Animal Instincts

Alan Titchmarsh, the best known gardener novelist in Britain, extends his patch with his novel, Animal Instincts. Expectedly funny and warm, Animal Instincts also has a distinct tinge of social commentary. The central figure is one Kit Lavery, who is returning to bucolic Devon, after ten enjoyable years in the Aussie Outback, so as to sort out the parlous estate of his deceased dad. It is all Kit can do not to leap on the next plane home when he meets the scarily modern women presiding over his father's penniless eco-empire: feisty Elizabeth, polemical Jess.

Love, naturally, will bloom in this seemingly unpromising soil. Before it does Titchmarsh deftly sketches an engaging plot that touches on delicate countryside issues like fox hunting, conservancy and the class system, without ever getting tendentious or dull--and without losing the quintessentially pleasant and light-hearted tone. --Sean Thomas

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Recommended read - Rated
This is the fourth novel I read from Alan Titchmarsh. Even though 'Rosie' and 'Mr MacGregor' are still my favourites, this book is also a very good read. The story seemed to start off a bit slow, but then it developed very well and became a lot more interesting. It deals with the different sides of country life and explained a lot to me I didn't know before. Recommended read!

A good book but lacking in depth. - Rated
I enjoyed this book as it was on a subject of interest to me. However, I did find it lacked depth. But Mr. Titchmarsh certainly should be congratulated on taking on a difficult and controversial subject and making it work. If you are for foxhunting read it.

This is simply fantastic!!! - Rated
Hats off to you, Alan!!! You've done it again!, I thought it couldn't get much better after reading "The last lighthouse keeper", but obviously it could.
This is simply one of the best books I have ever read, - and I've read quite a few by now. Two thumbs up, way up - can't wait to read your next book, just to see if you can outdo yourself yet again!

Still thinking it over - Rated
Another good story from Mr T but, I'm still thinking it over. It lacks the depth of 'The Last Lighthouse Keeper' which, for me, is Alan's best book, I think I was a little disappointed with the main character Kit. He promised so much but ultimately lacked the killer punch and turned a bit wishy washy...but don't let that put you off it is still very readable and a page-turner, if I had been able to register four and a half stars I would have. All Alan's books are a great read. Keep them coming Mr T.

Something for everyone and a fantastic read. - Rated
If you liked "Mr MacGregor" and "The Last Lighthouse Keeper" then "you ain't seen nothing yet!" This is by far the best of his three novels (and I thought that the "Last Lighthouse Keeper" was fantastic!) It lacks nothing. It has that same warm glow that "The Last Lighthouse Keeper" had and it has the brilliant story lines of all good novels. If this isn't a brilliant work of genius then I don't know what is. The story has love, lust, mystery and romance. It is so well written that you can almost imagine being there and if you like a good novel in any respect then this is for you - it has somehing for everyone. I would say without a doubt that this is the best book I have ever read and I have read a lot of books. This one was so good I had it finished in two days!