We’re Triple C: a dynamic trio of juniors (Kavya, Kailyn, and Anoushka), bonded by both a shared passion for literature and the coincidental charm of all having last names starting with the letter C. Our book review promises a diverse and engaging exploration of exciting books, and we invite fellow book lovers to join us on our literary journey!

Mystery.

Romance.

Suspense.

Twists.

Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens truly has it all. 

Back in August, with the last days of summer simmering away, a good friend of mine recommended that I try reading this book. I wasn’t able to fully start reading it until winter break, but once I got into the thick of the novel, I could not put it down. 

Where the Crawdads Sing is a murder-mystery novel that diverges the story into two timelines that slowly become intertwined. One follows the life of Kya, an abandoned girl who grows up isolated from society in the swampy marsh. Her whole life has been surrounded by understanding the tides of the water, realizing the balance of species in the marsh, and being completely integrated into nature. Growing up in an abusive household in the marsh, her family soon disintegrated, abandoning life in the marsh to follow separate paths. Kya was left to pick up the pieces of a forgotten home, which left her dependent on nature and the gifts that it offered her. Her isolation is further cemented, as locals in a nearby town recognize Kya as “the marsh girl,” keeping their distance and associating her as being uncouth and dangerous. The second timeline in the novel follows the murder of Chase Andrews, a beloved local boy found dead in the marsh, appearing to have fallen from the fire tower’s great height. Locals quickly accuse Kya as the prime suspect of the murder, and detectives swarm the site but are stumped when they are unable to find footprints, signs of struggle, or any leading evidence. 

As the novel intricately folds in Kya’s past with the present mystery that blankets the town, the two timelines ultimately converge, revealing lost love, secrets, questions, and finally an answer to an unsettling murder along the way.

This is a book that I truly cannot stop talking about. It is so beautifully written, romanticizing the wild heart of nature woven with the rhythm of humanity. I have always loved the genre of mystery and romance, and these two themes tie in elegantly within this novel, making it an unforgettable story. It’s easy to forget that the uncontrollable power of nature still exists outside the papercut towns that we live in, but this novel is a reminder of the secrecy and power of being in tune with its callings.

However, this novel does delve into sensitive issues such as discrimination, domestic violence, and sexual content so I would advise younger crowds to be aware of this if they are planning on reading. By opening the novel to real issues, it contrasts the cruelty of mankind with the peace of nature, and it adds depth to this story as the characters struggle to surpass walls fortified by society.

If you are in the mood for a gripping novel to get lost in, I truly recommend Where the Crawdads Sing. There is also a movie based on this book that recently came out, but I think reading the novel first is important, as I do hold the opinion that books will always be better than movies. 

More to follow next week in another review! – Kailyn