The Nature of the Beast

by Frances Fyfield

Different people react to disasters in different ways. But why would Amy Petty want the world to presume her dead?
Fate is not alone in deciding who lives and who dies after the crash of a train travelling from Kent to London. One passenger uses the opportunity to commit a murder. Another — the blonde and beautiful Amy Petty — uses the accident as an opportunity to leave her life behind....

Is it because Amy’s husband is currently embroiled in a libel action against a national newspaper? Douglas Petty, a former barrister, is rich, charismatic and evil tempered: he runs a dog sanctuary in a brutally eccentric manner. Amy is his star witness: without her, his reputation faces ruin. Or maybe it isn’t the present that Amy is running from. Maybe it is the past....

The Nature of the Beast is mesmerizing. A brooding thriller of truth, betrayal and human instinct, it is Frances Fyfield at her most thrilling best.

Genres: Mystery, Crime, Fiction, Thriller

Paperback

First published January 1, 2001

About the author

Aka Frances Hegarty.

Frances Fyfield is a criminal lawyer, who lives in London and in Deal, by the sea which is her passion. She has won several awards, including the CWA Silver Dagger.

She grew up in rural Derbyshire, but spent most of her adult life in London, with long intervals in Norfolk and Deal, all inspiring places. She was educated mostly in convent schools; then studied English at Newcastle University and went on to qualify as a solicitor, working for what is now the Crown Prosecution Service, thus learning a bit about murder at second hand. She also worked for the Metropolitan Police.

Years later, writing became her real vocation. She also writes short stories for magazines and radio and is occasionally a contributor to Radio 4, (Front Row, Quote Unquote, Night Waves,) and presenter of Tales from the Stave.

Reviews

[Artie LeBlanc · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a really well-crafted book, with rounded characters who are very credible, even if not commonplace. It isn't a typical whodunnit - rather, a psychological mystery which held my attention to the very last page. I was distressed to find that other readers don't rate it particularly highly - I thought it was one of the best popular novels I have read for a long time. Highly recommended.

[Helen the Bassist · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5*
Clever plot, lots of dogs. I read this as it was the second in a Fyfield omnibus (with Seeking Sanctuary which was what interested me originally). I think it was better.

[Kathleen Hagen]

The Nature of the Beast, by Frances Fyfield, B-plus. Narrated by Rula Lenska, produced by Chivers Audio, now owned by BBC-WW audio, downloaded from audible.com.

This is a book full of very strange characters. Douglas Petty hires two solicitors to help him unravel a particularly vicious plot of character assassination and to file a libel suit. But this case is soon dwarfed by another incident, a catalyst that changed everything. Amy Petty, wife of Douglas, had had a particularly hard childhood, and now Douglas’s step-mother and step-sister hated Amy and made life difficult for her in the house. Douglas drank too much and didn’t seem to care. The house was over-run with dogs because Douglas ran a dog rescue operation. Amy loved dogs too so they both got along in that way. But one day, when Amy was going to London on the train, there was an explosion and a fire on the train, and all the passengers had to be unloaded from the train, and there were some fatalities, including one murder. Amy chose that moment to decide to change her life. She went to visit and then live with her father, a very bad decision for other reasons, and allowed everyone to think she was dead. Elizabeth, one of the two attorneys was dispatched to find her, because Douglas didn’t believe she was dead. Elizabeth did find her but was sworn to secrecy. This was a book that created kind of a maze. The people were strange, all of them. And there were all those almost-wild abused and dirty dogs always there. Fyfield described the dirty dog smell that permeated the Petty house. A very strange book.

[David Evans · Rating 2 out of 5]

I actually forgot that I'd read this and have difficulty remembering the ending. However it involved a former barrister who had been struck off for running naked through the Royal Courts of Justice and then opening a home for abandoned dogs before being accused of canine sodomy. Also his former model wife takes the opportunity of being involved in a massive train smash to sensibly fake her own death and go and live with her father - a wrongly accused paedophile who builds anarchic dolls houses. There must have been more; oh yes a very sweary man who works for the disgraced barrister. Personally I wouldn't give any of them the time of day but that's literature for you. No one is normal.

[Sandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maybe a 4.75; as I've said before 'amazing' not a word I'd use in this context, but for something so thoroughly entertaining, such high quality writing and such marvellous characters as this book has, it would be churlish to award it less.

I have found some of Frances Fyfield's book a little staid or disappointing. Others have sparkled, and this is definitely one of the latter.

[Laura · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not for me - I couldn't get into it.

[Deane · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book certainly wasn't the mystery or crime type of novel I usually read; perhaps that's why it was called a psychological suspense. It did keep me guessing as to what was really going on in the lives of these very different, dysfunctional characters....but thank goodness, Fyfield didn't leave us 'wondering' at the end.... everything was neatly revealed so I am much happier now that actions were explained. A good read all in all.

[Rich · Rating 4 out of 5]

A different take on legal matters, libel, which questions the application of law in dubious cases and the image which can ensue. Clever plot also addresses relationship issues and family control of offspring.

[Lysbeth Van Valkenburg-Lely · Rating 3 out of 5]

Aardig boek

[Marni · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author created some very interesting characters in this novel. I liked it.

[Zoe · Rating 3 out of 5]

ok, bit much unnecessary waffle but good storyline

[Ashley · Rating 2 out of 5]

I generally liked, but too many false turns, I think. Didn’t make it a good whodunit. Just made it a sloppy read.

[Cathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fyfield is a masterful writer of psychological crime thrillers, ones that will really keep you reading and oblivious to almost anything going on around you...Having just finished the Girl on the Train recently, this book also starts off on a London train, a crash in which main character Amy Petty walks away unscathed but instead of going back to her husband, she walks away, actually, without handbag, without anything into the streets of London.Presumed Dead is her choice for a number of reasons junior barrister Elisabeth Manser unearths as the book goes on, and accidently because of a libel suit Amy's husband is involved in. Many characters so vividly drawn: Amy's husband Douglas, his assistant Jimmy, Douglas' stepsister and stepmom...the setting is gorgeous, the Petty home and dog sanctuary down in a valley...but all is not idyllic, nor is the place Amy escapes to idyllic: her father and once convicted pedophile. The language is superb, authentic and it is this dialogue that truly reveals the plot, the characters, the setting so expertly. I love Fyfield. I love how she gets in your head. Like most Brit writers her sense of humour is keen and sharp and the main reason why crime novels set in England really grab and pique my interest, always.

[Twin Opinions · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is one of those books that is not good and not bad, its interesting though. A mystery with a little action and a good plot. All Fyfields books are well written, she is an amazing author but this book is kinda strange.



The characters are odd and the way she described the Petty house, well let's just say I could have done without that visual. Overall I would say its an OK read, but not great. I didn't find myself lost or unable to put it down and it just was not that memorable. But I wouldn't call it a waste either because it is very well written.

[Alison Evans · Rating 4 out of 5]

Frances Fyfield is very good at books with dysfunctional family stories at their heart. This one has a disgraced barrister who, in his forties marries the kindly Amy, who helps with his dog sanctuary for abandoned dogs. One day, she is involved in a train crash on her trip to London, and disappears. The reasons why she does this are extremely complex, and the book is a real page turner. I found the whole story emotionally satisfying.

[The Cats’ Mother · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well written mystery set in London about a woman involved in a train crash, who takes the opportunity to escape from a brutish husband, told from the point of view of one of the lawyers dealing with his libel case. The characters are complicated, and while not an exciting story as such, the intrigue is in finding out why and how it will turn out.

[Heidi · Rating 2 out of 5]

Finding heavy going on this one... characters strange and disagreable. I hear the story is intriguing, but do I care?

I decided I didn't. Regretable -- I had heard good things about this author and now will probably not try her again.

Two stars for competent writing.

[Karen C · Rating 2 out of 5]

I enjoy Frances Fyfield's writing but was upset that she chose to write about animal abuse/bestiality. It wasn't overly explicit but had I known this was the topic I would not have purchased the book (on my Kindle).

[Jackie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Didn't like this book.

[Claire · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fairly good

[Christine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not so much of a murder mystery, but a character mystery. I loved the way Amy saw everyone as an animal...

[Tiina · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a re-read. I can do that because I rarely remember specifics about any book.

The story unfolded little by little, holding my interest very well. A satisfying read.

[Patricia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Worth a read. Fyfield's characters aren't the usual stereotypes and this plot was most unusual.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A most unusual novel. I struggled for awhile to get into it but eventually it drew me in.

[Lizzie · Rating 2 out of 5]

It passed some sleepless hours, but not a patch on a good old Ruth Rendell :)

[Susan Cabaniss · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wasn't sure what to think of this book when I started, but found myself enjoying the ride. Not what I thought it would be, and the better for it!

[Luce Cronin · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a surprise! I thought this would be just another detective novel, but it proved to be written by an author with deep insight into the human psyche. An engrossing read.