All God’s Creatures

Anthony Gardner

Religious zealots, art fraudsters and Russian spies

‘Hilarious, joyous and astute’ Nicholas Coleridge

Mild-mannered editor Ben Fairweather is horrified when his genteel religious magazine is taken over by a fanatical movement which holds that animals are closer than humans to God and should receive Holy Communion. Amid a national religious revival, this belief becomes mainstream and Ben is cancelled as a petphobic bigot.

He finds a new job as a pianist in a nightclub. There he meets Anita Scott, a journalist bent on exposing the Russian oligarch Oleg Ogorodnikov – newly elevated to the House of Lords – whom she accuses of cultural vandalism.

The scheming Ogorodnikov is actually involved in something far more sinister: a plot to take over London’s financial system. Little realising that his fingerprints are all over the theological unrest too, Ben and Anita are drawn into a world of spies, art forgery, AI and murder, with their own lives on the line.

Anthony Gardner’s ingenious caper combines madcap excitement with a deftly satirical portrayal of the crazy beliefs, chaos-spreading Russians and rise of the robots which seem to define our age.

‘This might be the wittiest book I’ve read in five years – hilarious, joyous and astute. Not a dud word from beginning to end. Highly recommended’ Nicholas Coleridge

‘Looking for a gentle, satirical novel about the madness of cancel culture? All God’s Creatures is a delicious comic caper about a society convinced animals are God’s chosen creation. Think James Herriot rewritten by Evelyn Waugh’ Amanda Craig

‘An attack on greed and groupthink, this witty, seething satire is a quiet riot. Hugely recommended to all fans of reason, decency and excellent comedy’ Jasper Rees

‘A madcap sense of intrigue with added satirical laughs galore. There are plenty of narrative plates to keep spinning here but Gardner pulls it off with aplomb’ The Crack

Hardback: 256pp

Published: Lightning (November 2025)

ISBN: 9781785634406