When the Killing's Done

In T. C. Boyle's thrilling novel, set against the backdrop of the isolated Channel Islands, National Park Service biologist Alma Boyd Takesue fights to protect endangered native species from invasive threats, facing off against local businessman Dave LaJoy, who opposes all forms of animal culling. Their escalating conflict is intensified by the backdrop of harrowing historical tales, including Alma's grandmother's survival of a 1946 shipwreck and the struggles of Anise Reed's mother in the 1970s. Through this gripping narrative, Boyle explores profound themes of environmental stewardship and the ethical implications of our dominion over nature.