The Shaman's Game (Shaman Mysteries (Hardcover))

Rating:
Summary: Needs to improve female characters.
Review: I grew up in the Four Corners area and generally enjoy Doss' portrayal of the area and of the Utes. I felt this book was not up to the others because of the annoying habit of portraying two of the main characters as child-women. There was an abundance of tiny hands, tiny waists, and tiny feet in tiny red shoes. Surely there are some tough, intelligent, and attractive Ute women. By the end I was ready for the two tiny women to jump off the Rio Grande Gorge, tiny hand in tiny hand.

Rating:
Summary: A mystical mystery
Review: It is a healing ritual for the Utes living in Southwestern Colorado. However, the Sun Dance is also a physically demanding event. Still, when hale and hearty tribesmen die during the dance, tribal police officer Charlie Moon suspects foul play even though the official report is death due to natural causes.

However, the skeptical Charlie refuses to accept the explanation of his shaman aunt Daisy, who believes that an evil presence amidst the tribe is killing the participants. While Charlie continues to investigate the deaths, tribal reporter Delly Sands feels that she can ferret out the identity of the witch behind the recent deaths. However, Delly soon becomes a target and is hurt. Charlie begins to take Aunt Daisy seriously as he realizes that he is fighting something outside his understanding.

The fourth entry in the Moon mysteries, THE SHAMAN'S GAME, is a great new edition to one of the best Native American detective stories on the market today. The characters feel genuine, even though their beliefs are very diverse. Some believe deeply in the Indian spiritual world while others have been Anglicized. The story line brilliantly balances the dance between police procedural and ethnic heritage. However, what makes this particular novel stand out is James D. Doss's delightful description and dazzling deference to the power of the Sun Dance.

Harriet Klausner