I like Tony Hillerman’s Navajo mysteries, and I love the red-rock country of Southern Utah, so James Doss was a logical next author to read, and The Shaman’s Bones was a good place to start.

The Denver Post says Hillerman’s fans will find a new home here. It’s probably right. Doss’s characters seem more actively mystical than Hillerman’s, with dreams revealing hidden locations and spirit guides speaking in riddles. But there’s a beautifully solid grounding in humor and everyday reality. Some delightfully convoluted conversations reward the reader with laugh-out-loud insights, even as chapters end with dark foreboding and foreshadowing. The characters bring and reveal their own different strengths and weaknesses, learning more about each other as the tale weaves on.

A small child is left in the care of Charlie Moon’s aunt; her mother and father seem to have disappeared. Meanwhile dark visions promise death and dismay, and a woman is murdered in very strange circumstances. Police Chief Scott Parris has his own reasons for listening carefully when the aunt warns of danger to come, and the scene is set.

The novel is relatively long at 350 pages, and the list of characters likewise, but the story kept me eagerly reading, and the characters stayed clear and well-defined. The scenery plays its own part too, with beautiful descriptions and atmosphere. I was glad to find that there are many more Shaman mysteries by Doss, and I plan to look out for them. ( )

The third novel in the series takes us again to a world of humor, violence, Native American culture and mystics. We get the flavor and culture of the west, of small towns everywhere the dynamics between friends, families and cultures. With Tony Hillerman gone (god bless him) I am glad that Doss is around to carry on. This series is one I followed from the beginning and I am enjoying rereading it again. It seems to have even more depth now. We still have a focus on Scott Paris the Granite City Sheriff and his sometime mystic ability. (I still wonder if he is Celtic or some ancient druid blood in him). Charlie Moon – who we learn has the same roots in Shamanism as his wonderful Aunt Daisy Perika. And we are introduced to an abandoned little girl who like Daisy is an orphan and may have her same mystic talents as well. At the same time we have a wonderful story line with great writing. There are insightful historical references to the many native peoples who have traveled through the southwest during different times. We see conspiracy and evil and choices people make that make them who they are. Wonderful offbeat humor…”Jimminy,” Parris yelled, “you don’t need to kill him!” “He cut a button off my shirt,” Moon said. “Well hell,” Parris said that puts it an altogether different light. If I’d known he caused damage to your shirt, I’d have stomped him to death myself.”….. Characters like Louise Marie – seller of second hand cosmetics to Noah Dancing Crow… great reads and like I say “lucky you if you have not read them yet. ( )

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. ( )

Like Tony Hillerman does with the Navajo, Doss winds the beliefs of the Ute people into unique, colorful mysteries with twists unlike those you'd find in the writings of, say, Robert B. Parker (not to malign his stuff, it's great too :P). However, there's enough unique aspects to Doss' writing that he cannot be accused of merely copycatting Hillerman.

In his protagonist Charlie Moon, Doss has created a likeable, clever goofball who alternates between moments of sillyness/mischief and brilliant bits of insight, a big-hearted fellow who at the same time has no problem taking advantage of his colleague's weakness for gambling to earn a few extra bucks.

Like all the Shaman mysteries, in 'The Shaman's Bones' is rich in traditional imagery, with a healthy splash of mysticism thanks to the visions of Charlie's shaman Aunt, Daisy. This particular story is pretty wrenching as it centers around a missing little girl, and I was uncertain up until the end how it would all work out (which is as it should be). I highly recommend this book, as well as any of the Charlie Moon mysteries (they've all been top-notch so far). ( )