How to Read the Donald Strachey Books
The Donald Strachey mystery series, written by Richard Lipez under the pen name Richard Stevenson, is one of the most significant milestones in queer crime fiction. Centered on Donald "Don" Strachey—Albany, New York's premier openly gay private eye—and his supportive partner, Timothy "Timmy" Callahan, the series spans over four decades of changing social norms, political realities, and LGBTQ+ struggles.
Because the books directly reflect the historical eras in which they were written, the recommended reading path is to follow the publication order. While each novel is a self-contained mystery that can be read as a standalone, the personal lives of Don and Tim, their long-term relationship, and the broader social landscape of Albany evolve continuously. Reading them chronologically offers a vivid, historical look at gay life starting from the pre-AIDS era of the early 1980s through to the legalization of same-sex marriage and beyond.
The Complete Donald Strachey Reading Order
Here is the chronological order of the Donald Strachey mystery novels, including plot details and milestones for each installment:
Death Trick (1981)
The series debut introduces readers to Donald Strachey, who is hired to find Billy Blount, a missing gay activist accused of a brutal murder. Navigating the bars, bathhouses, and political factions of pre-AIDS Albany, Strachey must solve the murder to clear the young heir's name.
On the Other Hand, Death (1984)
Strachey is hired to protect an elderly lesbian couple facing escalating homophobic vandalism and death threats. He soon discovers the harassment is tied to corporate greed and developers trying to force the couple off their land.
Ice Blues (1987)
In this third outing, Strachey finds a corpse in his own car. The victim, Jack Lenihan, was trying to distribute a massive sum of money to make amends for his family's politically corrupt past, plunging Don into a web of civic conspiracies and family drama.
Third Man Out (1992)
Strachey reluctantly agrees to guard John Rutka, a controversial gay activist known for outing closeted public figures. When Rutka is murdered, Strachey faces a long list of suspects who all wanted Rutka silenced.
Shock to the System (1995)
Investigating the suspicious suicide of a young man, Strachey uncovers a sinister gay conversion/reparative therapy program. Infiltrating the organization, he exposes the psychological manipulation and greed driving its founders.
Chain of Fools (1996)
An old flame hires Strachey to look into the cold case of a murdered young progressive newspaper heir. The investigation leads Don into a toxic family feud over the sale of a local media empire.
Strachey's Folly (1998)
While visiting the AIDS Memorial Quilt in Washington, D.C., Strachey notices a square dedicated to a man who is rumored to still be alive. When his informant is murdered, Strachey unravels a conspiracy involving a disgraced congresswoman.
Tongue Tied (2000)
Strachey takes a high-paying job protecting J-Bird, a right-wing radio shock jock receiving death threats. The threats are signed by a radical gay activist group that went defunct two decades prior, forcing Don to dig into local radical history.
Death Vows (2008)
Strachey investigates the fiancé of a wealthy friend's associate. When one of his clients is murdered, the fiancé becomes the prime suspect, forcing Don to navigate the modern, complex politics of legal gay marriage.
The 38 Million Dollar Smile (2009)
Don and Tim travel to Thailand to locate Gary Griswold, the missing heir to an old-money Albany family who disappeared along with a massive $38 million inheritance.
Cockeyed (2010)
A flamboyant Albany local wins a billion-dollar lottery jackpot, prompting a flurry of blackmail threats. Strachey is hired to manage the chaotic fallout and keep the skeletons in the winner's closet from ruining his fortune.
Red White Black and Blue (2011)
Working as a political operative, Strachey investigates a Tea Party-backed gubernatorial candidate rumored to have exploited vulnerable young men. This installment won the prestigious Lambda Literary Award for Best Gay Mystery.
The Last Thing I Saw (2012)
When an investigative reporter known for exposing drug cartels vanishes while investigating a controversial gay media empire, Strachey follows a dangerous trail from Albany to New York, Boston, and California.
Why Stop At Vengeance (2015)
Strachey is hired by a young Ugandan refugee seeking retribution against an American evangelical church that has funded violent, anti-gay legislation in his home country.
www.dropdead (2016)
Strachey is pulled into the digital age when he investigates cyber-blackmail, online harassment, and digital threats targeting a high-profile local figure.
Killer Reunion (2019)
A family reunion for Tim's relatives at a New England inn turns deadly after a bizarre poisoning. Don must find the killer within the family before anyone else falls victim.
Chasing Rembrandt (2023)
In the posthumously published final novel, Strachey is hired to solve a decades-old art heist involving missing masterpieces by Rembrandt and Vermeer, chasing a massive reward and closing out the series.
What to Know Before You Start: Tone, Context, and Adaptations
Richard Lipez originally adopted the pseudonym Richard Stevenson to shield his identity as an openly gay journalist in the early 1980s. Over the years, the pen name became a beloved fixture in mystery circles. The series is celebrated for avoiding the tragic, victimized gay tropes common in early crime fiction. Instead, Donald Strachey is depicted as a resilient, funny, and deeply moral investigator with a healthy, loving, and long-lasting relationship with Tim Callahan.
For fans of visual media, the series was adapted into four films for the Here! TV network between 2005 and 2008. Directed by Ron Oliver and starring Chad Allen as Donald Strachey, the films include Third Man Out, Shock to the System, On the Other Hand, Death, and Ice Blues. While the film adaptations make minor changes to update the settings and streamline the plots, they capture the dry wit and social conscience of Stevenson's original novels.