Briony Everroad, an editor at Harvill Secker, considers the allure of the penguin.

I’ve always loved penguins. I think I was about three when I made this proclamation. I can’t pretend to have selected penguins for special attention based on some thorough survey of the world’s animal population, but rather because a revered older cousin had a much-loved, and slightly grubby, stuffed penguin called Willy. (Sadly, Willy got left in a tree overnight and was never seen again – but that’s another story.) While other children liked cats and ponies and excitable puppies, I remained true to the less-than cuddly bird from the South Pole.

As a result of this dedication, I have been given an impressive array of badges, mugs and figurines over the years. Shortly before I started my first job as an editorial assistant at Random House, I spotted a copy of Death and the Penguin in my local bookshop.  I had to add it to my collection! Not only was I lucky enough to get the book for my birthday, but when I showed up at work a week later, I realised this was a book published right there in the building. Even better, it turned out to be an utterly brilliant book. As with all of Andrey Kurkov’s novels, the plot is as intriguing as the title: Viktor, an aspiring novelist, gets a job writing obituaries, but when his subjects start turning up dead, his world gets very complicated indeed. Not only does Viktor have an unconventional job, he is also the owner of a penguin called Misha, a refugee from the zoo, which can no longer afford to keep him.  I won’t spoil the rest of the plot here, but Kurkov’s quirky sense of humour is a delight. And if you don’t believe me – as an evidently biased devotee of penguins –  trust Michael Palin, who says of his writing ‘Kurkov’s style is spare and effective, drawing us with deceptive ease into a dense, complex world full of wonderful characters.’

Death and the Penguin has been established as a cult classic since it was written 10 years ago. I’m lucky enough to be Andrey’s editor these days, and the new book The Milkman in the Night certainly measures up to this earlier masterpiece.  Here we have a vengeful cat, a somnambulist who is perturbed by his nocturnal wanderings, and some very shady individuals watching over everyone. If you haven’t read Kurkov’s books yet you’re in for a treat.

Finally, I have to wonder about the allure of the penguin. Over the years I have worked with several other colleagues obsessed with penguins. Secret grown-up Pingu enthusiasts, wearers of penguin socks and earrings, and a colleague who was sorely tempted to take home an aptly portable Little Penguin from Australia… All in all I’ve met a much higher proportion of penguin fans in publishing than at any other stage in my life. Was it the appealingly simple logo of another famous publisher that subconsciously determined our fate? Or is it just the best animal?

Andrey Kurkov's new novel, The Milkman in the Night, is out now.