Dark tiger

Stoney Calhoun #3

by William G. Tapply

Seven years ago' Stoney Calhoun woke up in a VA hospital with no memories and a series of unexplained talents. Since then he's been living quietly' working as a part-time fishing guide and co-owner of a local bait shop --

Genres: Mystery, Mystery Thriller, Fiction, Thriller Suspense, The United States Of America, Crime, Thriller

336 pages, Pocket Book

First published September 29, 2009

About the author

William 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.

Reviews

[LJ · Rating 3 out of 5]

First Sentence: Stonewall Jackson Calhoun was sweeping the floor around the display of chest waders and hop books when the bell dinged over the door, signaling that somebody had come into Kat’es Bait, Tackle, and Woolly Buggers shop.

Stoney Calhoun has a lot of military-type skills but no memory of how he came by them. But The Man in the Suit checks periodically checks on him to see whether any memories have returns. Now the Man needs his help and Stoney can’t refuse.

An operative and a young woman were found dead in a car, each with a gunshot wound. What’s interesting is they were both dead before they were shot. Stoney, half-owner in a fishing shop and an expert guide, is to go to an exclusive fishing lodge in Northwestern Maine to learn how they died and what the operative was investigating.

I’ve always liked Tapply’s characters. Stoney is moral, principled, somewhat curious about his past, which he was told he doesn’t remember due to having been struck by lightning but content to live his life from here forward. He is in love with Kate, his business partner, but understands women are different from men and is undemanding. He has skills he doesn’t remember learning and is more curious than surprised when he discovers a new one.

Kate’s husband is in long-term care with MS, knows and approves of Kate and Stoney being occasional lovers. And then there’s Ralph, Stoney’s Brittany spaniel, as human as any character except when Stoney talks to him, Ralph doesn’t answer back.

Tapply’s voice is very Downeast, almost folksy without being patronizing, yet comfortable. Whether Stoney remembers it or not, Tapply let you know he has seen a lot of life…”All creatures had repertoires of survival… All creatures except humans, he thought. Humans just killed each other.”

You know from the descriptions that Tapply had a great love of Maine and of fishing—he wrote several books on fishing. Those descriptions remind me why I love and miss that part of the country.

This is not a high-octane, shoot-‘em-up book. The book is much more character, than plot, driven but has its elements of suspense.

“Dark Tiger” is the last Stoney Calhoun book and was written while Mr. Tapply was suffering from leukemia, from which he died in July, 2009. I shall miss Stoney, Kate and Ralph, along with Mr. Tapply’s Brady Coyne books, but he is an author whose work I am glad to have read and do recommend.

DARK TIGER (Unl Inv-Stoney Calhoun-Maine-Cont) – G+
Tapply, William G. – 3rd in series
Minotaur Books. ©2009, US Hardcover – ISBN: 9780312379780

[Leslie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not quite as good as the other 2 Calhoun novels but good, fast, interesting read. Worth the time.

[Electra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dernier volet des aventures de Stoney - interrompues trop tôt par la mort prématurée de son auteur. Il va me manquer le bougre !

[Aude - Sempiternelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Il n'y aura malheureusement jamais de suite aux aventures de Calhoun.. et c'est une grandre tristesse pour moi. J’aime tellement retrouver Stoney et Ralph, les cannes à pêches, les poissons, les enquêtes policières et la nature sauvage si bien décrite! Comment je vais faire maintenant? De plus, la fin de ce troisième opus me laisse une pointe de déception et une curiosité avide sur la vie antérieure de Stoney qui n’est toujours pas comblée (même si certains éléments sont partiellement dévoilés)... c'est malheureusement là-dessus qu'il faudra rester :(

[Keith · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meet the world's most laconic special agent: Stoney Calhoun, an occasional Maine fishing guide who runs a sport shop with a beautiful female partner. We learn he woke up some years back in a VA hospital with no memories and unexplained talents for languages, weaponry, etc. Apparently, on occasion, a mysterious stranger appears and through intimidation or logic convinces him he should take on assignments that he is perfectly well suited for. As readers of course, we have no idea why he coalesces but then neither does his loving partner who we gather, also knows little or nothing about his past. I realize that this is the third in a series but I think the reader is in need of a little more background than is given in this version of the succession. The laid-back Stoney, takes on the assignment, accomplishes the task through guile, without even messing his hair and returns to the loving arms of Kate, his partner. As a mystery it works, but the main character requires a major level of credulity that's hard for me to provide.

[Jack · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stoney Calhoun, due to who he was before a lightning strike changed nearly everything in his life, a before time he can't remember, is coerced into investigating the death of a man at a hunting lodge. This man was the same type of guy as Stoney, but with less lightning strike modification.

Stoney reluctantly agrees, though he really has no choice in the matter.

I enjoyed reading this as much as the second Stoney Calhoun book, Gray Ghost. One day I hope to come across the first one and read it. Love the characters and the story. In comparison to the second book, this one was a very slow burn. It was 100 pages in (of 277) before things started moving. And suddenly it was over and resolved, mostly satisfactorily. For a book with a major fishing backdrop, though, this sounds about right.

Very good read.

[Barb H · Rating 3 out of 5]

William Tapply has provided me with many satisfying hours of reading. His writing is solid and personable. His characterizations are well-conceived and true to form. Stoney Calhoun is his latest major character, who has more problems in his life than prior protagonists, but his actions are believable. Although this was not Tapply's best I enjoyed it and certainly will continue to read his novels.

[Alice · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mlle Alice, pouvez-vous nous raconter votre rencontre avec Dark Tiger ?
"C'est le troisième et dernier tome d'une saga que j'avais bien aimé jusque-là et toujours dans l'objectif de terminer un maximum de mes séries en cours, j'avais commandé celui-ci en début d'année."

Dites-nous en un peu plus sur son histoire...
"Alors que Stoney Calhoun mène sa vie paisiblement, l'homme au costume vient une nouvelle fois lui rendre visite et lui demande de partir enquêter sur deux meurtres sans en parler à personne..."

Mais que s'est-il exactement passé entre vous ?
"C'est le tome que j'ai préféré des trois et j'ai vraiment passé un chouette moment. D'abord parce qu'on change un peu de cadre, que l'on rencontre de nouvelles personnes et je me rends compte que c'est ce qui m'avait un peu gênée dans les précédents, ce désert humain autour de Stoney, ce manque de personnalités interessantes. La seconde raison est due, j'en ai peur, à l'absence de Kate avec laquelle je n'accroche décidément pas donc j'étais ravie d'en entendre si peu parler. Le côté enquête en revanche n'est pas le plus réussi dans ce roman, le coupable m'a semblé assez évident et la naïveté de Stoney un peu étonnante mais il y a quand même quelques surprises. Quant aux parties de pêche et à la personnalité du héros, elles ont toujours cet effet apaisant, qui nous donne envie nous aussi de parcourir les espaces sauvages du Maine."

Et comment cela s'est-il fini ?
"Avant de commencer la trilogie, je ne savais pas qu'elle n'avait pas réellement de conclusion, l'auteur étant mort avant de pouvoir mettre un point final à sa saga. Quand je l'ai appris, j'ai évidement été déçue et je craignais un peu ce que j'allais trouver dans ces dernières pages mais même si nous n'avons pas les réponses à toutes nos questions, loin s'en faut, cela ne m'a pas dérangée plus que ça en définitive et je ne regrette certainement pas d'avoir partagé un bout de chemin avec Stoney Calhoun."


http://booksaremywonderland.hautetfor...

[Amy Leigh · Rating 4 out of 5]

I probably should've started with the first Stoney Calhoun book, but my library didn't have it. I enjoyed the book. It was a nice balance between action, description, and character development. It wasn't as brutally violent as some thrillers I've read. Stoney Calhoun is a complex, interesting person, and, as one character described him, that rarest of creatures, a man of principles. He accomplishes his mission while still acting according to those principles.

Since I started with book 3, I don't know the background other than the brief references to it, so if I read more, I will start with book 1.

[Jeannine · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars for my first time reading this series. Set in Maine, the main character, Stoney Calhoun, co-owns a fishing and bait shop, is a part-time guide, part-time volunteer deputy and a former bad-ass for some government agency that he has no distinct memory of. Having been hit by lightning 7 years prior, Stoney has skills and muscle memories but no idea how or where they came from. Now that agency needs him to perform a task that must remain a secret and they put him in a position that he can't refuse. Interesting plot and setting and lots of fishing and fly casting facts. Stoney is even more likeable cause his best pal and companion is his dog Ralph.

[Kim Schaefer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I haven’t read the other two Stoney Calhoun books and if I had, I might of liked this one better. Not that you have to read the other two to read this one but I would of had a better handle on the “Stoney Calhoun” character. I read almost the entire book thinking Stoney was a dude like in his late 50’s and then found out he was 38 years old. I had no idea what he looked like and when I meet a character I do like to have some idea what he looks like. It was an easy read with no much action so just an average book for me.

[Kat · Rating 5 out of 5]

the last of the series of stoney calhoun books. stoney and ralph the dog had to go undercover to solve 2 murders. there were more murders by the time he found the botulism that the terrorists were going to use. he couldnt tell kate where he was going. she was mad at him but forgave him when he got back. im sad the author died and there are no more books of this series. william tapply was a fantastic author, one of my favorites.

[Val Heed · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't like this book as much as the previous Stoney books. I missed the descriptions of the nature and the fishing. Also I found the plot a bit weak.
I'll try some of his "serious" nature books now.

[Steve Payne · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was OK. My first book by this author. I liked Stoney and Kate. It's an interesting premise, a highly trained operative that doesn't remember his past but remembers his training. He just didn't seem to be all that intelligent but plenty stubborn.

[dora spira · Rating 3 out of 5]

A MAN WAKES UP IN A VA HOSPITAL NO MEMORY AT ALL .. GETS A JOB IN A FISHING SPORT STORE AND NOW A PART OWNER... HES HIRED AS A FISHING GUIDE TO FIND OUT WHO IS MURDERING PEOPLE... VERY GOOD A PAGE TURNER TO THE END.....

[William Richardson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this book. Good story line and liked the characters. Looking forward to reading more in this series. Having just moved to New Hampshire what better way to start my reading off then with an author from this state.

[K · Rating 3 out of 5]

I also read the other books in the series which does build upon things.

[Maria Plapis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I need more! Have loved following Calhoun around!

[Isabelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Série conseillée par ma médiathèque.
Se laisse lire, personnages sympathiques
Intrigue un peu tordue quand même

[Eric_W · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Ten thousand volts of electricity had wiped out Stoney Calhoun's memories of his entire previous life, which, he figured, was a mixed blessing, at least. As well as he could tell, though, getting zapped by lightning hadn't affected his talents and abilities. The last seven years-his new life, and the only one he knew-had turned out to be a great adventure in self-discovery.”

That’s the premise behind this very charming series of mystery stories. Stoney is visited periodically by the Man in the Suit, who knows everything about Stoney’s past and who eagerly awaits the return of Stoney’s memory. Needing his help, an unidentified “agency,” blackmails Stoney into helping. “The Man in the Suit shrugged. ‘I could've asked,’ he said, ‘and you, of course, would've told me to go to hell, and if I then proceeded to threaten you, you'd 've just laughed at me, and so then I'd 've had to show you that we were serious about needing your help, so time being of the essence here, we figured we'd streamline the process and show you we were serious before asking you. . . .I’ve kept an eye on you. As you know. We don't miss much, Stoney. You've solved two murders since you've been up here in Maine. Your sheriff calls on you to help him figure things out. You've shown intelligence, initiative, and resourcefulness-and courage to burn-not even to mention all of the survival and self-defense and problem-solving skills that were instilled in you at great government expense.’ "

So Stoney is forced undercover by the “agency” as a fishing guide to a remote high class fishing lodge in northern Maine to investigate the killing of another agent, McNulty, who had been at the lodge but was discovered dead in a car with an underage girl, both having been shot, yet he and the girl already dead from botulism poisoning, the shooting being merely to make it look like murder/suicide. Soon after his arrival at the lodge, one of the other guides is murdered with Stoney’s gun and things start to get interesting as Stoney realizes he has many skills his conscious self cannot remember.

For those who care about such things, the title of each book, is the name of a fly-fishing fly.

[Suspense Magazine · Rating 2 out of 5]

“Dark Tiger” is William Tapply’s latest installment in the Stoney Calhoun series and unfortunately, will be one of his last due to Mr. Tapply’s recent passing. Stoney is trying to live his life out peacefully as a co-owner of a bait and tackle shop just outside Portland, Maine. He has no recollection of his former life since waking up in a VA hospital seven years prior. He is often visited by the “Man in the Suit” who checks to see if Stoney has regained any of his memories and also has “jobs” for him to complete. If Stoney does not comply, the mysterious government official threatens to make life difficult. In Dark Tiger, Stoney is asked to solve the murder of a federal agent and a local girl at a remote fishing resort in upper Maine. Along with his sidekick Ralph, his faithful Brittany Spaniel, Stoney takes on the role of a fishing guide and searches for the answers to the mysterious deaths. Tapply’s vast knowledge of fly-fishing and the Maine wilderness inspires the outdoor adventurer in us all but with a limited number of characters; the ending was not very surprising or revealing and left us wanting for more mystery and less details of the fishing trips.

[Grey853 · Rating 2 out of 5]

One of the things I like most about the Stoney Calhoun books is his complicated relationship with Kate, his partner at the Fishing store. Unfortunately in this book, Kate's only in it for about a third of the story.

Stoney gets an assignment from some shadow government figure that he can't refuse. He's forced to investigate a murder of an agent. I thought the plot of that was pretty lame. Plus, I don't like the new handler and I hate it when characters are forced to do things in order to save others they care about. I guess it's the point of the book that our government is really no better than others when it comes to manipulation and exploitation. Still, I found it disturbing that Stoney seems powerless to control his own life and that he can't tell Kate what's going on.

So, though I like the character of Stoney, I didn't really like this book as well as the others in the series.

[Bill · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book added a new dimension to the Stoney Calhoun series as characters from his past are introduced. The story moves from Stoney's familiar Portland, Maine, fishing ground to lakes in northern Maine on the Canadian border. A plush fishing resort that caters to the ultra-wealthy becomes a killing ground that Stoney's former employers want him to solve. They resort to several unethical tricks to force Stoney to take the job.

I liked the plot and the way Stoney handles himself in a confused but confident manner. Tapply is a wonderful writer who loves the outdoors and fishing. It comes across is this well told mystery.

[judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've read all three Stoney Calhoun books and have found them to be good solid mysteries with great settings(fishing lakes in Maine) and interesting characters. Admittedly I'm a sucker for detective whose woman is independent, strong and, in some areas, far more accomplished than he. I'm also all about faithful dogs who are all about food. Sadly this was Mr. Tapply's last mystery and if you read the introduction you'll realize what it took for him to write this one. So thank you sir. Stoney may fade a bit over time but Kate will be on my heroine list forever. I hope and suspect that dear Ralph was modeled after a dog that Mr. Tapply knew well. Good work!

[Ed · Rating 3 out of 5]

#3 in the Stoney Calhoun series. Stoney lost his memory after being hit by lightning and is now a fishing guide in ME. The series started strong but this 2009 final entry is rather weak. Author William G. Tapply passed away in July, 2009 from leukemia.

Stoney Calhoun is visited by government agents and coerced into taking a secret assignment. Another government agent has been found killed, with an underage girl, near a remote ME lodge where he had been a guest. Stony is to take a job as a fishing guide at the lodge and discover what threat to national security the agent had found and who murdered him. Thin tale.

[Sandra · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quick read for a "stuck inside day" because of snow and ice. Interesting details about fishing and guides also. The brevity of the book may have been due to the fact that William Tapply was suffering from leukemia. He passed away in July of 2009 after the book was finished in April. This was the first of the Stoney Calhoun novels I had read and I will probably look for some of the earlier novels. The details about a lifestyle concerned with the outdoors and ecology remind me of C.J.Box and Nevada Barr.

[Jane · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the last of the Stoney Calhoun series. This series main character helps run a fishing store in Maine and guides fishing clients. He has lost his memory but he has unexplained talents such as expertise with weapons and language. Intriguing series with many unanswered questions.

Tapply also has a large series of Brady Coyne novels where the main character is a Boston lawyer (he also enjoys fishing), he is often drawn into solving murders, disappearances, etc. Very nicely written.

The author recently passed away from Leukemia.

[Steve · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dec 2020 I wonder if Adam has ever read this series. All about fishing as a subtext.

Nov 2019 again - still5 stars. I really enjoy this plot. I'm actually visualizing small lakes in Western Washington. I know, it's not Maine Nevertheless, that's my point of reference. Its nice to get reacquainted with William Tapply's stories and characters.

Dec 2016 sTill a 5 star story!!!!!
May 2013A Stoney Calhoun - woke up with no memories.
I rarely give 5 stars but I liked this book.

[MBP · Rating 4 out of 5]

(3 1/2 stars) I love Stoney Calhoun, Ralph, Kate, and the bait shop, and it was great to read about them again, but this one felt a bit perfunctory. I wish the Loon lake setting and characters had been fleshed out a bit more. I was very sorry to hear of the passing of William G. Tapply. This was a high-quality series, and now we'll never learn the mysteries of Stoney's forgotten past.

[Brian · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the third and (sadly) last entry in the Stoney Calhoun series.
I've just started it, but like the others, it takes right off and puts you in the action. Great characters, setting and story. RIP Bill...
Done! Wonderful as always. The fishing scenes were the best. Made me want to get in a canoe on quiet water.....