Where the Crawdads Sing

Owens writes beautifully, and conjures up the desolate marshlands of the North Carolina coast in a stunning and haunting way. Kya, the “marsh girl” is a compelling character, who, abandoned by her family, grows up isolated, befriending birds and learning the secrets of the marshes.

Told from the female perspective, it is a murder mystery, a coming of age novel, an enticing love story and a celebration of nature all in one. It’s gripping, sad and evocatively written with lyrical prose and has a shocking ending that will stay with you.

Read before July 2022, when the highly anticipated film starring Daisy Edgar-Jones and produced by Reese Witherspoon is released.