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Stoner McTavish Mysteries #4
A Captive in Time
In the Fourth Stoner McTavish Mystery by Sarah Dreher, Stoner gets lost in time... finding herself inexplicably transported to a town in Colorado Territory, circa 1871. There she encounters Dot, the saloonkeeper, Blue Mary, a local witch/healer, and an enigmatic teenage runaway named Billy. As Stoner tries to return home, her life is threatened and she starts to fall in love, out of time...
252 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1990
11 people are currently reading
75 people want to read
About the author
Sarah Dreher
13 books23 followersBorn March 26, 1937, in Hanover, Pa., Sarah Dreher attended Wellesley College and went on to earn her doctorate in clinical psychology from Purdue University. She moved in 1965 to Amherst, MA where she established her private practice. She was the co-founder of Sunrise-Amanecer Inc., a nonprofit organization, serving as president and clinical director for seven years. She was a member of the Welsh Society of Western New England and an activist during the women's movement.
Dreher was the author of the Stoner McTavish lesbian detective series. The seventh in the series, Shaman's Moon, won the Lambda Literary Award for Best Lesbian Mystery for 1998. Dreher was also the author of several plays and a romance novel Solitaire and Brahms. She was the recipient of the 2005 Alice B. Readers' Award.
Dreher was the author of the Stoner McTavish lesbian detective series. The seventh in the series, Shaman's Moon, won the Lambda Literary Award for Best Lesbian Mystery for 1998. Dreher was also the author of several plays and a romance novel Solitaire and Brahms. She was the recipient of the 2005 Alice B. Readers' Award.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
November 24, 2020
I was feeling kinda down and frustrated at having tried a few books that didn't work for me - so I went looking for something comforting and familiar - and decided on the Fourth Installment of Stoner McTavish. Ah, Stoner is just a comforting hug, to me.
This time Stone is somehow transported back in time to 1871 in a very small Western town where a lot is looming. There's fires being started around town, a mysterious fanatical preacher, the women's suffrage movement, plus a lot of talk about past lives.
Stoner meets a saloon madam (of course) who reminds us a lot of Stell from previous books. We also meet Blue Mary a witchy woman who is very spiritually intune and is a past life of Stoner's Aunt Hermione. We also meet Billy, and we find out some secrets about them and the reason why Stoner is so bizarrely drawn to them despite her adoration for her 1989 girlfriend, Gwen.
It's all very sweet and lovely, and the discussions Stoner has with herself about the attraction is interesting. What are the ramifications of having feelings for your soul mate in another life time?
How do you let down your past life lover? Despite the undeniable connection they both feel toward each other.
Again it was interesting to see how Stoner makes friends wherever she goes and listens to peoples stories about their lives and doesn't judge. She's always at the right place at the right time. But her road always leads back to Gwen, and vice versa. Sigh.
This time Stone is somehow transported back in time to 1871 in a very small Western town where a lot is looming. There's fires being started around town, a mysterious fanatical preacher, the women's suffrage movement, plus a lot of talk about past lives.
Stoner meets a saloon madam (of course) who reminds us a lot of Stell from previous books. We also meet Blue Mary a witchy woman who is very spiritually intune and is a past life of Stoner's Aunt Hermione. We also meet Billy, and we find out some secrets about them and the reason why Stoner is so bizarrely drawn to them despite her adoration for her 1989 girlfriend, Gwen.
It's all very sweet and lovely, and the discussions Stoner has with herself about the attraction is interesting. What are the ramifications of having feelings for your soul mate in another life time?
How do you let down your past life lover? Despite the undeniable connection they both feel toward each other.
Again it was interesting to see how Stoner makes friends wherever she goes and listens to peoples stories about their lives and doesn't judge. She's always at the right place at the right time. But her road always leads back to Gwen, and vice versa. Sigh.
June 7, 2022
Stoner McTavish (der seltsame Vorname wird in diesem Roman erklärt) ist Heldin einer Reihe von Romanen von Sarah Dreher. Sie sind im weitesten Sinne Detektiv-Romane, einige sind jedoch auch phantastisch. Das rechtfertigt ihre Aufnahme in Ariadne Social Fantasies. Die Krimis passen auch sonst in das Verlagsprofil, denn sie gehören zu den Romanen mit schwulen oder lesbischen Protagonisten, mit denen der durchschnittlicher SF-Leser so gut wie nicht in Berührung kommt.
Stoner McTavish hat bei der Überführung eines Autos im Gebiet des einstigen Wilden Westens, irgendwo zwischen Colorado und Kansas, eine Panne und wird in die 70iger Jahre des vorigen Jahrhunderts verschlagen. Plötzlich erkrankt findet sie Unterkunft bei einer liebenswerten, alleinlebenden, übersinnlich begabten Heilkundigen (sprich einer "Hexe"), die sie stark an ihre Tante Hermione erinnert.
Bald macht sie Bekanntschaften anderer Außenseiterinnen, der Prostituierten des örtlichen Freudenhauses, und Billy, einem jungen Herumtreiber, der viel Ähnlichkeit mit ihrer Geliebten hat und der sich alsbald als Mädchen entpuppt, das vor seinem zudringlichen Stiefvater geflohen ist.
Wieder gesund geht Stoner unter die Menschen im Städtchen Tabor und fällt natürlich auf, schon allein, weil sie Hosen trägt. Als eine Ranch angezündet wird, wird ihre detektivische Neugier geweckt. Der Leser erfährt durch einen Perspektivwechsel, dass sich im Kaff schon ein Psychopath und Feuerteufel mit religiösen Motiven aufhält, doch erst einmal gerät Stoner als Fremde und Billy als Außenseiter in Verdacht.
Die Ereignisse spitzen sich zu, es kommt zum actiongeladenen Showdown. Für reichlich Spannung ist gesorgt, Sarah Dreher kann gut erzählen, so dass eine reizvolle Mischung aus Science Fiction, Mystery und Western zustande gekommen ist.
Nebenbei beschwört der Roman eine Utopie, den Zusammenhalt der Frauen über Rassenschranken hinweg, gegen die repressive und rassistische Männerwelt.
Ein Roman bei dem man als männlicher Leser manchmal den Eindruck hat, man(n) gehört nicht zu der intendierten Zielgruppe dieses Romans. Am Ende betritt in Gestalt eines nicht mehr ganz jungen, jedoch aufrechten Kopfgeldjägers doch noch eine positive männliche Figur das Romangeschehen und man(n) ist etwas "versöhnt".
Die Kritik oben habe ich geschrieben, als der Roman neu erschienen ist.
GR kann ich zum einen entnehmen, dass dies schon die dritte Ausgabe des Romans in deutscher Übersetzung ist, was für seine Qualität spricht. Zum anderen gibt gibt es unter den Leser*innen wirklich wenig Männer.
Stoner McTavish hat bei der Überführung eines Autos im Gebiet des einstigen Wilden Westens, irgendwo zwischen Colorado und Kansas, eine Panne und wird in die 70iger Jahre des vorigen Jahrhunderts verschlagen. Plötzlich erkrankt findet sie Unterkunft bei einer liebenswerten, alleinlebenden, übersinnlich begabten Heilkundigen (sprich einer "Hexe"), die sie stark an ihre Tante Hermione erinnert.
Bald macht sie Bekanntschaften anderer Außenseiterinnen, der Prostituierten des örtlichen Freudenhauses, und Billy, einem jungen Herumtreiber, der viel Ähnlichkeit mit ihrer Geliebten hat und der sich alsbald als Mädchen entpuppt, das vor seinem zudringlichen Stiefvater geflohen ist.
Wieder gesund geht Stoner unter die Menschen im Städtchen Tabor und fällt natürlich auf, schon allein, weil sie Hosen trägt. Als eine Ranch angezündet wird, wird ihre detektivische Neugier geweckt. Der Leser erfährt durch einen Perspektivwechsel, dass sich im Kaff schon ein Psychopath und Feuerteufel mit religiösen Motiven aufhält, doch erst einmal gerät Stoner als Fremde und Billy als Außenseiter in Verdacht.
Die Ereignisse spitzen sich zu, es kommt zum actiongeladenen Showdown. Für reichlich Spannung ist gesorgt, Sarah Dreher kann gut erzählen, so dass eine reizvolle Mischung aus Science Fiction, Mystery und Western zustande gekommen ist.
Nebenbei beschwört der Roman eine Utopie, den Zusammenhalt der Frauen über Rassenschranken hinweg, gegen die repressive und rassistische Männerwelt.
Ein Roman bei dem man als männlicher Leser manchmal den Eindruck hat, man(n) gehört nicht zu der intendierten Zielgruppe dieses Romans. Am Ende betritt in Gestalt eines nicht mehr ganz jungen, jedoch aufrechten Kopfgeldjägers doch noch eine positive männliche Figur das Romangeschehen und man(n) ist etwas "versöhnt".
Die Kritik oben habe ich geschrieben, als der Roman neu erschienen ist.
GR kann ich zum einen entnehmen, dass dies schon die dritte Ausgabe des Romans in deutscher Übersetzung ist, was für seine Qualität spricht. Zum anderen gibt gibt es unter den Leser*innen wirklich wenig Männer.
November 5, 2007
The fourth book in the Stoner McTavish series has her winging her way out to Colorado to retrieve the car of a client who had to fly back to Boston for a family emergency. Except, alone on the Colorado interstate, the car mysteriously dies and somehow Stoner finds herself back in 1871 in a small town where, of course, trouble's a-brewin'.
My first thought was that we weren't going to see any of our old, familiar characters in this one except for a brief appearance in the beginning, but, as it turns out, that wouldn't be quite right. At least two of the characters are the reincarnation, or perhaps I should call it the "preincarnation" of Aunt Hermione and Gwen. While the book never says or even speculates on any others, I've got my money on the saloon owner being Stel Perkin's preincarnation, not that it has any relevance to the story.
Anyway, like Gray Magic, this one is pretty well based in New Age mysticism combined with an interesting look at Colorado not long before it becomes a state. I've no idea how accurate Dreher's historical account is, but, like the other Stoner books, this one is a fun read.
My first thought was that we weren't going to see any of our old, familiar characters in this one except for a brief appearance in the beginning, but, as it turns out, that wouldn't be quite right. At least two of the characters are the reincarnation, or perhaps I should call it the "preincarnation" of Aunt Hermione and Gwen. While the book never says or even speculates on any others, I've got my money on the saloon owner being Stel Perkin's preincarnation, not that it has any relevance to the story.
Anyway, like Gray Magic, this one is pretty well based in New Age mysticism combined with an interesting look at Colorado not long before it becomes a state. I've no idea how accurate Dreher's historical account is, but, like the other Stoner books, this one is a fun read.
April 5, 2011
ATTENTION:
This book is originally called "A Captive in Time",I don't know why German publishers chose another English title. Stupidest thing ever.
Anyway, I really enjoyed reading this. It's the fourth novel in the "Stoner McTavish" series about a travel agent who,rather against her will,investigates crimes. She's a quite "un-typical" heroine as she's
a) really shy
b) a lesbian
and since I,too, am both of this, I really like following her on her adventures. This is the 3rd book about her that I read...I don't know exactly how many there are since they are hard to find here.
But,if you find them,read! It really is worth the time. Sure,this book is no great literature,but it is well written,entertaining and funny. Stoner really is one of a kind.
This book is originally called "A Captive in Time",I don't know why German publishers chose another English title. Stupidest thing ever.
Anyway, I really enjoyed reading this. It's the fourth novel in the "Stoner McTavish" series about a travel agent who,rather against her will,investigates crimes. She's a quite "un-typical" heroine as she's
a) really shy
b) a lesbian
and since I,too, am both of this, I really like following her on her adventures. This is the 3rd book about her that I read...I don't know exactly how many there are since they are hard to find here.
But,if you find them,read! It really is worth the time. Sure,this book is no great literature,but it is well written,entertaining and funny. Stoner really is one of a kind.
October 17, 2021
Stoner time travels to the past for another mystery
Book four in the series is almost entirely without Stoner's usual characters. She's pulled into the past while traveling to deliver a car to customers from the travel agency. She finds a few familiar faces that were reincarnated in her own time. She must solve a mystery in a remote town in the late 19th century in order to return to her own time.
The new cast of characters are just as wonderful as our regular favorites, but there's less witty banter with these women. Stoner continues to use terms, phrases, and references to the late 1980's while in the past, which causes a lot of confusion, as well as suspicions about her from the townspeople. It is also during the time of the women's suffrage movement, so she witnesses life in the times of the wild west in Colorado when women had no rights.
This was another fantastic book in the series, and I highly recommend it.
Book four in the series is almost entirely without Stoner's usual characters. She's pulled into the past while traveling to deliver a car to customers from the travel agency. She finds a few familiar faces that were reincarnated in her own time. She must solve a mystery in a remote town in the late 19th century in order to return to her own time.
The new cast of characters are just as wonderful as our regular favorites, but there's less witty banter with these women. Stoner continues to use terms, phrases, and references to the late 1980's while in the past, which causes a lot of confusion, as well as suspicions about her from the townspeople. It is also during the time of the women's suffrage movement, so she witnesses life in the times of the wild west in Colorado when women had no rights.
This was another fantastic book in the series, and I highly recommend it.
October 5, 2020
Fourth page-turner in a row for Sarah Dreher. What an amazing writing style, it is right up my alley.
A good balance of mystery and romance plot and I think it's dramatic, funny, tragic and parodic in all the right places.
I was so emotionally invested in the characters that I cried at the end. What a ride!
A good balance of mystery and romance plot and I think it's dramatic, funny, tragic and parodic in all the right places.
I was so emotionally invested in the characters that I cried at the end. What a ride!
August 31, 2023
I found this at a used bookstore and I'm so glad I did.
February 9, 2010
One of the things I love the most about Sarah Dreher's Stoner McTavish series is that she doesn't focus on the "required lesbian love/sex scene" that so many lesbian authors seem to fall into. Not that it doesn't occasionally pop up...but it always flows naturally, as part of the plot. Not sex scene because it's required. When I want that, I can read erotica. I read this series for the mystery, the spiritual explorations. Kudos to the author.
December 16, 2010
I had a little trouble getting started with this one, but once I got 20 pages in, I was hooked. I just wish Stoner had got to meet her namesake.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 2, 2011
love this series. They are keepers and I re-read them every couple of years.
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April 19, 2019Barton hollow
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews