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Stoney Calhoun #1
Bitch Creek
William G. Tapply has created a fresh new world in BITCH CREEK, a steamy, perfectly crafted mystery introducing Stoney Calhoun, an unlikely hero. Stoney is a man without a past. A lightning strike obliterated his memory, and, as so many might like to do, he was given a chance to completely reinvent himself. That's not an easy task when a man doesn't know the slightest thing about himself. But Stoney was driven by some current within and ended up as a fishing guide in Maine. He's reeducating himself, he's in love, and life is good-until his friend and fellow fishing guide is murdered and Stoney suspects that he himself was the target. In a riveting process of revelation, Stoney begins investigating the murder and learns to his surprise that he is, in fact, a trained investigator. The process of discovering the murderer is also a process of self-discovery. Tapply has introduced an unlikely, yet intensely likeable protagonist. He has fashioned an ingenious plot simultaneously unfolding layers of personality and intrigue in his stunning new novel.
304 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 2004
31 people are currently reading
323 people want to read
About the author
William G. Tapply
79 books88 followersWilliam G. Tapply (1940–2009) was an American author best known for writing legal thrillers. A lifelong New Englander, he graduated from Amherst and Harvard before going on to teach social studies at Lexington High School. He published his first novel, Death at Charity’s Point, in 1984. A story of death and betrayal among Boston Brahmins, it introduced crusading lawyer Brady Coyne, a fishing enthusiast whom Tapply would follow through twenty-five more novels, including Follow the Sharks, The Vulgar Boatman, and the posthumously published Outwitting Trolls.
Besides writing regular columns for Field and Stream, Gray’s Sporting Journal, and American Angler, Tapply wrote numerous books on fishing, hunting, and life in the outdoors. He was also the author of The Elements of Mystery Fiction, a writer’s guide. He died in 2009, at his home in Hancock, New Hampshire.
Besides writing regular columns for Field and Stream, Gray’s Sporting Journal, and American Angler, Tapply wrote numerous books on fishing, hunting, and life in the outdoors. He was also the author of The Elements of Mystery Fiction, a writer’s guide. He died in 2009, at his home in Hancock, New Hampshire.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 64 reviews
June 22, 2009
Bit of a male fantasy isn't it? Stoney's girlfriend is 41 but looks 25. She is married but has her sick husband's permission to sleep with Stoney. Stoney can't remember his past but it turns out that he is evidently a trained investigator, with a photographic memory, an artist's hand and he can successfully win a violent fight with someone a lot bigger than he is. And let's not forget that he has no money worries even if he can't remember why. There is a weird guy in a grey suit who keeps showing up, but overall I'd say Stoney's got a good thing going. Even his dog is about perfect. I didn't mind any of that really. I minded what happened to Lyle. I liked Lyle.
January 28, 2009
This is a new character for Tapply, although I have enjoyed "knowing" his usual star, Brady Coyne. He is a totally different type who has numerous emotional demons to fight, but I found him engaging. The book was a compelling mystery with vivid descriptions of the scenery.
August 8, 2020
Having just enjoyed Tapply’s first Brady Coyne novel in our second reading in that set, we discovered the author initiated a second series later in life, featuring protagonist Stoney Calhoun. Like Brady, Stoney is a likable character reminiscent of Dick Francis’ male stars – invariably nice men who treat others well, but are clever and resourceful at protecting themselves as they pursue mysterious events. Stoney has the added personal quirks brought on by a lightning strike that has virtually eliminated all his past memories. (Why Stoney didn’t try using the internet in a book published in 2004 to pursue his parentage or background is conveniently ignored, as are the existence of computers or cellphones, certainly an oddity for such a relatively recent story…) In this pilot episode, named "Creek" for a small stream that runs through his property, Stoney currently works in a little Maine backwoods tackle and bait shop – indeed fishing references and settings are plentiful in the tale, reflecting Tapply’s expert status with that hobby in real life.
Things are going well, including Stoney falling in love with the owner Kate (who unfortunately for him is married), when his best friend and colleague Lyle is suddenly missing from work and other social appointments. Soon the plot thickens as an apparent murder is uncovered; and before long, Stoney, who feels guilty about the turn of events, is subject of attempted personal harm as well. The suspenseful tale marched along to an interesting conclusion as pages turned rapidly.
We’re not much of an outdoor person, so much of the nature fondling did not particularly resonate. But we do like Tapply’s characters and really wanted things to turn out well. We suspect women readers will not be especially enthralled with the center stage romance herein – for that matter, it seemed unrealistic to us. Whether we might try to locate the two remaining titles in this most likely obscure set at best is debatable; we might be better off pursuing further entries in the author’s better-known Brady Coyne novels, even though, apparently like the author, most will probably now seem dated.
Things are going well, including Stoney falling in love with the owner Kate (who unfortunately for him is married), when his best friend and colleague Lyle is suddenly missing from work and other social appointments. Soon the plot thickens as an apparent murder is uncovered; and before long, Stoney, who feels guilty about the turn of events, is subject of attempted personal harm as well. The suspenseful tale marched along to an interesting conclusion as pages turned rapidly.
We’re not much of an outdoor person, so much of the nature fondling did not particularly resonate. But we do like Tapply’s characters and really wanted things to turn out well. We suspect women readers will not be especially enthralled with the center stage romance herein – for that matter, it seemed unrealistic to us. Whether we might try to locate the two remaining titles in this most likely obscure set at best is debatable; we might be better off pursuing further entries in the author’s better-known Brady Coyne novels, even though, apparently like the author, most will probably now seem dated.
August 14, 2017
Je ne lis pas de polar, je suis trop peureuse. Trop peur des cauchemars que je pourrai faire. J'ai découvert celui-ci par Exploratology. J'ai aimé la 1e de couverture. Et je suis une curieuse, et je tiens à garder l'esprit ouvert. Je l'ai lu d'une traite. Pour connaître la fin et éviter les cauchemars.
L'histoire est prenante. Stoney est très attachant. Je me suis laissée prendre au jeu de cet homme amnésique qui à la sortie de l'hôpital psy vient vivre dans le Vermont et devient guide de pêche. Et détective malgré lui quand on s'en prend à ses proches... un retour de son ancienne vie?
L'histoire est prenante. Stoney est très attachant. Je me suis laissée prendre au jeu de cet homme amnésique qui à la sortie de l'hôpital psy vient vivre dans le Vermont et devient guide de pêche. Et détective malgré lui quand on s'en prend à ses proches... un retour de son ancienne vie?
August 3, 2017
No idea how this one came to be on my shelves. It is ten years old, so it has likely been there a while. Possibly picked it up because the name amused me. (Is that like buying a bottle of wine because you like the label? Guilty.) But, I really enjoyed this one. It was a win. I didn't know it was the first in a series, but I'm looking forward to picking up the next one. I won't let it sit on my shelves for a decade. I am interested to learn more about the past of the main character, Stoney Calhoun. Interesting read. The ending did not pan out in any of the ways I anticipated.
May 12, 2016
Another entry in our book club's list of "male wish-fulfillment fantasies!" Last month was City of Women, this month was Bitch Creek. Kate drove me nuts: her agreement with her husband about the relationship with Stoney, she's 40-something but looks 20 years younger, all sex and no talking, etc. Very annoying.
As for Stoney, I was frustrated that there was *still* mystery about his past. Even in Maine (the land of spotty internet and cellphone service), he should have been able to piece together something from a quick Google search. He knew his name, his parents' names, his hometown, and some other details about his past. Five minutes on the internet should have led him somewhere, and if Tapply wanted Stoney to *not* be curious about his background, then that should have been part of his characterization.
The mystery didn't make a whole lot of sense, and weirdly enough, there wasn't as much fishing details as I expected. =)
As for Stoney, I was frustrated that there was *still* mystery about his past. Even in Maine (the land of spotty internet and cellphone service), he should have been able to piece together something from a quick Google search. He knew his name, his parents' names, his hometown, and some other details about his past. Five minutes on the internet should have led him somewhere, and if Tapply wanted Stoney to *not* be curious about his background, then that should have been part of his characterization.
The mystery didn't make a whole lot of sense, and weirdly enough, there wasn't as much fishing details as I expected. =)
March 3, 2020
Three stars. This book was enjoyable and worth the read. However, at no point did it get to where I couldn't put it down. And when I wasn't reading it and thought about it, there was only a mild desire to get started back in right away. I did want to continue reading it, just not hungering to do so. It wasn't nearly as compelling as some of the other novels I have read. It does need to be read regularly, though, or some of the minor characters' details could be forgotten, and they turn out to be important in the end.
I didn't dislike any of the characters, but I didn't love them either. Lyle seemed to be a pretty cool guy and it is a shame something happened to him, but I didn't like the careless womanizing part to him that caused so much grief to the women interested in him. However, this aspect to Lyle fits in with his mystery since Stoney and the detective can use it to consider a motive. I, the reader, didn't think the women or their male partners were a cause to his disappearance. I didn't think the Kate SToney relationship was all that great due to the adultery aspect (even though it was open), and due to her insistence on no talking during duress, and her arrivals at midnight for not much more than shenanigans. Her character could have been a little bit deeper, as could their relationship. At one time, I was irritated that they had both just learned of Lyle's fate, and she comes over to Stoney's at, like, midnight, and says she doesn't want to talk. They then jump immediately into intimacy. I'm thinking like, yeah right, you guys just found out your best friend had that happen to him, so you run off to @#$% right away without even mentioning him, his life or your reactions. It was almost disrespectful that they are off having fun immediately after Kate gets to Stoney's the night they found out about Lyle. But, I can see the author's use of this as a way express their bereft feelings and alleviate the grief, too.
The thing that bothered me most about Kate was her inability to control her carnal desires, and lack of compassion for her husband, in that regard. I loved seeing that she had a sense of responsibility and that she sacrificed so much to treat him. That right there is real love for her husband. However, I couldn't help think from his perspective, that here he is in misery, losing his independence and bodily movement, and off goes his wife to @#$% some other man and he knows it. Yes, she NEEDS time for her after she works so tirelessly for a sick family member, but what she chooses must be agonizing for the husband. I could imagine what it would be like for him to be hurting, not mobile, no future, etc, and being helped by his wife, then seeing her run out of the house at 11:30 pm knowing, knowing, knowing that she is going to be in bed with another man in a few minutes! How does that affect his mood while he is so ill? Does he lay in his bed a half hour later thinking about what Kate is doing at the same time, and knowing he is right? It seems like it would be a knife twisted in an already overwhelming agony. He probably gave his "permission" for Kate out of a sense of obligation and feeling bad for her, thinking that he needed to give her that since he couldn't give her the same thing anymore, and she was doing so much for him. Which means he probably was emotionally hurting when she ran off in the middle of the night to Stoney, and he could have been agonizing over it all those nights.
I was not aware that this was part of a series of Stoney Calhoun books. That explains some loose ends at the ending of this book that I was wishing had been tied up. I am not in any hurry to get to the second or third books in the series, but if I am looking for something to read and the book finds its way in front of me at the library, I will probably check it out. I just hope I don't forget any events in the meantime since some of them were not that memorable and I had to jog my memory as I was reading as to who the more minor characters were and what transpired in their conversations.
I am still curious as to what Stoney's previous life was, and what is behind the memory loss (was it really a lightning strike?) and the man-in-the-gray-suit's motivation. Am I curious to seek out the next book and find out? Not right away, but maybe sometime in the future.
I didn't dislike any of the characters, but I didn't love them either. Lyle seemed to be a pretty cool guy and it is a shame something happened to him, but I didn't like the careless womanizing part to him that caused so much grief to the women interested in him. However, this aspect to Lyle fits in with his mystery since Stoney and the detective can use it to consider a motive. I, the reader, didn't think the women or their male partners were a cause to his disappearance. I didn't think the Kate SToney relationship was all that great due to the adultery aspect (even though it was open), and due to her insistence on no talking during duress, and her arrivals at midnight for not much more than shenanigans. Her character could have been a little bit deeper, as could their relationship. At one time, I was irritated that they had both just learned of Lyle's fate, and she comes over to Stoney's at, like, midnight, and says she doesn't want to talk. They then jump immediately into intimacy. I'm thinking like, yeah right, you guys just found out your best friend had that happen to him, so you run off to @#$% right away without even mentioning him, his life or your reactions. It was almost disrespectful that they are off having fun immediately after Kate gets to Stoney's the night they found out about Lyle. But, I can see the author's use of this as a way express their bereft feelings and alleviate the grief, too.
The thing that bothered me most about Kate was her inability to control her carnal desires, and lack of compassion for her husband, in that regard. I loved seeing that she had a sense of responsibility and that she sacrificed so much to treat him. That right there is real love for her husband. However, I couldn't help think from his perspective, that here he is in misery, losing his independence and bodily movement, and off goes his wife to @#$% some other man and he knows it. Yes, she NEEDS time for her after she works so tirelessly for a sick family member, but what she chooses must be agonizing for the husband. I could imagine what it would be like for him to be hurting, not mobile, no future, etc, and being helped by his wife, then seeing her run out of the house at 11:30 pm knowing, knowing, knowing that she is going to be in bed with another man in a few minutes! How does that affect his mood while he is so ill? Does he lay in his bed a half hour later thinking about what Kate is doing at the same time, and knowing he is right? It seems like it would be a knife twisted in an already overwhelming agony. He probably gave his "permission" for Kate out of a sense of obligation and feeling bad for her, thinking that he needed to give her that since he couldn't give her the same thing anymore, and she was doing so much for him. Which means he probably was emotionally hurting when she ran off in the middle of the night to Stoney, and he could have been agonizing over it all those nights.
I was not aware that this was part of a series of Stoney Calhoun books. That explains some loose ends at the ending of this book that I was wishing had been tied up. I am not in any hurry to get to the second or third books in the series, but if I am looking for something to read and the book finds its way in front of me at the library, I will probably check it out. I just hope I don't forget any events in the meantime since some of them were not that memorable and I had to jog my memory as I was reading as to who the more minor characters were and what transpired in their conversations.
I am still curious as to what Stoney's previous life was, and what is behind the memory loss (was it really a lightning strike?) and the man-in-the-gray-suit's motivation. Am I curious to seek out the next book and find out? Not right away, but maybe sometime in the future.
May 14, 2019
i know i read this before but its been so long. i love the series.
he lost his memory, he built a house in maine in the middle of no where. he works in a bait shop and does guides for fishermen. he loves the married woman that owns the shop. they talked to her ill husband and hes ok with them being lovers
it was his turn to guide for a new customer, but he didnt like the man. he had his best friend guide him and his friend ended up dead
anyone that helped him try and solve what happened got hurt. he got the bad guys in the end, with help from his dog ralph.
i was very sad when the author died, i love both the series he wrote.
he lost his memory, he built a house in maine in the middle of no where. he works in a bait shop and does guides for fishermen. he loves the married woman that owns the shop. they talked to her ill husband and hes ok with them being lovers
it was his turn to guide for a new customer, but he didnt like the man. he had his best friend guide him and his friend ended up dead
anyone that helped him try and solve what happened got hurt. he got the bad guys in the end, with help from his dog ralph.
i was very sad when the author died, i love both the series he wrote.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 26, 2019
My librarian recommended this to me last year, and I finally got to it. She noticed I'd been reading his "Brady Coyne" series, thought I'd like this, so here I am. Mysterious main character, injured enough to lose his memory, and is drawn to Maine to start over. Tragedy strikes in his small circle of friends, and he feels compelled to find out why. His life shifts when he finds love staring him in the face, and the meeting of eyes seals his fate. Can't wait to get the next one, but...the librarian warned me...the author died after only four books. Still gonna read, though.
January 22, 2020
Stoney Calhoun spent 18 months in hospital for a severe lightning strike which has done strange things to his brain. He sees his past in disconnected flashes. He recognized no one in them. He has no past except what he was told in the hospital. But there is a government man who shows up periodically to find out if he remembers anything. The one thing he has gotten from the flashes is a disproportionately large number of scenes of fishing in Maine, so he heads there. The time is 5 years later and he is working as a fishing guide. When another guide takes a client out, covering for Stoney, and never returns, his guilt forces him to investigate. In the process he begins learning a lot about himself. This was a great thriller with a fascinating back story. I am looking forward to reading the rest of this trilogy and discovering more of Stoney's past.
November 18, 2017
Again, it was ok. Kept me interested...curious to know how it would end. I didn't like this one as much as the second one, but if I decide to continue on to number three, I'll feel like I'm up to speed.
August 24, 2024
easy and entertaining
Interesting characters. The story moved along quickly and made for an enjoyable read. I suspect we will learn more as the series progresses. Leaves room for potential continued fun as the characters develop
Interesting characters. The story moved along quickly and made for an enjoyable read. I suspect we will learn more as the series progresses. Leaves room for potential continued fun as the characters develop
September 4, 2017
Like my daughter said, it was really good. I can hardly wait to find out more about Stoney Calhoun. It was a good read'
November 8, 2018
laid-back pace with an amusing amount of wish fulfillment going on. a good sense of place and a nice dog.
August 29, 2019
I really like Stoney and the ending makes sense (there was a clue).
January 26, 2020
Pretty good story. I like that it was set in Maine. I am going to continue reading the series.
November 8, 2020
Great character development although not likely and weird, but a well thought out plot. Denouement was predictable. I cannot remember when I read this.
October 10, 2021
A bit slow to get engaged with the characters but worth the read. I also read the other books in the series which does build upon things.
April 12, 2023
It kept me interested until the end
April 22, 2023
9/10
Lecture vraiment agréable, protagoniste intéressant, j’aime beaucoup les éléments de pêche à la mouche et du Maine. Bon rythme. Je lirai la suite avec grand plaisir.
Lecture vraiment agréable, protagoniste intéressant, j’aime beaucoup les éléments de pêche à la mouche et du Maine. Bon rythme. Je lirai la suite avec grand plaisir.
August 25, 2023
i like calhoun.
August 7, 2024
Love how easy this author is to read!
November 1, 2024
Having read all the Brady Coyne books by this author, I thought I would try this one. Not as good but still worth a read.
April 6, 2025
I liked this book - it has woods, fishing, fly tying, history and murder. Interesting characters work together and evolve. A good read.
September 10, 2025
This Stoney Calhoun novel is a storehouse of relevant information about Stoney's past life and experiences. Along with an intriguing mystery, it is a must-read for Tapply and Calhoun fans.
December 25, 2016
3.5. Good series.
April 19, 2008
I was really impressed with this book. I like William Tapply's Brady Coyne series, but to be honest, I'm not much into books framed around lawyers, even the good guys like Brady.
BITCH CREEK is the first in a series with Stoney Calhoun, a guy with no memory of his life before five years ago. He's made a new life for himself in Maine as a fishing guide after being released from a hospital where he spent nearly 18 months recovering from being struck by lightning. At least, that's what he was told happened to him. By the end of the book, I wasn't sure that's what really happened, and neither is Stoney.
The narration and point of the view of the story is very different from the Coyne series and I like that. I like that we're seeing what happens to Stoney when he loses a close friend to murder, especially when he realizes that he might be the next victim. As he investigates his friend's death, he also discovers that he has very specific skills, those that a detective might have. So, while there's a murder to solve, there's also the mystery that is Stoney.
It's a very well written book and I'm looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
BITCH CREEK is the first in a series with Stoney Calhoun, a guy with no memory of his life before five years ago. He's made a new life for himself in Maine as a fishing guide after being released from a hospital where he spent nearly 18 months recovering from being struck by lightning. At least, that's what he was told happened to him. By the end of the book, I wasn't sure that's what really happened, and neither is Stoney.
The narration and point of the view of the story is very different from the Coyne series and I like that. I like that we're seeing what happens to Stoney when he loses a close friend to murder, especially when he realizes that he might be the next victim. As he investigates his friend's death, he also discovers that he has very specific skills, those that a detective might have. So, while there's a murder to solve, there's also the mystery that is Stoney.
It's a very well written book and I'm looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
August 27, 2007
BITCH CREEK (Amateur Sleuth-Maine-Cont) – G
Tapply, William G. – 1st in series
The Lyons Press, 2004-Hardcover
Stoney Calhoun was struck by lightening and doesn't really remember his past. But he has created a life for himself in Maine, working in a fishing shop, taking turns with his new friend and fellow worker, Lyle, guiding fisherman, and having a relationship with the shop's owner. When Lyle takes out a tourist and doesn't come back, Stoney's guilt drives him to find Lyle's body and his killer.
*** There was only one thing that dropped my rating down a notch. It's clear this is the beginning of a new series, and the element that indicated that was the one thing I found more annoying than intriguing about this book. It felt too contrived. However, the basic plot of this book was good. I liked the characters, the dialogue, sense of place and all the elements that are important to me in a book. Will I read the next in the series? Yes; but a bit begrudgingly.
Tapply, William G. – 1st in series
The Lyons Press, 2004-Hardcover
Stoney Calhoun was struck by lightening and doesn't really remember his past. But he has created a life for himself in Maine, working in a fishing shop, taking turns with his new friend and fellow worker, Lyle, guiding fisherman, and having a relationship with the shop's owner. When Lyle takes out a tourist and doesn't come back, Stoney's guilt drives him to find Lyle's body and his killer.
*** There was only one thing that dropped my rating down a notch. It's clear this is the beginning of a new series, and the element that indicated that was the one thing I found more annoying than intriguing about this book. It felt too contrived. However, the basic plot of this book was good. I liked the characters, the dialogue, sense of place and all the elements that are important to me in a book. Will I read the next in the series? Yes; but a bit begrudgingly.
October 10, 2007
Stoney Calhoun has been living in Dublin, Maine for 5 years after being struck by lightning and having his memory zapped. He is working in a small bait store tying flies and as a fishing guide. Stoney's co worker and best friend Lyle does not return from a guide trip and Stoney involves himself in the search for his friend. Stoney feels that law enforcement is some how connected to his past but he cannot recall. Stoney's only connection to his past life is the "man in the suit" who randomly visits him at home.
Characters: Stoney Calhoun, Sheriff, Kate, Ralph, Lyle
Takes Place: Dublin, Maine (Near Portland)
Characters: Stoney Calhoun, Sheriff, Kate, Ralph, Lyle
Takes Place: Dublin, Maine (Near Portland)
August 26, 2012
Bitch Creek introduces a new character for author William G. Tappley of the Brady Coyne series. Stoney Calhoun is a man without a past due to getting struck by lightning. This first book sees Stoney choosing to settle in Maine where he works as a fly fishing guide and shop keeper. His fellow guide is murdered, and since Stoney set him up with the client instead of taking the client himself. he feels responsible and sets out to find the killer or killers. Tappley is an experienced writer of this genre and crafts a very enjoyable plot and satisfying conclusion. He only wrote three in this series before his death in 2010. I'm reading the second book now.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 64 reviews