By Marie Tierney
It's 1981 in Rubery, a Birmingham suburb in England. Thirteen-year-old Ava Bonney is different to other kids — she studies the decomposing bodies of roadkill. She's headstrong, perceptive and wise beyond her years. Sneaking out late at night, she discovers the body of local bad boy Mickey Grant and anonymously alerts the police. She soon comes to the attention of Detective Sergeant Seth Delahaye who recognises Ava's sharp intelligence and resourcefulness. When a second child is murdered Delahaye knows he needs Ava's help to stand any chance of capturing the killer.
Deadly Animals is a wonderful debut crime novel which encapsulates the spirit of the 1980s perfectly. I was the same age as Ava in 1981 so I can wholeheartedly testify it was a great decade to be a teen. The characters are fantastic and the writing is superb. I came to love and admire Ava who, despite her far from ideal homelife, is quirky and clever. It's through her that the book shines. With an excellent plot and a combination of urban myth and murder, it's an intensely gripping read.
★★★★☆
- Paperback: 400 pages
- Publisher: Zaffre
- Publication Year: 2024
- Author: Marie Tierney
- Genre: Crime, Thriller
Synopsis
Thirteen-year-old Ava Bonney is different.
While her friends play, Ava searches for roadkill. She knows studying animal decomposition is an unusual hobby, but Ava doesn't care what other people think.
Then, one night, when Ava sneaks out to find a fox, she instead stumbles upon the body of Mickey Grant.
Despite his many years in the police, Detective Seth Delahaye has never seen a murder case like this one - as though the victim was set upon by a wild animal.
Nor has he met anyone quite like Ava: so determined, resourceful and . . . unusual.
And when another boy goes missing, he has no idea that Ava will become his secret weapon in the hunt for a killer.
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