Title: Shock to the System (#5 in the Donald Strachey series) Author: Richard Stevenson Published by: St. Martin's Press, 1995 ISBN: 0-312-13610-2 [hardcover, 183 pages]
Phyllis Haig, a boozy, rich, and homophobic widow, wants Donald Strachey to investigate the death of her gay son, Paul. The police have ruled his demise a suicide, but she is certain that Paul's former lover, Larry Bierly, murdered him and she wants Strachey to prove it for her. Strachey, Albany's only gay P.I., is fond neither of Phyllis Haig nor of what she wants him to do, but the mortgage payment is due and no other cases are in sight. He reluctantly agrees to look into Paul's death to see if there is anything to her claims.Upon interviewing Larry Bierly, Strachey finds out that Bierly also believes that Paul was murdered. However, he believes that controversial psychologist Vernon Crockwell is to blame -- and he tries to hire Strachey to prove his charge. Crockwell, whose practice is devoted to "curing" homosexuals of their "unnatural tendencies," denies any responsibility and also tries to hire Strachey -- this time to clear his name.
With three clients all wanting him to address their opposing agendas, the only thing of which Strachey is certain is that Paul Haig's death is more complicated than it seems.
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