Shock to the System [Paperback]

First, there's the whole "gay mystery" issue. You don't have to be gay to enjoy Stevenson's clever, crafty mysteries. The books are funny and intelligent. The political tone is non-strident and therefore convincing. The main characters are people who happen to be gay, instead of (as, for example, in Mark Richard Zubro's mysteries) gays who happen to be people.

Secondly, Stevenson is the real thing. A MYSTERY writer. Not a stylist capitalizing on his sexual orientation (see Michael Nava). This man plots. He twists, he turns, he ties up loose ends.

Thirdly, Stevenson manages to be both funny as hell and insightful. Why is the tendency to think that a funny book is somehow not as serious (read "good") as, for example, a book where the alcoholic hero can't keep it together with his young, HIV-positive lover? Personally I think Stevenson has a more relevant message for his gay audience, even if it is positive. Glance over some of the Timmy and Don exchanges, especially in the first three books of the series, and see if they aren't just plain smarter than anything the competition (poetry spouting not withstanding) ever dreampt of in his universe.

Lastly but not leastly, Stevenson creates amusing, believable characters not stereotypes. The man has a wicked gift for caricature, and yet there are shades of sympathy in these portraits drawn from both the gay and straight community. And of course there is the always intriguing partnership of Stevenson's own odd couple, Strachey and Timmy. In fact, if this novel has a weakness it is the dearth of those Timmy and Strachey International Coffee Moments.

In conclusion, I'm willing to concede that given the shortage of gay mysteries--let alone excellent gay mysteries--Stevenson doesn't have a lot of competition, so it's hard to really judge him. After all, he does have one fatal weakness as an author: he doesn't churn them out nearly fast enough

This story opens as Albany's gay Private Investigator, Donald Strachey, is asked to investigate the death of Phyllis Haig's, gay son, Paul. Apparently the mother believes his lover, Larry, killed Paul, and that it was not a suicide as the police seem to believe. Vernon Crockwell enters the story as the controversial psychologist whose practice is devoted to "curing" homosexuals. Strachey ends up with three clients who want to hire him, to find out the truth, but Strachey soon becomes aware there are a lot of unanswered questions. As the story reveals, Paul Haig's death is much more complicated then he expected. Prepare yourself for a lot of surprises with this one.

The interaction between Donald Strachey and his long-time partner, Timmy, is always well done, and very realistic. All lovers of good mysteries, whether gay or heterosexual, will appreciate this book. Stevenson is a fine writer who knows how to weave a shocking and gripping mystery.

Joe Hanssen