Written by Delia Owens, published 2018. Summary, review, and spoilers ahead.

This book has been hugely popular and is recommended by nearly everyone. I, sadly, will not be one of them. Perhaps this book is merely a product of over-hype thus leading to my eventual let down, the story was not as captivating as, perhaps, I had hoped.

Where the Crawdads Sing is a coming-of-age novel set in the marshlands of North Carolina. And our story follows the life of Kya Clark, a young girl who grows up in the wild (re: Carolina Mowgli), isolated from society and left to fend for herself. Her father is terrible and her mother leaves her, leaving Kya to navigate the complexities of life, survival and loneliness… alone. And to put a bow on it, she becomes entwined in a murder investigation.

Kya’s story is sad, a nice girl left to fend for herself and manages to create an environment around her that suits her. Delia Owens paints a vivid picture of the marshland environment, leveraging her own background as a wildlife scientist. I will give kudos for her portrayal of the marsh life, though for me, it’s not enough to carry this book into the super stardom it has achieved.

We essentially follow two intertwining narratives: Kya’s journey from a neglected child to a strong I-N-D-E-P-E-N-D-E-N-T young woman; and the investigation into a local murder of a pretty boy, jock, handsome, gets-his-way type.

At its core, Where the Crawdads Sing explores themes of loneliness, resilience, class, and the enduring power of nature. You get a good depiction of human connection (or lack thereof) and the importance of understanding and accepting others’ differences – a message I can get on board with.  That said, we also have murder, which I’m not on board with.

I had higher hopes for the murder, trial and ending. It left me wanting more. It’s a well written book, with a solid story, but for me, just missing pieces to drive the level of excitement that comes with the mention of Where the Crawdads Sing.

TLDR: Slow start, exciting middle, disappointing end. Girl grows up alone in the wilderness and rejects modern society. Also, murders a boy. Over-hyped but still a solid read. 3.5/5 Stars.