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Description edit see section history

Clara Benning, a veterinary surgeon in charge of a wildlife hospital in a small English village, is young and intelligent, but nearly a recluse. Disfigured by a childhood accident, she generally prefers the company of animals to people. But when a local man dies following a supposed snakebite,... read more

Characters/People edit see section history

  • Clara: Heroine; a wildlife vet who works hard to keep to herself. An archdeacon's daughter
  • Matt Hoare: Assistant Chief Constable that helps Clara solve the mystery of the snakes and the murders. Clara's neighbour
  • Walter Witcher: Former resident of the village; married to Edeline. One of the few people in the village that Clara is actually willing to talk to. An enthusiastic gardener.
  • Saul Witcher: the most malevolent of the Witcher brothers
  • Sean North: the snake expert that helps Clara solve the mystery of the snakes and the murders. Presents several television programmes about animals in the wild and the best in his field.
  • Clive Ventry: the rich, new man in town
  • Sally: Clara's next door neighbour. A nurse
  • Reverend Joel Fain: The charismatic priest that lived in the village 50 years ago who led the villagers by having an influence over snakes.
  • John Allington: an old man who died of an adder bite before the book began
  • Edeline: Walter's strange and promiscuous wife
  • Archie Witcher: the best looking of the Witcher brothers
  • Tasker: an agent working under Assistant Chief Constable Matt Hoare
  • Vanessa: Clara's older sister by five years. She is married and has two young girl children. Heavily involved in Church committees
  • Violet: an old lady with an old dog that Clara becomes friends with. Is devoted to her dog, Bennie
  • Harry Richards: Doctor at the local hospital who treats John Allington's snake bite and consults Clara when he is suspicious of the circumstances of John's death
  • Roger: Add a description of this character.
  • Percy
  • Craig
  • Knowles
  • Steve
  • Bennie: Violet's dog
  • Nick Poulson
  • Ulfred: Witcher brother. Many thought he was possessed as well as being blind and deaf
  • Harriet
  • Simon
  • Dr Amblin: Lives in Clara's village. Is injured when snakes are found in his home
  • Daniel
  • Keech
  • Ruby: Violet's friend
  • Mrs Buckler: Violet, an old woman living in Clara's village. Clara stumbles across Violet in the road one day with her dog Bennie and Clara helps care for the very ill dog.
  • Alice: Saul's wife
  • Rose Scott
  • Allan Keech: An unfriendly member of Clara's village who wants to hunt down and kill the snakes.
  • Sophia: Baby
  • Nathan: Younger brother of Allen Keech.
  • Peter Morfet: One of the men who died in a church fire in the 1950s
  • Jim
  • Abigail
Show all 38 characters
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First Sentence edit see section history

How did it all begin?

Table of Contents edit see section history

Prologue
Part One
Chapters 1 - 33
Part Two
Chapters 34 - 52
Tail End

Authors & Contributors edit see section history

  1. S. J. Bolton (Author)

First Edition edit see section history

Original Language: English
Publisher: Bantam Press
Country: England
Publication Date: 2009
ISBN: 0593059239
Page Count: 400

Awards edit see section history

Classification edit see section history


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