Death Vows

Stevenson, Richard. "Death Vows: A Donald Strachey Mystery", MLR, 2008. Strachey is Back Amos Lassen Richard Stevenson takes on the issue of gay marriage in the new Donald Strachey mystery, "Death Vows". Set in 2008 in western Massachusetts, a thriving GLBT community now embraces the state's legal endorsement of gay marriage. However the rest of the population is not so happy about it and some of the old guard is even willing to use violence against the gay community. Strachey who is based in Albany, New York is taken to the Berkshires where his friend Bill Moore us set to marry his lover, Barry Fields. Some of Bill's friends hire Strachey to do a background check on Fields to see if he is honest. It happens that neither Bill nor Barry have a past--at least before six years prior. It was Jim and Steven who brought Strachey to the area and it turns out that they were not friends of Bill. The opposite is the truth. Strachey was ready to call the whole thing off when Jim turns up dead, a day after he had been assaulted by Barry in the local grocery store. Quite naturally, Barry is the chief suspect in the death and the district attorney sees the entire business as an open and shut case. It is election time soon and he wants to keep his job so he does not want anyone messing with the facts. Now Bill hires Strachey to prove that Barry is innocent but neither Bill nor Barry are willing to talk about their past lives. As Strachey investigates, things get very complicated and messy and Jim's death appears to be a hit from the mob. Quite expectedly, violence ensues. This reads like a novel of secrets and Strachey has to use creativity to find a motive and a suspect for the murder. To say any more would spoil the read. This is Stevenson's ninth in the Donald Strachey series and this is first after a five year hiatus. I hope we don't have to wait another five years for the next. Stevenson knows how to write and he does so well and this book is another one that is a must read.

As always stevenson keeps you on the edge of your seat and a good laugh every so often. Its got murder, mayhem, love, and controversy. All in all a great read.

Stevenson is a longtime master at the gay mystery, at Death Vows is the his latest book to delight and torment the amateur detective. Mystery, murder, extortion and plenty of dark secrets keep Death Vow barreling ahead to it's deadly conclusion. Don Strachey is one of the most enduring gay detectives out there, and Death Vows reminds us why this sexy and determined sleuth has lasted for so long. I just wish we had gotten to see more of his boyfriend Timothy in this book! Let's hope we see more of this sweet and funny couple in the future. Scott Sherman, author, First You Fall: A Kevin Connor Mystery

This new Donald Strachey murder mystery by Richard Stevenson is set in 2008 Western Massachusetts where a thriving Gay/Lesbian community has embraced the state's legal endorsement of same-sex marriage with gusto. But old mores and prejudices die hard and there are other sectors of the population that are extremely unhappy with these changes in the state's social climate. Some belonging to the old guard are more than willing to take violent action against the newly empowered gay and lesbian citizenry. With this contemporary backdrop, author Stevenson has consructed a clever and plausible murder story that is laced with sharp wit and compelling characters. The story's ironic conclusion, while close to over the top, is pure and satisfying justice and alone worth the price of the book. Stevenson is an accomplished mystery writer and in "Death Vows," avoids the cliched characters and scenarios that some gay genre novels embrace. Highly recommended.

The allowance of legal gay marriage in Massachusetts has caused many a gay couple to travel there for their opportunity to be wed. "Death Vows" is another chapter in the series of Donald Strachey's adventures as the only gay private investigator in Albany, New York. His latest case deals with the fear and hypocrisy surrounding Gay marriage in Massachusetts, where one person pays a price no one should pay for love. "Death Vows" is a riveting mystery with a good dose of satire on today's worlds opinions on homosexuality.