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Donald Strachey #1
Death Trick
A young man has been brutally murdered. The gay son of a wealthy family has disappeared. Now it's up to private dick Don Strachey to get to the bottom of this mess--even if he has to cruise every gay bar in the city to do it Don Strachey isn't exactly the most sought-after private eye in Albany, New York. In fact, this gay P.I. has gotten to the point of having to write checks to pay his tab at the cheapest lunch counter in town. And he isn't sure that the latest one, for the grand total of two dollars and ninety-three cents, is going to clear. Then the phone rings. Billy Blount, the gay heir to one of Saratoga Springs' upper-crust families, has disappeared, and his parents want him back. On top of that, Billy, a young and outspoken gay activist, is wanted for the grisly murder of the man he slept with on his last night in Albany--a man he'd never met before that night
Set in the glorious, promiscuous pre-HIV late 1970s, Death Trick: A Murder Mystery is a fast-paced excursion through the seamy underside of gay Albany. From gay discos where the hard-pumping music never stops, to the city's infamous baths, to the dark alley behind the local precinct house, this hard-bitten private dick searches for answers to the questions that plague Billy's parents and the police. With his faithful companion (and unfaithful lover) Timmy, plus a cast of characters that includes drag queens, ex-jock gay bar owners, homophobic cops, male hustlers, and wealthy suburbanites, Strachey begins a chase that leads him to seedy gay bars, posh suburban homes, and pricey mental institutions where they use electric shock to destroy "sick" gay tendencies.
Set in the glorious, promiscuous pre-HIV late 1970s, Death Trick: A Murder Mystery is a fast-paced excursion through the seamy underside of gay Albany. From gay discos where the hard-pumping music never stops, to the city's infamous baths, to the dark alley behind the local precinct house, this hard-bitten private dick searches for answers to the questions that plague Billy's parents and the police. With his faithful companion (and unfaithful lover) Timmy, plus a cast of characters that includes drag queens, ex-jock gay bar owners, homophobic cops, male hustlers, and wealthy suburbanites, Strachey begins a chase that leads him to seedy gay bars, posh suburban homes, and pricey mental institutions where they use electric shock to destroy "sick" gay tendencies.
199 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1981
70 people are currently reading
1,130 people want to read
About the author
Richard Stevenson
79Ìýbooks140ÌýfollowersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.
Richard Stevenson is the pseudonym of Richard Lipez, the author of nine books, including the Don Strachey private eye series. The Strachey books are being filmed by here!, the first gay television network. Lipez also co-wrote Grand Scam with Peter Stein, and contributed to Crimes of the Scene: A Mystery Novel Guide for the International Traveler. He is a mystery columnist for The Washington Post and a former editorial writer at The Berkshire Eagle. His reporting, reviews and fiction have appeared in The Boston Globe, Newsday, The Progressive, The Atlantic Monthly, Harper's and many other publications. He grew up and went to college in Pennsylvania and served in the Peace Corps in Ethiopia from 1962-64. Lipez lives in Becket, Massachusetts and is married to sculptor Joe Wheaton.
Richard Stevenson is the pseudonym of Richard Lipez, the author of nine books, including the Don Strachey private eye series. The Strachey books are being filmed by here!, the first gay television network. Lipez also co-wrote Grand Scam with Peter Stein, and contributed to Crimes of the Scene: A Mystery Novel Guide for the International Traveler. He is a mystery columnist for The Washington Post and a former editorial writer at The Berkshire Eagle. His reporting, reviews and fiction have appeared in The Boston Globe, Newsday, The Progressive, The Atlantic Monthly, Harper's and many other publications. He grew up and went to college in Pennsylvania and served in the Peace Corps in Ethiopia from 1962-64. Lipez lives in Becket, Massachusetts and is married to sculptor Joe Wheaton.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 112 reviews
October 18, 2014
Guys, I've found a new great mystery series and I'm very happy about it!
The 13 existed instalments make already my blood boil and my pulse race!
In spite of the fact that the first book in the series was published in 1981(??!!), it is such a refreshing and surprisingly very up-to-date read! I don't know why I have never heard about Donald Strachey before, because a few instalments have already been made into a TV-film with Chad Allen in the main role. Yes, it is him.
The plot of the first book reminded me in some way of Nick Nowak series. Don is also an openly gay PI with a dry humour that makes the first person POVs to a very enjoyable read in spite of serious and sad moments(homophobia all around, awful but true!).
An interesting view to a gay lifestyle in a gay society before the Aids epidemic in the early 1980s, entertaining characters, intrigues, sex, good thought out mystery, Don and his relationship with his faithful companion (and unfaithful lover) Timmy, a clever and funny writing- all that make me want to read more!
Highly recommended to all fans of a gay mystery!
This book was already for a while on my TBR but every time I looked at this cover...
Who can tell me what this dog is doing there? If a cover can discourage potential readers, then it is the best example. JUST IGNORE IT!
June 27, 2020
I had so much fun with this!
Even missing a lot of references (the book is set in 1979 or around that year), I was still laughing constantly. I loved the humor, which wasn’t really a surprise but it was still appreciated, given that I impulsively bought the first five books in the series just because the sample had me laughing out loud with a few sentences. It’s nice to know that I can keep impulsively buying books on sale from authors I’ve never read before and it doesn’t always have to end with regret and promises to myself to not do it again. Not that regretting it would’ve stopped me from doing it again, but still.
What do you say? No, I don’t have a problem. I can stop whenever I want.
Back to the book, I haven’t had this much fun with a mystery in a long time. ‘Fun� may not be the more appropriate word, because the themes addressed in this book are sometimes heavy even if they were treated with a dryness and a matter-of-fact approach that prevented the story from turning too depressing, while not diminishing their significance and emotional impact, but the truth is I had fun, the mystery kept my interest in a way I have not experienced a lot lately with this genre.
Maybe because it’s been a long time since I read a mystery that wasn’t simply a sub-genre of m/m romance. I love m/m, but the mysteries are rarely this well-plotted, they rarely get this much attention to details. Understandably so, since a big part of any m/m romance, regardless of the sub-genre, is dedicated to, you know, the romance.
I’m glad to have found a viable alternative that makes my mystery-reader side happy without compromising my romance-reader side’s sanity. The last comment probably doesn’t make much sense to you, but I surprised myself by loving the ‘romance� (quotation marks needed because this isn’t a romance, although the MC is in a relationship). On paper I should’ve hated it, Don and are everything that would usually drive me up the wall or make me lose any interest whatsoever in a romance. And yet, one book in, and I’m already sold on Don and Timmy as a couple. I’m looking forward to all the other interesting mysteries and future developments in their relationship.
Even missing a lot of references (the book is set in 1979 or around that year), I was still laughing constantly. I loved the humor, which wasn’t really a surprise but it was still appreciated, given that I impulsively bought the first five books in the series just because the sample had me laughing out loud with a few sentences. It’s nice to know that I can keep impulsively buying books on sale from authors I’ve never read before and it doesn’t always have to end with regret and promises to myself to not do it again. Not that regretting it would’ve stopped me from doing it again, but still.
What do you say? No, I don’t have a problem. I can stop whenever I want.
Back to the book, I haven’t had this much fun with a mystery in a long time. ‘Fun� may not be the more appropriate word, because the themes addressed in this book are sometimes heavy even if they were treated with a dryness and a matter-of-fact approach that prevented the story from turning too depressing, while not diminishing their significance and emotional impact, but the truth is I had fun, the mystery kept my interest in a way I have not experienced a lot lately with this genre.
Maybe because it’s been a long time since I read a mystery that wasn’t simply a sub-genre of m/m romance. I love m/m, but the mysteries are rarely this well-plotted, they rarely get this much attention to details. Understandably so, since a big part of any m/m romance, regardless of the sub-genre, is dedicated to, you know, the romance.
I’m glad to have found a viable alternative that makes my mystery-reader side happy without compromising my romance-reader side’s sanity. The last comment probably doesn’t make much sense to you, but I surprised myself by loving the ‘romance� (quotation marks needed because this isn’t a romance, although the MC is in a relationship). On paper I should’ve hated it, Don and are everything that would usually drive me up the wall or make me lose any interest whatsoever in a romance. And yet, one book in, and I’m already sold on Don and Timmy as a couple. I’m looking forward to all the other interesting mysteries and future developments in their relationship.
Read
January 30, 2008Probably the first gay mystery I read that had a sense of humor without being stupid.
April 1, 2022
, reports The New York Times. I am very sad to learn that he is gone, as Don Strachey was essential to my delight in the early-80s gay-centered mystery publishing scene.
In the Aughties, in three films gave me hope for a franchise in the medium...no such luck, hang it all.
But there were many, many happy hours spent devouring the novels. I'm sad their creator has gone ahead, but at 83, cancer would be too formidable a foe to stave off for very long.
In the Aughties, in three films gave me hope for a franchise in the medium...no such luck, hang it all.
But there were many, many happy hours spent devouring the novels. I'm sad their creator has gone ahead, but at 83, cancer would be too formidable a foe to stave off for very long.
June 30, 2020
I enjoyed this one a lot, the mystery was compelling and interesting. I couldn't guess who did it, and I came up with some wild theories to share with my BR fellows XDD. I'll come back to Don in the future because I feel this is the starts of a really good series, not everyday an author can make me go with things that, usually, would have me running in the opposite direction fast.
Want to read
December 16, 2014Free today only (12/16/14) from MLR press!!
July 9, 2022
Years ago I watched the movie adaptations of the Donald Strachey mysteries and I had a lot of fun with them. A gay private detective solving mysteries, what’s not to love? But I never got around to reading the books. I’m so glad that I finally picked up Death Trick now because it’s a really interesting read.
Set in the late 70s and published in 1981, it’s fascinating to see the gay community in Albany, New York and what queer life was like before the horrific impact of the AIDS epidemic. I enjoyed how Richard Stevenson took classic elements of the hardboiled detective story and changed them around to suit a gay main character and a queer narrative.
I do think that the book was a little bit lacking when it came to descriptions and action. Sometimes it just felt like we were following Donald from interview to interview with different people. But that also didn’t bother me too much because he’d be following leads at a gay nightclub and other fun locations.
I’m definitely going to be reading more books in the series. I enjoy Donald Strachey as the main character and his lover Timmy is great as well. I’d recommend checking this out if a historical gay mystery written pre-AIDS epidemic sounds interesting to you. Also, the movies are a lot of fun even if you haven’t read the books.
Set in the late 70s and published in 1981, it’s fascinating to see the gay community in Albany, New York and what queer life was like before the horrific impact of the AIDS epidemic. I enjoyed how Richard Stevenson took classic elements of the hardboiled detective story and changed them around to suit a gay main character and a queer narrative.
I do think that the book was a little bit lacking when it came to descriptions and action. Sometimes it just felt like we were following Donald from interview to interview with different people. But that also didn’t bother me too much because he’d be following leads at a gay nightclub and other fun locations.
I’m definitely going to be reading more books in the series. I enjoy Donald Strachey as the main character and his lover Timmy is great as well. I’d recommend checking this out if a historical gay mystery written pre-AIDS epidemic sounds interesting to you. Also, the movies are a lot of fun even if you haven’t read the books.
March 14, 2013
Intriguing gay mystery set in the late 1970’s. Not a genre romance, although the main character has a boyfriend.
Don Strachey, private eye, is hired by the wealthy society parents of a murder suspect who has gone on the lam. They want Don only to find their son, not to prove his innocence. As the investigation proceeds, Don learns that his clients have arranged for Billy to be admitted to a psychiatric clinic to “cure� his homosexuality. His sympathies entirely with Billy, Don tries to find him while an unknown menace—and possible killer—stalks Billy’s friends and associates.
Aside from the repeated references to disco songs by name, and car models that don’t exist any more, this didn’t have a dated feel to it. Gay clubs are gay clubs, anonymous sex is anonymous sex. HIV was unheard of and condoms were only contraceptives, but “the clap� was a known risk which is addressed. Don and his lover, Timmy, both have encounters with people outside their relationship, and this has nothing to do with “the times� but rather their own attitudes. Official and police harassment of gays is blatant and unapologized-for. This is rarer nowadays, but by no means nonexistent.
Don has a sarcastic style and many of the characters trade barbs and quips in a catty, we’re-so-clever manner. I find this type of humor wearying after a while. Narrative style aside, the plot, mystery, and characters are all interesting and the ultimate resolution a good surprise. Relationship-wise, Don and Timmy are left with some questions to ponder about where they’re going in the sequel. Four stars.
October 25, 2014
I liked it. The sarcasm is totally up my alley
February 11, 2012
Loved it!
It's your classic pulp detective mystery, sure. But it wasn't exactly predictable. The writing was economical, the story suspenseful, and the ending was satisfying.
What most grabbed me, as a reader, was the casual conversations between characters in the bars and concerning gay life in general. It felt like, despite being 30 years ago, these were conversations I'd have with my friends today. In fact, there were several instances I could swear I've had those exact exchanges with friends of mine. I identified completely with the sort of smallish town bar scene where everyone knows everyone, or at least knows someone who knows everyone. It was as if the names and places had been changed to protect the not-so-innocent, and me, my friends, my bars, were the not-so-innocent.
The only bad thing I have to say is that I purchased the Kindle version from Amazon and the formatting was a bit of a nightmare. The pages running together and font size changes I could deal with, no problem...but the formatting was so sloppily done that lines of dialog often weren't separated on their own lines between characters, and sussing out who said what took some work. So the conversion to ebook format could have been done much better to allow for a smoother read. Though, with that said, it may have allowed for deeper analysis of conversations in the text which, had it been properly formatted, certain nuances may have been missed. Still, I would hope that would be corrected.
In any case, Death Trick is a fun, quick and dirty read that will not disappoint.
It's your classic pulp detective mystery, sure. But it wasn't exactly predictable. The writing was economical, the story suspenseful, and the ending was satisfying.
What most grabbed me, as a reader, was the casual conversations between characters in the bars and concerning gay life in general. It felt like, despite being 30 years ago, these were conversations I'd have with my friends today. In fact, there were several instances I could swear I've had those exact exchanges with friends of mine. I identified completely with the sort of smallish town bar scene where everyone knows everyone, or at least knows someone who knows everyone. It was as if the names and places had been changed to protect the not-so-innocent, and me, my friends, my bars, were the not-so-innocent.
The only bad thing I have to say is that I purchased the Kindle version from Amazon and the formatting was a bit of a nightmare. The pages running together and font size changes I could deal with, no problem...but the formatting was so sloppily done that lines of dialog often weren't separated on their own lines between characters, and sussing out who said what took some work. So the conversion to ebook format could have been done much better to allow for a smoother read. Though, with that said, it may have allowed for deeper analysis of conversations in the text which, had it been properly formatted, certain nuances may have been missed. Still, I would hope that would be corrected.
In any case, Death Trick is a fun, quick and dirty read that will not disappoint.
August 25, 2018
This was a fun read. I loved the voice of Donald, he's a wiseass, snarky bastard. Timmy was sweet and there were a lot of funny moments in amongst all the murder and mayhem. The mystery itself was well-plotted. The police sergeant Donald works with is something else, but thankfully not as bad as some of the others we meet along the way. I was barely walking when this book was written, I didn't understand about 90% of the references, which dampened my enjoyment somewhat. I know maybe three disco songs and I don't like any of them ;) so the constant references to disco songs meant nothing to me. Didn't like at all that
Formatting issues in my ebook were all over the place. The font was either super big or really small, there were several typos, especially in the later chapters. There are no indentations at the start of each paragraph, which is fine, but the extra line between paragraphs was often missing, making it hard to follow along sometimes, especially when I ran into walls of dialogue. I'm hoping this is just a case of rookie mistakes and the following books will be cleaner and better formatted.
Formatting issues in my ebook were all over the place. The font was either super big or really small, there were several typos, especially in the later chapters. There are no indentations at the start of each paragraph, which is fine, but the extra line between paragraphs was often missing, making it hard to follow along sometimes, especially when I ran into walls of dialogue. I'm hoping this is just a case of rookie mistakes and the following books will be cleaner and better formatted.
June 6, 2015
This is the first book in Richard Stevenson' s Don Strachey's mysteries.I was feeling very nostalgic and felt like reading these mysteries from the very beginning.I had the paperbacks which I got from a wonderful little mystery book store that is sadly gone.I no longer have the paperbacks of the series,all of them were falling apart and worn.I decided to replace them and start reading them on my Nook.Don Strachey's mysteries take place and were written in the preAIDS era.Don is a PI with a quick wit and an attitude.He is hired by the wealthy parents of a young man who is accused of stabbing to death a young man he tricked with.The young man is on the run,his parents are homophobic,and they hire Don because of his connections with the gay community.Don isn't naive,he's got the parents number.I absolutely love Don Strachey,he's a smartass and intelligent.I love that he's in a relationship with Tim Callahan,a man who gets and loves Don.I was one of those who happened to liked the HERE Strachey mysteries with the sexy Chad Allen playing Don.I wish they were still on.Oh well,I'll just read the wonderfully written series which I highly recommend!
July 24, 2021
As I was surfing through Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ I noticed this novel was marked as read but I'd never rated or reviewed it. How could I possibly forget? Knowing it's a classic I was looking forward to Richard Stevenson's Death Trick and he did not disappoint. His only novel written before the AIDS crisis (actually when there whispers of a gay cancer) this novel is a look in the past without being dated.
Donald Strachey is an easy to love as a protagonist, despite his flaws. It is also a breath of fresh air to have a PI who's in a relationship rather than a down and out loner or involved in some (yawn) m/m romance. He and Timmy are a great couple in an early 80s sort of way.
Top that off with some good sleuthing and you can't ask for more. I'll be busy reading as I work my way through the rest of the series.
Donald Strachey is an easy to love as a protagonist, despite his flaws. It is also a breath of fresh air to have a PI who's in a relationship rather than a down and out loner or involved in some (yawn) m/m romance. He and Timmy are a great couple in an early 80s sort of way.
Top that off with some good sleuthing and you can't ask for more. I'll be busy reading as I work my way through the rest of the series.
August 5, 2020
Considered a classic, this novel has been on my TBR list for some time. I'm now kicking myself for waiting so long.
An in depth protagonist with attitude that I loved, an excellent feel for time and space within the novel, and a damn good mystery. Good secondary characters as well.
My only complaint is the current publisher has made a mess of the book. Sentences that begin on one line and end on another; A series of words with no spaces between them; etc. I didn't take a star off for this, however, because I think the author did an excellent job of writing the novel. He just didn't do as good of a job in choosing a publisher.
An in depth protagonist with attitude that I loved, an excellent feel for time and space within the novel, and a damn good mystery. Good secondary characters as well.
My only complaint is the current publisher has made a mess of the book. Sentences that begin on one line and end on another; A series of words with no spaces between them; etc. I didn't take a star off for this, however, because I think the author did an excellent job of writing the novel. He just didn't do as good of a job in choosing a publisher.
Shelved as 'zz-dnf'
January 27, 2021DNF around 23% a couple of weeks ago, but it's all me, not the book. I always think I like this dry, dry, DRY Raymond Chandler type mystery writing style a lot better than I actually do. Apparently I need a reminder about once a decade :) In another week/month/year, I probably would have finished it.
The time period it was both set and written in didn't help either. I was alive, but barely, and I was very aware that I was missing some of the humor/details/subtleties just by my lack of familiarity with the setting.
The time period it was both set and written in didn't help either. I was alive, but barely, and I was very aware that I was missing some of the humor/details/subtleties just by my lack of familiarity with the setting.
May 2, 2022
This is a detective story and it's well worth reading. It was written in the early 1980s, before AIDS, and it has been republished by the ReQueered Tales people. It takes place in Albany, NY which is a nice change.
September 27, 2022
Summary : Donald Strachey murder mystery: Don is hired by Billy Blount's parents to get him out of an awkward and embarrassing situation: he's accused of murder. In their minds, though, the fact he's gay is of much greater consequence. It soon becomes Don's intention not to just find Billy, but to prove he's innocent of all charges.
My review: This is one of the better Strachey books, I think. I really enjoyed this one, with it's fast and loose narrative and characters too likeable to hold their little transgressions against them. The mini glimpses into Don and Timmy's relationship only leaves you wishing you knew more about them, how they manage to stay together, and why on earth they can't keep it in their pants when they have each other. Of course, I read for the romance, so that's what I'm going to notice.
They mystery plot is nicely paced, woven through the relationships of the men involved, and nicely wrapped up. Don's quirky method gets him into almost as much trouble as it gets his falsely accused murder suspect out of, but he manages to come out on top.
My review: This is one of the better Strachey books, I think. I really enjoyed this one, with it's fast and loose narrative and characters too likeable to hold their little transgressions against them. The mini glimpses into Don and Timmy's relationship only leaves you wishing you knew more about them, how they manage to stay together, and why on earth they can't keep it in their pants when they have each other. Of course, I read for the romance, so that's what I'm going to notice.
They mystery plot is nicely paced, woven through the relationships of the men involved, and nicely wrapped up. Don's quirky method gets him into almost as much trouble as it gets his falsely accused murder suspect out of, but he manages to come out on top.
March 23, 2009
Some comments:
- The case in is later referenced in (so the time span between these two books is 1979 to 2000?).
- is a bit graphic than the others; there's one explicit sex scene between the protagonist and a minor character of the book.
- is the first book published in the Donald Strachey series.
As first book goes, is a great opener, with a right touch of suspense, intrigue and character development.
- The case in is later referenced in (so the time span between these two books is 1979 to 2000?).
- is a bit graphic than the others; there's one explicit sex scene between the protagonist and a minor character of the book.
- is the first book published in the Donald Strachey series.
As first book goes, is a great opener, with a right touch of suspense, intrigue and character development.
September 6, 2013
A mystery that took me back to the 70's. A murder mystery set in a lifestyle that existed before Aids. A well written mystery with entertaining characters, some likeable and some not. Don Strachey is a licensed detective who is gay and is very funny. He is also a very good detective. I did not feel any true emotion between him and his lover, Timmy. There did not seem to be anything between them except occasional sex. Strachey seemed to feel more emotion for many others than for Timmy. This was a well written mystery that was set in the gay community of the 70's, yet it was first and foremost a mystery. The look at pre-HIV was a reminder of the innocence of the 60's and 70's for both homo- and hetero- sexual lifestyles. Weird to speak of innocence of "free love" but it was. A good mystery well worth reading. Funny and irreverent.
January 12, 2008
Death Trick is the first novel in the Donald Strachey Mysteries series by Richard Stevenson.
I admit that I bought the book because it's a "gay mystery" i.e. it features a gay detective. Usually, these books are full of sex, even porny, and the plot itself takes the backseat, but this book is an exception to this rule. It proved to be a very intriguing story with some very unexpected twists and turns.
Also, even though it's a mystery book, I used the "historical" tag here. This book takes place in the late 70's/early 80's, in a time when nobody knew anything about AIDS yet. The social life of gay men is described in vivid details here so that it doesn't surprise the reader at all that this sickness spread so quickly among the community.
I admit that I bought the book because it's a "gay mystery" i.e. it features a gay detective. Usually, these books are full of sex, even porny, and the plot itself takes the backseat, but this book is an exception to this rule. It proved to be a very intriguing story with some very unexpected twists and turns.
Also, even though it's a mystery book, I used the "historical" tag here. This book takes place in the late 70's/early 80's, in a time when nobody knew anything about AIDS yet. The social life of gay men is described in vivid details here so that it doesn't surprise the reader at all that this sickness spread so quickly among the community.
October 28, 2021
Oh dear! a bit of a slow book. Still not sure how the MC got to the killer. Sex in this book was all cheating sex.
I don't usually mention it but this book could do with a good editor.
I don't usually mention it but this book could do with a good editor.
May 4, 2022
Sadly, I had never even heard of Richard Stevenson until I read his obituary in the Washingon post. Donald Strachey, a queer private investigator. Why should this be surprising? What's surprising is that he's existed for over thirty years, and as a mystery lover, I've just discovered him. A pretty straightforward and good mystery. The book is unique in that it depicts queer life just before the AIDS epidemic changed everything.
April 8, 2022
I first read this mystery novel back in the early 90s, in my effort to support the work of gay writers.
I have just re-read the book, in recognition that the author (named Richard Lipez in real life, also a celebrated Wash Post book reviewer) has recently died. The book was the first of a series featuring the life and exploits of Don Strachey, a gay private investigator. I enjoyed some of Lipez's depictions of gay characters and scenarios based in Albany, NY in about 1980, in a pre-AIDS time, but I found Strachey to be wholly unlikeable, making questionable moral choices and exhibiting no loyalty to anyone. As to the underlying initially unsolved murder, with a cast of many possible suspects, all of whom also were equally unlikeable, I found myself not really caring who did it.
Interestingly, the Kindle version of the novel includes a new foreword written by Michael Nava in November 2021, in which Nava writes glowingly of Dick Lipez's novels. This foreword only reminded me that I must make sure to re-read all of Nava's wonderful novels.
I have just re-read the book, in recognition that the author (named Richard Lipez in real life, also a celebrated Wash Post book reviewer) has recently died. The book was the first of a series featuring the life and exploits of Don Strachey, a gay private investigator. I enjoyed some of Lipez's depictions of gay characters and scenarios based in Albany, NY in about 1980, in a pre-AIDS time, but I found Strachey to be wholly unlikeable, making questionable moral choices and exhibiting no loyalty to anyone. As to the underlying initially unsolved murder, with a cast of many possible suspects, all of whom also were equally unlikeable, I found myself not really caring who did it.
Interestingly, the Kindle version of the novel includes a new foreword written by Michael Nava in November 2021, in which Nava writes glowingly of Dick Lipez's novels. This foreword only reminded me that I must make sure to re-read all of Nava's wonderful novels.
December 13, 2016
3.5 of 5 stars � Decent Start of an Entertaining Stevenson/Strachey Series.
I love gay mysteries and romances, and this first book did a decent job of combining both to start one of the more entertaining such series. I can see why it continues to this day (Richard Stevenson is currently working on #15!). I liked this for the same reasons I liked each in the series. With crisp, witty writing, it’s a decent mystery, set in the energized post-Stonewall era, and brought to life by a colorful, hard-boiled yet likable PI, who just happens to be gay.
Stevenson’s style made this a light, entertaining and easy read, with a good plot, pace, tension and just enough details and clues to not slow down the action. I enjoyed the step back in time to 1979. This was the kind of historical that, at the time, was written as a contemporary piece, capturing moments of what were then current situations and culture. Among the many time capsule tidbits I enjoyed were the many disco songs, along with the clothes, dated technology, and political, high-spirited post-Stonewall era. And for those interested, it worked well as a standalone, with its own self-contained mystery, while also introducing Strachey, his lover and other supporting characters in a way that created a storyline spanning across the series.
What engaged me the most with this story was the character of Don Strachey (who gave his first-person POV), and one would probably have to like him to like this book. I grew to like him for all his skills, heart and humanness; and it was refreshing that he was not in shame of but was open about being gay. He was hard-boiled, cynically humorous with witty banter, and at times a little off-kilter, including some convenient ethics (such as on the question of infidelity). While Strachey was well drawn, the others were not as much. That might be expected with secondaries, but I wished for a little more with some, his lover in particular. Thankfully, a little better drawn, even if a bit stereotypically, was the bigoted, begrudging local police detective who served as a nice foil.
I appreciated that the main focus was on the mystery, with the gay aspect and any romance as a subplot. As Strachey put it in Book 2, ““I’m a PI, yes, and more or less coincidentally gay.� So, instead of being an m/m romance, there were actually two mysteries � a murder of a gay man and a disappearance of a gay son. These mysteries were decent and fairly suspenseful, with the investigation having realistic twists and turns. However, there may have been a little too much “telling� and not “showing� when it came to the story of the suspect. But that’s not different from many mysteries, including a sort of tell-all reveal at the end, leading to a believable solution.
Mixed in with all this was a nice bonus of Strachey’s gay life, including a new lover, Timmy. It’s an interesting relationship, reflecting the realities of such things, including working out what kind of a relationship, the struggles, temptations, understanding, and amusing banter between the two. And for those interested, any sex scenes were nicely built but discretely taken offscreen.
I was impressed with the level of quality that Stevenson brought to this debut in the series, and I look forward to the next one.
I love gay mysteries and romances, and this first book did a decent job of combining both to start one of the more entertaining such series. I can see why it continues to this day (Richard Stevenson is currently working on #15!). I liked this for the same reasons I liked each in the series. With crisp, witty writing, it’s a decent mystery, set in the energized post-Stonewall era, and brought to life by a colorful, hard-boiled yet likable PI, who just happens to be gay.
Stevenson’s style made this a light, entertaining and easy read, with a good plot, pace, tension and just enough details and clues to not slow down the action. I enjoyed the step back in time to 1979. This was the kind of historical that, at the time, was written as a contemporary piece, capturing moments of what were then current situations and culture. Among the many time capsule tidbits I enjoyed were the many disco songs, along with the clothes, dated technology, and political, high-spirited post-Stonewall era. And for those interested, it worked well as a standalone, with its own self-contained mystery, while also introducing Strachey, his lover and other supporting characters in a way that created a storyline spanning across the series.
What engaged me the most with this story was the character of Don Strachey (who gave his first-person POV), and one would probably have to like him to like this book. I grew to like him for all his skills, heart and humanness; and it was refreshing that he was not in shame of but was open about being gay. He was hard-boiled, cynically humorous with witty banter, and at times a little off-kilter, including some convenient ethics (such as on the question of infidelity). While Strachey was well drawn, the others were not as much. That might be expected with secondaries, but I wished for a little more with some, his lover in particular. Thankfully, a little better drawn, even if a bit stereotypically, was the bigoted, begrudging local police detective who served as a nice foil.
I appreciated that the main focus was on the mystery, with the gay aspect and any romance as a subplot. As Strachey put it in Book 2, ““I’m a PI, yes, and more or less coincidentally gay.� So, instead of being an m/m romance, there were actually two mysteries � a murder of a gay man and a disappearance of a gay son. These mysteries were decent and fairly suspenseful, with the investigation having realistic twists and turns. However, there may have been a little too much “telling� and not “showing� when it came to the story of the suspect. But that’s not different from many mysteries, including a sort of tell-all reveal at the end, leading to a believable solution.
Mixed in with all this was a nice bonus of Strachey’s gay life, including a new lover, Timmy. It’s an interesting relationship, reflecting the realities of such things, including working out what kind of a relationship, the struggles, temptations, understanding, and amusing banter between the two. And for those interested, any sex scenes were nicely built but discretely taken offscreen.
I was impressed with the level of quality that Stevenson brought to this debut in the series, and I look forward to the next one.
July 13, 2016
Overview:
Well written and enjoyable, this book does an excellent job of transporting you to the gay scene of the late 70s, early 80s. The change between then and now, is interesting and, for those not acquainted with the scene at the time, can be somewhat amazing.
Characters:
Donald is an intelligent, quick thinking smart-mouthed, and somewhat straight-seeming detective. At various points in the novel his sexuality is questioned and I loved seeing his responses each time. The majority of the supporting characters are reasonably strong, with their own personalities, motives and roles to play in the story to propel it forward.
Setting:
Having not lived in the 70s and 80s, I can't speak for the scene at the time, but the novel does an excellent job making you feel like you're there. Reading about the late parties, the casual sex, and the harassment that was just oh so common at the time was very interesting and compelling for someone who has never actually lived through that part of our history This taking place before the spectre of AIDS however, left a certain... intellectual pall over the setting, knowing what was coming within the next few years.
Plot:
A straight-forward, story-driven mystery. A young gay man has been murdered, and the young gay suspect has gone missing. Donald must follow the clues and various leads to unravel the mystery of not just what happened to the missing man, but who committed the murder.
The resolution to the mystery was alright, but nothing special. Although it's technically solvable before the big reveal, it requires a certain amount of out of the box thinking that I just don't think most people will have, so it felt a little bit weak. That being said, it didn't actually bother me.
Other Pros:
This book being written from the perspective of an unapologetic gay man, I appreciated reading passively about the male gaze. The language and banter is clever, and funny.
Other Cons:
The e-book could have used some editing, the first paragraph or two of each chapter is bolded for no apparent reason and I swear I saw it happen several times as well. Also, I would have appreciated to see more scenes showing the love between Donald and his lover, Timmy. We see him have sex with other people *it was a different time*, but those scenes have more page-time than the few sentences we see between him and his lover. Additionally, there was one super awkward line comparing someone's asshole to an opening baby's mouth. That was... unnerving.
Final Thoughts:
Good book, compelling mystery and funny, smart characters. I'll definitely be following this series.
Well written and enjoyable, this book does an excellent job of transporting you to the gay scene of the late 70s, early 80s. The change between then and now, is interesting and, for those not acquainted with the scene at the time, can be somewhat amazing.
Characters:
Donald is an intelligent, quick thinking smart-mouthed, and somewhat straight-seeming detective. At various points in the novel his sexuality is questioned and I loved seeing his responses each time. The majority of the supporting characters are reasonably strong, with their own personalities, motives and roles to play in the story to propel it forward.
Setting:
Having not lived in the 70s and 80s, I can't speak for the scene at the time, but the novel does an excellent job making you feel like you're there. Reading about the late parties, the casual sex, and the harassment that was just oh so common at the time was very interesting and compelling for someone who has never actually lived through that part of our history This taking place before the spectre of AIDS however, left a certain... intellectual pall over the setting, knowing what was coming within the next few years.
Plot:
A straight-forward, story-driven mystery. A young gay man has been murdered, and the young gay suspect has gone missing. Donald must follow the clues and various leads to unravel the mystery of not just what happened to the missing man, but who committed the murder.
The resolution to the mystery was alright, but nothing special. Although it's technically solvable before the big reveal, it requires a certain amount of out of the box thinking that I just don't think most people will have, so it felt a little bit weak. That being said, it didn't actually bother me.
Other Pros:
This book being written from the perspective of an unapologetic gay man, I appreciated reading passively about the male gaze. The language and banter is clever, and funny.
Other Cons:
The e-book could have used some editing, the first paragraph or two of each chapter is bolded for no apparent reason and I swear I saw it happen several times as well. Also, I would have appreciated to see more scenes showing the love between Donald and his lover, Timmy. We see him have sex with other people *it was a different time*, but those scenes have more page-time than the few sentences we see between him and his lover. Additionally, there was one super awkward line comparing someone's asshole to an opening baby's mouth. That was... unnerving.
Final Thoughts:
Good book, compelling mystery and funny, smart characters. I'll definitely be following this series.
December 8, 2014
I first heard of the Donald Strachey mysteries from the TV movies starring Chad Allen. I liked the movies, so I decided to try the books.
Death Trick was written in 1979. Before AIDS changed everything about gay life. This book is a time capsule to a long-gone era. During the narration, the protagonist, private investigator Don Strachey, keeps us informed of the songs that are playing on the local disco radio station, the songs playing in the bars and discos where the action takes place. We see the freedom of casual sex and anonymous sex. We see hustlers, drug dealers, disco queens, lawyers; all layers of gay society in Albany NY in 1979.
In this era after Stonewall activism but before AIDS activism and the change in society since, we see the way the police and public treat gay people. Don investigates this case for many reasons, but mostly because the police have already tried and convicted the suspect merely because he's gay, and so don't do much real investigating of their own. Don antagonizes the police investigator along the way, but, when Don has all the facts and presents them to the cop, the cop is smart enough to see the truth despite his bigotry.
I highly recommend this book. Sure, it's not highbrow literature, but it's not intended to be. Read and enjoy.
Death Trick was written in 1979. Before AIDS changed everything about gay life. This book is a time capsule to a long-gone era. During the narration, the protagonist, private investigator Don Strachey, keeps us informed of the songs that are playing on the local disco radio station, the songs playing in the bars and discos where the action takes place. We see the freedom of casual sex and anonymous sex. We see hustlers, drug dealers, disco queens, lawyers; all layers of gay society in Albany NY in 1979.
In this era after Stonewall activism but before AIDS activism and the change in society since, we see the way the police and public treat gay people. Don investigates this case for many reasons, but mostly because the police have already tried and convicted the suspect merely because he's gay, and so don't do much real investigating of their own. Don antagonizes the police investigator along the way, but, when Don has all the facts and presents them to the cop, the cop is smart enough to see the truth despite his bigotry.
I highly recommend this book. Sure, it's not highbrow literature, but it's not intended to be. Read and enjoy.
July 3, 2008
This is the first of the Donald Strachey mystery novels, a series about a gay private investigator in Albany, NY (I know, right?). They're being made into a series of movies for Canadian TV/the here! channel. I saw the first movie and liked it, so I went looking for the books.
The most notable thing about the book vs. the movie is the era - the book was written in 1978 or 1979, just before the AIDS epidemic, and the characters are definitely characters of that time, where in the movies they belong to the '00s.
Once I adjusted to a different characterization, though, I had a great time--the Strachey of the books is very much a classic private eye, with unsavory clients, suspicious women (even the ones who are actually men), and a tarnished soul. I'm going to the library today to get the next book.
The most notable thing about the book vs. the movie is the era - the book was written in 1978 or 1979, just before the AIDS epidemic, and the characters are definitely characters of that time, where in the movies they belong to the '00s.
Once I adjusted to a different characterization, though, I had a great time--the Strachey of the books is very much a classic private eye, with unsavory clients, suspicious women (even the ones who are actually men), and a tarnished soul. I'm going to the library today to get the next book.
July 4, 2007
Richard Stevenson created a wonderful character, Donald Strachey, that the reader can relate to, cheer with and just let go and enjoy the ride. This is the first book in the series Stevenson created. Always fun to start with the first one, it sets the characters. (I usually like to read in order. In fact, I'm kinda obsessed with that but I made an exception with this series as the titles are mostly out of print and I'm rummaging thru online used bookstores for the them). This mystery is set in 1979 and Strachey is hired to find Billy Blount a twenty something young man, wanted for the murder of the man he spent the night with. Upper crust families, messed up parents, intrigue and a fun ride. I enjoyed it a lot. The dynamic between Donald and Timothy is fun to watch.
Want to read
February 24, 2012eBook: DRM-free epub purchased from Kobo. Has a cover, wonky line-spacing, OCR errors, and inexplicably large swaths of text completely in bold, as well as the usual Kobo code bloat that makes it difficult to edit the stylesheet in order to fix these problems. It took me several hours to make it readable.
June 16, 2012
Good story, good writing, good narrative voice. Two drawbacks though: one—many of the minor characters are not well-characterized, so when you come across a name it’s difficult to remember if you’re dealing with a peripheral character or someone you should recognize; and two—they needed a much better SPAG beta than they got.
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