Customer Reviews

Chain of Fools (Donald Strachey Mysteries)

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

New York based Jay "J Bird Plankton is a typical right wing shock radio DJ. However, his harangues obviously upset some people because he has become the target of a campaign of harassment and pranks by the Forces of Free Faggotry, a 1970s gay rights group long since extinct. Because of his former ties to the three Fs, Albany private detective Donald Strachey is hired to learn what they want, end any threats, and save J-Bird's image, which is more important than his life.

Donald manages to locate two former members, but both deny any involvement nor accept any of their middle-aged colleagues harassing anyone. However, the attacks escalate until J-Bird's gay bashing sidekick is kidnapped. With the help of a former three F member, farmer Thad Diefendorfer, Donald tries to rescue the victim.

Fans of gay mysteries will enjoy the sharp digs at politicians and radio jocks that used and use the homosexual community to further personal ambitions. The mystery is secondary to the jabs and hooks that Richard Stevenson throws at the bashers with their divide and conquer philosophy. Readers who want a strong investigative tale need to look elsewhere, but those in the audience who relish a series of left right humorous combos will want to read TONGUE TIED because Mr. Stevenson is anything but that with this amusing tale.

Harriet Klausner

Don and Timmy are back, as Don investigates a family feud that has turned into murder. A brother and sister are both attacked, and Don believes the attacks are linked to their desire to sell the family newspaper.

I liked this, especially for the small insights into Don and Timmy's life together. "'That guy was actually trying to kill us!' Timmy blurted out. Under his sunburn, he looked pale and feverish and as vulnerable as I'd ever seen him. A wave rolled through me, and it occurred to me that one day Timmy would die."

Neil Plakcy, author of Mahu Surfer: A Hawaiian Mystery (An Alyson Mystery)

I would have enjoyed this book more it the author had followed his previous schedule of delivering a new Don Strachey adventure every two years. (Except for that six-year lapse in the series between 1986 and 1992 - ICE BLUES and THIRD MAN OUT.) The last book in the series, Strachey's Folly was released in 1998, and the current book is set in the summer of 2000. Unfortunately, it is filled with political commentary regarding Clinton, Janet Reno, Guiliani, and the Gore/Bush presidential campaign that might have been topical had the book been published in 2001. Now, rather than setting or enhancing the scene or mood of the action, they simply date the story more than the actual three years that have past.

Other than that, the plot is standard Strachey fare. Don is hired to investigate a series of crude pranks attributed to a gay radical group (that hasn't existed for 20-years) against NY shock jock, J-Bird, who broadcasts from a world of politically incorrect banter. Then the pranks are upgraded and the kidnapping starts. Working with (and sometimes not) a NYC gay cop, a gay Amish eggplant farmer and his own lover Tim in Albany, Strachey travels from Manhattan, to the Berkshires, to Brooklyn to Long Island to resolve the case. (And all without a cellphone - how old is Strachey if he can reminisce about the good old days of street corner phonebooths with folding doors where you could call for just a nickel?)

It's really hard to compare this book with the earlier books in the series since it has been five years since the last book was released. It was an enjoyable read, but for some reason it felt slightly "off" to me - like something was missing. Maybe, Strachey, the author and I are just getting older. I will give it my **** rating though, because it's nice to visit old friends.

Having seen a couple of the Strachey mysteries on film, starring Chad Allen, I decided to buy the books. Good move. This is the first one I've read, and now I know for sure that I'll enjoy them all.

We have a radio 'shock jock' being terrorized by the FFF (Forces of Free Faggotry), a slightly jaded but quick witted Gay detective, and a complimentary cast of characters that seem a little more Tennessee Williams than you'd imagine mystery novel types might be. I mean, what could be more fun than a Gay eggplant farmer? A Gay AMISH eggplant farmer of course! You might pick up on 'whodunit' early on, but the path to resolving the mystery is still full of suspense and laughter. You'll love reading 'Tongue Tied'. And I can't wait to start on the next Richard Stevenson mystery.

I have not read any other 'Donald Strachey Mysteries', so I am basing this book on its own. This is the kind of story that never really grabs you. It moves along well enough, and things unfold on schedule, but there never came a moment when I didn't want to put the book down. I appreciate the fact that it is a basic mystery novel that happens to have gay characters and for the most part steers clear of gay cliches and stereotypes. I'm sure this is worth a read if you're a fan of Strachey Mysteries, but it does not stand too tall on its own.

Another competently written entry from Richard Stevenson. The interesting additional element here is the focus on the changes in the world of print media,especially the loss of local newspapers to national chains only interested in increased revenues. Overall, a pleasant diversion with some provocative side issues.

Don Strachey takes a backseat in this one to his partner Timmy, and a cast of characters that has a lot to say about almost nothing. Ominously, the book starts with a nonsensical phrase uttered repeatedly by the least developed character, Skeeter McCaslin. The rest of the story revolves around the highly dysfunctional newspaper publishing family of his late partner, Eric.

There are moments of pure genius in the writing of 'Chain of Fools'. Unimaginable plot twists, and twists upon twists that you might think the author could never reliably resolve. But in the end, he does manage to tie together all the loose ends. Unfortunately, he does so in a most tedious manner. And the last chapter or two are torture to read. But if you love the Strachey stories, you have to have this one. So be tough, and buy the book.

Have read most of the Donald Strachey mysteries, but this is not one of his better one. Still a good story

stevenson came along when i needed a good replacement for joseph hansen mysteries. not that they are any where near alike. good clean writing and a good story is all i ask for and get from stevenson. i will always buy his books.

No one in this horrible drivel is worth a second thought. Stupid characters behaving stupidly. The plot? It's ridiculous. I thought it had promise. It doesn't. Spend your time and your dime on something better.