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Donald Strachey #4
Third Man Out
Which powerful mystery man killed the gay activist for outing him? In Third Man Out, tough-as-nails gay private investigator Don Strachey investigates the murder of a self-righteous Queer Nation activist who may have been killed for outing prominent closeted gay homophobes.
175 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1992
10 people are currently reading
247 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 43 reviews
February 4, 2021
I can’t say I ever loved Donald Strachey, I appreciated his humor and his realism as a believable flawed character, but I’ve never loved him. The problem is that now I’m starting to dislike him. His moral compass has always been a little skewed, but since the previous book he seems to have lost it completely and I’m starting to wonder if I completely misread his character in the first 2 books of the series.
In this book, he first accepted to work for and help John Rutka,
But the cherry on top was Don deciding to
It’s not even what Don did that bothers me, or not only that, it’s the fact that he seems to be a very different character from the one I first met at the beginning of the series and if this is the path his character is taking, I don’t buy it and I’m not particularly interested in sticking with it to see what’s next. I hope this and the previous book are going to be just a bump in the road.
On the positive side, I liked the mystery, I liked one secondary character—the chief of Handbag police—and I liked Timmy, even though he had very little page time. As usual, Don doesn’t deserve him and this time he reached a record of hypocrisy even for him,
4 stars for the mystery, 2 stars for Don. All the stars for Timmy, who should find somebody else.
In this book, he first accepted to work for and help John Rutka,
But the cherry on top was Don deciding to
It’s not even what Don did that bothers me, or not only that, it’s the fact that he seems to be a very different character from the one I first met at the beginning of the series and if this is the path his character is taking, I don’t buy it and I’m not particularly interested in sticking with it to see what’s next. I hope this and the previous book are going to be just a bump in the road.
On the positive side, I liked the mystery, I liked one secondary character—the chief of Handbag police—and I liked Timmy, even though he had very little page time. As usual, Don doesn’t deserve him and this time he reached a record of hypocrisy even for him,
4 stars for the mystery, 2 stars for Don. All the stars for Timmy, who should find somebody else.
November 24, 2014
I would really like to give it 5 stars!
Because I liked the mystery in Third Man Out more than in the previous instalments!
Briefly:
The brutal murder of John Rutka, a radical gay activist, put Dan in a very precarious situation. Because:
*John hired Dan for his personal protection but Dan quit some hours later. Dan had his reasons.
*There are too many people who liked to see John dead rather than healthy. Including a lot of members of a gay community. Rutka wasn't a popular and charismatic person.
*Dan became UNEXPECTEDLY an owner of the secret files, John Rutka's dossiers on all those people who he was after.
*Too many people - exactly, all those people who John Rutka was after - wanted these files would disappear FOREVER. Best of all with John Rutka as well.
The mystery part was really good, intelligent, with a new ethic/moral aspect in it and with a well-known typical for Dan way of thinking. I like to be in his head. It's FUN!
The story will keep you on the edge of your sit and will surprise at the end!
All in all the book is clever made and, as always, very good written!
My tiny and only complaint:
I missed Timothy! I missed the interaction between Dan and Timmy! There were too less of him in this forth sequel.
I know, it is not a romance, and here the main focus was set on mystery, maybe even more than in the previous books...but please, let me have these wonderful short -*sigh*- moments like in the MOVIE BASED on this book. Honestly, although I have iron balls, but also a very soft compassionate heart!
Of course, I'm going to watch the movie! ASAP!
Alone due to these beautiful scenes!
Great plot, great mystery, great characters, great series, excellent writing!
Highly recommended!
March 5, 2019
This book has a more serious tone than the previous books in the series thus far and Donald is far less snarky. Stevenson used real-day events to craft the storylines that his series took place in, and this was written at a time when public figures were being outed in the media. It would be controversial now to force someone out of the closet, and it was even more so then.
John Rutka is a "journalist" who collects secrets on high ranking public figures and outs them in his paper. Naturally, he's not well-liked. When someone threatens to kill him, he comes to Donald for help. Mild-mannered Timmy loathes Rutka and doesn't want Donald to take the job, and while Don's no fan of Rutka's either, he does it anyway because he wants a peek at Rutka's files. What follows is an ever-unfolding plot.
We get arguments from both sides of the debate, the right to privacy vs the obligation of those with power to use that power to advance gay rights rather than oppose them. Rutka's an exhausting character, ever unaware of his own hypocrisy.
In the previous book, Don got pulled into a scheme and ends up acting in ways that seemed contrary to him. That happens again here, and I hope this isn't going to continue to be the case. It makes him come across as gullible, rather than the skeptical smart ass he's supposed to be. He does like to bunk authority though, so at least that part's consistent. Still, I didn't like that
John Rutka is a "journalist" who collects secrets on high ranking public figures and outs them in his paper. Naturally, he's not well-liked. When someone threatens to kill him, he comes to Donald for help. Mild-mannered Timmy loathes Rutka and doesn't want Donald to take the job, and while Don's no fan of Rutka's either, he does it anyway because he wants a peek at Rutka's files. What follows is an ever-unfolding plot.
We get arguments from both sides of the debate, the right to privacy vs the obligation of those with power to use that power to advance gay rights rather than oppose them. Rutka's an exhausting character, ever unaware of his own hypocrisy.
In the previous book, Don got pulled into a scheme and ends up acting in ways that seemed contrary to him. That happens again here, and I hope this isn't going to continue to be the case. It makes him come across as gullible, rather than the skeptical smart ass he's supposed to be. He does like to bunk authority though, so at least that part's consistent. Still, I didn't like that
February 4, 2021
I really enjoyed this one despite Don... The mystery had me fooled until the very end, though I discovered part of it, but it took me almost all the book to do it.
I'm still not sure what to make of Don, his morality is questionable at best, and Timmy is a saint, I don't know how he's been putting up with Don... it must be true love.
It's been good to BR this one, it's always a pleasure to discuss books with you all.
I'm still not sure what to make of Don, his morality is questionable at best, and Timmy is a saint, I don't know how he's been putting up with Don... it must be true love.
It's been good to BR this one, it's always a pleasure to discuss books with you all.
April 26, 2014
To Out or Not to Out?
That is the question. In this book Don Strachey PI finds himself investigating the death of a gay activist who has made a disruptable name for himself by outing people.
When John Rutka experiences threats and attacks because of his activities he hires Don for protection but Don is loath to work for John. This is a loathing felt by all in the gay community because John Rutka outs who he pleases, not just closeted gays working against gay interests and HIV provision, but he also outs ordinary working gay men and women who just want to live ordinary lives and he outs everyday media personalities who do not have political power. He outs people who do not need to be outed, sometimes shocking their families and hurting their lives.
Rutka is therefore a man who is deeply hated. Hated by both the gay and straight community.
When Rutka suddenly winds up dead Don Strachey is hit by remorse and regrets turning the case down. He resolves to find out who murdered Rutka and so begins a fast paced investigation complete with twists and turns, Don's witty comments on everything, and the love of his life 'Timmy' by his side.
This is the fourth book in the series and for me the best so far. I actually spoilt it for myself by watching the movie first but the book provides a more detailed telling and I was able to understand things that I had missed in the film.
I really liked this story and the way it touched on the AIDS pandemic and the practice of outing, as well as the issue of closeted v open lives. The debate about what is private and what we should know about public officials and their lives, issues of trust, hypocrisy, integrity and the price of living openly are all explored as the drama unfolds in the book.
Of course I enjoyed the book more than the film but the film and its setting enhanced my reading and enjoyment of the story. This was a really good mystery and another great Strachey story.
That is the question. In this book Don Strachey PI finds himself investigating the death of a gay activist who has made a disruptable name for himself by outing people.
When John Rutka experiences threats and attacks because of his activities he hires Don for protection but Don is loath to work for John. This is a loathing felt by all in the gay community because John Rutka outs who he pleases, not just closeted gays working against gay interests and HIV provision, but he also outs ordinary working gay men and women who just want to live ordinary lives and he outs everyday media personalities who do not have political power. He outs people who do not need to be outed, sometimes shocking their families and hurting their lives.
Rutka is therefore a man who is deeply hated. Hated by both the gay and straight community.
When Rutka suddenly winds up dead Don Strachey is hit by remorse and regrets turning the case down. He resolves to find out who murdered Rutka and so begins a fast paced investigation complete with twists and turns, Don's witty comments on everything, and the love of his life 'Timmy' by his side.
This is the fourth book in the series and for me the best so far. I actually spoilt it for myself by watching the movie first but the book provides a more detailed telling and I was able to understand things that I had missed in the film.
I really liked this story and the way it touched on the AIDS pandemic and the practice of outing, as well as the issue of closeted v open lives. The debate about what is private and what we should know about public officials and their lives, issues of trust, hypocrisy, integrity and the price of living openly are all explored as the drama unfolds in the book.
Of course I enjoyed the book more than the film but the film and its setting enhanced my reading and enjoyment of the story. This was a really good mystery and another great Strachey story.
July 12, 2012
Best of the series so far. Reads very fast-the plot is exciting and the plot twists are truly surprising, especially the big one at the end. Stevenson's created his finest charcter in John Rutka; his amorality and psychopathic lying are reprehensible, and yet you can see why Strachey keeps getting sucked in to his webs. I did miss Strachey's homophobic arch nemesis in the police department, but I can see why it was necessary to the plot to sideline him-Bowman would never give Strachey the leeway the policeman in this one does. Stevenson takes on a complex, controversial topic-public outing, and whether it's ever deserved (though perhaps that question is not as hot button as it was in the early 90s)-and explores it brilliantly.
And the more I reflect on it, I realizewhat I thought of as weaknesses while reading-the more I see that every element serves a purpose. At first I thought the comatose friend dying of AIDS was a mere throwaway, because gay authors at the time felt they NEEDED to say something about the disease whether it truly served their story or not. THen I thought it was a plot contrivance (and it does facilitate a big reveal that's a little too coincidental and the novel's one flaw in terms of plotting). But in reality it's there to show the real effects of homophobia and ties into the outing question-that the self loathing closet cases who support some of the most virulent anti gay policies cause real damage and real suffering. Another thing I thought at first was weak writing was Timmy. Timmy has always been Strachey's moral compass-but here he's not so much moral compass as Pontious Pilate, washing his hands of every situation and refusing to get involved. But then I relalized-his purpose here is to be Rutka's alter ego, not Strachey's-and to show how inaction is as harmful as Rutka's scorched earth tactics. Stevenson knows exactly what he's doing here, and everything serves a purpose.
Truly an entertaining read, with much more depth than the previous books. Hope the series continues on this upward trend.
And the more I reflect on it, I realizewhat I thought of as weaknesses while reading-the more I see that every element serves a purpose. At first I thought the comatose friend dying of AIDS was a mere throwaway, because gay authors at the time felt they NEEDED to say something about the disease whether it truly served their story or not. THen I thought it was a plot contrivance (and it does facilitate a big reveal that's a little too coincidental and the novel's one flaw in terms of plotting). But in reality it's there to show the real effects of homophobia and ties into the outing question-that the self loathing closet cases who support some of the most virulent anti gay policies cause real damage and real suffering. Another thing I thought at first was weak writing was Timmy. Timmy has always been Strachey's moral compass-but here he's not so much moral compass as Pontious Pilate, washing his hands of every situation and refusing to get involved. But then I relalized-his purpose here is to be Rutka's alter ego, not Strachey's-and to show how inaction is as harmful as Rutka's scorched earth tactics. Stevenson knows exactly what he's doing here, and everything serves a purpose.
Truly an entertaining read, with much more depth than the previous books. Hope the series continues on this upward trend.
January 30, 2008
So much better than the movie!
April 4, 2016
4.5 stars. My favorite of the Stracheys so far. Complicated and very satisfying plot. He does a great job with complicated characters, too. Rutka is a real despicable jackass, but at the same time, he was very sympathetic. It's not easy to successfully write characters like that!
(I am more than somewhat tempted to hunt down the movies, but...I can only imagine how terrible they probably are. Sigh.)
(I am more than somewhat tempted to hunt down the movies, but...I can only imagine how terrible they probably are. Sigh.)
March 7, 2015
I like this one best so far especially because the mystery and the social issues are center stage. In previous books, some aspects of the Don-Timmy relationship bothered me, and since i do like them both a lot, i appreciated having their relationship on the background this time and no conflicts. And the writing is so good!
December 30, 2013
Third Man Out is a strong follow-up to Ice Blues though it lacks Ice Blues' fertile seam of dark humour — which oddly enough is the highlight of the dramatization produced by Here TV.
I look forward to reading Shock to the System.
I look forward to reading Shock to the System.
August 26, 2015
So far, this one was my favorite, as it was the most complicated. I did remember how it ended from having seen the film version, but I could not remember how we go there, so it was fun to read it and figure that out.
June 15, 2011
Wow! An incredible read! The mystery held me until the reveal, and even though it is nearly 20 years later the situations are just as relevant today.
May 20, 2012
The strongest book of the series so far.
January 21, 2024
4.25 stars
The mystery plot in this episode is probably my favourite so far in this series, a great mix of clever plotting and resonant themes.
The moral dilemma faced by Don this time—whether closeted public figures deserved to be dragged out of the closet—is a controversial topic that still sparks frequent debate today. The victim, John Rutka, was a radical gay activist and journalist who ran a campaign of outing prominent but closeted gay figures in Albany without their consent, prioritising the disclosure of those who supported anti-gay policies. He was dubbed “McCarthy in sheep’s clothing” and was despised by the local gay community for his notorious work; however, he believed that “ethically these things evened themselves out over the long run”, considering outing as a way to normalise and destigmatise homosexuality.
As we know from the previous books, Don’s own record is far from spotless when it comes to the topic of whether a moral end can justify wicked means, so naturally he struggled between disgusted by Rutka’s methods and sympathising with his cause despite ethical concerns. Though the resolution of the story is not quite morally and legally justifiable, Don made a choice in accordance with his character, one that I deeply empathise with.
The story is set in the early 90s, during the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Although the epidemic was mentioned in the previous books, this was the first time that it played a role beyond being part of the historical context. While Don and Timmy survived the onslaught, many of their friends were infected and had to face the impending death of their own and of their beloved ones. Rutka and his boyfriend, both HIV-positive, were active members of ACT UP and frustrated by the institutional discrimination against gay people within the local health care system, pharmaceutical, and insurance industry, which further fuelled his hatred towards the hypocrisy of closeted figures.
Although this instalment covered heavier themes compared to the first three books, it was by no means a depressing book. Despite the dire straits they were in, people were not giving up, neither in their fight nor in their hope. Again an absolute comfort read for me.
A petty reason has me deducting a quarter-star here: Timmy only made a cameo appearance in this book! I’m desperately in need of more Timmy!
The mystery plot in this episode is probably my favourite so far in this series, a great mix of clever plotting and resonant themes.
The moral dilemma faced by Don this time—whether closeted public figures deserved to be dragged out of the closet—is a controversial topic that still sparks frequent debate today. The victim, John Rutka, was a radical gay activist and journalist who ran a campaign of outing prominent but closeted gay figures in Albany without their consent, prioritising the disclosure of those who supported anti-gay policies. He was dubbed “McCarthy in sheep’s clothing” and was despised by the local gay community for his notorious work; however, he believed that “ethically these things evened themselves out over the long run”, considering outing as a way to normalise and destigmatise homosexuality.
As we know from the previous books, Don’s own record is far from spotless when it comes to the topic of whether a moral end can justify wicked means, so naturally he struggled between disgusted by Rutka’s methods and sympathising with his cause despite ethical concerns. Though the resolution of the story is not quite morally and legally justifiable, Don made a choice in accordance with his character, one that I deeply empathise with.
The story is set in the early 90s, during the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Although the epidemic was mentioned in the previous books, this was the first time that it played a role beyond being part of the historical context. While Don and Timmy survived the onslaught, many of their friends were infected and had to face the impending death of their own and of their beloved ones. Rutka and his boyfriend, both HIV-positive, were active members of ACT UP and frustrated by the institutional discrimination against gay people within the local health care system, pharmaceutical, and insurance industry, which further fuelled his hatred towards the hypocrisy of closeted figures.
Although this instalment covered heavier themes compared to the first three books, it was by no means a depressing book. Despite the dire straits they were in, people were not giving up, neither in their fight nor in their hope. Again an absolute comfort read for me.
A petty reason has me deducting a quarter-star here: Timmy only made a cameo appearance in this book! I’m desperately in need of more Timmy!
July 21, 2017
Very good, still a touch put out by the killer, it's always some random third party you've never heard of before in the book, but I suppose I'm getting used to it. Also there's a twist at the end that makes it all a bit easier to swallow.
I watched the second movie last night and just finished the fourth book, still enjoying it, looking forward to more.
I watched the second movie last night and just finished the fourth book, still enjoying it, looking forward to more.
September 3, 2019
This book reminds me of 1940s and 50s noir stories with Philip Marlowe. Indeed the Big Sleep comes first to mind with its use of murder, blackmail etc. I really enjoyed the story, the interweaving of the two main stories and the cameo descriptions of the characters. I recommend it for reading, and look forward to seeing the movie interpretation.
June 26, 2022
Excellent detective story. There’s social and political commentary that is woven neatly into the narrative - never peachy or distracting. This is the first book I have read in the series and I will read more.
December 17, 2022
I moved to Albany on Jan 1 1983 to live with my college boyfriend and finish my BA at SUNYA. The Don Strachey mysteries bring me back to those days. Don’s humor, his detective skills, and his sex appeal make these books a joy to read. I ambled down the same streets as Strachey does in his books. Love this series!
April 9, 2023
This book was written in 1992 and deals with two issues very topical at that time. The main story line is about Outing--the revelation in public (in print or on TV) of a closeted figure, usually to punish them for anti-gay behavior/statements/actions. The main subplot is about a man whose lover is dying of AIDS, in a coma in a hospital--and because the lover has no legal authority to manage his care, his parents are able to keep him alive against his and the lover's wishes.
Despite the seriousness of these topics, the book is terrifically engaging and entertaining and often funny, if darkly so. Hero Donald Strachey, a gay private investigator in Albany, New York, is hired to protect the man doing the Outing from a death threat. Strachey gets involved in a twisty plot that he unravels thanks to his ingenuity, intuition, and perspicacity. The hospital ward where the above-mentioned man lies in a coma figures prominently in the story, in a way I didn't guess until it was revealed. Great suspenseful mystery!
Despite the seriousness of these topics, the book is terrifically engaging and entertaining and often funny, if darkly so. Hero Donald Strachey, a gay private investigator in Albany, New York, is hired to protect the man doing the Outing from a death threat. Strachey gets involved in a twisty plot that he unravels thanks to his ingenuity, intuition, and perspicacity. The hospital ward where the above-mentioned man lies in a coma figures prominently in the story, in a way I didn't guess until it was revealed. Great suspenseful mystery!
March 12, 2019
4.5 of 5 stars – Best One Yet in an Entertaining Series.
I love gay mysteries and romances, and Richard Stevenson does a good job of combining both in one of the more entertaining such series. I liked this for the same reasons I liked each in the series. In fact, this fourth entry was the best one yet and continued to build the story. With crisp, witty writing, it’s a good mystery, set in the politically-charged early AIDS era, and brought to life by a colorful, hard-boiled yet likable PI, who just happens to be gay.
Stevenson’s style made this a light, entertaining and easy read, with a good plot, pace, tension and just enough details and clues to not slow down the action. I enjoyed the step back in time to the early-‘90s. This was the kind of historical that, at the time, was written as a contemporary piece, capturing moments of what were then current situations and culture. Among the many time capsule tidbits I enjoyed were the clothes, dated technology, and painful and political early AIDS era. And for those interested, it worked well as a standalone, with its own self-contained mystery, while also further developing Strachey, his lover and other secondaries in a way that created a storyline spanning across the series.
What engaged me the most with this story was the character of Don Strachey (who gave his first-person POV), and you’d probably have to like him to like this book. I grew to like him for all his skills, heart and humanness; and it was refreshing that he was not in shame of but was open about being gay. He was hard-boiled, “skeptical,” witty but “sarcastic,” and at times a little off-kilter, including some convenient ethics (e.g., in his own words: using “blackmail, Dirty Harry tactics, and impersonating an FBI agent”). While Strachey was well drawn, the others were not as much. That might be expected with secondaries, but I wished for a little more with some. Thankfully, his lover was fleshed out a little more, as was a new, more accepting police detective (in place of his bigoted local one).
I appreciated that the main focus was on the mystery, with the gay aspect and any romance as a subplot. As Strachey put it in Book 2, ““I’m a PI, yes, and more or less coincidentally gay.” So, instead of being an m/m romance, this was a good mystery with a number of expected as well as unexpected twists, with an ending that was “right under my nose the whole time,” and I loved all the more for it.
In the process, there were a lot of issues going on, but interwoven well. Of the main one, public outing, it was interesting to look back from today’s perspective and see that maybe both sides were right. I liked the many comments evenly divided between pro and con, e.g., “until [people] know that we are everywhere…gay people…can never be accepted or feel safe” vs. “doing unto ourselves as others would do unto us can’t be the answer.” Also, there were the underlying motivations; and for the first time in a Strachey book, AIDS appeared in full force, with its consequent personal pain, dilemmas, injustices, and ironies.
Mixed in with all this was a nice bonus of Strachey’s gay life, and I was pleased to see his relationship continued with his lover, Timmy. It gave Stevenson the chance to further explore the developing relationship for Strachey. It’s an interesting one, reflecting the realities of such things, including working out what kind of a relationship, the struggles, temptations, understanding, and amusing banter between the two. And for those interested, any sex scenes were nicely built but discretely taken offscreen.
This being the best one yet, I continue to enjoy the stories that Stevenson weaves in this series, and I look forward to the next installment.
[Gay Men’s Book Group-Chicago monthly selection]
I love gay mysteries and romances, and Richard Stevenson does a good job of combining both in one of the more entertaining such series. I liked this for the same reasons I liked each in the series. In fact, this fourth entry was the best one yet and continued to build the story. With crisp, witty writing, it’s a good mystery, set in the politically-charged early AIDS era, and brought to life by a colorful, hard-boiled yet likable PI, who just happens to be gay.
Stevenson’s style made this a light, entertaining and easy read, with a good plot, pace, tension and just enough details and clues to not slow down the action. I enjoyed the step back in time to the early-‘90s. This was the kind of historical that, at the time, was written as a contemporary piece, capturing moments of what were then current situations and culture. Among the many time capsule tidbits I enjoyed were the clothes, dated technology, and painful and political early AIDS era. And for those interested, it worked well as a standalone, with its own self-contained mystery, while also further developing Strachey, his lover and other secondaries in a way that created a storyline spanning across the series.
What engaged me the most with this story was the character of Don Strachey (who gave his first-person POV), and you’d probably have to like him to like this book. I grew to like him for all his skills, heart and humanness; and it was refreshing that he was not in shame of but was open about being gay. He was hard-boiled, “skeptical,” witty but “sarcastic,” and at times a little off-kilter, including some convenient ethics (e.g., in his own words: using “blackmail, Dirty Harry tactics, and impersonating an FBI agent”). While Strachey was well drawn, the others were not as much. That might be expected with secondaries, but I wished for a little more with some. Thankfully, his lover was fleshed out a little more, as was a new, more accepting police detective (in place of his bigoted local one).
I appreciated that the main focus was on the mystery, with the gay aspect and any romance as a subplot. As Strachey put it in Book 2, ““I’m a PI, yes, and more or less coincidentally gay.” So, instead of being an m/m romance, this was a good mystery with a number of expected as well as unexpected twists, with an ending that was “right under my nose the whole time,” and I loved all the more for it.
In the process, there were a lot of issues going on, but interwoven well. Of the main one, public outing, it was interesting to look back from today’s perspective and see that maybe both sides were right. I liked the many comments evenly divided between pro and con, e.g., “until [people] know that we are everywhere…gay people…can never be accepted or feel safe” vs. “doing unto ourselves as others would do unto us can’t be the answer.” Also, there were the underlying motivations; and for the first time in a Strachey book, AIDS appeared in full force, with its consequent personal pain, dilemmas, injustices, and ironies.
Mixed in with all this was a nice bonus of Strachey’s gay life, and I was pleased to see his relationship continued with his lover, Timmy. It gave Stevenson the chance to further explore the developing relationship for Strachey. It’s an interesting one, reflecting the realities of such things, including working out what kind of a relationship, the struggles, temptations, understanding, and amusing banter between the two. And for those interested, any sex scenes were nicely built but discretely taken offscreen.
This being the best one yet, I continue to enjoy the stories that Stevenson weaves in this series, and I look forward to the next installment.
[Gay Men’s Book Group-Chicago monthly selection]
December 29, 2009
Here! tv, the gay and lesbian cable network, has produced four really good film-noir mystery films based on the Donald Strachey books. The films star openly gay Chad Allen as Private Investigator Donald Strachey and Sebastien Spence as Timmy Callahan, Donald's husband. The films have been fun and a first as they 1.) depict a gay detective who isn't afraid to get his hands dirty to solve a case and 2.) in depicting a monogamous gay relationship that has grown and deepened over the four films.
I have been wanting to read one of the books, but the films are so ingrained into my mind now that I felt the books would not live up to what I had seen. So I decided if I was to read this one, I would only judge it on the merits of the book. Whatever I knew from the films, I would do my best to leave on the side. The premise of the book is that an outspoken activist who outs closeted and hypocritical gay and lesbians of some reknown is now being threatened. He's shot and his house is firebombed. John Rutka hires Donald to act as a bodyguard and to help figure out who is threatening him. From there, the book provides a growing list of suspects, especially when Rutka ends up murdered. The book adds a subplot not included in the movies about euthanasia of HIV/AIDS patients that feels really out of place. While it is interesting and throught-provoking, it never really adds to the book. The only reason I can think of for its inclusion into the book is to get the characters into a hospital setting where another pivotal character is. One of the biggest disappointments about the book is the diminishing of Timmy's role. In the movies, he is moved front and center to the story and made a more pivotal role in Donald's life. In the book, he only appears a handful of times. Timmy is a great character, so I didn't care for this.
I enjoyed the book as it is a quick read, none too taxing on the brain, and easily digestable in one day. It is different than the movie, but it's still worthwhile for an afternoon's reading. And an openly gay detective is a rarity in fiction, so it's definetly worth seeking out.
I have been wanting to read one of the books, but the films are so ingrained into my mind now that I felt the books would not live up to what I had seen. So I decided if I was to read this one, I would only judge it on the merits of the book. Whatever I knew from the films, I would do my best to leave on the side. The premise of the book is that an outspoken activist who outs closeted and hypocritical gay and lesbians of some reknown is now being threatened. He's shot and his house is firebombed. John Rutka hires Donald to act as a bodyguard and to help figure out who is threatening him. From there, the book provides a growing list of suspects, especially when Rutka ends up murdered. The book adds a subplot not included in the movies about euthanasia of HIV/AIDS patients that feels really out of place. While it is interesting and throught-provoking, it never really adds to the book. The only reason I can think of for its inclusion into the book is to get the characters into a hospital setting where another pivotal character is. One of the biggest disappointments about the book is the diminishing of Timmy's role. In the movies, he is moved front and center to the story and made a more pivotal role in Donald's life. In the book, he only appears a handful of times. Timmy is a great character, so I didn't care for this.
I enjoyed the book as it is a quick read, none too taxing on the brain, and easily digestable in one day. It is different than the movie, but it's still worthwhile for an afternoon's reading. And an openly gay detective is a rarity in fiction, so it's definetly worth seeking out.
March 13, 2009
The plot of Third Man Out is noticeably more coherent than that of Strachey's Folly's and I think more relevant in term of today's spreading belief of forcibly outing closeted celebrities and prominent figures to provide more representation of gays and the morality of. It is hard to not compare John Rutka, Third Man Out's central character, with Perez Hilton and vice versa, even if both their drive and methods are slightly different.
On an another note: at times, I found the subtlety of Donald & Timothy's (romantic) partnership adorable; at others, I wonder why they are together, so much opposing viewpoints and seemingly detachment.
On an another note: at times, I found the subtlety of Donald & Timothy's (romantic) partnership adorable; at others, I wonder why they are together, so much opposing viewpoints and seemingly detachment.
December 6, 2010
This, the fourth in the Donald Strachey gay detective series, was pretty much par for the series so far. I enjoyed it, but it wasn't gripping by any means. Still, there was a nice surprise at the end. Strachey is one of those characters you either love or hate, and I haven't made up my mind about him yet. He has his own "situational ethics" that I can sympathize with, if not embrace. Still, what's a main character without a few character flaws? :)
Just a general comment about ebooks, like this one. There were quite a few acronyms in this book that were all in lowercase rather than uppercase. aids, hiv, act up, etc. Also, there was a lot of punctuation errors,like this where there was a period or a quote mark". without a space in between. Whether this is because the original book was scanned by computer and not checked by a person or what, I don't know. I find this kind of thing common in ebooks so far. It is distracting while I'm reading, but not so much that I have to give it up.
Just a general comment about ebooks, like this one. There were quite a few acronyms in this book that were all in lowercase rather than uppercase. aids, hiv, act up, etc. Also, there was a lot of punctuation errors,like this where there was a period or a quote mark". without a space in between. Whether this is because the original book was scanned by computer and not checked by a person or what, I don't know. I find this kind of thing common in ebooks so far. It is distracting while I'm reading, but not so much that I have to give it up.
March 14, 2012
My favorite so far. The more time I spend in Don's head (four books in three days. I... should probably take a break) the more I like him, and the more I like the books in comparison to the films. (Which I still like, but differently.)
Of the ones I've read so far, this is the only one where the plot bears any more than a superficial resemblance to the movie, and the book really comes out ahead. The plot is rather more coherent, the characters a bit more intelligent, and the writing is much better. And it's *funny*. The only thing I like better about the film is that there is moar Tim in it. Their relationship is very different in the book vs movies- the movie versions are teeth-rottingly sweet and earnest (this is not a complaint, mind you!) and the book versions are more arch, more sarcastic, and a bit less monogamous. (Also not a complaint, I just wish I got more interaction between them in whatever capacity.)
Of the ones I've read so far, this is the only one where the plot bears any more than a superficial resemblance to the movie, and the book really comes out ahead. The plot is rather more coherent, the characters a bit more intelligent, and the writing is much better. And it's *funny*. The only thing I like better about the film is that there is moar Tim in it. Their relationship is very different in the book vs movies- the movie versions are teeth-rottingly sweet and earnest (this is not a complaint, mind you!) and the book versions are more arch, more sarcastic, and a bit less monogamous. (Also not a complaint, I just wish I got more interaction between them in whatever capacity.)
January 30, 2015
I just had to look up HERE! TV because this book has a tie-in cover to a TV movie made for HERE! TV... but I think the outlook might be bleak, the News section hasn't been updated since June 2014... so, that's worrisome. It appears to be limping along, I guess.
It's commercial free, so there's that, but I doubt I'd be willing to pay the premium, not so long as I get my news and drag queens from LOGO.
BUT, back to the story. This was more than serviceable and very much a period piece when Outing was the thing to do (or not do). I was sympathetic at the time, but not yet aware that my dark fantasies of torturing my tormenters had more than just a bicurious aftertaste to them. That would come years later.
I was also not political beyond voting.
I liked the story here, the detective, and his boyfriend. I'd welcome another dip into the series.
And I'd watch the DVD of the show if I tripped across it.
It's commercial free, so there's that, but I doubt I'd be willing to pay the premium, not so long as I get my news and drag queens from LOGO.
BUT, back to the story. This was more than serviceable and very much a period piece when Outing was the thing to do (or not do). I was sympathetic at the time, but not yet aware that my dark fantasies of torturing my tormenters had more than just a bicurious aftertaste to them. That would come years later.
I was also not political beyond voting.
I liked the story here, the detective, and his boyfriend. I'd welcome another dip into the series.
And I'd watch the DVD of the show if I tripped across it.
July 14, 2011
Another great story. this book really makes you think about whats really going on with politicians. And we know from recent news that the politicians who scream the loudest often have more to hide. Stevenson brings home the reality of so many political and religious secrets. This is a great book I did not suspect the killers almost to end. Stevenson kept me guessing almost to the very end and even then there was another surprise. He made me angry at the man who hired the detective because no matter how good your intentions you often make it harder for honest people by using such bad (though effective tactics).this was one of my favorite so far.OH though I don't mention it much I always enjoy the love shared by donald and his lover. good job!
January 21, 2016
((Read in 2009, reread for a challenge in January 2016))
Once more a great mystery with quite a few twists and a final surprise. AIDS, and the plight of the victims and of their partners and relatives is also present. I would have liked more Timothy ''on screen'' ;-). It's good to see also Don's doubts, when he notices that he is using the same ruthless methods of John Rutka, the gay activist .
Brilliant writing, great (dark) humor.
Once more a great mystery with quite a few twists and a final surprise. AIDS, and the plight of the victims and of their partners and relatives is also present. I would have liked more Timothy ''on screen'' ;-). It's good to see also Don's doubts, when he notices that he is using the same ruthless methods of John Rutka, the gay activist .
Brilliant writing, great (dark) humor.
June 27, 2015
This is the 4th book in the Donald Strachey mysteries and my favorite.It takes place in 1992 and our in PI is hired by a gay activist who claims attempts have been made on his life.John Rutka also has a self published paper that outs closet cases.John is also a pathological liar.Won't say more,but this is a good read and a highly recommended series.
June 2, 2015
This was the first book I had ready by Richard Stevenson and I enjoyed it so much I finished it in 1 day. It is set in the time of the worse part of the Aids Epidemic and I lived through those years, it brought up things that I could identify with at that time. I enjoyed how he kept the mystery going right to the end. I would highly recommend this one.
July 4, 2007
This is the book the first TV movie was based on. So I knew the ending. The interesting part was seeing what had been kept for the movie and what was working in the book and didn't make it in the movie version. A strong plot and some fun and witty relationship stuff between Donald and Timothy.
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