Readers' Reviews and Remarks
All reviews are genuine and unbiased and not influenced by financial or other reward.
REVIEWS* * * * * * *
Readers' Favorite
Reviewed by Jamie Michele for Readers' Favorite. June 2023
In Patrick C. Notchtree’s The Two Pink Sheep, Ethan Robson grows
up in Bilthaven with the memory of Mark Martin, a school friend
whose death teaches him how dangerous secrecy can become. At
Thirlham University, Ethan meets James Boyle, an Irish history
student whose family rejects his sexuality, and their life together
becomes the center of Ethan’s future. As Ethan becomes a criminal
solicitor and James becomes a teacher, their home at Sheepfold
must stay discreet in a country where the law still puts gay men at
risk. Ethan’s cases bring him face to face with men harmed by
prejudice and fear, forcing him to decide whether his career can
protect the truth he shares with James, or whether silence will keep
taking lives. “They have just cloned a sheep in Edinburgh... They've
called it Dolly. But if they can clone a sheep, I'm going to clone a
pink sheep."
Patrick C. Notchtree’s The Two Pink Sheep is a sweeping novel that is effectively Ethan's entire life, from his earliest childhood through to fully-fledged adulthood. Notchtree does an excellent job of balancing the heartfelt moments with those that are also heartbreaking, and Ethan does not have it easy. He is, however, easy to like. As a solicitor, he treats Kieran Thornton, a frightened young prisoner, with dignity during an interview. In another case, he proves someone's innocence by checking the evidence himself. The settings are spectacular. Sheepfold feels sheltered through old tools in the garage and rooms made ready for daily life, and a Mediterranean cruise has sea air and ease transcending the page. Well written and immersive, readers who enjoy literary historical fiction rooted in the evolution of LGBTQ+ law will adore this. Very highly recommended.
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Thank Heaven for a REAL author
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 7, 2026
Verified Purchase
Patrick Notchtree writes about real life with it's ups and downs. About loves and losses and just about life from the viewpoint of a gay man [or men]. A very satisfying and rewarding read. One that I will have to obtain as a hardcover for my bookshelf.
Link to full review 