Takes One to Know One: An Alison Kaine Mystery [Paperback]

Despite their differences, or perhaps because of them, Stacy and Allison still manage to find time for... Allison and company do a wonderful job of humanizing that feminist taboo- s/m. In depicting intelligent, caring women with ordinary jobs (except for Stacy . . .), bills, and pets, Allen creates cognitive dissidence for people who demonize the leather community.

Allison and Stacy aren't the only ones indulging their... Away from the strain of domestic life with her girlfriend and their colicky baby, Michelle is expressing more than a professional interest in Persimmon, a fellow glass artist, and one of the commune sponsors.

Soon, Sarah Embraces-All-Things, the commune spiritual leader, a bully, and possibly a fraud, is discovered dead in the sweat lodge. Allison, suffering from a recently diagnosed chronic illness, struggles to sort out her professional responsibility as a police officer and her role as a supportive lesbian. Several members of the retreat appear happy to call Sarah's death an accident. Are they protecting a murderer?

Allen succeeds in poking fun at all the complexities and contradictions of the lesbian, gay, and feminist community without being malicious -- a great temptation, particularly over some of the issues. -- and conveys intelligent ambivalence over controversial issues. As the characters struggle with their interactions, political views, and the question of Sarah's death, Allen points out how very funny lesbians can be while she consistently displays compassion for the women that make up our community. All of Allen's novels are intelligent, humorous, and worth buying but this is still my favorite to date.

The murder victim is so nasty that you can only cheer when she is killed and Allison's frustration at her attempts to assert patriarchal laws on wimmin's land are well described.

Yet it is the small things that make me long for more Kate Allen novels. Allison dealing with her fears around disabilty and Michelle fighting for independence with a baby in her home are the kind of things that offer insights into the characters and make me want to know more.

This is coupled with a great sense of humour - I have actually laughed out loud while reading Kate Allen. Stacey's and Liz's Fun-camp, Michelle as City Pony, Allison wanting to talk about her cat in Spanish (I've been there!)all make these the funniest series of dyke detective novels I have ever read.

Kate Allen, please, please (I'd bark like a dog!) write more about this fantastic bunch of dykes and their friends.