The Devil's Garden

by Edward Docx

There is only one way in and there is only one way the river. One stifling afternoon, a mysterious supply boat docks at a research station deep in the jungle. To Dr Forle and his team of naturalists, its passengers are unwelcome. Ruthless, uninvited, and bringing corruption to the life of the forest, they force Forle, already a fugitive from his past, to confront his darkest impulses . . . ‘An unusually intelligent thriller that refuses to take sides’ Metro ‘As full of intellectual provocations as it is of suspenseful turns’ Giles Foden, Guardian ‘Reminiscent of J. M. Coetzee or Damon Galgut . . . This poisoned Eden throbs with intensity and delivers a gut punch that leaves you reeling’ Independent on Sunday ‘Docx is a master of disquiet’ Spectator ‘A confident and compelling novel, a riveting Conradian page-turner’ Dazed and Confused

Genres: Fiction, Thriller

336 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 1, 2011

About the author

Edward Docx was born in 1972 in the north of England. He grew up in Cheshire and London. After school, he went to Christ’s College, Cambridge, where he read English Literature and was Junior Common Room President.

He began his professional writing career working on the national newspapers. In 2003, his first novel, The Calligrapher, was published to widespread acclaim. It was selected by the San Francisco Chronicle and the San Jose Mercury News as a Best Book of the Year and is now translated into eight languages.

In 2007, his second novel, Pravda (entitled Self Help in the UK), was published; it was long-listed for the Man Booker and went on to win The Geoffrey Faber Prize. In 2003 and then again in 2007, Docx travelled in South America as part of the research for his third novel which is scheduled for 2010.

Edward Docx lives in London. He is a full time writer.

Reviews

[Virginia · Rating 4 out of 5]

There's not a lot of love here for The Devil's Garden, but I really enjoyed it. The setting, a scientific community in the 'jungle' (let's just call it Amazon) was well drawn and while I do understand some of the criticisms of the lack of character development, for me (and I'm normally a stickler for this) I found that although we aren't told much, there is plenty to be gleaned from their actions. Their various motivations were clear. I think pages spent working through character back story would have really weighed this book down.

As it was, the story built to a satisfying crescendo, Docx led us to the crux of the soldiers' mysterious activity without bashing us over the head with the moral dilemma at the heart of the story, which was true to what's happening in that region right now.

I particularly enjoyed his description of Fore's struggle alone in the jungle, the heat, confusion and misery of his situation were palpable. And the ants. Now I know something about ants.

[Kaylee · Rating 3 out of 5]

I fully admit it: I was disappointed by many aspects of this book.

It felt like he was rushed through (book deal with Picador?). The plot was interesting enough - I liked the scientific aspect (which he researched, which was lovely -- previous works were not so stitched together using facts from real events and science) - though if I hadn't read his previous books, I never would have been interested in this one. But while this book had its main character and close supporting characters (the Docx way), none of them felt fully fleshed out.

My biggest disappointment though? The writing itself! What happened to his beautiful way with words?! There were glimmers of the Docx I've recommended to countless people, but not enough to meet my expectations.

[Bobbie Darbyshire · Rating 3 out of 5]

Real sense of being in the Amazon jungle, of its myriad dangers and overwhelming power. A few too many characters and very spare style diluted the human drama for me, but well worth a read.

[John Dobbin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an easy to read and interesting thriller set in the Amazon. The name comes from a phenomenon where a specific species of ant poisons all plants other than its mutualistic host and thereby creates patches of monoculture in an otherwise richly diverse ecosystem. The ants seem to defy the concept of the selfish gene and there is nice metanarrative about individualism verse altruism in nature, and humans. I enjoyed it.

[Karin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Perfect combination of fact and fiction, some insights into the natural sciences and into human nature, combined with a good deal of suspense. Set in the Amazon rainforest of Peru, the book's premise is all too realistic. Well written.

[Rohini Sunderam · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was disappointed. I had very high hopes as I thoroughly enjoyed The Calligrapher, but somehow I couldn't connect with the protagonist Dr. Frole.
The comparison with the ants, the Myrmelachista schumanni, and human society didn't quite work for me.

[Portal in the Pages · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't know what to say of this book. I liked the descriptions, the atmosphere but I had no connection with the cold, lifeless characters who wandered through the jungle.

[Anton Segers · Rating 3 out of 5]

Docx schrijft een thriller met brains, met een kritische blik op politieke en sociale wantoestanden in Latijns-Amerika, het staatsgeweld tegen de inheemse bevolking omwille van de yanqui dollar.
Het is een belang- en ijzingwekkende aanklacht, die de lezer confronteert met de grote vraag van de verantwoordelijkheid voor je medemens (via de vergelijking met het groepsgevoel van de mieren).
Het boek groeit naar een ijzersterk einde toe. Docx creëert onderweg wel vaak een sfeer van spanning, ook door hoe hij de wreedheid van de mens in de natuur reflecteert, toch duurt het soms wat lang eer de actie losbarst. Dat de protagonist zo mysterieus en oningevuld blijft helpt daar niet meteen bij.
Maar het blijft dom dat Docx pas in het Nederlands vertaald is bij zijn sublieme 'Laat los mijn hand'.

[Graham · Rating 2 out of 5]

I saw other reviews likening this one to Conrad's HEART OF DARKNESS. Not a chance. There are certain similarities, I suppose, but generally this is an unremarkable novel that never quite knows whether it wants to be a literary novel or an airport thriller. The best thing about it is the location: the South American jungle backdrop is well realised and it's more than apparent that the author has actually gone out and spent time in the locations mentioned. What a pity, then, that the central story is non-existent and the main character particularly bland, giving the reader no reason to care about him or, indeed, what happens to him. There's a line of simmering tension with the presence of some unpleasant soldier types throughout, but it takes until the very end for incident and content, and by then it comes too little, too late.

[Jessica · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was the most boring, convoluted , drivel I have read in awhile. I don't know what the hell this story is about, where or when it takes place. I'm not even sure on who was speaking at times. .1 stars

[Gerald · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was always interesting, but didn't really know whether or wanted to be a thriller or a novel. It wasn't quite thrilling enough for a thriller and yet didn't tell us enough about the characters for a novel.

[Riley Palmer · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good book but not great. I found at times it was too vague and hard to understand the frame the author was trying to convey.

[Eli · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit of a tough read. I really enjoyed the setting and the plot was quite good, although the characters left a bit in the open. I felt by the end I was just getting to know them.

[Catherine · Rating 1 out of 5]

I seem to be in a run of thrillers at the moment, but didn't really enjoy this one. It has the madness in the jungle atmosphere of Heart of Darkness but transposed to an un-named Central or South American country. I felt I never really got to know Forle, in spite of 'extracts' from his book which gave an insight into the relevant science. He seemed to have no real enthusiasm for the research, possibly continuing with it for the sake of his dead friend, and no real enthusiasm for holding things together at the station either - but nor was there any resentment that he'd been left to do it, that it was taking time away from the research he was there to do. There were also lots of gory bits and several deliberately sadistic characters with nothing to explain or redeem them; even the affair described was contingent rather than based on any real connection. So, overall, it left a rather nasty taste in my mouth and I was glad to finish it. But then I didn't like the Conrad it echoes so much either.

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

A bit to like a take off of "the heart of darkness".

had a little bit of menace, but was a bit predictable. None of the characters were particularly likeable and I am not sure I really cared about any of them.

However I finished the book and don't feel it was a total waste of my time. I wouldn't be inspired to read any other by the author, nor to recommend it - even for a beach read. There are so many others out there that would do.

[Helen · Rating 1 out of 5]

Despite the claims on the cover, I didn't find any suspense or excitement in this book. The tone of the narrator makes it seem almost Victorian, which is fine, but then in the same paragraph they're talking about satellite phones and GPS tracking. It doesn't make sense. I couldn't see any character development and there isn't enough detail to create a sense of atmosphere.

[John · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book has drama but I didn't find it very realistic nor did the characters have much depth. It's not difficult to imagine that incidents like those described might occur in parts of the Amazon, but it's also difficult to imagine that it's as lawless as Docx suggests.

[Mariya]

NO

[Brian Murray · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn't really get into the characters. The story didn't really need 300+ pages to tell. The ant/human analogy was interesting, but got old pretty quick.

[Mike · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was ok. His previous two novels I found very absorbing but I could not engage with these characters. He is an excellent writer however.

[Nik Tahirah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent discussion of the meaning of life. I'm not too keen on the narrative style, but certainly worth a read.

[Jane Walker · Rating 3 out of 5]

Docx is an excellent writer, so he must know his grammar. Why, then, is this book littered with "sat" where the correct usage is "sitting"? It's not a small point because it's very irritating.

[Debbie]

never knew ants were so interesting!

[Asher · Rating 2 out of 5]

lost the plot along the way, altho gotta say enjoyed the insight about ant life! :)