Title: Where the Crawdads Sing
Author: Delia Owens
Publisher: Corsair, London
Publication date: 2018
Genre: Fiction
Reviewer: Hayley Martell
Where the Crawdads Sing kept popping up on lots of book-related Facebook groups and I was hesitant to read it because I was sick of the sight of it.
However, when a friend said I should give it a try I gave in, and boy am I glad I did.
This would have to be one of the best books I have ever read.
The book is set in the marshlands of North Carolina in the 1960s, where Kya, otherwise known as the ‘Marsh Girl’ grows up.
Kya is basically left to her own devices to raise herself after each family member abandons her one by one. The marsh essentially becomes Kya’s reason for existing and pushing on.
She befriends two locals of the town, Jumpin’ and Mabel, who help her when she needs it and are her only human contact until we meet Kya’s brothers’ friend, Tate.
Tate watches out for Kya and teaches her about the animals she so loves, but eventually leaves for college.
The story unfolds as Kya grows older, and a mystery occurs with the death of the town’s golden boy, Chase.
Kya immediately gets the blame for murder, although there is no evidence of foul play.
The author’s description of the marshlands and the animals that inhabit it were so realistic I felt as though I were there.
I was surprised to discover that at age 69, this is Delia Owens debut novel.
It was such a beautifully engaging story which kept me enthralled right until the very end.
Other stories: Drawing from Life exhibition on display in Gin Gin
