A New Strachey Mystery: Death Vows – a quick review

- Mike Learned, Editor

Richard Stevenson (known to family and friends as Dick Lipez), RPCV Ethiopia and occasional contributor to our newsletter and web site, has written his ninth Donald Strachey mystery. Strachey is a gay private eye, located in Albany, NY. His longtime lover, Tim is an RPCV, India, and a legislative aide in the political morass of New York’s capitol city. Peace Corps and other progressive warm and fuzzies appear throughout the Strachey series. Four of the books have been filmed by queer cable TV here! staring Chad Allen as Strachey.

This is the latest in a great series and takes place in the Berkshires of western Massachusetts, an hour or so from Albany where Strachey and his faithful Tim reside. In reality Lipez and his longtime partner Joe, now husband, live in the Berkshires in a Civil War era barn, converted to great loft space and painted blue (at least the last time I saw it).

The plot of the latest Stachey is very timely – murder around the issue of gay marriage. I know it sounds a bit monstrous, but now that gay marriage is happening in California (I’m a best man August 26), and in Massachusetts being extended to couples from anywhere, a timely subject. Not all relationships, marriages, and their attendant complications work out. Right? I’ve liked all of the Strachey series (I will admit I’m a mystery series junkie, particularly gay ones). This is a good one. Got through it in two sittings.

It comes out in September. Look for Death Vows, Richard Stevenson, MLR Press, in paperback at your local LGBT bookstore or on Amazon. It’s worth your hard earned buck.