A wildlife novel.

This was an unusual novel, melding family relationships with vivid descriptions of wildlife and a heartfelt plea for conservation.
Had I known beforehand that the author was a poet I would have avoided the book, expecting lengthy descriptive prose, but I found myself totally absorbed in the wildlife passages. This was especially true where tension also played a part; such as where we watch king cobras larger than a man, fight territorial battles and then slither towards the watching characters. The observations on an urban fox family were similarly beautiful.

The story behind all this wildlife is that of Rosamund, her husband Tyler and their son, Russel. Ros is the daughter of a world renowned snake expert and had started a biology degree when she fell for the charismatic, though seriously flawed, Tyler. Her father may have had an amazing empathy with snakes but his ability to interact with people is less well developed and Ros is estranged from him when we meet her. Tyler is a philandering smooth talker, while Russel is a sullen teenager. All is not well in Ros's life.
Everything comes to a thrilling climax as London faces the bombings of its underground and bus services in 2005.

It was not a quick read but the effort was worthwhile as we unravel Ros's life and simultaneously follow the natural world beyond the characters.
If you love nature and have strong views on conservation then you'll love this book. ( )