The Adventure of Wisteria Lodge (His Last Bow #1) by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

 This book is considered a Mystery. 

It is also considered Fiction, Crime, Mystery Thriller, Historical Fiction, and Detective. It is a short story and considered a Classic because of its author.

"A chaotic case, my dear Watson."

The Adventure of Wisteria Lodge was originally published in "A Reminiscence of Sherlock Holmes". It was also published in "His Last Bow", a collection of short stories. 

Dr John Scott Eccles needs guidance. He spent the night at Wisteria Lodge, with Mr Aloysius Garcia and his servants. All was perfectly fine until Dr Eccles woke up the next morning to find Mr Garcia and everyone in his house missing. The house was completely empty.

Mr Eccles had only just met Mr Garcia through an acquaintance, and though they formed an unlikely friendship, Mr Eccles didn't know a thing about the man. He could tell that something was amiss. Mr. Garcia was distracted the whole night, and the whole house had a sombre tone when Mr Eccles arrived. After a servant handed him a note, the mood grew even bleaker. 

Not far behind Mr Eccles were the police. They have found Mr Garcia; he is dead. And their prime suspect is the only other person they can find who was at the house that night, Mr John Scott Eccles. 

The Review

This is one of the first Sherlock Holmes books I have ever read. I have watched many TV movies and, of course, the Robert Downey Jr. movies, and the Benedict Cumberbatch TV series. But I had never sat down and read any of the stories. I found this novel very interesting, and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's writing style was interesting as well. 

I found it very interesting that Sherlock Holmes goes to the house, sees what little is left behind and can make all kinds of deductions to solve the case! It is quite amazing how his mind seems to work and how everything just falls together. I think that is the beauty of the classics. Everything gets wrapped up in a nice little bow. 

SPOILER ALERT

Mr Holmes and Dr Watson go to Wisteria Lodge. There they find a dead "White Cock", a bucket of blood and some burnt bones. While all this seems very strange, no one can seem to make heads or tails of it. The inspector, who accompanied the pair, goes on his way, and for the next few days Dr Watson believes that Sherlock Holmes is making absolutely no headway whatsoever on the mysterious case. 

This couldn't be further from the truth. In fact, Sherlock has it completely solved in just a few days. His first order of business is to track down the sender of the mysterious note. By now, he knows who he is and where she lives, and he is quite eager to talk to her and find out just what role she played in the whole ordeal. However, when they come to a little inn in Esher, they find that Miss Brunett, a governess (nanny) for the Henderson family (of High Gable Grange) has also gone missing. 

Miss Brunett, who is quickly found, is taken to Sherlock and Watson. She had been drugged by Mr Henderson and ushered into a train carriage, but she struggled against him and escaped. She sits down with Sherlock and tells him her story. Mr Henderson turned out to be Don Murillo, a tyrant from Central America. He had been overthrown and escaped to Europe. Miss Brunett, who was really Senora Durando) and Mr Garcia recognised the man. Together they hatched a plot for revenge. Señora Durando got hired as the nanny for the Henderson children, and she was reporting on his comings and goings to Mr Garcia, who was supposed to kill him out of revenge. But Don Murillo learned of their plan and killed Mr Garcia and held Señora Durando (Miss Brunett) hostage. 

Rating and Recommendation

I gave this book four and a half stars. But it will go down to four stars on Goodreads. I think I may be a bit biased by the fact that it is a Sherlock Holmes short story. But I loved it. The nature of Sherlock Holmes is that you're confused half the time, and then he spells everything out as if, " Duh, why didn't I see that!" when in reality you really can't solve it along with them. That part is a shame; I would like to be able to solve the mystery along with Holmes and Watson. But besides that, the story was great; it was entertaining and pulled you in, and of course, leaves you shaking your head, "How does he do it!"

I own His Last Bow; it was the first book I bought of Sherlock Holmes, and that's how I read The Adventure of Wisteria Lodge. After reading the first few stories in this collection, I went out and bought a complete works collection of books. And since then I have asked for (and been gifted) two different print copies of the complete works of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, as well as a special edition complete collection of Sherlock Holmes and a special edition illustrated book showcasing the illustrations that were used when printing the Sherlock Holmes short stories in Collier's Magazine and The Strand Magazine. 

Conclusion

If you like any mystery novels whatsoever, you NEED to give Sir Arthur Conan Doyle a try. As I said previously, 4.5 stars may be a bit generous, but it is very close to four stars on most platforms. And Doyle is one of the kings of mysteries, especially from that time period. I think most people would agree that Sherlock Holmes is a classic no matter what story you read. 

This is usually where I provide links to the book so you can easily find them. This is a unique situation. I searched Amazon specifically for The Adventure of Wisteria Lodge. They have some, they have some in paperback and ebook format, etc. But none of them seemed official, and I had a hard time deciphering which were being sold reputably and which were reproductions. So I won't be linking any of those. (You can simply search the title on Amazon if you wish.) So my next idea was to link His Last Bow. The lowest price for The Adventure of Wisteria Lodge in print was a little under eight dollars. I figured His Last Bow would be cheaper and provide more stories. (I was wrong.) 

My best advice is this. I paid $10 at Chapters (Indigo) for His Last Bow. It wasn't on sale; it was just one of those front table books they sell cheap to try and getchya! So I am going to link to the version of His Last Bow that I own. Again, keep in mind that Amazon is asking $35, when I bought it for $10. 

Note: Along with owning a large collection of physical books, I also bought the complete collection of Sherlock Holmes on Amazon for 0.99, and it includes His Last Bow. You can find that here. 

You can also find the story typed up for free here. This includes the pages from Collier's Magazine. You can also find The Strand Magazine publications and illustrations here.

* Book cover image retrieved from GoodReads. All rights belong to the author and/or publisher. 
* All the "stickers" in this blog were provided by Bookish (presented by NetGalley).

* Knife Photo via Pixabay, and used under the Pixabay Content License
* Links in this blog may be generated through the Amazon Associates Program. By using this link, I may make a small profit (at no cost to you) from your purchase.

The Lonely God by Agatha Christie

This book is considered a Mystery. 

It is also considered somewhat of a Romance Novel and Mystery Thriller. It is a short story and considered a Classic because of its author.

"Dear little God help me, please help me."

The description of this short story in most places is pretty short and simple. "An unlikely couple find themselves drawn together by their mutual fascination for a sinister little stone idol high on a shelf in the British Museum in London" (Goodreads). 

Oakland Library has a bit better description: "In the quiet halls of the British Museum, a forgotten stone idol sits unnoticed on a high shelf - its features eroded by time, its purpose long lost. But for Frank Oliver, a lonely man recently returned to England, the little god becomes something more: a symbol of connection in a world that has passed him by. When Frank notices a young woman visiting the same statue, day after day, something begins to shift. In their quiet devotion to a nameless figure, two strangers begin to find the possibility of something else - companionship, perhaps even love."

The Review

This is one of the few Agatha Christie books I have not read yet. It was a short story, but it was pretty good. It was quite different from the typical crime stories Agatha Christie usually writes. I think even though it isn't what we usually think of when we think Agatha Christie, it still has a nod to her writing style. If that makes any sense. 

The story really pulls you in, and you can start to feel for Frank, his isolation, his loneliness. The sadness that he experiences. And the beacon that calls to him. I think we can all say that we have been there at one time or another. And that's what makes the story so good and relatable. 

SPOILER ALERT

I think we can all identify with falling in love with someone who breaks our heart. Someone that feels like "the one", like the sun rises and sets with them. And then when they are gone, it feels like the world is ending. Thankfully, Frank takes these emotions and this sadness and puts them into his creativity. He uses the lonely lady as inspiration and starts to paint. 

In the end, the story of the lonely Princess inspires Frank to paint her. And when the lonely lady sees the photo, she goes to the Museum to tell him that she is the Princess and that is why she left. 

I borrowed the audiobook from the library through the Libby App. 

Rating and Recommendation

A little confusing at the end. But I think this short story was great. It really makes you think. And for a moment you have to replay what you just read (or hear) to really understand the ending but once you do, it is a great story. While it is considered a mystery, I think a better description would be "Fate-based love story". But I don't think Goodreads has a tag for that! I absolutely recommend anyone who enjoys Agatha Christie's quirkiness to read this, and anyone who likes just a nice clean book with a happy ending.

I honestly don't think you can buy a physical copy of this book. I searched, and the best I can find is that it is part of a collection of short stories, "While The Light Lasts and Other Stories," as well as "The Harlequin Tea Set and Other Stories." You can however, find it on Amazon as an e-book and probably find it at your library.

Conclusion

If you are a Christie fan or you just enjoy quick little romance stories. This is the book for you. Hell, even if you just enjoy short books. It is twenty-six minutes as an audiobook. Worst to worst, you have wasted less than half an hour of your life. But I promise you, you will not be disappointed. Just keep in mind this isn't a typical Agatha Christie mystery. It is more romance.  

You can find The Lonely God in its respective mediums below: 

* Book cover image retrieved from GoodReads. All rights belong to the author and/or publisher. 
* All the "stickers" in this blog were provided by Bookish (presented by NetGalley).

* Knife Photo via Pixabay, and used under the Pixabay Content License
* Links in this blog may be generated through the Amazon Associates Program. By using this link, I may make a small profit (at no cost to you) from your purchase.

The Gift by Freida McFadden

This book is considered a Thriller, Mystery, Mystery Thriller, etc. 

It is also a Christmas Short Story. 

Trigger Warning: 

This book deals with murder, poverty, and manipulation.

"You don't know what it's like to meet the man of your dreams, then meet his beautiful wife."

It is Christmas Eve, and Stella Hansen is dead on her feet. Despite working two jobs to help support herself and her husband, they are barely making ends meet. Stella is devastated by the thought of their first Christmas as a married couple being so pitiful. 

As Stella and her coworker close the dinner, a mysterious woman is sitting at a back booth. No one saw her come, and neither of them waited on her. The mysterious woman is a storekeeper; she owns a pawn shop. And she insists that Stella stop by her store on her way home. 

But what does Stella have to trade? She can't afford anything from the woman's shop, and all she has is her beautiful hair. 

The Review

This book is a dark twist on the classic, The Gift of the Magi by O. Henry. Unfortunately, it felt very flat for me. If you aren't familiar with The Gift of the Magi, it is a beautiful tale about true love. Della nd Jim have fallen on tough times; they can barely afford their new apartment, their car has broken down, and life is just one big expense after another. In order to buy each other Christmas gifts, Della chops off her hair to get Jim a chain for his pocket watch. Jim sells his pocket watch to get Della a comb for her beautiful hair. In the end, they both laugh it off and realise the most important thing about Christmas is being together. 

This story is not like that. It has a "Freida McFadden twist". Which could have been interesting, but unfortunately, I didn't find it very unique. I read one comment on GoodReads saying it felt like a creative writing course assignment, and I have to agree.  

SPOILER ALERT

When Stella gives her husband her gift, he is a bit underwhelmed. It seems like he doesn't really understand her gift. Stella tells him it is a chain for his watch, but it seems like a necklace in this story, and the husband doesn't really understand why she would buy that for him. The husband didn't buy Stella anything. Instead, he tried to make homemade brownies for her because they were her favourite. He ended up making a mess and burning the brownies. Which set Stella off. 

She felt he was being too cheap and didn't even consider her. She cut off all her hair for him, and he burnt brownies! Stella noticed the suitcase in the hall closet, and she knew after his rant that her husband was planning on leaving her. So she stabbed him. 

I borrowed the audiobook from the library through the Libby App. 

Rating and Recommendation

If you have never read The Gift of the Magi, please read that first. It is such a beautiful story and a classic. If you have never read a Freida McFadden novel, please read any of her other novels (I recommend The Housemaid). This would definitely put most people off Freida McFadden, I think, and that would be a shame. If you are a fan, prepare yourself. This is not the type of writing you are used to. If you treat it as a little short story to get the creative juices flowing, you will probably enjoy the little story as a palate cleanser before going on to something else. But don't expect a masterpiece here. 

I wouldn't buy this book. It really isn't worth it in my opinion. And quite frankly, if it had been longer than an hour (audiobook format), I wouldn't even recommend listening to it. 

Conclusion

I am not really sure what to conclude about this book. I guess the best thing I can say is, if your library has it, check it out. The worst case, you waste an hour of your life. If you like it, buy it. If not, cure me and move on to something better. 

You can find The Gift in its respective mediums below: 

* Book cover image retrieved from GoodReads. All rights belong to the author and/or publisher. 
* All the "stickers" in this blog were provided by Bookish (presented by NetGalley).

* Knife Photo via Pixabay, and used under the Pixabay Content License
* Links in this blog may be generated through the Amazon Associates Program. By using this link, I may make a small profit (at no cost to you) from your purchase.

The Queens of Crime by Marie Benedict

This book is considered Fiction, Crime, Mystery, Thriller, Historical Fiction

Trigger Warning: 

This book deals with murder, crimes against women, sexism, child loss/abortion, and threats/blackmail.

"Most of us are mysteries unto ourselves, and part of our lifelong quest is an effort to understand our authentic selves and our purpose."

The best crime writing women in history, Dorothy L. Sayers, Ngaio Marsh, Margery Allingham, Baroness Emma Orczy, and of course, Agatha Christie, have banded together to form a secret society; The Queens of Crime. Together, they decide to take up the case of May Daniels, a young English nurse whose death has caught their eye as suspicious and is being investigated by the police. 

While on an excursion in France with a fellow nurse and friend, May seemingly vanishes into thin air. Months later, her body is found in a nearby woods. While the whole situation seems fishy, the authorities seem content to paint May's death as just a tragic accident or overdose leading to suicide. But the Queens of Crime aren't buying it. Why would a nurse go all the way to France just to buy something she could readily get at home?

Determined to prove that the police have not taken May's death seriously, the Queens of Crime take on their own investigation. In doing so, Dorothy Sayers finds herself being threatened, attacked, and suddenly blackmailed to back off. 

The Review

I wanted to love this book. The concept is brilliant. Mystery writers are diving into a real-life crime, trying to solve it as their fictional characters would. But unfortunately, it fell short for me. I had never heard of any of the "Queens" except Agatha Christie, and after reading the book, I can say I don't really know anything more about Emma Orczy, Margary Allingham or Ngaio Marsh than I did going in. Frankly, if I didn't know about Agatha Christie, I don't think I would have gotten an accurate idea of who she was as a person or author either. That being said, it is hard to imagine Dame Agatha Christie as a side character in anyone's story. Though that did seem to be explained away somewhat. 

I was a little put off by the story because of the underlying theme. Obviously, the point of the book was to champion feminism and point out how sexist men (especially police officers) were in the 1940s. It seemed to be a gentle jab at men in general, and even the "good men" like Dorothy's husband were depicted as a bit sexist and condescending. And yet at the same time, there was more talk about pretty dresses, fancy dinners, and tea time and any actual sleuthing.
 

SPOILER ALERT

I enjoyed the twist at the end. That it wasn't the insurance salesman after all, and that someone else was the father of her unborn child. That definitely was a twist. I fell into the trap of thinking that the married insurance man would have done anything to keep his shameful secret, just that, a secret. But it was much more sinister than that. A pregnancy resulting from a rape and stuffy old men trying to keep it all under wraps. It definitely fit the time period and was very realistic. 

My only hang-up about this ending is that there wasn't really any hint at this possible outcome. We knew that May had visited someone at the theatre that night. And we quickly figure out who. But there was never any implication that anything untoward happened or that he might be her assailant. It all seemed very out of the blue and rushed to have an ending. Like someone was picked out of a crowd, and then everything else pieced together. 

I borrowed the audiobook from the library through the Libby App. 

Rating and Recommendation

I think a part of the disappointment I had in this book was that I expected these exceptional authors to play a bigger role in the plot. To be honest with you, it could have been any five women, and it wouldn't have made a difference. Only once was there a mention of one of the women having done excessive research on a subject that was actually helpful to their investigation. You could have literally changed the name of all the characters, and it wouldn't have mattered. 

I also felt that what little Agatha Christie did appear in the book, her characteristics (that she is known for) didn't shine through at all. I don't know the other authors, but I wonder if that was the case for the majority of them also. (I would assume the only one that matched her true self would be Dorothy Sayers, though I have never heard of her.) This kind of took me out of it, also. They were all so two-dimensional when Agatha Christie (and I am sure the others) had such a dynamite personality. 

I wouldn't buy this book. I did see a few other Marie Benedict books that interested me. If I enjoy them and buy them, I may think of adding it to my collection at some point. But I definitely wouldn't go out and buy it beyond that.

Conclusion

I read a lot of people find Marie Benedict's books hit or miss. If you are one of them, give it a try. It wasn't for me, but maybe I am just not used to her style yet. The idea is very interesting, and it will definitely keep you guessing (sometimes wondering what is going on). I think if you know any of the women "starring" in the book, you may have better luck enjoying it. (Though don't quote me on that!) 

It made me want to research some of these women and see what they wrote, and if that would be more my speed. 

You can find The Queens of Crime in its respective mediums below: 

* Book cover image retrieved from GoodReads. All rights belong to the author and/or publisher. 
* All the "stickers" in this blog were provided by Bookish (presented by NetGalley).

* Magnify Glass provided by bluebudgie via Pixabay, and used under the Pixabay Content License
* Links in this blog may be generated through the Amazon Associates Program. By using this link, I may make a small profit (at no cost to you) from your purchase.

We Solve Murders by Richard Osman (Book 1 of the We Solve Murders Series) - Book Review

 

This book is considered Fiction, Crime, Mystery, Thriller, Murder Mystery, and a Cozy Mystery.

Trigger Warning: 

This book deals with mature subject matter. While there are various humorous moments, it also addresses murder, attempted murder, and other criminal themes. 

"If you have any sort of personality, someone will eventually want to kill you"

Steve Wheeler is living a quiet, retired life. A former police detective, Steve enjoys doing the odd investigation work around Axley, a sleepy English village in the New Forest area. His cases consist of missing money from the local shop's till and a missing dog. He has his simple routine, eating lunch with his friends, participating in the pub quiz, and walking to his favourite bench to talk to his deceased wife, Debbie. The highlight of Steve's day is petting his cat, Trouble and talking to his daughter-in-law, Amy, when she has the time. 

Amy Wheeler is the exact opposite. Drawn to adrenaline and sticky situations, Amy is a bodyguard. Working in private security brings danger to her doorstep almost every day. She wouldn't have it any other way. She and her father-in-law have their careers in common. While Steve's days in the police force are over, he still loves hearing about her latest case and newest adventures. 

This week, her assignment has brought her to a remote island owned by Rosie D'Antonio, a mega-bestselling author whose life is being threatened. So far, Amy has sat in the sun by the pool and watched Rosie have one too many drinks. Everything is going well until shit starts hitting the fan. Trouble in paradise leads Amy to call the only person she can trust.  

The Review

In my opinion, the book has a slow start. Though I think that is simply Richard Osman's writing style. The Thursday Murder Club is also slow in places, but I think I didn't notice as much because the cast of characters is so quirky that they keep you engaged. The build-up to what was going on felt a little drawn out, and understandably so; some of the backstory was a little long (but understandable for the first book in the series). 

Thankfully, it did pick up. And it was a very enjoyable book. One thing I enjoyed about this book that The Thursday Murder Club didn't have was the travel. Amy and Rosie (and eventually Steve) jetset around the world, going to new and unique places as they try to solve these murders (does that need a spoiler alert? If so. . . oops). I enjoyed hearing about that and what each new place brought. 

SPOILER ALERT

I am a little disappointed with the ending of this book. I enjoyed the book, I really did. I love Steve, and I enjoyed the quirky dynamic he and Rosie added to the story. The main characters are wonderful, just like his other series, The Thursday Murder Club. 

The whole book felt like a rollercoaster ride. For a while, I was certain Henk was Loubet, then I was certain it was Jeff! The writer in me thought for a while, maybe it was Adam, Amy's husband or one of Steve's friends from the pub. I even wondered if maybe Rosie herself was somehow behind it. Or if Felicity was going to come back from Steve's kitchen with a gun and a long story about how she had become tangled up in the whole thing. (Instead, she returned with cookies.) I did have my suspicions of Susan Knox, though. Given that only she, Jeff, and Henk had access to the files, it was clear it had to be one of them. I also thought maybe Susan would be working with one of them - she, Joe Blow, and one of the ex-partners, Francois Loubet. 

Needless to say, it was a little disappointing and anticlimactic to learn that Mickey Moody was the bad guy all along. 

As a writer, looking back on it, I think an amazing twist would have been if Francois Loubet would have been Gary Gough (Lauren's father). When they returned to Axley, I thought that may be the case that they were going to trust this guy, only for him to turn around and try to kill Amy. But at last, that wasn't the case. 

I read this book (paperback). 

Rating and Recommendation

I gave this book three and a half stars for two reasons. One, I liked The Thursday Murder Club better. That's why I bumped it down to four stars. After reading the ending and really sitting with my disappointments (as laid out in my spoiler section), I felt that my rating would be more accurately represented by three and a half stars. (On GoodReads, I will give it four stars because I do feel it is closer to a four than a three.) If you like The Thursday Murder Club, you will like this series also. Richard Osman has a unique way of writing and storytelling. If you enjoy that, you will enjoy almost any novel, no matter which series. 

I personally discussed this book with a family member recently. He enjoyed this one more than The Thursday Murder Club novels. I was slightly shocked. He felt that this book had less "filler". I, on the other hand, am an old lady in a young woman's body. I like small-town gossip, and I think that may be why I enjoyed The Thursday Murder Club more. That being said, I think it is clear that I rated this book based on the connections made to the characters and only slightly based on the story itself. 

Story time. As many adults know, Christmas shopping for other adults can be difficult. In our family, we are a little over the "surprise" of it all. To make it easier on everyone, we make lists, but we also sometimes ask each other if they would like to "purchase" certain things. One such example was this book.

Around Christmas 2025, I saw this book on sale at Coles. I bought it and a few other books while I was Christmas shopping. Later, a family member paid for the books as a Christmas gift. So full transparency. This book was a gift. However, I did buy it myself.

Conclusion

I strongly recommend you give Richard Osman a try. It may not be this book; you may want to start with The Thursday Murder Club. But I strongly believe once you read one of Richard Osman's novels, you will want to read the rest of them.

While I may not be a fan of the ending, the novel is a rollercoaster ride right to the end. While I wouldn't call this a "Cosy Mystery", I can see why some would. It does that cosiness to it. It is very humorous in places, and it's not very descriptive of the crimes or anything like that, so it's very PG in that way. 

You can find We Solve Murders in its respective mediums below: 

* Book cover image retrieved from GoodReads. All rights belong to the author and/or publisher. 
* All the "stickers" in this blog were provided by Bookish (presented by NetGalley).

* Magnify Glass provided by bluebudgie via Pixabay, and used under the Pixabay Content License
* Links in this blog may be generated through the Amazon Associates Program. By using this link, I may make a small profit (at no cost to you) from your purchase.

Where the Crawdad's Sing by Delia Owens - Book Review

This book is considered Historical Fiction, Contemporary, Coming of Age, Romance, and Mystery

Trigger Warning: 

This book deals with mature subject matter, including sexual assault, murder, injustices, and instances of racism reflective of the time. 

"In town, they tell the story of the Marsh Girl."

Where the Crawdads Sing is a beautiful book about Kya Clark, a young girl whom society forgot. Dubbed the "Marsh Girl", Kya grows up on the outskirts of Barkley Cove, a small fishing village in South Carolina. 

Kya's journey is a powerful coming-of-age story. As a child, with no formal education, and later as a young woman trying to navigate the world, she learns everything through observation and experience. From societal expectations to relationships, Kya's story is a rollercoaster ride of solitude and genetic propensity to being drawn to fitting in. 

Alone for most of her life, Kya relies on the marsh and its wildlife for survival and understanding. With only one day of schooling, she learns all she needs from the world around her. 

As she grows older, Kya begins to crave a connection. She is drawn to two young men from Barkley Cove: Tate Walker and Chase Andrews. Tate is kind, grounded, and familiar; his life and values align closely with Kya's. His father is a fisherman, and he knows the value of a hard day's work and has a love for the marsh as well. 

Chase, on the other hand, is Barkley Cove's golden boy. He is popular, charming, and from a well-respected family. He is the quarterback of the football team, and he is always surrounded by people. But Chase Andrews has a secret. He's been meeting up with the "Marsh Girl". 

When his body is later found at the base of a water tower, the question becomes impossible to ignore: what really happened?

The Review

In my opinion, the book has a slow start. It's heartbreaking to read about Kya's early life. This book is one of those rare books that hits differently depending where you are in life. I think if I had read it when I was younger, it may have evoked different emotions. That said, I think everyone can connect with the themes of Where the Crawdads Sing. Loneliness, survival, trauma, these are all very relatable themes and even if we haven't personally experienced these emotions are triggers we can typically empathise with.  

As the story progresses, I think most women can identify with Kya. She is experiencing life alone, and she is learning and growing into a young woman. Kya has to navigate life largely on her own, her first period, her first love, her first heartbreak, all without her mother and older sisters for guidance. She learns, at times the hard way, to trust her instincts.

When the Climax nears, the focus shifts more heavily to Chase Andrews and his death. By the time of his death, Chase was married to Pearl and had seemingly the perfect life. But only his mother really knew that he was still sneaking out to the marsh to visit with Kya. What happened to him? And what role did his connection to Kya play? 

SPOILER ALERT

When Chase attempts to rape Kya, everything changes. I believe Kya realises that she is not safe. She has invited a predator into her life, and he deceived her. She has seen this in nature and recognises that males like Chase Andrews will not stop. Unless they are stopped. Inspired by fireflies, Kya leads Chase to the water tower and leads him to his death. 

Kya proves to have grown into a brilliant young woman. She planned everything. Every minute of Chase's death was planned so that she had an alibi. Even though she was arrested and spent some time in jail, Kya was acquitted of Chase's murder after the evidence proved that she was meeting her publisher in the town over and there was no evidence she had made it to Barkley Cove and back in time to be seen at breakfast the next day. 

As I said, I think this book hits differently depending on a person's stage of life. I found myself shocked and, in a complicated way, proud of Kya when I learned that she had killed Chase. She recognised she couldn't live life in fear. While I don't support violence or vigilantism, I think many readers, especially those who have experienced sexual assault (or assault in general), can understand what Kya was feeling at that time. 

I read this book as an ebook. 

Where the Crawdads Sing was one of the books in a reading list for a course I was taking. While none of the assigned books initially sparked my interest, I had heard a lot about this one, especially with the release of the film adaptional. My course led me to a free PDF file from Internet Archive, I downloaded it, and read it on my Kindle Scribe. 

Rating and Recommendation

I originally gave this book four stars; looking back, I downgraded that to three and a half. As I mentioned, I had to read this book for school. And it was good for a school book, I was pleasantly surprised, and I think that biased my rating originally. As I was writing this review, I realised that I really had no desire to read it again. 

Typically, for my reviews, I listen to books I have previously read at double the speed, just as a refresher, as I write my reviews. A way to jog my memory about the book and my feelings about it. I borrowed this book from the library (Libby) and couldn't bring myself to listen to it. It didn't appeal to me. And that may be because I had to do such an intense dive into the book for school.

I am glad to have read it, it was a welcome surprise compared to some of the other things I had to read for school, but definitely not on my list or rereading go-tos, which is slightly embarrassing since I just put it on my favourites bookshelf last week! 

I didn't go out and buy this book. And to be honest, I didn't even put it on my wish list. I have the free PDF file, and that's good enough for me. If I ever did see it on sale (for a reasonable price), I probably would add it to my library, but it's not high on my list.

Conclusion

If you have never read it, it's definitely worth a try. A lot of people love this book. If Historical Fiction is your typical genre, you may be better suited to this book. If you can't get through the book, definitely check out the movie. 

There are many different themes to this book, so it does speak to a wide range of people. If you enjoy a little mystery in your stories, you may enjoy this one. That's what drew me to it in the first place. It's not a "whodunit", but there is a play on it. Also, if you are a new adult reader, especially a young lady, this may be a wonderful book for you. This is one of the only times I think I can say that I enjoyed the movie more than the book. 

You can find Were the Crawdads Sing in its respective mediums below: 

Where the Crawdads Sing (2022, directed by Reese Witherspoon and Laura Neustadter) is currently available on Netflix, though it is leaving soon! It is available to rent or own on Prime Video.

* Book cover image retrieved from GoodReads. All rights belong to the author and/or publisher. 
* All the "stickers" in this blog were provided by Bookish (presented by NetGalley).
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* Stack of books provided by anaterate via Pixabay, and used under the Pixabay Content License