Foxe Tail

If Stephanie Plum was a gay teacher :)

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Absolutely. Loved the characters, loved the humor. It was so great to read about a gay lead character that had the same quality as mainstream mystery fiction. If you like Janet Evanovich, you'll love Skyler. The narrator is perfect... he doesn't just read the book... he brings the characters to really distinct life. I've already told my friends about it.

What did you like best about this story?

I think Skyler is such an endearing character... he has flaws and he's struggling to find himself and own his identity. His relationship with his students is really charming. My favorite thing is probably the quality of the writing... it was so great to read something with gay characters that was of such great comedic quality.

Which character – as performed by Joel Leslie – was your favorite?

Probably Jamie. He's hilarious - fabulous but full of heart.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

There was a point where I actually did get teary... but I don't wanna spoil it.

Any additional comments?

The books contain some (pretty steamy) sex - but the focus is on the story and the characters. It's was awesome.

41 of 41 people found this review helpful

Miss Marple meets Neil Patrick Harris.

If you could sum up Foxe Tail in three words, what would they be?

It's just like a gay Hardy Boys. It was so refreshing to read such a well written piece of gay mystery fiction. The characters are delightful, the writing is hilarious and the mystery is also well crafted. If you're a fan of MC Beaton and other engaging 'amateur sleuth' series, this is a definitely sexy addition to the canon.

What other book might you compare Foxe Tail to and why?

It reminds me a lot of the Agatha Raisin or Hamish McBeth books - but with a wonderful cast of hilarious gay friends. Replace crumpets with cosmos... and you have Skyler Foxe and his friends. There is some really sexy stuff in the book - but that's certainly not the writer's focus. It was great to read adult fiction that was really invested in the story and the characters. Styler may be a horndog- but he's a wonderful role model.

What does Joel Leslie bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

He has amazing versatility with the characters. He has great comedic timing and the dynamic between all of Skyler's friends is hilarious.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

There was one scene that made me really sniffly - i won't say what it is... but it's a lovely little surprise that you don't really see coming toward the end of the book. Walsh really makes you care about the minor characters as well.

Any additional comments?

Can't wait to read book 2.

38 of 38 people found this review helpful

Great mystery, hilarious characters.

What made the experience of listening to Foxe Tail the most enjoyable?

The narrator does a great job of creating a cast of wild characters. He really brings the book to life. Very funny.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Jamie. He's over the top and full of life. And the narrator does a great job of making him crazy and caring at the same time.

Which scene was your favorite?

It's a mystery - so I don't wanna spoil it.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

It was great to read a gay novel with a real sense of humor, strong characters and still be sexy. This book was really hot in places but most of all it's a great story. I'm looking forward to the others in the series!

36 of 36 people found this review helpful

Hot homo handling homework and homicide.

Where does Foxe Tail rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Certainly in the realm of gay-themed fiction I would rate it very highly. Often the narrators that agree to do this kind of material sound more like my grandfather than the characters they portray. The voice for this was spot-on. The writing is smart, sassy and the book also surprises you with real emotional depth. I certainly would listen to more from this series and this narrator.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Foxe Tail?

There is a moment between two of Skyler's students that really took me by surprise...and i loved it. It's always tough to talk in too much detail about a mystery - but this book has plenty of twists and turns. There is a romantic high point in an abandoned classroom between Skyler and Keith that was really hot lol.

Have you listened to any of Joel Leslie’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I haven't - but I think he has a great energy for this kind of material. He embraces the different characters and makes them very specific and entertaining.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

I love the fact that Skyler is flawed... he's not perfect. There's a conversation he has with his friend Phillip that I thought was really great in terms of character development. Walsh invests as much time in her supporting cast as she does in Skyler.

Any additional comments?

Happy to be a member of the SFC. :)

35 of 35 people found this review helpful

Can't wait for more!

If you could sum up Foxe Tail in three words, what would they be?

Sexy, sassy, sweet.

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

The mystery is very well developed and you become engaged. You feel a real attachment to the characters and you are really rooting for them. The mystery is complex, but believable and the entire story is woven around a larger mystery that she carries through the first three books... so you really become invested. The romantic plot has you just as much on the edge of your seat as the danger that Skyler is in.

What does Joel Leslie bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

He brings the book totally alive. He grabs right onto the big characters and fun energy of the writing. Skyler's friends are big personalities with and the narrator makes them very specific and engaging. His energy for the material is infectious.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

There's a trick to solving crimes. And Skyler Foxe has had plenty of tricks.

Any additional comments?

Loved this series. It was so exciting to read the kind of detective novels that I love in the vein of No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency or Miss Marple...but for it to be filled with characters that I really related to. Walsh not only makes really great characters that you care about - but she fleshes them out and truly cares. It was so exciting to read great detective fiction surrounded by characters that reminded me exactly of myself and my friends and so many people that I know and make me laugh.

35 of 35 people found this review helpful

Pretty darn fun and frisky. :)

I loved Skyler and his friends. It's a fresh and fun spin on the m/m genre... The characters are well drawn, and full of life and joy and humor. If you like Janet Evanovich or other mystery writers that have a great comedic tone, you'll really like Skyler. I'm so glad this is a series - just like with No 1 Ladies Detective Agency or Stephanie Plum - you really become engaged with Skyler, Keith and all of Skyler's crazy friends. The narrator is lively and very funny... very much in the Will and Grace style and tone which was perfect for this material. The SFC (the Skyler F--- Club - named because all his best friends are former tricks) are like a Sex in the City spin on Scooby Doo!!

32 of 32 people found this review helpful

Campy, yet Cute

It wasn't a bad book, but there were parts that could have been a little more clear. I love the narration Joel provided. The tonality and dictation in his voice made certain moments "exciting". Pretty good read for anyone looking to relax and add a little humor to their daily routine.

31 of 31 people found this review helpful

Can't Wait For More

I can't wait to listen to more in this series. I love a good mystery that's also fun, and Walsh's Skyler Foxe is a fun character along with the SFC.

31 of 31 people found this review helpful

Fun and Drama Packed

I really enjoyed this book. Skyler is a believable character who gets himself into all kinds of situations throughout the book which kept me both interested and entertained. The writing had just the right amount of humor and the characters the right amount of complexity for the novel to be an absolute delight and one which was easy to listen to at the end of a challenging day.

I particularly liked that this gay novel did not focus a great deal on the erotic element of the sexual preference and didn't dwell on 'between the sheets' activities. I hope more gay fiction writers take note that just because a reader chooses a gay novel it does not mean they want to hear every single detail about the sexual encounters of the characters. Whilst being far from a prude, I do like to be allowed to have some things left to my imagination!

Joel Leslie does a great job as the narrator of this novel. He truly brings the characters to life and skillfully uses timing and emphasis to make comedic moments more funny and to make the reader really understand the awkwardness of some of the book's scenes. His different pitches and accents for the characters were very good, and in the case of Rodolfo, added a great deal of humor.

Overall, this was a wonderful breath of fresh air and a story which I found difficult to turn off once I had begun listening to it. I cannot wait for the second installment of this trilogy!

28 of 28 people found this review helpful

Fun and lighthearted mystery!

3 1/2 Stars to a fast speeded fun adventure. There weren't a slow moment.

I liked theses (there were a big bunch) characters and was quite impressed by this (great) narrators way to give different voices for them all.

More suspense than romance but I'm looking forward to the next audiobook edition to Foxe-book #2.

24 of 24 people found this review helpful