Tell Me What You Like (The First Alison Kaine Mystery) [Paperback]

Kate Allen (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1, 1993

Alison Kaine, lesbian cop, enters the world of leather-dykes after a woman is brutally murdered at a Denver bar. In this fast-paced, yet slyly humorous novel, Allen confronts the sensitive issues of S/M, queer-bashers and women-identified sex workers.

Editorial Reviews

Review

A book in which you don't have to pick out just the good parts - because the rest of it is a must read, too. --Marie Tharp, Bad Attitude

What drives this book is Kate Allen's excellent writing. She creates powerful, passionate women... --Mary E. Bradish, The Washington Blade

Allen's well-written murder mystery sports a heart-pounding ending. --Marie Kuda, Booklist

About the Author

Kate Allen writes about the complexities and contradictions of lesbian life with a unique and wonderful style. The perfect writer for readers who are hungry for something new, for something humorous and erotic.

Product Details

• Paperback: 220 pages
• Publisher: New Victoria Publishers (May 1, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0934678480
• ISBN-13: 978-0934678483
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #703,941 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Can a quilt maker also be an S&M dominatrix?, August 15, 2001

By 

carlaf "carlaf" (Brooklyn, NY USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Tell Me What You Like (The First Alison Kaine Mystery) (Paperback)

To be truthful, I was reluctant to buy this book because of the S&M aspect of it but Kate Allen makes it funny! Allison Kaine is a cop whose vacation was ruined because some friends bowed out on her. Ever the optimist, Allison is determined to have a miserable week and goes off to sulk at a park where she meets Stacy, the goalie for a lesbian soccer team. The two of them hit it off and find that they both like to quilt. What Allison finds out rather quickly is what Stacy does for a living - she is a dominatrix giving women their S&M fantasies for a price. Allison is a bit confused by all of this and tries to find out what she can about it. Stacy is upset when she finds out Allison is not into leather - she is tired, as she says of giving lessons in S&M 101. However, their attraction to each other is undeniable. Meanwhile, while all of this is going on, several lesbians have been murdered, all of whom were clients of Stacy. Allison doesn't want to think Stacy is involved but her cop's mind can't let go of the possibility. Kate Allen is witty and funny and doesn't just have a go at S&M but also new age lesbians and back to nature lesbians and with all the people involved and everything going on, it still manages to make sense in the end. A good read and the ending is very exciting.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is the place to start for pure reading pleasure, February 5, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: Tell Me What You Like (The First Alison Kaine Mystery) (Paperback)

Have you read any of Kate Allen's books yet? You haven't? I envy you. You have yet to have the amazing pleasure of immersing yourself in her words, plot and characters for the first time. Now, do yourself a favor and get her work!
Why? Because of all the authors I have read in my life this is one who can make me laugh, make me angry, make me horny and make me think all in the space of a single page. It isn't a roller-coaster or other wilde ride. It is more like spending one of the best weekends you have ever had in your most favorite place on earth.
I'm not a mystery reader by habit, but I'll do without lunch for a week at work in order to get my hands on another Kate Allen book.
This is her first work, and as such has a few rough edges to her words that I've seen smooth out over the course of her four books (the fourth I am reading now). While some might feel cheated by other authors who write "series" works, don't assume these are like that at all. Each one stands on its own two feet and tells its own tale, not depending upon you to have read the books in order, or to ever read the other books.
Ms. Allen's characters are like the best friends we all wish we could claim in our lives. Not all totally wonderful people, but they are well drawn out, living, thinking women with a depth you seldom see in first person tales. Their faults and foibles are the imperfections woven into authentic persian rugs. There to be seen because they are the work of human hands.
Tired of "mystery" writers who cheat the reader's attempts at deduction by witholding evidence? Not Kate Allen. Nor do you feel that her protagonist, Allison Kane, is a dolt for not getting who the killer is on page 30. The tale is told in a natural progression that has you on the edge of your seat in more ways than one.
Sexy, funny, witty, wry, insightful and exciting, Kate Allen has become one of my favorite authors, no matter the genre

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Funny AND exciting lesbian detective fiction - Great Stuff!, April 28, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Tell Me What You Like (The First Alison Kaine Mystery) (Paperback)

The first Alison Kaine novel and first novel written by Kate Allen that I read. I orginally gave this as a birthday present but then 'retrieved' it to read myself. Unfortunately I never returned it and this is now a book that I have read at least 5 times!

That is what makes it such good detective fiction - when you know who has done it and why, yet it still makes for great reading. The reason for this is that the characters are credible, funny and I would like them to be my friends as well. Every lesbian knows an Alison, a Michelle, a Janka and would like to know a Stacey! The gay and lesbian community is well described, as is Denver.

Murder, quilting, two-stepping, football and an excellent story - what more could you ask for in a dyke detective novel? Let's have lots more!