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 bot...
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reviews
Mar 23, 2009
Jane
rated it: 
Some comments:
- The case in Death Trick is later referenced in Tongue Tied (so the time span between these two books is 1979 to 2000?).
- Death Trick is a bit graphic than the others; there's one explicit sex scene between the protagonist and a minor character of the book.
- Death Trick is the first book published in the Donald Strachey series.
As first book goes, Death Trick is a great opener, with a right touch of suspense, intrigue and character development. More...
- The case in Death Trick is later referenced in Tongue Tied (so the time span between these two books is 1979 to 2000?).
- Death Trick is a bit graphic than the others; there's one explicit sex scene between the protagonist and a minor character of the book.
- Death Trick is the first book published in the Donald Strachey series.
As first book goes, Death Trick is a great opener, with a right touch of suspense, intrigue and character development. More...
Feb 11, 2012
James
rated it: 
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 ex More...
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 ex More...
Jul 11, 2009
Jaime
rated it:
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 t More...
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 t More...
Oct 25, 2010
Joe
rated it:
I first became aware of the Donald Strachey series when the movies came out starring Chad Allen. Those movies did not start with the very first novel, which is this one. I decided to start from the beginning. I enjoyed the book quite a bit. It was fairly well written and I liked the story and the characters. It captured the time period quite well, a time I remember in the 70s, although I was much too young to have experienced anything like the gay life depicted in this novel.
I'll move More...
I'll move More...
Dec 30, 2011
Paul
rated it: 
It wasnt until I purchased this book and read the forward by the author that I realised when this book was actualy Writen and first published.
I came to know the Donald Strachey books through the movies created by Here.
This book relates to a time pre aids, when homosexuality was still considered by many to be an ilness and indead some institutions believed that is could be cured. And this book uses these insights to further the story.
This is a real detecti More...
I came to know the Donald Strachey books through the movies created by Here.
This book relates to a time pre aids, when homosexuality was still considered by many to be an ilness and indead some institutions believed that is could be cured. And this book uses these insights to further the story.
This is a real detecti More...
Apr 06, 2011
TJ
rated it:
Okay, so this isn’t gay Shakespeare.
I picked up this book on my Nook because the series had come highly recommended by a friend. I had first Netflixed the two hello! TV adaptations of some of the later books in the series, and I had liked them well enough. The TV movies were pretty well-produced, with plenty of mystery, action, and fabulous crime. Donald was a lovable character: smart, strong, a man of action, and a loving husband. So I thought, why not start the book series?
More...
I picked up this book on my Nook because the series had come highly recommended by a friend. I had first Netflixed the two hello! TV adaptations of some of the later books in the series, and I had liked them well enough. The TV movies were pretty well-produced, with plenty of mystery, action, and fabulous crime. Donald was a lovable character: smart, strong, a man of action, and a loving husband. So I thought, why not start the book series?
More...
Mar 12, 2011
C. A.
rated it:
I downloaded this book and the next one in the series, "On the Other Hand, Death" for my partner. He wanted me to choose a few "mysteries" on to the Nook. I remember seeing the movies based on these books, I thought I would give them a shot. He had not looked at them but I checked out "Death Trick". My expectations were not high; I was immediately interested, then carried along for a good ride. I did not devour this one like I do so many books. I wanted to take
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Dec 20, 2010
Cathy
rated it:
This was a pretty enjoyable book. Light, sometimes funny, good suspense, some friendly and engaging entertainment. Sympathetic characters, good atmosphere and although it was written in '81, it doesn't feel dated.
What did annoy me a little was the shoddy editing. In the middle of the bock about 4 pages just repeated themselves and there where quite a few typos. Just the last two chapters must have had at least 4 obvious type-setting mistakes. Which is a shame, considering that the book was More...
What did annoy me a little was the shoddy editing. In the middle of the bock about 4 pages just repeated themselves and there where quite a few typos. Just the last two chapters must have had at least 4 obvious type-setting mistakes. Which is a shame, considering that the book was More...
Jan 30, 2008
Jean
rated it:
The first of the Donald Strachey Mysteries about gay PI Strachey. His cases always include some interaction with the gay community, and the eight books (soon to be a ninth) span the decades from 1980 through 2005, so it's fascinating to "go back in time" and see some of the major differences in technology especially. (Not to mention that the first book was written pre-AIDS.) The mysteries themselves are fairly run-of-the-mill, but are made infinitely readable by the wisecracking hum
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Dec 05, 2007
Juliana
rated it: 
The atmosphere of this was interesting, particularly as a look at gay male culture in the New York area pre-AIDS (although I kept wincing every time various unsafe practices were discussed-- I'm definitely a product of my generation in that I can't remember a time when that wouldn't have been a concern). That being said, it wasn't that engaging a mystery-- the characterization's a bit shallow and cliched. I actually found the movies based on this series more entertaining, I must confess-- probab
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Feb 27, 2011
Blaine D.
rated it:
I loved this.
The writing just sweeps you along and it paints such a clear picture of gay life in Albany in the (late) 70s. Great characters too, especially the no nonsense, blunt, but getting the job done, private detective Donald Strachey and the people he surrounds himself with.
Definitely makes me want to read more.
The writing just sweeps you along and it paints such a clear picture of gay life in Albany in the (late) 70s. Great characters too, especially the no nonsense, blunt, but getting the job done, private detective Donald Strachey and the people he surrounds himself with.
Definitely makes me want to read more.
Jul 03, 2008
Sheila
rated it:
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 movie More...
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 movie More...
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Nov 20, 2008
Bryl
rated it:
Well, I have to say that I enjoyed reading my first Donald Strachey Mystery. Stevenson's writing is exciting and well-planned, funny, sexy, and clever. I loved the characters, and was hooked by Strachey's sarcastic wit from page one!
Stevenson's Strachey Mysteries focus on the world from a gay detective's perspective. If you don't mind a few sensual scenes the mystery is well worth the read.
Stevenson's Strachey Mysteries focus on the world from a gay detective's perspective. If you don't mind a few sensual scenes the mystery is well worth the read.
Apr 20, 2011
Donnie
rated it:
very good book ,I hope the rest of the series is like this . The plots seem a little cliche but fun, IT WAS simple enough to keep track of . If your not a mystery expert, and if you are like me ,and have problems keeping up with all the info your being feed I would recommend to start here.
Jan 31, 2012
Chris
rated it:
3.5 stars. Good gay mystery set in Albany in 1979, when things were wild pre-HIV. Donald Strachey's been hired by the parents of a missing gay man suspected of murder, but nothing is quite adding up about the case. (This is such a weird cover! Pretty sure there wasn't a dog in the book...)
Dec 16, 2009
Writerlibrarian
rated it:
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 1
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Jan 12, 2008
Kati
rated it:
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 "histo More...
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 "histo More...
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Jun 13, 2009
Montana
rated it:
The new MLR Press editions, at least the ebook versions, have a disappointing number of typographical problems, both minor and major.
Dec 19, 2007
Paxnirvana
rated it:
Delightfully smart mystery writing. With a delicious and intriguing view of gay lifestyle in the bliss of pre-AIDS 1979.
Wonderful main character. Wry and quick and sharp with the retort, but not utterly hard-boiled. The social insights are spot on. The preaching, minimalist and well integrated into the story. More in the painful, aching, oh-god-they-did (and sometimes still do) kind of way.
I'm going to hunt down all the rest in this series now... and LOOK! there's a sexy More...
Wonderful main character. Wry and quick and sharp with the retort, but not utterly hard-boiled. The social insights are spot on. The preaching, minimalist and well integrated into the story. More in the painful, aching, oh-god-they-did (and sometimes still do) kind of way.
I'm going to hunt down all the rest in this series now... and LOOK! there's a sexy More...
Dec 17, 2009
Sheila
rated it:
I enjoyed the book, but I think I would have liked it a lot more if I hadn't already seen the movies based on the series (which I loved).
Sep 04, 2008
Christian
rated it:
I've read it.... It takes three days to finish the book. Quite fun actually, but kinda boring in the last three or four chapters.
Jan 30, 2008
Probably the first gay mystery I read that had a sense of humor without being stupid.
Feb 13, 2012
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