Customer Reviews

Fox Evil

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The plot summary on the jacket cover describes the death of an elderly woman, found outdoors wearing only her nightgown, with blood on the ground nearby. I was expecting to read an investigation into the circumstances of her death. But, since Minette Walters is the author, I should not have been surprised to find much, much more going on here, and the book jacket blurb doesn't even come close to summing this one up.

Set in a small rural community in the southwest of England, with an uneasy mix of residents. Farmers and wealthy landowners who have lived in the area for several generations now have neighbors who moved out from Britain's larger cities, investing retirement funds in country houses, and imagining themselves the new lords and ladies of the manor.

New arrivals on the scene are a group of "travelers" who live in camper type vehicles, moving from place to place. Their self appointed leader has discovered a small plot of land with an uncertain ownership history, and has convinced the group that if they manage to inhabit the plot long enough, they can claim ownership.

The stage is now set for what follows. The plots in Walters' books are always hard to categorize. This is not precisely a murder mystery, although we eventually do learn the true circumstances of the woman's death, and it wasn't pretty. "Fox Evil" is a portrait of sadistic manipulation and psychological torture. The itinerant leader together with residents of the community embark on a campaign to badger the elderly widower unmercifully with an eye to obtaining all his wealth. His two estranged adult children may or may not be part of what is going on.

His attorney and granddaughter struggle to convince the old man to fight against his attackers, and are eventually assisted by a woman who is a member of the "travelers" group.

The novel also addresses animal rights, child abuse, the rights of adoptive children, embezzlement, and privacy issues. The local police force is portrayed as insightful and efficient.

Some features of "Fox Evil" harken back to "Shape of Snakes" as Walters doesn't flinch at portraying cruelty to animals. But like the conclusion of "Acid Row" she portrays a softer, gentler side. Some of the characters whom the reader grows to admire, like and respect also get their just rewards. And I was smiling as I read the last few pages.

Previous reviews have covered the plot outline quite thoroughly, so no need for me to do that. I just wanted to voice my opinion that I totally enjoyed this book, aside from the fact that I started it as bedtime reading and ended up staying up to 3AM to finish it. I haven't said that about a mystery in quite a while. Granted, fans of Walters' earlier books may be disappointed by the lighter tone she uses in "Fox Evil", but I was completely satisfied with the characters interactions, the plot, the ending, the quality of the writing. Those who love the "English village" style of mysteries and shun the gruesome will find this a delightfully fresh adaptation....no Miss Marples (not that I don't enjoy her in the right mood). Only warning is references to animal cruelty, but Walters did not beat you over the head with it and for those who avoid brutality in mysteries, those passages are easy to gloss over. I was left at the end wondering how the cast of protagonists got on (though there were plenty of hints). I can't remember how long it has been since I cared enough about one character, let alone an ensemble, to wonder about their futures. I even wondered about what happens to some of the "bad" chacters. "Fox Evil" is not "The Sculptress" or "The Scold's Bridle", but I bet there are many who would enjoy it.

Minette Walters just keeps getting better and better! I highly recommend this book to both Walters fans, and those new to her work.
No need to describe the plot of this book - its been so admirably done already. Unlike so many authors, her novels are stand alone rather than series book. And also unlike so many authors, as her popularity grows she just doesn't repeat her plots, nor seem to be selling out or "phoning it in". Yes, the ending is a tad trite - but only just a tad, and thank heavens since the rest of the book is anything but. More of a psychological roller coaster.
Excellent stuff, and hopefully there'll be more of it very soon.

In the small village of Shenstead, England Colonel James Lockyer-Fox, decorated war hero and ex prisoner of war, mourns the death of his beloved wife. During the funeral, his children ignored him and walked away from him without saying a word to him. This gives rise to rumors that the colonel murdered his wife. After the police question him for two days, the post-mortem proves she died from natural causes and the blood found near her body was that of an animal.

Some of the villagers think he is guilty no matter what the police says and start harassing him by phone, claiming ugly things about his children and the illegitimate granddaughter that was given away at birth. He believes it is his two children who are out of the will that are supplying the neighbors with information that only they should know. He falls into a deep depression that lifts when he is reunited with his granddaughter who gives him a reason to live. What he doesn't know is at least two people living in the village are willing to go to any lengths to destroy him.

The queen of Gothic, Minette Walters, has written a fascinating tale that explores the nature of true evil; a story that captures the essence of the human condition when confronted with a person so demonic that the rules of acceptable behavior don't apply. There is no hero in this enthralling melodrama, just an ordinary individual trying to survive the death of a loved one and a feeling of being left behind and all alone with no friends to help him.

Harriet Klausner

Col. James Lockyer-Fox's wife, Ailsa, died under mysterious circumstances-locked out in the cold, clad in a nightgown and boots. Though James is absolved of responsibility for her death, two middle-age harpies and a mysterious male embark on a campaign of nuisance calls, accusing James not only of murdering his wife, but of other despicable acts as well. Her death and the constant barrage of nasty calls throw the elderly James into a deep depression.

Upon his request, his solicitor, Mark Ankerton successfully tracks down James' granddaughter, Nancy Smith. Nancy was adopted at birth to conceal the fact that she's the illegitimate daughter of Elizabeth, James' self-destructive daughter. Saddled with Elizabeth's alcoholism and nymphomania, son Leo's gambling debts, and a growing suspicion that either (or both) is behind the harassment campaign, James is on the verge of mental collapse. It is up to Mark and Nancy to aid James.

Meanwhile, a convoy of New Age travelers have insinuated themselves in the village, squatting on land adjacent to James' Shenstead Manor. Under the guise of "adverse possession" (ownership of undeeded land simply by use of it), Fox Evil, their self-proclaimed leader, coerces the travelers to guard their patch while he stalks the manor unbeknownst to them. Who is this Fox Evil? What were the true circumstances behind Ailsa's death? Is he connected to her death?

Regarded as one of Ms. Walters' grimmer novels, Fox Evil is a labyrinth of menace and mayhem that could try a reader's patience and comprehension. It did mine. My annoyance stems primarily from an overdose of social ills, behavioral aberrations, crimes and malfeasance covered in the book: alcoholism, gambling addiction, animal cruelty, adultery, child abuse and neglect, drug addiction, squatters' rights, adoption confidentiality, depression, incest, harassment, burglary, fraud, malice, bullying, psychopathy, and a few others I can no longer recall. Call me a killjoy, but to me, it's over the top.

Secondly, much as I appreciate the fact that no one exists in a vacuum, there were just too many events within each of too many characters' lives. At last count, there were at least twenty-four, if not more, characters to keep track of, not to mention what was happening to each of them and how they figure in the mystery. My bafflement increased exponentially as the numbers mounted. Again, over the top, in my opinion. I had to keep reminding myself that the issue at heart is the mysterious death of Ailsa.


Thirdly, the suspense is sub par. If it weren't for the sadistic Fox Evil wreaking havoc every now and then, I would have had to occasionally check my pulse.

Lastly, a convoluted plot has to provide a humdinger of a denouement. At least, that's the standard by which I gauge a mystery. If the author will make me work hard, then by god, I want an ending that'll stun me. I want an ending that'll make me reel from the cleverness of it all. Instead, Fox Evil's denouement was a whimpering conclusion and its antagonists' motives were, to put it kindly, pedestrian.

I admire the fact that Ms. Walters' books are quite original (formulaic is not a word usually associated with a writer of this caliber). Her prose is intelligent and her humor is wicked (e.g., Eleanor and Prue, the gossipmongers, are described as Thelma and Louise going through menopause but without the sex appeal). By her own admission, she does not know whodunit `til halfway into the story. (Agatha Christie is said to have detailed the Who, What, Why, Where, When and How of a story in her head before writing a word.) So, Ms. Walters' alternative style of formulating the whodunit as she writes can be refreshing. However, at the risk of sounding like a philistine or one whose brain has atrophied, Fox Evil made me wish for Hercule Poirot to sort it all out for me.

FOX EVIL is Minette Walters latest book and like some of her earlier books you can read it in a sitting or two. I read it with a flashlight during the Isabel-caused-East-Coast-blackout this past week so you can deduce that the book is entertaining enough to get your mind off the lack of light and air conditioning, and presence of rotting food. However, you can read this book under the covers at Girl Scout camp after lights out-its definitely PG-13.

Oh, I thought Walters was going to go somewhere with her plot. I expected the worst. I expected some of these characters to be the `people of the lie'. But, this is not `The Sculptress' or `The Ice House' and this is definitely not the `Scold's Bridal.' Has Walters returned to writing text for day time tv? Granted, there are some violent scenes involving a fox or two, but what would you expect from characters who get their kicks chasing one poor little helpless animal through the underbrush with a pack of dogs. Other than that, violence or the threat of it is largely nonexistent.

There are a few unnerving scenes, but the protagonist has just returned from a stint with the army in Bosnia, so the reader might not feel as concerned as if the stalker had come upon a little old lady in her nightgown-which he does early on and which is related after the fact. I can't say too much more without revealing the plot, but Walters might have made this book at least as scary as those ghost tales we told round the campfire at Scout camp if she had given Edgar Allen Poe a closer reading

Minette Walter's can always be counted on for delivering a satisfying psychological thriller and FOX EVIL is no exception. All of Walter's novels are a pleasure to read because they are so well-crafted. There is a wonderful array of characters in FOX EVIL, all fleshed-out and wonderfully alive on the page. Only the ending is a bit of a let-down. I don't want to give anything away because trying to figure things out is half the fun, but the ending seemed a bit safe for a Walter's novel.

All and all, a page-turner of a book that keeps you guessing. With a better resolution to the plot, this would have been a five star book for me.

Elderly Ailsa Lockyer-Fox died a curious death. One cold morning she was found in her night-dress lying dead on the terrace of her large house, the French windows locked. Even though the coroner pronounces that the death is not suspicious, residents of the village of Shenstead remain convinced that her husband, Colonel James Lockyer-Fox, killed her. There are rumours of vicious arguments between the two, and talk of vile secrets in his past. Allegations fly, and a systematic campaign against him begins.

But, when a troop of new-age travellers sets up camp near the village and claim they can stay as long as they wish - permanently, even - for it can't be proved that anyone owns the land, the villagers find themselves in a mess. The only person who could help is Colonel Lockyer-Fox, but after months of their abuse and segregation, he is too tired and worn out, mentally and physically, and no longer cares enough to do anything to help.

Which could be a catastrophe. Because all the while the travellers are there, the village is under threat from their violent and mysterious leader, the enigmatic Fox Evil...

As always, Minette Walters' wonderful writing style makes this psychological thriller a pleasure to read, and each sentence is a joy. The psychology of her characters (and there are many, all fully developed) is deadly accurate, and every action they make is completely believable and true to their characters. The plot (and book) is very strong, indeed, probably her strongest yet. It's complex and powerful, with many disparate threads twisting together. But...

...there is very little suspense. If I were to reveal the main culprit here, it wouldn't spoil the denouement of the book. All the while, the reader believes themselves safe in the knowledge that "Well, of course, she's going to have a big surprise for us, isn't she", and yet that knowledge turns out to be false. There are, yes, one or two small surprises, and some aspects of the ending echo back to the good old days of "The Scold's Bridle", but there's nothing very shocking at all about the end. Also, the solution as it is, because there are so many plot-strands, ends up being far too complicated and confusing. Several times in my head I lost myself almost irretrievably.

But, while that does take away from an otherwise very strong book, it doesn't mean that this is a big disappointment. Far from it. I would still recommend it to her fans, and anyone who likes a well-written, enjoyable to read mystery, with good characters a strong plot. Even if the ending is ultimately a bit of a let-down.

This was my first book by walters, i borrowed the hardcover from the library then later bought and re-read it in paperback. This was somewhat hard to follow with all that was going on, i think i got more of the story on my 2nd read. i haven't read any other titles by Walter, but i plan to do so in the future.


Quite a different book from reading Brauns The cat who books, but that isn't a bad thing. i liked reading something darker for a change, the beginning violent scene made me cringe at the image. Her writing i found powerful, almost overpowering but that could also be the fact she was keeping up with so many characters as she went along.


i would highly reccomend this book, to those not feint of heart. The violent parts including animal cruelty were highly disturbing to me, but i could not put this book down anyways as i was drawn to read on and end it. Partly because it's in my nature, and partly because her writing is so good.

Fox Evil is much better than Walters' previous novel, but I still had problems with the pacing. Walters in much of her later work has a tendency to be place too many fragmentary scenes into her work, rather than letting each scene flow effortlessly into another. And there is very little suspense for a novelist who is supposed to be renowned as a writer of suspense; indeed, the story kind of peters out towards the end, and the main culprit in the murder of Aisla doesn't become that much of a surprise. It's also not that much of a surprise when we find out why the murder took place and who the accomplice is.

I think Walters strength is in her character studies of the upper class British, and for me the two most entertaining, and over-the-top characters were undoubtedly Eleanor and Prue. Their viciousness and vindictiveness, not only towards their husbands but also to James and to almost everyone else in the town, was just wonderfully conveyed. In all fairness the story IS packed with some really smart dialogue - there's lots of really acid sparring between Eleanor and Prue and their respective husbands. Walters is on top of her game when she's conveying the frustrations and almost frigid depictions of the English moneyed class. She also has fun with social commentary - this book was written at a time when the English were really going at loggerheads over the issues of whether or not to ban fox hunting, and there were many protests in London by the parties who were both for and against it, and I like the way Walters morphs this kind of comment into her stories. However, I wouldn't recommend Fox Evil if your looking for something new and fresh by this writer - go and reread The Breaker instead.

Michael