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80th out of 108 books
—
31 voters
Third Man Out (Donald Strachey #4)
Which powerful mystery man killed the gay activist for outing him?
After an attempt is made on his life, Queer Nation activist John Rutka asks tough-as-nails gay private detective Don Strachey to provide him with protection. Why does someone want to kill him? The activist's efforts at outing closeted gay homophobes have earned him a multitude of enraged enemies who would ju...more
After an attempt is made on his life, Queer Nation activist John Rutka asks tough-as-nails gay private detective Don Strachey to provide him with protection. Why does someone want to kill him? The activist's efforts at outing closeted gay homophobes have earned him a multitude of enraged enemies who would ju...more
ebook
Published
2008
by MLR Press
(first published 1992)
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Mar 13, 2009
Jane
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommended to Jane by:
fandom osmosis
The plot of Third Man Out is noticeably more coherent than that of Strachey's Folly's and I think more relevant in term of today's spreading belief of forcibly outing closeted celebrities and prominent figures to provide more representation of gays and the morality of. It is hard to not compare John Rutka, Third Man Out's central character, with Perez Hilton and vice versa, even if both their drive and methods are slightly different.
On an another note: at times, I found the subtlety of Donald &...more
On an another note: at times, I found the subtlety of Donald &...more
Here! tv, the gay and lesbian cable network, has produced four really good film-noir mystery films based on the Donald Strachey books. The films star openly gay Chad Allen as Private Investigator Donald Strachey and Sebastien Spence as Timmy Callahan, Donald's husband. The films have been fun and a first as they 1.) depict a gay detective who isn't afraid to get his hands dirty to solve a case and 2.) in depicting a monogamous gay relationship that has grown and deepened over the four films.
I h...more
I h...more
My favorite so far. The more time I spend in Don's head (four books in three days. I... should probably take a break) the more I like him, and the more I like the books in comparison to the films. (Which I still like, but differently.)
Of the ones I've read so far, this is the only one where the plot bears any more than a superficial resemblance to the movie, and the book really comes out ahead. The plot is rather more coherent, the characters a bit more intelligent, and the writing is much bett...more
Of the ones I've read so far, this is the only one where the plot bears any more than a superficial resemblance to the movie, and the book really comes out ahead. The plot is rather more coherent, the characters a bit more intelligent, and the writing is much bett...more
Best of the series so far. Reads very fast-the plot is exciting and the plot twists are truly surprising, especially the big one at the end. Stevenson's created his finest charcter in John Rutka; his amorality and psychopathic lying are reprehensible, and yet you can see why Strachey keeps getting sucked in to his webs. I did miss Strachey's homophobic arch nemesis in the police department, but I can see why it was necessary to the plot to sideline him-Bowman would never give Strachey the leeway...more
This is NOT a romance. It is a mystery with the MC, PI Donald, in an established relationship with the second MC Timothy (14 years together!).
The mystery was good, but I don't think I would have liked this as much as I did if I had not watched the movie first. I usually need more romance.
I liked seeing how Donald and his Timmy interact, discuss about various topics, work, ethics etc.
PS: Mention cheating but you don't actually see it described. (view spoiler)...more
The mystery was good, but I don't think I would have liked this as much as I did if I had not watched the movie first. I usually need more romance.
I liked seeing how Donald and his Timmy interact, discuss about various topics, work, ethics etc.
PS: Mention cheating but you don't actually see it described. (view spoiler)...more
Another great story. this book really makes you think about whats really going on with politicians. And we know from recent news that the politicians who scream the loudest often have more to hide. Stevenson brings home the reality of so many political and religious secrets. This is a great book I did not suspect the killers almost to end. Stevenson kept me guessing almost to the very end and even then there was another surprise. He made me angry at the man who hired the detective because no ma...more
Dec 06, 2010
Joe Scholes
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Greg Rowland
This, the fourth in the Donald Strachey gay detective series, was pretty much par for the series so far. I enjoyed it, but it wasn't gripping by any means. Still, there was a nice surprise at the end. Strachey is one of those characters you either love or hate, and I haven't made up my mind about him yet. He has his own "situational ethics" that I can sympathize with, if not embrace. Still, what's a main character without a few character flaws? :)
Just a general comment about ebooks, like this on...more
Just a general comment about ebooks, like this on...more
I like this one best so far especially because the mystery and the social issues are center stage. In previous books, some aspects of the Don-Timmy relationship bothered me, and since i do like them both a lot, i appreciated having their relationship on the background this time and no conflicts. And the writing is so good!
I think I'd read this, but I couldn't exactly remember the end. About a Queer Nation member militantly outing gays in Albany and what happens when he outs the wrong guy, someone who seems bent on revenge. Pretty good story.
I think having seen the movie first has clouded my judgement of this one. I enjoyed it, but was somewhat bored as well, already knowing who the mystery man was and the twist at the end.
Mystery novel involving an openly gay detective... There's also a movie series available as well that I haven't seen. I can't wait to read the rest in the series.
Wow! An incredible read! The mystery held me until the reveal, and even though it is nearly 20 years later the situations are just as relevant today.
The new MLR Press editions, at least the ebook versions, have a disappointing number of typographical problems, both minor and major.
The strongest book of the series so far.
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This is the book the first TV movie was based on. So I knew the ending. The interesting part was seeing what had been kept for the movie and what was working in the book and didn't make it in the movie version. A strong plot and some fun and witty relationship stuff between Donald and Timothy.
3.5 stars. Good gay mystery in which Don is asked to protect a guy who forcibly outs prominent gay people and who fears his life is in danger as a result. (In the ebook edition I read, none of the acronyms were capitalized. Argh.)
A fun read, and an interesting look (along with Ice Blues) into the darker sides of Strachey's psyche, and Timmy's efforts as his better angel.
Manlove Romance freebie
50
Good book.
So much better than the movie!
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Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
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 C...more
More about Richard Stevenson...
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 C...more
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