Fergus the Silent

Can you think of a great environmental novel published this century? No, me neither, but Michael McCarthy may just have produced one.The eponymous hero of his new book Fergus the Silent has a secret, one he has been keeping for nearly twenty years – at very great personal cost to himself. In surveying a remote Scottish island, Fergus had made a discovery so extraordinary that he decided he dare not share it with others and devoted his life to concealing it. When the truth finally comes out, events move inexorably to a tragic conclusion he has no power to prevent. But his earlier vow of silence raises an ethical dilemma that is central to the plot of this engrossing story and has larger implications for the key environmental question of today – the responsibility of humankind towards the wildlife with which we share this fragile planet. The book is at once a thrilling mystery story, a tale of the intense personal relationship between a couple whose lives are also caught up in the drama, and a moving meditation on human frailty and redemption.McCarthy is a leading environmental writer and an award-winning journalist, and his professional expertise in both roles is much in evidence here. He is above all a great story-teller. He controls the complex twists and turns in the narrative with masterful skill, keeping the reader deeply involved with all the central characters, constantly guessing and caring about their fates as well as about the looming environmental catastrophe around which the whole plot revolves. The book is also meticulously researched and the rich contextual details of geography, history, local ecology and wildlife give a vivid sense of authenticity to the whole narrative. It’s a a real page-turner from beginning to end.Jeremy Mynott

What an amazing story ! I was gripped from start to finish - so many layers but overall a unique take on enovironmentalism today through vivid and exciting characters. I guessed the big secret quite early but it made no difference - and I disagree with the ultimate conclusion - the hero was right to keep his secret, even if it ultimately led to disaster. A gripping book for our times.

About halfway through Fergus The Silent I started to guess what the big reveal was, but even at the very moment of disclosure I was not entirely certain. That surely, is the definition of a terrific tale, one that keeps you in suspense all the way. Add to that, a well-described, perfectly judged relationship drama and the ingredients are there for a page-turning, yet intelligent and informative read.Where the author deserves credit and what sets the novel apart is that this is achieved in the context of conservation – not the usual backdrop for tension-building and pacy narrative. That McCarthy manages both is testament to his skill in drawing out the characters and making all of it – them, their dialogue, sense of place, events – entirely believable.As one of our foremost environmental writers he, of course, knows his subject. But at no point does he showboat. Some of the descriptions are detailed but when they occur, they do so properly and what you’re left with is the conviction of accuracy, of a writer who has done his research and is in command of his craft.The action moves effortlessly between contrasting locations but the climactic setting, as described by McCarthy, is suitably breath-taking. This is a book to be enjoyed and savoured, and to recommend. For the story it tells and the ever-so timely issues it raises, Fergus The Silent merits a large audience.