Towards the end of Laura Kaye’s debut, her heroine, Mirka – a Slovakian lesbian trying to build a new life in England – visits a taxidermy shop in London’s East End, and finds “a cat with the wings of a white bird”. This odd creation is the perfect metaphor for English Animals, a rather strange beast all of its own. Shades of Cold Comfort Farm – Mirka goes to work in a large rural house, home to eccentric drunks Sophie and Richard – meet more contemporary concerns, namely immigration and a snobbish type of English bigotry. If never quite taking off, this aspect of the book rumble along gently in the background, and Kaye has a keen eye for social observation – a scene of multiple polite “Afternoons” between passing dog walkers had me chuckling. The result, if not particularly urgent, is undoubtedly charming.
• English Animals by Laura Kaye is published by Little, Brown (£16.99). To order a copy for £14.44 go to bookshop.theguardian.com or call 0330 333 6846. Free UK p&p over £10, online orders only. Phone orders min p&p of £1.99
