Rating: 
Summary: Very good, but ending is too contrived
Review: 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.
Rating: 
Summary: Okay..a good read in a storm
Review: 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
Rating:
Summary: Okay..a good read in a storm
Review: 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
Rating: 
Summary: Kind of disappointing after her earlier work
Review: 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
Rating:
Summary: Disappointing...
Review: I consider Minette Walters one of my favorite authors, but I didn't like this book very much at all. I didn't especially like any of the characters and just didn't care what happened to them. Usually the characters are the reason I like Walters' books so much. I kept wanting to just stop reading this, but felt certain it would get better... but really it didn't. Things just started getting more and more extreme and absurd. Up until Acid Row, I loved every book Walters has written. I can appreciate the need to try something different ... but I hope she gets back to her more familiar storylines eventually. I consider Ice House, Shape of Snakes, Dark Room and the Scold's Bridle to be some of the best books I've ever read.
Rating:
Summary: MIXED EMOTIONS ABOUT THIS ONE
Review: I did read the whole thing. I must admit that some of the book was apparently way, way over my head...I had difficulty following the twists and turns. That being said, I must say the author is a wonderful story teller and her characters are quite true and well developed. I should suspect that Walters fans will like this one. Possibly I should read more of her work. Overall I do recommend this one, but with reservations.
Rating:
Summary: So complex it borders on incomprehensibility
Review: In a small village in Dorset, an elderly woman is found dead on her patio covered in blood. Suspicion is immediately thrown on her husband, Colonel James Lockyer-Fox. The question is what does he gain by her death?
Suspicion soon falls on others including a group of squatters that have moved in on land adjacent to the Lockyer-Fox manor. In this group is a psychopath named Fox Evil who is quite capable of the murder. James looks for his illegitimate and only granddaughter, Captain Nancy Smith. Why? There are many mysteries to be answered in this incredibly complex and confusing mess of a book.
Minette Walters has written several uneven books over the last five years. However, last year's ACID ROW was one of her best works since the incredible THE SCULPTRESS. Her current work sets new standards for complex psychodramas that are so complicated it borders on incomprehensibility. There are still moments of genius in the writing with her ability to set atmosphere and create realistic and powerful characters. . However, the plot is so dense the reader might lose all interest or wrack their brain cells trying
Rating: 
Summary: fascinating melodrama
Review: 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
Rating:
Summary: Engrossing page-turner
Review: 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.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent book - couldn't put it down!
Review: 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.
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