John Ironmonger, a 72-year-old zoologist born in Kenya and now based in Cheshire, has released his sixth novel, *The Angel of St Piran*, a conservation thriller that explores the intersection of wildlife study and the threats posed by illegal trophy hunting. The story follows Angel, a Cornish gymnast who travels to Tanzania to study wild chimpanzees, discovering an unexpected shared language before facing challenges brought on by poachers.
Ironmonger’s background in zoology and personal experiences living in East Africa heavily influenced the novel. Born in Nairobi and raised there until the age of 13, he developed a strong connection to wildlife early on. A formative summer working in a national park alongside researchers studying elephant populations solidified his passion for zoology. This experience, combined with hours spent observing chimpanzees at Chester Zoo, laid the groundwork for the novel’s focus on primate behavior and conservation.
The inspiration for *The Angel of St Piran* came from a television documentary about a young female chimpanzee researcher in Gabon. Ironmonger imagined the researcher as a gymnast, able to climb trees with ease, which sparked the initial idea for the book’s protagonist.
Trophy hunting emerges as a central theme in the novel, reflecting Ironmonger’s personal opposition to the practice. He describes it as a key villainous force, highlighting the cruelty of illegal hunters rather than using abstract or two-dimensional antagonists. His distaste for big-game hunting was shaped during his youth in Nairobi, partly triggered by seeing images of American celebrities, such as actor David Janssen, engaged in the activity.
Despite studying leeches early in his scientific career—a meticulous task involving detailed observation under stones—Ironmonger applies a similar investigative approach to his writing. He aims to explore underexamined subjects, such as trophy hunting, through storytelling that sheds light on these issues from new angles.
Ironmonger’s path as an author began later in life. His debut novel, *The Notable Brain of Maximilian Ponder*, was shortlisted for the Costa First Novel Award when he was 58. He credits his son, a journalist, for encouraging him to pursue publishing after years of writing privately. Though the literary world often places emphasis on young authors, Ironmonger notes that age has not been a significant barrier in his career.
After initially publishing with major houses such as HarperCollins and Orion, Ironmonger transitioned to the smaller Fly on the Wall Press following frustrations with editorial changes and marketing decisions that affected his previous novel during the COVID-19 pandemic. The smaller press has provided a more supportive environment despite limited resources.
Ironmonger has seen notable success abroad, particularly in Germany, where his pandemic-themed novel *The Whale at the End of the World* became a bestseller in 2020, selling half a million copies and topping Christmas charts despite his lack of German language skills.
*The Angel of St Piran* is available through Fly on the Wall Press, a title that continues Ironmonger’s focus on wildlife conservation and the complex dynamics surrounding human interaction with nature.