When the Killing's Done - Softcover

'A life-and-death story of evolution, shipwrecks and dominion over the earth ... Boyle's devotees will find everything they expect in the way of manic plotlines, flamboyant obsessions and cool comeuppances outlandlishly delivered' (Barbara Kingsolver, New York Times Book Review)

'An often brilliant and always thoroughly entertaining satirical eco-thriller which poses questions at the heart of the ecological debate ... Boyle is one of America's best contemporary writers and this novel doesn't disappoint' (Daily Mail)

'Part historical eco-thriller and part meditation on the law of unintended consequences. [...] An absorbing novel, full of plausible and involving human drama' (Daily Telegraph)

'Boyle's sprawling eco-saga pitches animal rights activists against biologists and watches the fur fly ... Boyle writes with a conversational ease and fluidity that is enviable, and often breathtaking' (Financial Times)

The island of Anacapa, off the coast of California, is overrun with black rats which are threatening the ancient population of ground-nesting birds. Alma Boyd Takesue of the National Park Service is campaigning to exterminate them once and for all, but her systematic plan is in danger of sabotage by two notorious environmental activists, Anise Reed and Dave LaJoy. But when Alma's sights turn to the infestation of non-native pigs on the island of Santa Cruz - where Anise was brought up by her rancher mother - the stakes are raised and the debate threatens to boil over into something much more real...