Doctor Bamford has had enough of village life and is desperate for some distance from inquisitive Cornish neighbours. When the local estate agent shows him Tregunnt Farm # derelict and miles from anywhere # it's love at first sight. But the Bowden family from London also have their eye on the property with a view to developing the surrounding land into ugly holiday cottages. After being gazumped, the Doc decides to try and spook the family into leaving by pretending to be the Beast of Bodmin.

Elizabeth Costello is invited to Appleton College's annual literary seminar as a guest lecturer. Despite her stature as a celebrated novelist, she opts not to give lectures on literature or writing, but on animal cruelty.