Ice Blues

Private detective Donald Strachey isn't expecting to stumble into a murder case when he goes to pick up his car from a towing lot. When he finds a dead man in it, however, that's just what happens. He quickly discovers there's a bit more to the murder than he initially suspected. Political intrigue, death threats, and money to the tune of 2.5 million dollars are only a few of the issues Strachey finds himself confronted with. Can he and his lover Timothy Callahan find out whodunit before they become victims as well? Ice Blues is another entertaining installment of the Donald Strachey Mystery series. The ever-evolving Strachey really shows his multifaceted personality in this book. He's managed to come to terms--albeit somewhat unwillingly-- with few of the relationship issues from On the Other Hand, Death, which helps to settle him a bit. The nasty Albany winter counteracts that, however. Like a lot of people, he's exceedingly grumpy in the winter, which makes his sarcastic sense of humor even more biting. His ethics get a major workout in the story, with moral and professional dilemmas popping up all over the place. Watching him struggle with difficult decisions was fascinating. Lucky for him, he had Timmy to keep him (sort of) on the straight and narrow. The plot in Ice Blues was slightly less complex than that of the other Strachey mysteries I've read, with fewer secondary characters to keep track of, but in this case that was a good thing. I had an easier time following the political, criminal, and financial machinations that made up the tangled web of the mystery. Some of the dialogue was a bit stilted, but I liked seeing more of Timmy, and Strachey's cool combination of snarky humor and devious ingenuity. While Ice Blues isn't my favorite Strachey mystery so far, it's a great way to while away a cold afternoon. Cassie Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

A good book to read when it's hot outside, as the "chilly scenes of winter" can really cool you down. Somebody leaves a dead body in Don Strachey's trunk, and he has to clear himself. I wonder, though, why Detective Bowman has to be quite so homophobic. Sure, it makes him a good foil for our buddy Don, but it stretches the credibility of their relationship a little too much for me. Neil Plakcy, author of Mahu Surfer: A Hawaiian Mystery (An Alyson Mystery)

If you enjoy detective novels, this one will pique your interest with its fast-paced plot and amazing cast of characters.

I really enjoyed this book, the story ws excellant, it was very different to the crime stories I usually read, it was the first with the main character being gay, but made no difference, an excellant read, story kept me reading until finshed. Would recommend to any crime reader.

Albany's only gay P.I. takes on that city's political machine when he finds a murdered man planted in his car. Smooth and funny, but with a definite kick, the third Strachey mystery never fails to entertain although the plot leans more toward the zany than suspenseful. As with fine scotch, you can soak up this book in one sitting and be giggling outloud before you know it.The relationship between Strachey and his lover Timmy is featured more prominently here than in any of the other six novels, making this one of my favorites. The Timmy and Donald partnership is (for my money) the most intelligent, believable and entertaining in gay mysterydom. In almost any mysterydom, for that matter. By book three I feel I know these two, and I like them very much. Enough to keep coming back for more