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Donald Strachey #6
Chain of Fools
A Donald Strachey Mystery, Book 6 – Private Investigator Donald Strachey is asked to look into the events surrounding the months-old murder of Eric Osborne. His death, originally believed to be a random attack, takes on new significance when Janet Osborne, Eric's sister, survives an attempt on her life.
Skeeter, Eric's lover, believed both attacks were meant to silence them before the sale of their family's newspaper. Drawn into a complex family feud, Strachey must unravel the secret behind the attacks before the killer tries again.
Written over a period of three decades, the Donald Strachey series authentically chronicles gay life as it unfolded in upstate New York. An author’s note is included.
“Literate and skillfully plotted … Stevenson keeps the action on an even keel and the characters believable. Throughout it all, the author imbues his characters with a keen sense of humor.” — Ft. Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
“Richard Stevenson's mysteries are among the wittiest and most politically pointed around today.” — Washington Post
“Stevenson makes his way deftly through Chain of Fools, with a strong sense of plot and a good ear for dialogue.” — Boston Globe
Skeeter, Eric's lover, believed both attacks were meant to silence them before the sale of their family's newspaper. Drawn into a complex family feud, Strachey must unravel the secret behind the attacks before the killer tries again.
Written over a period of three decades, the Donald Strachey series authentically chronicles gay life as it unfolded in upstate New York. An author’s note is included.
“Literate and skillfully plotted … Stevenson keeps the action on an even keel and the characters believable. Throughout it all, the author imbues his characters with a keen sense of humor.” — Ft. Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
“Richard Stevenson's mysteries are among the wittiest and most politically pointed around today.” — Washington Post
“Stevenson makes his way deftly through Chain of Fools, with a strong sense of plot and a good ear for dialogue.” — Boston Globe
294 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 17, 2023
13 people are currently reading
197 people want to read
About the author
Richard Stevenson
81 books142 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
Richard Stevenson is the pseudonym of Richard Lipez, the author of nine books, including the Don Strachey private eye series. The Strachey books are being filmed by here!, the first gay television network. Lipez also co-wrote Grand Scam with Peter Stein, and contributed to Crimes of the Scene: A Mystery Novel Guide for the International Traveler. He is a mystery columnist for The Washington Post and a former editorial writer at The Berkshire Eagle. His reporting, reviews and fiction have appeared in The Boston Globe, Newsday, The Progressive, The Atlantic Monthly, Harper's and many other publications. He grew up and went to college in Pennsylvania and served in the Peace Corps in Ethiopia from 1962-64. Lipez lives in Becket, Massachusetts and is married to sculptor Joe Wheaton.
Richard Stevenson is the pseudonym of Richard Lipez, the author of nine books, including the Don Strachey private eye series. The Strachey books are being filmed by here!, the first gay television network. Lipez also co-wrote Grand Scam with Peter Stein, and contributed to Crimes of the Scene: A Mystery Novel Guide for the International Traveler. He is a mystery columnist for The Washington Post and a former editorial writer at The Berkshire Eagle. His reporting, reviews and fiction have appeared in The Boston Globe, Newsday, The Progressive, The Atlantic Monthly, Harper's and many other publications. He grew up and went to college in Pennsylvania and served in the Peace Corps in Ethiopia from 1962-64. Lipez lives in Becket, Massachusetts and is married to sculptor Joe Wheaton.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
December 28, 2014
3,5 stars.
It's probably the weakest installment in the Don Strachey's Mystery IMO. Not only because I found the case less interesting than usually-
A distinguished New York State family whose members apparently were trying to kill one another off for reasons of ideology and/or cash.
-but mostly because I didn't feel Don's presence the way I got used to feel it in the previous installments: Dan's first person POV could be a third person POV-I wouldn't have noticed any different.
August 27, 2019
It was fun to spend more time with Don and Timmy, and I really love that Don's no longer bemoaning his monogamy and is fully committed to Timmy now. We get to learn a little more about Timmy's background as they get involved in a mystery because of Timmy's high school squeeze asking for their help.
The mystery itself though was kind of filler. There was a lot of rehashing, and none of the characters involved in it were particularly interesting or sympathetic. They didn't feel fully fleshed out. "Crazy rich white people" pretty much sums them all up. Then out of nowhere So that was weird.
The mystery itself though was kind of filler. There was a lot of rehashing, and none of the characters involved in it were particularly interesting or sympathetic. They didn't feel fully fleshed out. "Crazy rich white people" pretty much sums them all up. Then out of nowhere So that was weird.
April 5, 2021
3.5 of 5 – Entertaining Series Continues w/ Straightforward Mystery.
I love gay mysteries and romances, and Richard Stevenson does a good job of combining both in one of the more entertaining such series, even if this entry wasn't a favorite.
I liked this for the same reasons I liked each in the series, but it can be just as good as a standalone. With crisp, witty writing, it was a straightforward mystery, brought to life by a colorful, hard-boiled yet likable PI, who is, as he put it, “more or less coincidentally gay.”
Richard Stevenson’s style made this a light, entertaining and easy read. I enjoyed the change in setting out of Albany and step back in time to the mid-‘90s. This was a historical that was contemporary when written, and in fact centered again on a topic ripped from the headlines - the waning of newspapers. Adding to that was a nice mix a family business and rivalry, greed, financial speculation, and an old HS flame.
Overlaying this throughout was just the right balance between the maturing relationship and the mystery, with the latter getting the spotlight. While it was not as complex or tight, a bit predictable, it was still interesting to see how it all played out, especially with the good detective work to unravel the secrets.
I love gay mysteries and romances, and Richard Stevenson does a good job of combining both in one of the more entertaining such series, even if this entry wasn't a favorite.
I liked this for the same reasons I liked each in the series, but it can be just as good as a standalone. With crisp, witty writing, it was a straightforward mystery, brought to life by a colorful, hard-boiled yet likable PI, who is, as he put it, “more or less coincidentally gay.”
Richard Stevenson’s style made this a light, entertaining and easy read. I enjoyed the change in setting out of Albany and step back in time to the mid-‘90s. This was a historical that was contemporary when written, and in fact centered again on a topic ripped from the headlines - the waning of newspapers. Adding to that was a nice mix a family business and rivalry, greed, financial speculation, and an old HS flame.
Overlaying this throughout was just the right balance between the maturing relationship and the mystery, with the latter getting the spotlight. While it was not as complex or tight, a bit predictable, it was still interesting to see how it all played out, especially with the good detective work to unravel the secrets.
September 8, 2012
This was my first Donald Strachey mystery story. I have seen one of the movies made for here! TV, don't remember which one.
I found it to be a good page turner. A nice quick summer read, not too heavy and not too light, but just right!
I'll be reading more Strachey books in the future that's for sure.
I found it to be a good page turner. A nice quick summer read, not too heavy and not too light, but just right!
I'll be reading more Strachey books in the future that's for sure.
February 24, 2017
I JUST LOVE TIMMY SO MUCH
July 13, 2015
In this 6th in the Don Strachey mysteries we find our intrepid PI investigating who killed Eric Osborne and now attempting to kill various members of his family.Tim gets a call from an ex high school lover who wants Don to investigate.Unfortunately,Skeeter (as he was called during that long ago time) has been hospitalized,and talking incoherently about good chains,bad chains,daisy chains, and chains of fools and about his love of Tim and anger at the way Tim left him.Thankfully,Eric's sister Janet comes in and explains that the Osborne family is attempting to sell the family newspaper,and it has caused a division among family members.Some want to sell the paper to a big chain that won't hold the progressive mission that paper held fourth.Yet other members of the family want to sell it to another that will continue the progressive mission of the newspaper,but it will be for less money to be divided by the members of the family.Eric,Janet,Dan and their mother was for the smaller chain.With the attempts on Janice and now brother Dan's life could greed be the culprit? I really like this book.I also love the character Dale (Janet's younger lover of 8 years) who is just as much a smart ass as Don.Dale has a past with Tim and something and it might not be good.She's not about to tell him what he did to make her wary of him and neither shall I.This is a good read though and another highly recommended book in the series.Also, there is finally a likeable person in law enforcement, Bill Stankie, who works is the sheriff in the town where the Osborne's live is tolerant, patient, and respects Don's abilities. Though he is conservative, he admits to having a gay son who is in a long term relationship with a man in the police department of another city.Bill has learned to love and respect his son's relationship though he admits it took time.
November 5, 2012
A newspaper on the brink of extinction and a family at war with itself. Don Strachey's got his hands full, but when Timmy Callahan gets caught in the cross fire, he's not a happy man.
In the end I enjoyed this story, but it felt a bit thin and a rare thing for me, I actually sussed out the culprit at about the same time Don did.
In the end I enjoyed this story, but it felt a bit thin and a rare thing for me, I actually sussed out the culprit at about the same time Don did.
March 14, 2015
Donald Strachey #6. Some great lines and witty dialogue as usual, but things are taken very lightly for all the murder and mayhem described. Strachey seems more cynical than usual. I suppose that was fitting for the times. The epilogue regarding the newspaper is redundant. Maybe not so much when this was written, but certainly in light of how things have gone since then.
June 12, 2012
a good solid detective story with a non- stereotyped gay twist. i got into these books via the movies - which are pleasant but a bit twee, and was happy to discover that the original books are quite a bit smarter, sharper, and more political.
September 12, 2015
Okay, I liked the story and the characters, set up and ending, but the epilogue - one part weird (and maybe a little jump of the shark) and the last paragraph, wrapping up a secondary storyline, was just way too sad for me. Such an odd way to end the book... Onward I go.
January 30, 2008
Probably my least favorite of the Strachey novels. This one feels a little detached and impersonal, although it's still well-written and entertaining.
June 14, 2009
The new MLR Press editions, at least the ebook versions, have a disappointing number of typographical problems, both minor and major.
October 20, 2009
Not his best--but still not bad.
December 18, 2010
This was a quick read. The story was OK, but I really liked the characters. Stevenson's sense of humor comes through really well, and he had me laughing out loud in several places.
April 11, 2012
Good gay mystery in which Done investigates what may be one part of a family turning against another over selling the family's award-winning newspaper to pay off debts.
January 10, 2014
Too much cutting corners with exposition and filling in the cracks with ineffectual melodrama surrounding Timothy's past really saps the life out of what's left of the narrative.
December 26, 2024
Edensburg im Norden des Staats New York, eine erholsame Stadt im Einzugsgebiet von Albany, einige Augusttage Mitte der neunziger Jahre. Genre: Privatdetektiv-Krimi, Donald Strachey stellt den Mörder im Clan einer vom Konkurs bedrohten Zeitungsverleger-Familie. Von den 16 zwischen 1981 und 2019 erschienen Detektiv-Krimis um Don Strachey (mit seinem Partner Timothy Callahan lebt er offen schwul im eher provinziellen Albany zusammen) ist dieses das sechste Buch gewesen (und das dritte, das mich erreichte). Ins Deutsche hat man fünf von den ersten sechs Fällen übersetzt. Dies war der letzte, Fall 4 wurde übersprungen.
Es geht um einen Aufenthalt von Don und Timmy in einer Kleinstadt am Rande des Naturparadieses Adirondacks. Sie rutschen in den seit langem schwelenden Zwist innerhalb der einst liberalen Familie Osborne, der eine Regionalzeitung gehört, die mittlerweile in Geldschwierigkeiten geraten ist und demnächst von gewissenlosen Spekulanten übernommen werden könnte. Überraschende Ausbrüche von Gewalt und Zerstörungswut scheinen in der Familie erblich zu sein und neuerdings geht man wohl über Leichen. Im Zuge des Reagan'schen Kapitalismus-Aufschwungs hatte der bislang stets zuverlässige und erfolgreiche beste Freund der Osbornes die etwas realitätsblinden Bildungsbürger in ein größenwahnsinniges Tourismus-Investment gelotst. Dann platzte die Blase. Jetzt hängen sie drin, keine Bank gibt ihnen Kredit. Nur eine Rettung scheint es zu geben: Verkaufen an ein bundesweit die kleineren Häuser schluckendes Pressekonglomerat, das dafür berüchtigt ist, Know-how abzuziehen und die Blätter nach und nach zu reinen Werbeblättern umzumodeln.
In diesem Fall kann der aufrechte Timmy Callahan endlich eine tragende Rolle übernehmen und ist mehr als schmückendes Beiwerk zum Macho-Schwulen Don Strachey. (Den Stevenson mal als schwulen Tom Selleck angelegt hatte, doch die Achtziger und „Magnum“ sind Geschichte.) Timmys Jugendschwarm Eldon lebt hier oben und kämpft gegen den Virus, HIV. Um so härter hat es ihn getroffen, dass sein Mann, einer von den Osbornes, der ewige Außenseiter, nicht nur schwul, sondern auch ein besessener Naturbursche und Naturschützer, im Nationalpark zu Tode gekommen ist. Offiziell ein Unfall, aber daran glauben weder Eldon noch seine Besucher aus der Hauptstadt. Die Polizei fahndet nach einem psychisch kranken Tramp, der vom Erdboden verschluckt ist.
Zu den Stevenson-Krimis muss man wissen, dass er ab etwa dem zweiten oder dritten Buch sich verpflichtet gefühlt hat, seine „queer people“ zu bedienen, das heißt, es müssen jedes Mal auch Lesben ein Wörtchen mitzureden bekommen. Somit haben wir hier dann auch Janet Osborne samt ihrer lesbischen Freundin Dale, die wiederum eine alte Bekannte von Timmy zu sein scheint. Ein zumindest extrem fahrlässiger Jetski-Pilot nimmt sie während einem Spaziergang am See aufs Korn, bringt Janet beinahe um und verursacht einen Beinbruch bei Timmy. Die Polizei kann diesen Raser dann nicht aufspüren.
Die übrigen Osbornes weisen alle Hypothesen, damit hätte schon der zweite Osborne-Erbe ausgelöscht werden sollen, jemand von ihnen könnte damit was zu tun haben, empört sehr weit von sich. Don lernt die Mutter von Janet kennen, die alte Witwe jenes liberalen Patriarchen, unter dem die Zeitung einen Ruf zu verlieren hatte. Diese Frau ist mal so, mal so, an dem einen Tag links engagiert, aufmüpfig und rebellisch, am nächsten total von der Rolle, unfähig, ihren Haushalt zu führen. Alzheimer. Das heißt, falls jemand daran arbeitet, die Partei der liberalen Humanisten im Aufsichtsrat des Unternehmens zu schwächen, kann der sich freuen.
Es gäbe auch noch einen flippigen Jungen aus der Enkel-Generation. Aber der soll irgendwo im Südpazifik beim Surfen sein und ist offenbar unerreichbar. Oder ist er ganz nah und hat diesen Killer-Flitzer über den See gesteuert? Dann gibt es auch noch einen Osborne, der im Knast sitzt, eine Verurteilung wegen Körperverletzung im Affekt mit Todesfolge. Don erfährt, dass dieser Osborne schon länger seinen Racheplan gegen seinen Vater schmiedet. Dieser Vater ist einer der zwei Osbornes, die von jeher mit dem erwähnten Freund der Familie an der finanziellen Wiedergeburt ihres gebeutelten Hauses arbeiten und also momentan für den Verkauf stimmen wollen.
Ein durchgehender Faden im Buch, wenn auch nicht so bedrohlich wie die Machenschaften der Osbornes, ist die ewige Frage, wo Dale und Timmy sich schon mal begegnet sind und wieso sie ihn, den wir Leser dieser Serie als extrem integren Charakter, fast schon langweilig in seinem Gut-Sein, kennen gelernt haben, als doppelzüngiges Verräterschwein madig zu machen sucht, ohne jemals die Fakten auf den Tisch zu legen. (Es scheint um eine Differenz innerhalb der Queer Community zu gehen.)
Wo es für mich der fünfte und letzte der auf Deutsch gelesenen Strachey-Krimis gewesen ist, möchte ich folgenden Zwischenstand loswerden: So richtig voll und ganz gelungen habe ich keines dieser fünf Bücher gefunden. Wie bereits angedeutet, sagt mir das, natürlich nie artikulierte, Proporz-Gebot Stevensons nicht so recht zu. In jedem Buch müssen schwule Figuren und Verhältnisse eine Rolle spielen und, vor allem am Anfang (und in der Vorgeschichte, ihrer Jugend), müssen die Homosexuellen Opfer gesellschaftlicher Diskriminierung (gewesen) sein. Dem entspricht, dass oft Homosexuelle der Morde verdächtigt werden, die es nachher natürlich nicht gewesen sind. Die besonders Unsympathischen sind meistens heterosexuelle Männer. Die letztlich aber auch nicht als Täter in Frage kommen, sonst wäre alles zu einfach. Und immer müssen Lesben dabei sein, obwohl sie weder Opfer, noch Täter, noch Aufklärer sind.
Was Richard Stevenson von Anfang an sehr gut konnte, auch hier wieder: Am Beginn des Romans recht zügig eine sehr rätselhafte Stimmung erzeugen, wo man, je mysteriöser es aussieht, umso neugieriger wird. Dann aber folgt ein etwas zu langer Mittelteil, bei dem man schließlich Zweifel bekommt: Schaue ich hier den Fortschritten meines Detektivs zu oder werde ich von einem falschen Verdacht in den nächsten geschickt, damit das Buch Masse bekommt? Zum Ende hin stellt sich heraus, dass der Autor offenbar etwas zu viele verschiedene Fäden ineinander verwickelt hat. Was es letztlich dann auch unglaubwürdig macht. Und endlich, dies meist der enttäuschendste Part, kommt ein unfassbar gewalttätiger Schluss, bei dem aus einer Art schwulem Marlowe ein um sich ballernder James Bond wird.
Ich ordne die Don-Strachey-Serie qualitativ oberhalb der Serien von John Morgan Wilson, Larry Townsend und Grant Michaels ein, eindeutig aber unter denen von Michael Nava und Joseph Hansen (so altbacken er oft ist, er war und bleibt der Beste). Für mich war der beste Don-Fall der zweite „On The Other Hand, Death / Der Tod stand nicht im Bauplan“, gefolgt vom ersten, „Death Trick / Todesnummer“. Nicht so gelungen fand ich Buch 3 („Ice Blues / Winter Blues“) und Buch 4 („Shock to the System / Umgepolt“). Und dieses Buch hier (deutscher Titel: „Verraten und verkauft“) würde ich in die Mitte schieben.
Anmerkung: Die genannten fünf deutschen Übersetzungen sind nicht mehr im Buchhandel zu bekommen, sondern müssen antiquarisch bestellt werden. Das ist im Internet allerdings kein Problem und auch nicht teuer. Die deutsche, schwule Leserschaft hat diesen Autor niemals in ihr Herz geschlossen – und mittlerweile leider vergessen. Auch die Übersetzungen sind alle nicht wirklich gut, aber deutsch lesen sich die Bücher natürlich bequemer.
Es geht um einen Aufenthalt von Don und Timmy in einer Kleinstadt am Rande des Naturparadieses Adirondacks. Sie rutschen in den seit langem schwelenden Zwist innerhalb der einst liberalen Familie Osborne, der eine Regionalzeitung gehört, die mittlerweile in Geldschwierigkeiten geraten ist und demnächst von gewissenlosen Spekulanten übernommen werden könnte. Überraschende Ausbrüche von Gewalt und Zerstörungswut scheinen in der Familie erblich zu sein und neuerdings geht man wohl über Leichen. Im Zuge des Reagan'schen Kapitalismus-Aufschwungs hatte der bislang stets zuverlässige und erfolgreiche beste Freund der Osbornes die etwas realitätsblinden Bildungsbürger in ein größenwahnsinniges Tourismus-Investment gelotst. Dann platzte die Blase. Jetzt hängen sie drin, keine Bank gibt ihnen Kredit. Nur eine Rettung scheint es zu geben: Verkaufen an ein bundesweit die kleineren Häuser schluckendes Pressekonglomerat, das dafür berüchtigt ist, Know-how abzuziehen und die Blätter nach und nach zu reinen Werbeblättern umzumodeln.
In diesem Fall kann der aufrechte Timmy Callahan endlich eine tragende Rolle übernehmen und ist mehr als schmückendes Beiwerk zum Macho-Schwulen Don Strachey. (Den Stevenson mal als schwulen Tom Selleck angelegt hatte, doch die Achtziger und „Magnum“ sind Geschichte.) Timmys Jugendschwarm Eldon lebt hier oben und kämpft gegen den Virus, HIV. Um so härter hat es ihn getroffen, dass sein Mann, einer von den Osbornes, der ewige Außenseiter, nicht nur schwul, sondern auch ein besessener Naturbursche und Naturschützer, im Nationalpark zu Tode gekommen ist. Offiziell ein Unfall, aber daran glauben weder Eldon noch seine Besucher aus der Hauptstadt. Die Polizei fahndet nach einem psychisch kranken Tramp, der vom Erdboden verschluckt ist.
Zu den Stevenson-Krimis muss man wissen, dass er ab etwa dem zweiten oder dritten Buch sich verpflichtet gefühlt hat, seine „queer people“ zu bedienen, das heißt, es müssen jedes Mal auch Lesben ein Wörtchen mitzureden bekommen. Somit haben wir hier dann auch Janet Osborne samt ihrer lesbischen Freundin Dale, die wiederum eine alte Bekannte von Timmy zu sein scheint. Ein zumindest extrem fahrlässiger Jetski-Pilot nimmt sie während einem Spaziergang am See aufs Korn, bringt Janet beinahe um und verursacht einen Beinbruch bei Timmy. Die Polizei kann diesen Raser dann nicht aufspüren.
Die übrigen Osbornes weisen alle Hypothesen, damit hätte schon der zweite Osborne-Erbe ausgelöscht werden sollen, jemand von ihnen könnte damit was zu tun haben, empört sehr weit von sich. Don lernt die Mutter von Janet kennen, die alte Witwe jenes liberalen Patriarchen, unter dem die Zeitung einen Ruf zu verlieren hatte. Diese Frau ist mal so, mal so, an dem einen Tag links engagiert, aufmüpfig und rebellisch, am nächsten total von der Rolle, unfähig, ihren Haushalt zu führen. Alzheimer. Das heißt, falls jemand daran arbeitet, die Partei der liberalen Humanisten im Aufsichtsrat des Unternehmens zu schwächen, kann der sich freuen.
Es gäbe auch noch einen flippigen Jungen aus der Enkel-Generation. Aber der soll irgendwo im Südpazifik beim Surfen sein und ist offenbar unerreichbar. Oder ist er ganz nah und hat diesen Killer-Flitzer über den See gesteuert? Dann gibt es auch noch einen Osborne, der im Knast sitzt, eine Verurteilung wegen Körperverletzung im Affekt mit Todesfolge. Don erfährt, dass dieser Osborne schon länger seinen Racheplan gegen seinen Vater schmiedet. Dieser Vater ist einer der zwei Osbornes, die von jeher mit dem erwähnten Freund der Familie an der finanziellen Wiedergeburt ihres gebeutelten Hauses arbeiten und also momentan für den Verkauf stimmen wollen.
Ein durchgehender Faden im Buch, wenn auch nicht so bedrohlich wie die Machenschaften der Osbornes, ist die ewige Frage, wo Dale und Timmy sich schon mal begegnet sind und wieso sie ihn, den wir Leser dieser Serie als extrem integren Charakter, fast schon langweilig in seinem Gut-Sein, kennen gelernt haben, als doppelzüngiges Verräterschwein madig zu machen sucht, ohne jemals die Fakten auf den Tisch zu legen. (Es scheint um eine Differenz innerhalb der Queer Community zu gehen.)
Wo es für mich der fünfte und letzte der auf Deutsch gelesenen Strachey-Krimis gewesen ist, möchte ich folgenden Zwischenstand loswerden: So richtig voll und ganz gelungen habe ich keines dieser fünf Bücher gefunden. Wie bereits angedeutet, sagt mir das, natürlich nie artikulierte, Proporz-Gebot Stevensons nicht so recht zu. In jedem Buch müssen schwule Figuren und Verhältnisse eine Rolle spielen und, vor allem am Anfang (und in der Vorgeschichte, ihrer Jugend), müssen die Homosexuellen Opfer gesellschaftlicher Diskriminierung (gewesen) sein. Dem entspricht, dass oft Homosexuelle der Morde verdächtigt werden, die es nachher natürlich nicht gewesen sind. Die besonders Unsympathischen sind meistens heterosexuelle Männer. Die letztlich aber auch nicht als Täter in Frage kommen, sonst wäre alles zu einfach. Und immer müssen Lesben dabei sein, obwohl sie weder Opfer, noch Täter, noch Aufklärer sind.
Was Richard Stevenson von Anfang an sehr gut konnte, auch hier wieder: Am Beginn des Romans recht zügig eine sehr rätselhafte Stimmung erzeugen, wo man, je mysteriöser es aussieht, umso neugieriger wird. Dann aber folgt ein etwas zu langer Mittelteil, bei dem man schließlich Zweifel bekommt: Schaue ich hier den Fortschritten meines Detektivs zu oder werde ich von einem falschen Verdacht in den nächsten geschickt, damit das Buch Masse bekommt? Zum Ende hin stellt sich heraus, dass der Autor offenbar etwas zu viele verschiedene Fäden ineinander verwickelt hat. Was es letztlich dann auch unglaubwürdig macht. Und endlich, dies meist der enttäuschendste Part, kommt ein unfassbar gewalttätiger Schluss, bei dem aus einer Art schwulem Marlowe ein um sich ballernder James Bond wird.
Ich ordne die Don-Strachey-Serie qualitativ oberhalb der Serien von John Morgan Wilson, Larry Townsend und Grant Michaels ein, eindeutig aber unter denen von Michael Nava und Joseph Hansen (so altbacken er oft ist, er war und bleibt der Beste). Für mich war der beste Don-Fall der zweite „On The Other Hand, Death / Der Tod stand nicht im Bauplan“, gefolgt vom ersten, „Death Trick / Todesnummer“. Nicht so gelungen fand ich Buch 3 („Ice Blues / Winter Blues“) und Buch 4 („Shock to the System / Umgepolt“). Und dieses Buch hier (deutscher Titel: „Verraten und verkauft“) würde ich in die Mitte schieben.
Anmerkung: Die genannten fünf deutschen Übersetzungen sind nicht mehr im Buchhandel zu bekommen, sondern müssen antiquarisch bestellt werden. Das ist im Internet allerdings kein Problem und auch nicht teuer. Die deutsche, schwule Leserschaft hat diesen Autor niemals in ihr Herz geschlossen – und mittlerweile leider vergessen. Auch die Übersetzungen sind alle nicht wirklich gut, aber deutsch lesen sich die Bücher natürlich bequemer.
December 26, 2024
Having enjoyed the several Donald Strachey movies, I finally decided to start reading the actual books. This one came highly recommended, so I decided to start with it. The mystery unfolds within the rapidly changing world of newspapers and news media in general, a subject that has become only more relevant today than even when the book was first written.
I enjoyed being re-introduced to Don and Tim as the author originally envisioned them, which was somewhat different from their on-screen versions. Overall, I thought that the mystery was well-written, and the various family members and other characters were nicely developed. The one possible exception was that of Parson Bates. Many mysteries have a character similar to his - someone in one way or another over the top, either comically or negatively, or sometimes both. I think that these characters have to be crafted very carefully or they can become too cartoonish to be taken even remotely seriously, and I think Stevenson may have crossed that line with Bates. I'd personally have found it better to forego the spats museum and seen him more integrally crafted into the mystery.
Mysteries have to tie up lots of details in a relative few pages once the "big reveal" occurs, and in this case, I'd have liked to see a bit more nuancing of the various threads that needed addressed - some bits of closure seemed a bit forced and abrupt. I did appreciate the final shoe that dropped in the Epilogue - an unfortunate but realistic turn of events that should give all of its readers pause. Just a few pages earlier, though, there's another plot twist - or at least, a claimed twist. It was intriguing, but as I read the latter portions of the book, I'd come up with another, possibly catchier twist - one involving Eric, Skeeter, and the "sparkles" - and honestly, I was a little disappointed when I reached the end of the book and the author didn't go in that particular direction.
All in all, I enjoyed the book and would recommend it to anyone interested in the particular genre.
I enjoyed being re-introduced to Don and Tim as the author originally envisioned them, which was somewhat different from their on-screen versions. Overall, I thought that the mystery was well-written, and the various family members and other characters were nicely developed. The one possible exception was that of Parson Bates. Many mysteries have a character similar to his - someone in one way or another over the top, either comically or negatively, or sometimes both. I think that these characters have to be crafted very carefully or they can become too cartoonish to be taken even remotely seriously, and I think Stevenson may have crossed that line with Bates. I'd personally have found it better to forego the spats museum and seen him more integrally crafted into the mystery.
Mysteries have to tie up lots of details in a relative few pages once the "big reveal" occurs, and in this case, I'd have liked to see a bit more nuancing of the various threads that needed addressed - some bits of closure seemed a bit forced and abrupt. I did appreciate the final shoe that dropped in the Epilogue - an unfortunate but realistic turn of events that should give all of its readers pause. Just a few pages earlier, though, there's another plot twist - or at least, a claimed twist. It was intriguing, but as I read the latter portions of the book, I'd come up with another, possibly catchier twist - one involving Eric, Skeeter, and the "sparkles" - and honestly, I was a little disappointed when I reached the end of the book and the author didn't go in that particular direction.
All in all, I enjoyed the book and would recommend it to anyone interested in the particular genre.
August 1, 2017
Sometimes you read a few lines of the reviews on Goodreads before you read the book and it taints your experience. This kind of happened here. The number one review of this book says it's the worst of the series.
I will agree it's the worst so far. The set-up is more out of a Hardy Boys novel and the too-large cast of characters makes the read confusing.
"Don and Timmy Hardy get caught in a chain of deceit when an old newspaper man tries to swindle them out of dough. Thrill as they dodge a skidoo on a cabin lake! Will the old curmudgeon get his way, or will his plot be foiled once again by those rotten kids? Tune in to find out!"
I will agree it's the worst so far. The set-up is more out of a Hardy Boys novel and the too-large cast of characters makes the read confusing.
"Don and Timmy Hardy get caught in a chain of deceit when an old newspaper man tries to swindle them out of dough. Thrill as they dodge a skidoo on a cabin lake! Will the old curmudgeon get his way, or will his plot be foiled once again by those rotten kids? Tune in to find out!"
February 23, 2024
3.5 stars
Probably the least gay politics focused instalment so far in the series. Crazy rich family drama is not my thing, hence the lower rating. It's always a delight to revisit Don and Timmy and Stevenson's witty humour though.
I asked, “When was the last time you two saw each other?”
Skeeter said, “September second, 1963, four twenty a.m. I still have his taste in my mouth.”
Timmy blushed some more and said, “You’ve got a mighty long memory, Skeeter, or poor habits of oral hygiene.
Stevenson, Richard. Chain of Fools (A Donald Strachey Mystery Book 6) (p. 15). ReQueered Tales. Kindle Edition.
Probably the least gay politics focused instalment so far in the series. Crazy rich family drama is not my thing, hence the lower rating. It's always a delight to revisit Don and Timmy and Stevenson's witty humour though.
I asked, “When was the last time you two saw each other?”
Skeeter said, “September second, 1963, four twenty a.m. I still have his taste in my mouth.”
Timmy blushed some more and said, “You’ve got a mighty long memory, Skeeter, or poor habits of oral hygiene.
Stevenson, Richard. Chain of Fools (A Donald Strachey Mystery Book 6) (p. 15). ReQueered Tales. Kindle Edition.
April 5, 2024
A Donald Strachey Mystery, Chain of Fools puts its focus on a northern New York state newspaper family - plummeting debt, potential purchasers (one upstanding, one not) and a board of directors made up of deeply devided family members.
Add in possible murder, attempted murder, heists ... and you have plenty for Don Strachey to get his investigative teeth into!
Add in possible murder, attempted murder, heists ... and you have plenty for Don Strachey to get his investigative teeth into!
March 12, 2021
Wildly far-fetched and still a fun read!
June 23, 2025
My least favorite installment in the series. Lots of lackluster family drama, and not a lot of detective work. Most of the mystery conversation done by committee between Dan Tim and two clients.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 10, 2013
Pretty solid entry in the Strachey series-better than Shock to the System, not as good as Ice Blues or Third Man Out. The mystery is a decent with interesting characters and lots of action. The
"doofus hid the diamonds in the cremains" business was far fetched and over the top but the rest of it was well paced and entertaining.
The ending with the lesbians asking Timmy to be a sperm donor was rather twee and cliche. Maybe at the time the book was written it worked, but it seems dated now. It also doesn't help that Dale's character throughout the book was childish, passive aggressive, and annoying. You and I met in passing, but I'm not going to tell you why I'm mad at you for what you did over 10 years ago? Really? And we're supposed to be happy this overgrown child is going to be a mom? Not to mention, she spends the entire book treating Timmy abominably rudely, but then at the end decides to ask him to father her child? And Timmy just forgives her and jumps right on board? Timmy's character throughout the series has always been close to too saintly and in danger of being a Mary Sue-this pushed him right over for me. I might revise my opinion if Janet and Dale or the kid gets mentioned in any subsequent books, but my guess is they won't be.
Overall verdict, liked it, but Stevenson's capable of better.
"doofus hid the diamonds in the cremains" business was far fetched and over the top but the rest of it was well paced and entertaining.
The ending with the lesbians asking Timmy to be a sperm donor was rather twee and cliche. Maybe at the time the book was written it worked, but it seems dated now. It also doesn't help that Dale's character throughout the book was childish, passive aggressive, and annoying. You and I met in passing, but I'm not going to tell you why I'm mad at you for what you did over 10 years ago? Really? And we're supposed to be happy this overgrown child is going to be a mom? Not to mention, she spends the entire book treating Timmy abominably rudely, but then at the end decides to ask him to father her child? And Timmy just forgives her and jumps right on board? Timmy's character throughout the series has always been close to too saintly and in danger of being a Mary Sue-this pushed him right over for me. I might revise my opinion if Janet and Dale or the kid gets mentioned in any subsequent books, but my guess is they won't be.
Overall verdict, liked it, but Stevenson's capable of better.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 21, 2016
This one took a while just because it was my treadmill book and I kept interrupting it to read other things I started off the treadmill and watch three or four TV-show seasons, not because it didn't hold my attention.
Don gets this case because of Timmy's old high school boyfrand, Skeeter. I love how both Stevenson and Joseph Hansen make their mysteries LGBT-related, but in this one, the central mystery itself was actually just a family drama that could have happened to any family (well, any family that had owned a newspaper for generations, I guess). And I liked that, too—a good mystery is a good mystery. The story let us get a look at a sliver of Timmy's past, and we also meet a new couple (Janet and Dale), that I think will be showing up again.
Some of the side characters made a little ragey—so much screaming and general nonsense—but overall another excellent installment in this series.
Still so many left to read!!! \o/
Don gets this case because of Timmy's old high school boyfrand, Skeeter. I love how both Stevenson and Joseph Hansen make their mysteries LGBT-related, but in this one, the central mystery itself was actually just a family drama that could have happened to any family (well, any family that had owned a newspaper for generations, I guess). And I liked that, too—a good mystery is a good mystery. The story let us get a look at a sliver of Timmy's past, and we also meet a new couple (Janet and Dale), that I think will be showing up again.
Some of the side characters made a little ragey—so much screaming and general nonsense—but overall another excellent installment in this series.
Still so many left to read!!! \o/
March 23, 2009
Well, I wouldn't describe Chain of Fools as an atypical Donald Strachey mystery, but it is an atypical mystery novel, I think, with the standard intra-family assassination plot. Still, it beats Strachey's Folly in plot and as addictive to read as the others.
Read
January 26, 2016((Read in 2009, reread for a challenge in January 2016))
4.5
A good mystery, some little annoying things I didn't find in the other books of the series: for ex. Dale treating Tim rudely the whole time instead of clearing her grudge against him, the slower pace. Still, it's Richard Stevenson, that is it is well written and entertaining.
I'm glad that finally Don meets a non homophobic policeman ;-).
4.5
A good mystery, some little annoying things I didn't find in the other books of the series: for ex. Dale treating Tim rudely the whole time instead of clearing her grudge against him, the slower pace. Still, it's Richard Stevenson, that is it is well written and entertaining.
I'm glad that finally Don meets a non homophobic policeman ;-).
September 23, 2011
Sadly not one of the better books in this series. Donald does very little investigating. He approaches several people to ask questions, but most of them refuse to talk to him and the rest infodump the plot of the book at him. He only finds one piece of evidence and hardly figures anything out for himself. Very disappointing as I generally love this series.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 4, 2007
An intricate plot involving a very dysfunctional family. Timmy getting hurt and Donald following one strange leads after another. Not the strongest book of the series but still very enjoyable if only for the banter between Timmy and Dale.
May 31, 2015
A little slower paced than I'm used to with this series but still worth reading.
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