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The Avondale Stories #4
Sleuth LLC: Birds of a Feather
An Avondale Story
Quentin Quasar has found that being a telepath is a mixed it’s great when he’s catching an unfaithful spouse or tracking down a thief, but it’s horrible when his bedmate is thinking unflattering thoughts during sex. It’s no wonder that instead of saying his prayers every night, Quentin sends tendrils of thought out into the world, looking for another telepath to ease the loneliness. Imagine his surprise when he finds one—and the young man needs help!
Nate Braddock was plenty panicked at being kidnapped by fanatics who planned to “beat the devil” out of him. With Quentin’s help, and then his partnership, Nate finds the courage to take a stand against his mother’s religious intolerance and together they’ll confront an uncomfortable telepaths may not be devils, but not all of them are angels either. Quentin and Nate will need their combined gifts to tell the difference.
Quentin Quasar has found that being a telepath is a mixed it’s great when he’s catching an unfaithful spouse or tracking down a thief, but it’s horrible when his bedmate is thinking unflattering thoughts during sex. It’s no wonder that instead of saying his prayers every night, Quentin sends tendrils of thought out into the world, looking for another telepath to ease the loneliness. Imagine his surprise when he finds one—and the young man needs help!
Nate Braddock was plenty panicked at being kidnapped by fanatics who planned to “beat the devil” out of him. With Quentin’s help, and then his partnership, Nate finds the courage to take a stand against his mother’s religious intolerance and together they’ll confront an uncomfortable telepaths may not be devils, but not all of them are angels either. Quentin and Nate will need their combined gifts to tell the difference.
290 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 27, 2011
68 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
September 21, 2011
Birds of a Feather starts well enough; the narrator, Quentin seems interesting, and we find ourselves right in the action. Quentin is a psychic private investigator on a new case. Unfortunately, the flaws of the book become clear pretty soon. One of the big ones is the pacing. Quentin solves his case, has some casual sex. He solves another case, has more casual sex. Builds a Jacuzzi on his back porch, solves a third case, builds an outdoor shower to go with his Jacuzzi. It's not till he's in the middle of his forth case, 38% into the book that the other protagonist makes an appearance. By which point I was thoroughly bored with Quentin.
The love interest finally showing up didn’t improve the story one bit. Nate has been kidnapped, and being psychic reaches out for help. By unbelievable coincidence Quentin is stretching his psychic feelers at the same time and they connect. Things immediately go hokey as they quickly establish both of them being gay. Quentin rushes off and rescues Nate without much trouble. Of course, the two of them are instant soul mates. Even then the story fails to pick up any sort of momentum or suspense.
The narration is extremely tedious. Here is a sample
Inside the building, I checked in, paid the fee, surrendered my driver’s license and membership card, and was handed a towel along with the key on a flexible wristband. I went to the locker area, undressed, stowed my clothes and wallet, wrapped the towel around my waist, and slipped the wristband over my hand after securing the locker. Then I walked down a hallways past a series of room and opened a glass door.
All that just to say that the guy went for a swim at the pool. The narrator’s voice is flat and oddly stilted – it took me a while to realize it is an amplified version of Joe Friday. Quentin being a private detective might justify the tedium, but it’s a dull reading.
And then are bits like this:
Although I would be spending some time searching records in the Marion County Courthouse, which was situated on the western edge of downtown Ocala, I had elected to stay in Silver Springs, six miles to the east.
This monotonous list of facts has no relevance to the narrative and does absolutely nothing to bring the place alive. As matter of fact, there is no sense of place, ambiance anywhere in the story.
The sex is dry and boring, the romance is unromantic, the suspense in nonexistent. The whole story is a flatliner.
I was going to give the novel two stars, but considering how bored I was by the end, and that the only virtue the author seems to possess is her ability to write in coherent sentences, I can’t in good conscience give it more than one.
The love interest finally showing up didn’t improve the story one bit. Nate has been kidnapped, and being psychic reaches out for help. By unbelievable coincidence Quentin is stretching his psychic feelers at the same time and they connect. Things immediately go hokey as they quickly establish both of them being gay. Quentin rushes off and rescues Nate without much trouble. Of course, the two of them are instant soul mates. Even then the story fails to pick up any sort of momentum or suspense.
The narration is extremely tedious. Here is a sample
Inside the building, I checked in, paid the fee, surrendered my driver’s license and membership card, and was handed a towel along with the key on a flexible wristband. I went to the locker area, undressed, stowed my clothes and wallet, wrapped the towel around my waist, and slipped the wristband over my hand after securing the locker. Then I walked down a hallways past a series of room and opened a glass door.
All that just to say that the guy went for a swim at the pool. The narrator’s voice is flat and oddly stilted – it took me a while to realize it is an amplified version of Joe Friday. Quentin being a private detective might justify the tedium, but it’s a dull reading.
And then are bits like this:
Although I would be spending some time searching records in the Marion County Courthouse, which was situated on the western edge of downtown Ocala, I had elected to stay in Silver Springs, six miles to the east.
This monotonous list of facts has no relevance to the narrative and does absolutely nothing to bring the place alive. As matter of fact, there is no sense of place, ambiance anywhere in the story.
The sex is dry and boring, the romance is unromantic, the suspense in nonexistent. The whole story is a flatliner.
I was going to give the novel two stars, but considering how bored I was by the end, and that the only virtue the author seems to possess is her ability to write in coherent sentences, I can’t in good conscience give it more than one.
June 28, 2011
This novel has a decent plot and the author knows how to form sentences. He utterly fails at tone and voice though. The protagonist operates on an emotional flat line - whether he goes grocery shopping, solves a case, has sex or saves his love interest from the clutches of a religious cult, he always sounds the same. Consequently there's a lack of tension, suspense and romance. Even the sex scenes are mind numbingly dull.
On top of that the author likes to preach through his main characters. If you want to make safe sex (et al.) a topic, please do it with a bit more finesse and don't give a lecture!
Also we have to wait for the love interest to appear until the middle of the book. After being saved they hop immediatly into bed with each other, but there wasn't any chemistry between them to speak of.
Birds of a Feather utterly fails as a m/m romance and even as a sleuth book it's weak.
On top of that the author likes to preach through his main characters. If you want to make safe sex (et al.) a topic, please do it with a bit more finesse and don't give a lecture!
Also we have to wait for the love interest to appear until the middle of the book. After being saved they hop immediatly into bed with each other, but there wasn't any chemistry between them to speak of.
Birds of a Feather utterly fails as a m/m romance and even as a sleuth book it's weak.
August 3, 2011
flat, nothing exiting
August 13, 2011
Etienne's familiar writing style from his other Avondale novels, returns with this novel but without Geoge and Mike as the main characters. Instead we get to follow Quentin Quasar's life as a PI, a career happily helped along by his telepathic abilities. While out on a case, he hears a telepathic cry for help, which introduces the reader to Nate, who, like Quentin, is gay and telepathic. Nate quickly becomes Quentin's lover/boyfriend/life partner (those telepathic abilities sure make getting to know a person an easy thing) and from there, the story revolves about their lives together, including dealing with the reason behind Nate's distress call. Readers familiar with the other Avondale novels will recognize many of the supporting characters, as well as many of the Jacksonville locations. Like George and Mike, Quentin and Nate are nice guys in a loving relationship. There's not much time spent on the emotional or sexual aspects of their relationship, instead the story's focus is on working out the details of bringing two separate lives into a joined future together, with the added twist of telepathic abilities. There are no major ups and downs in Etienne's novel, but for me, sometimes that's exactly what I need - a feel-good read that encourages a positive outcome for everyone.
June 30, 2011
In my opinion, this is one the BEST WRITTEN SERIES IN THE WORLD! I loved it and the characters are strong and deal with issues like we deal with issues everyday. I hope Etienne keeps writing these books, I would buy them every time they hit the book shelf! My hats off to him!
July 1, 2011
I enjoyed this next installment in the Avondale series, while this is the forth book in the series, it is the first book featuring Quentin and Nate. I look forward to more books featuring them as well as the other men in Avondale.
April 3, 2021
I agree with some of the other reviewers--I love the Avondale Stories. I purchased these many years ago and have re-read them multiple times. This author has a certain style--its seems like it is a story of the couples lives over a certain time perios. This book is about Quentin and Nate who are both able to read minds and I think this is what makes this one of my favorite of Etienne books.
July 1, 2011
the review is for the ebook version
3.5 stars
Overall an enjoyable, easy to read book delivered in the authors recognizable style.
Some spoilers ahead
I liked the whole idea of a psychic sleuth so it was fun reading about his investigations. Also, the idea of Q and Nate as a couple was intriguing simply for the fact they both have the same abilities so at the end of the day there can never be any secrets between them.
That said there were some parts that didn't work all that well for me as a reader.
While I liked the idea that Q spent most of his life trying to find another man with telepathic abilities whom he could share his life with, the way that happened was a bit too convenient. The first person he finds is a gay man and it's love at first site. Now, if later on they didn't find out that a lot more telepathic people existed I wouldn't mind this in the least. But, since they are far from being the only two psychics out there it didn't work for me. Maybe that's the reason why at times it felt like Q and Nate aren't all that suited for each other. Don't get me wrong they seemed to work well together as a couple. But from time to time it felt wrong. Like when they are looking to buy property and/or a house. Nate's this bundle of energy and joy, almost like an eager puppy, while Q is, well I'm sorry to say, but for me he comes across as an old fart. Or at least (and these are Nate's words) a party pooper.
I guess it's safe to say I liked Nate better than Q.
Also, since most of the sex between Q and Nate was fade to black, the sex at the beginning of the book with Q and other guys could have also been of the fade to black variety. Plus, I felt the whole thing about the sex being way better because of the mind reading wasn't explored/used as much as it could have been.
And another thing. I hope there will be a sequel to this book since the end left a whole lot of loose ends to tie. For one the case against Nate's mom, stepdad and the cult was left open, plus I'm still waiting for the dangerous telepaths Q was warned about to show up and stir up Q's life.
3.5 stars
Overall an enjoyable, easy to read book delivered in the authors recognizable style.
Some spoilers ahead
I liked the whole idea of a psychic sleuth so it was fun reading about his investigations. Also, the idea of Q and Nate as a couple was intriguing simply for the fact they both have the same abilities so at the end of the day there can never be any secrets between them.
That said there were some parts that didn't work all that well for me as a reader.
While I liked the idea that Q spent most of his life trying to find another man with telepathic abilities whom he could share his life with, the way that happened was a bit too convenient. The first person he finds is a gay man and it's love at first site. Now, if later on they didn't find out that a lot more telepathic people existed I wouldn't mind this in the least. But, since they are far from being the only two psychics out there it didn't work for me. Maybe that's the reason why at times it felt like Q and Nate aren't all that suited for each other. Don't get me wrong they seemed to work well together as a couple. But from time to time it felt wrong. Like when they are looking to buy property and/or a house. Nate's this bundle of energy and joy, almost like an eager puppy, while Q is, well I'm sorry to say, but for me he comes across as an old fart. Or at least (and these are Nate's words) a party pooper.
I guess it's safe to say I liked Nate better than Q.
Also, since most of the sex between Q and Nate was fade to black, the sex at the beginning of the book with Q and other guys could have also been of the fade to black variety. Plus, I felt the whole thing about the sex being way better because of the mind reading wasn't explored/used as much as it could have been.
And another thing. I hope there will be a sequel to this book since the end left a whole lot of loose ends to tie. For one the case against Nate's mom, stepdad and the cult was left open, plus I'm still waiting for the dangerous telepaths Q was warned about to show up and stir up Q's life.
September 15, 2014
I had avoided reading this one because of the paranormal angle but I need not have worried, I should have had faith in the author. I really liked that the telepathy was dealt with as part of their personalities so it was given no more importance then their hair or eye colour. This made it believable and not the focus of the story. Now if you ask the author he will tell you he does not write romance books but I disagree, now granted they are not hearts and flowers romances but they are stories that chart a relationship, how two people fit together and make a life together is romance in its truest form and what's not to love about watching really believable love take shape. My only complaint with this book is that is end to abruptly and I really felt a little cheated as we didn't find out what happened with all the court cases. I have complained about this before and I no doubt will again but it won't stop me reading more from this author because I love the no nonsense why he spins a story and I love how he has faith in his readers that they don't need every little thing explained or described to them, there area no wasted word so all you get is story and characters that will stay with you for a very long time.
May 11, 2013
**Yawn** pretty much sums up this one. Each chapter reads like a mini-story and I could really picture this as a tv series, but as a full-length story, it is sadly lacking in tension. There's no build-up to a climax, no resolution to the main conflict. In fact, there is no main conflict. I found the characters fairly interesting but I do not care for them; there is nothing in the story to make me do so. In fact, you have to read approx one-third of the novel to even get to the love interest, which is not necessarily a bad thing, but I kept waiting for explanations/descriptions that never came. This is a book you can easily set aside for other things...
July 5, 2011
An interesting read, and Etienne has clearly set the stage for a sequel. This time, the central character doesn't exactly fall in love at first sight, but who can blame Quentin for latching onto Nate, the ohly other telepath he's met at that point.
His descriptions of sex with Nate, hint at what it must be like to be totally inside your sexual partner's mind during the act. He hints, but leaves the rest to the reader to imagine, which is good. To have done anything else would have been like trying to describe color to someone who'd been born blind. It cannot be done.
His descriptions of sex with Nate, hint at what it must be like to be totally inside your sexual partner's mind during the act. He hints, but leaves the rest to the reader to imagine, which is good. To have done anything else would have been like trying to describe color to someone who'd been born blind. It cannot be done.
June 13, 2020
A novel that has the telepathic version of George & Michael the golden boys of the Avondale series...Yipee! All of Etienne characters have to have the following simalarities, MC's must be white, have well paying jobs, rich relatives that will give them a house, dysfunctional childhhoods or some redneck relatives, love to swim, hate being around too gay, gay men, muscular, and must love to swim like fish, drink wine...Also they all must say "fool" as a term of endearment. I couldn't wait for these telepathic jerks adventure to be over!
December 12, 2012
Sleuth LLC: Birds of a Feather is an interesting mix: detective novel + telepathic romance. Both aspects of the book were interesting. I liked the day to day investigations, and also the idea of my communicating telepathically with my beloved. The main plot leading to the introduction and romance of the main characters is a stretch, but any plot involving telepathic communication is going to be farfetched. [That's why I haven't told anyone either - shhh.]. If I could give 3.5 stars, I would.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews