Tongue Tied: A Donald Strachey Mystery

Having seen a couple of the Strachey mysteries on film, starring Chad Allen, I decided to buy the books. Good move. This is the first one I've read, and now I know for sure that I'll enjoy them all. We have a radio 'shock jock' being terrorized by the FFF (Forces of Free Faggotry), a slightly jaded but quick witted Gay detective, and a complimentary cast of characters that seem a little more Tennessee Williams than you'd imagine mystery novel types might be. I mean, what could be more fun than a Gay eggplant farmer? A Gay AMISH eggplant farmer of course! You might pick up on 'whodunit' early on, but the path to resolving the mystery is still full of suspense and laughter. You'll love reading 'Tongue Tied'. And I can't wait to start on the next Richard Stevenson mystery.

I would have enjoyed this book more it the author had followed his previous schedule of delivering a new Don Strachey adventure every two years. (Except for that six-year lapse in the series between 1986 and 1992 - ICE BLUES and THIRD MAN OUT.) The last book in the series, Strachey's Folly was released in 1998, and the current book is set in the summer of 2000. Unfortunately, it is filled with political commentary regarding Clinton, Janet Reno, Guiliani, and the Gore/Bush presidential campaign that might have been topical had the book been published in 2001. Now, rather than setting or enhancing the scene or mood of the action, they simply date the story more than the actual three years that have past. Other than that, the plot is standard Strachey fare. Don is hired to investigate a series of crude pranks attributed to a gay radical group (that hasn't existed for 20-years) against NY shock jock, J-Bird, who broadcasts from a world of politically incorrect banter. Then the pranks are upgraded and the kidnapping starts. Working with (and sometimes not) a NYC gay cop, a gay Amish eggplant farmer and his own lover Tim in Albany, Strachey travels from Manhattan, to the Berkshires, to Brooklyn to Long Island to resolve the case. (And all without a cellphone - how old is Strachey if he can reminisce about the good old days of street corner phonebooths with folding doors where you could call for just a nickel?) It's really hard to compare this book with the earlier books in the series since it has been five years since the last book was released. It was an enjoyable read, but for some reason it felt slightly "off" to me - like something was missing. Maybe, Strachey, the author and I are just getting older. I will give it my **** rating though, because it's nice to visit old friends.

New York based Jay "J Bird Plankton is a typical right wing shock radio DJ. However, his harangues obviously upset some people because he has become the target of a campaign of harassment and pranks by the Forces of Free Faggotry, a 1970s gay rights group long since extinct. Because of his former ties to the three Fs, Albany private detective Donald Strachey is hired to learn what they want, end any threats, and save J-Bird's image, which is more important than his life.Donald manages to locate two former members, but both deny any involvement nor accept any of their middle-aged colleagues harassing anyone. However, the attacks escalate until J-Bird's gay bashing sidekick is kidnapped. With the help of a former three F member, farmer Thad Diefendorfer, Donald tries to rescue the victim.Fans of gay mysteries will enjoy the sharp digs at politicians and radio jocks that used and use the homosexual community to further personal ambitions. The mystery is secondary to the jabs and hooks that Richard Stevenson throws at the bashers with their divide and conquer philosophy. Readers who want a strong investigative tale need to look elsewhere, but those in the audience who relish a series of left right humorous combos will want to read TONGUE TIED because Mr. Stevenson is anything but that with this amusing tale.Harriet Klausner