Something Shady

Stoner McTavish Mysteries #2

by Sarah Dreher

Investigating the mysterious disappearance of a nurse at a suspicious rest home on the coast of Maine, Stoner finds herself an inmate, trapped in the clutches of the evil psychiatrist Dr. Millicent Tunes. Can Gwen and Aunt Hermione charge to the rescue before it's too late?

Genres: LGBT, Fiction, Mystery, Lesbian, Queer, Lesbian Fiction, Mystery Thriller

264 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 1986

About the author

Born 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.

Reviews

[AnnMaree Of Oz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ah Stoner. 32. She's a doll. Neurotic as a box of minks during hunting season, but has a heart of gold.

She's the ultimate gentle butch, she's pined for Gwen for the last 7 months; since book 1 Stoner McTavish - their relationship has stalled as just good friends. Convincing herself it's for the best, despite their unforgettable one night together all those months ago. But Stoner realized Gwen had to grieve and come into her own after those events. But thankfully we didn't have to wait long for either of them to admit their feelings in this book. Now we don't get sordid details of their coupling, but there's clear devotions of love and direct references to the physical aspect of their relationship. I also love that Gwen is not ashamed of her love for Stoner, although she is slightly concerned about her elderly grandmother's reaction.

This book was written and is set in 1986, however the dialogue and contents do not feel dated at all.

I love the more self deprecating humour, and the witty banter between characters. I also love that Stoner makes friends wherever she goes. This time we meet a local restaurant owner, Delia, in her 60's who helps them with the investigation, and whom Gwen actually has a bit of a lady crush on.

They are investigating a dodgy private mental institute where a Nurse had disappeared from. We also meet several of the residents and staff, and it's clear there's really shady dealings happening.
I actually felt incredibly anxious for Stoner when she was 'admitted' to the ward (under cover, yet without any real help on the inside) and experiencing such poor care and treatment by staff. You really sensed the dread and hopelessness of such a situation, and how it would appear many of the patients were saner than the ones in charge. Certainly more humane, anyway.

There's some slight paranormal elements starting, and I really just look forward to the rest of the books in this series, and following Stoner and Gwen in their relationship and seeing what mysteries they investigate next.

A highly recommended Kindle Unlimited Read.

[Indigo · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Sheila Donahue · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book...it is my go to "cozy". Must be the characters and setting and dialogue....all so entertaining. I've read it over and over again in the course of 30 years (it is unusual for me to read a book twice never mind a dozen times). It begs for a screenplay adaptation and movie production. I've casted it in my mind many times. Love it...so fun to read!

[J H · Rating 5 out of 5]

More thrills and fun with Stoner and pals

Aunt Hermione drags Stoner into another missing person case, and as usual, trouble ensues. Stoner's introvertedness, Marylou's meddling, Aunt Hermione's premonitions, and Gwen's flirty and loving banter always lead to a fun time while trying to solve their latest caper. A must read!!

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The characters are really charming and easy to connect to. The dialog is witty and moves along at a good clip. This was a great mystery, I couldn't wait to get back to the book to find out more of what was happening as the plot unfolded.

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the second book in the Stoner McTavnish series and, like the first, it's a fun read. Many of the characters from the first book are back along with some new ones. In this story, Stoner is convinced to investigate the disappearance of the sister of her Aunt's friend. In the process she spends some time in a psychiatric hospital where the something shady referred to in the title seems to be happening.

This book, unlike the first book, is a bit more overt in it's supernatural elements though it's not really a big plot element. Stoner's neurotic behavior may have met it's match in one of the patients she befriends. Hopefully she'll learn to chill out a bit in later books, but I suspect not; that seems to be an essential part of Stoner's character.

The relationships between Stoner and the other characters are what really make these books work. The mystery element of the story is fairly straightforward and won't really keep you guessing but caring about the characters and what happens to them do keep the pages turning.

[Sherry Chandler · Rating 3 out of 5]

This second book in the Stoner McTavish series plays around with spoofing one of my all-time favorite horror novels, Shirley Jackson's "The Haunting of Hill House." A ramshackle old mansion called Journey's End (ahem) that's been turned into a hospital for the mentally ill but there's something fishy going on in this Maine fishing village. There's also a Big Nurse from hell and a psychiatrist as frightening as any you've met. The characters I loved in the first novel are back.

But the plot is a little bit rambling, and in some places my willing suspension of disbelief became unwilling.

[Sandy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the second in the Stoner McTavish lesbian mystery/detective series by Sarah Dreher. It's set in Maine in the winter and was very gray. I didn't like it as much as the first one. It sort of felt like lesbian detective novel meets Amityville Horror at times but overall it was an enjoyable read.

[Gayle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Re-reading all the Stoner McTavish books. In order.

[Annie Shaw · Rating 4 out of 5]

love this series. They are keepers and I re-read them every couple of years.

[Edgar · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good dialogues.

[Cloud · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another page-turner. I cringed only once, at an inconsistency, but I'm very picky.
Otherwise brilliant, Dreher's sense of humour is right up my alley.

[Nairn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think about this book constantly. It’s the second in a series I haven’t read, but it sticks with me still.

[Lex · Rating 5 out of 5]

First read (Feb 2025) - 4.5 stars.

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Second read (Jan 2026) - 5 stars. RTC.