his prowess by trying to uncover who is killing people and why.

Combining humor with Native American mythos, James D. Doss proves he is a shaman when it comes to providing a terrific mystery. The story line is fueled on two levels with the obvious homicides and other havoc on the one hand and the Charlie-Lia on the other hand. Both ties nicely together as it is the attraction to Lia that coaxes Charlie to need to solve the case. Fans of Charlie (this being his eighth appearance) already know why Mr. Doss’ Moon novels are always amongst the genre’s best, but newcomers will see first hand the proof of that assertion.

Harriet Klausner

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Harriet Klausner