From the acclaimed writer of Luther and Hard Sun, Natural History
is a work of exquisite tension Strange things are happening in
Monkeyland, the ailing Devonshire sanctuary that Patrick and his
zoologist wife, Jane, took on in a bid to save their marriage.
Their oldest female primate, the wise and gentle Rue, is found
murdered in a corner of the compound. And a big, panther-like cat,
preys around the park. It evades capture, lurking in the shadows
and in the back of Patrick's mind. Private, threatening, elusive.
With Patrick's son, Charlie, having left Monkeyland in disgrace and
his wife on a field trip in Zaire, Patrick is left alone with his
black cat and his fears. Until one night something happens that is
so shocking, so deplorable, that it rips apart everything Patrick
had ever held to be true. They say that a parent's worse nightmare
is to suffer the death of a child. But what if that's not true?
Praise for Natural History: 'The skill with which the author
manipulates the narrative, revealing its developments only by
degrees, is what gives this sharply observed and suspenseful novel
its edge - so that when the shocking climax takes place, it is both
entirely unexpected and frighteningly plausible' The Times
'Powerfully intelligent... the frightening permeability of borders
lies at the centre of this complex and troubling book... Compressed
lyricism generates sudden shifts between transitory events and
durable historical patterns, Cross's novel is serious and
compelling in equal measure' Guardian 'Taut domestic intrigue,
sprung with mistrust and the menacing stealth of hunting... A
subtle interplay of anxieties and tolerances that keep parental
treacheries in glaring focus' Financial Times 'I'm a big fan of
this author and particularly of this menacing novel, which on the
surface could be a family drama but turns into something very nasty
indeed. It's clever, tense and chilling. Highly recommended' Sarah
Broadhurst, The Bookseller 'Dark and densely plotted...the plot
reaches a violent climax, challenging notions of guilt and the
limits of parental responsibility' Daily Mail 'A masterpiece...
seductively readable, no matter how much one dreads what may happen
next... mercilessly realistic... This is a dangerous novel.
Everyone in it has a lot to worry about' Daily Telegraph
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