Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens

Rachy Reads rating – 4.5*

So this book turns out to be like marmite, you either love it: “A lush debut; Owens delivers her mystery wrapped in gorgeous, lyrical prose.” Alexandra Fuller, author of Don’t Let’s Go to the Dogs Tonight or hate it: “Utter Claptrap” Elizia on Amazon reviews. I picked this book up at the end of last year because I am a sucker for a beautiful cover and I’d heard a lot of hype around it and wanted to see for myself. 

The book follows Kya ‘Marsh Girl’ as she’s abandoned by each of her family members and eventually left alone as a child. A lot of the negative reviews I’ve read have suggested that this is “unrealistic” I personally would love to hear what those reviewers think of Harry Potter and what they think Fiction is? This book is heartbreakingly beautiful, following Kya living off of nature, figuring out how to grow up alone and the few people she lets in. The plot of the book is Kya accused of murdering Chase Andrews, with time jumps between chapters this book will definitely leave you on your toes. The language of the book takes a little while to get into reading, it’s dense poetic prose at times the way Delia Owens writes. I felt it took me longer to read the heavy description of nature and the world. This is worth taking the time to indulge yourself in, it does become easier to read. Owens is normally a non-fiction writer of nature which is why I think she writes in this way, it’s a lovely switch up from the language used in other novels. This being Owens first fiction novel I think she did an exceptional job and created something beautiful from non fiction and weaving her fiction in between her deep knowledge of nature.  

I loved this book, it took me a while to get into it wasn’t until page 100-ish that I was fully immersed in the world. I loved the author’s misdirection of the ending, I love to feel a little surprised and this book definitely delivered! I loved the use of nature and poetry to push the narrative and foreshadow what the author wanted us to think. I think this book is a beautiful book about nature and the strength in women. I really hope Owens decides to write more Fiction! 

4.7 on Goodreads