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Deadly Animals
Win a free print copy of this book!
10 days and 02:49:25
50 copies available
U.S. only
Finding a dead body is not normal. But Ava is not a normal teenager. In this chilling debut mystery, only the obsessive spirit of youth can save a sleepy town from the savagery within.
Fourteen-year-old Ava Bonney is unlike other children. She has an obsessive interest in the rate at which dead animals decompose. The motorway she lives by regularly offers up roadkill, and in the dead of night, Ava likes nothing more than to pull her latest discovery into her roadside den and record her findings.
One night, she stumbles across the body of her classmate Mickey Grant, and fearing that her secret ritual could be revealed, she makes an anonymous call to the police. When Detective Seth Delahaye is given the case, Ava won’t step back—not when teenagers in her sleepy South Birmingham town are going missing.
How hard can it be to track a killer?
Marie Tierney's debut, Deadly Animals, is a beautiful novel about a small community’s descent into devastation and desperation—and the bravery of youth in the face of darkness.
Fourteen-year-old Ava Bonney is unlike other children. She has an obsessive interest in the rate at which dead animals decompose. The motorway she lives by regularly offers up roadkill, and in the dead of night, Ava likes nothing more than to pull her latest discovery into her roadside den and record her findings.
One night, she stumbles across the body of her classmate Mickey Grant, and fearing that her secret ritual could be revealed, she makes an anonymous call to the police. When Detective Seth Delahaye is given the case, Ava won’t step back—not when teenagers in her sleepy South Birmingham town are going missing.
How hard can it be to track a killer?
Marie Tierney's debut, Deadly Animals, is a beautiful novel about a small community’s descent into devastation and desperation—and the bravery of youth in the face of darkness.
368 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication November 12, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 211 reviews
August 11, 2024
4-5 stars
This is the winner of the Val McDermid debut award 2024. Well, if that isn’t a recommendation I don’t know what is.
It’s mid May 1981, the location is Rubery South Birmingham, England. Rubery comes from an old English word- rowbery, meaning rough hill.
13 year old Ava Bonney creeps out of her home late one night to go to her roadkill body farm where she records her observations in her Red Books. Whilst there she makes the shocking discovery of the body of 14 year-old Mickey Grant, who has been missing for two weeks. DS Seth Delahaye is in charge of the difficult murder case and whether he likes it or not, he’ll get Ava’s help. He’ll need it as they’re hunting a monster. Will they discover the perpetrator before another young person goes missing? The story alternates between Ava and Seth.
This is a glide through absorbing read which is very hard to put down. The characters are excellent. Ava is sensational, the way her mind works and her utter brilliance, the huge wealth of knowledge she possesses, her love of animals and their pathology has her best friend John in total awe and ultimately the respect of Delahaye. He is astute and extremely likeable, he’s very kind and empathetic and I like him very much as well as DC Lines who is his partner. We’ll maybe draw a veil over Ava‘s mother Colleen who as mothers go is a pretty poor example. Poor Ava and her sisters have to put up with a lot.
The novel is extremely well written with a carefully thought out plot and told at a pace that matches the unfolding events. It’s dark, moving, shocking, horrifying at times because it takes a macabre turn but there’s bravery of certain characters which stands out amidst the darkness. Whilst the subject matter is very different as it looks at pathology amongst other things it never becomes gratuitous or overblown. The author tells us just enough to understand exactly what is happening.
It captures the context of the time of the early 80s via events, music, language used at the time. It also reflects the local Birmingham parlance.
Overall, this is refreshingly different and I can’t wait to see what happens to these characters next as they’re way too good to be one offs. This is a superb debut and worthy winner of the award.
PS. Why are we using mom throughout?? Apparently according to GR friends from Brum this is what they say! I stand corrected and thank you to those of you who explained! I’m East Midlands (Nottingham) and we say Mum!!!
This is the winner of the Val McDermid debut award 2024. Well, if that isn’t a recommendation I don’t know what is.
It’s mid May 1981, the location is Rubery South Birmingham, England. Rubery comes from an old English word- rowbery, meaning rough hill.
13 year old Ava Bonney creeps out of her home late one night to go to her roadkill body farm where she records her observations in her Red Books. Whilst there she makes the shocking discovery of the body of 14 year-old Mickey Grant, who has been missing for two weeks. DS Seth Delahaye is in charge of the difficult murder case and whether he likes it or not, he’ll get Ava’s help. He’ll need it as they’re hunting a monster. Will they discover the perpetrator before another young person goes missing? The story alternates between Ava and Seth.
This is a glide through absorbing read which is very hard to put down. The characters are excellent. Ava is sensational, the way her mind works and her utter brilliance, the huge wealth of knowledge she possesses, her love of animals and their pathology has her best friend John in total awe and ultimately the respect of Delahaye. He is astute and extremely likeable, he’s very kind and empathetic and I like him very much as well as DC Lines who is his partner. We’ll maybe draw a veil over Ava‘s mother Colleen who as mothers go is a pretty poor example. Poor Ava and her sisters have to put up with a lot.
The novel is extremely well written with a carefully thought out plot and told at a pace that matches the unfolding events. It’s dark, moving, shocking, horrifying at times because it takes a macabre turn but there’s bravery of certain characters which stands out amidst the darkness. Whilst the subject matter is very different as it looks at pathology amongst other things it never becomes gratuitous or overblown. The author tells us just enough to understand exactly what is happening.
It captures the context of the time of the early 80s via events, music, language used at the time. It also reflects the local Birmingham parlance.
Overall, this is refreshingly different and I can’t wait to see what happens to these characters next as they’re way too good to be one offs. This is a superb debut and worthy winner of the award.
PS. Why are we using mom throughout?? Apparently according to GR friends from Brum this is what they say! I stand corrected and thank you to those of you who explained! I’m East Midlands (Nottingham) and we say Mum!!!
February 24, 2024
What a debut! I haven't read anything that held my attention like this for a long while. It's definitely worthy of more than a five star rating, it was absolutely brilliant and my new favourite crime novel!
It was such an absorbing plot and with the chapters being fairly short, it was all too easy to keep on reading into the early hours.
Ava was such a fascinating character and her passion for bones and decomposing animals was fascinating, albeit a little bit of a strange hobby for a young girl.
Deadly Animals is a phenomenal book by a promising new author who's future works I'll definitely be investing in!
It was such an absorbing plot and with the chapters being fairly short, it was all too easy to keep on reading into the early hours.
Ava was such a fascinating character and her passion for bones and decomposing animals was fascinating, albeit a little bit of a strange hobby for a young girl.
Deadly Animals is a phenomenal book by a promising new author who's future works I'll definitely be investing in!
May 14, 2024
Ava is a precocious 13 year old girl with an intense interest in forensics and the various stages of decomposition. To aid this interest she studies roadkill and makes careful notes, and it's late one night, during a study of one of her "subjects", that she discovers the concealed body of a missing local boy.
I enjoyed this so much, an intriguing tale filled with engaging characters, perhaps a little suspension of disbelief required, but a cracking read nonetheless. Ava's a great character, well read and wise beyond her years, I loved that she showed such respect for the deceased animals she studied. I also loved that it was set in Birmingham in 1981, I spent a lot of time there in the early 80s, the familiar slang was a joy, I was born and raised in nearby Worcester, and it reminded me of home.
Worth bearing in mind, the story is perhaps not for everyone, there are detailed descriptions of harm to both children and animals, harrowing and heartbreaking at times, so reader discretion required.
This debut novel has been my best read of the year so far so I'm eagerly on the lookout for Marie Tierney's next book.
All the shiny stars for this one ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I enjoyed this so much, an intriguing tale filled with engaging characters, perhaps a little suspension of disbelief required, but a cracking read nonetheless. Ava's a great character, well read and wise beyond her years, I loved that she showed such respect for the deceased animals she studied. I also loved that it was set in Birmingham in 1981, I spent a lot of time there in the early 80s, the familiar slang was a joy, I was born and raised in nearby Worcester, and it reminded me of home.
Worth bearing in mind, the story is perhaps not for everyone, there are detailed descriptions of harm to both children and animals, harrowing and heartbreaking at times, so reader discretion required.
This debut novel has been my best read of the year so far so I'm eagerly on the lookout for Marie Tierney's next book.
All the shiny stars for this one ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
September 21, 2024
It's a great book. I did like the main character Ava, who's 13, but has a head for science. When young boys start to go missing and are then found murdered, Ava investigates. She forms a connection to the main detective, Delaheye. Ava is fascinated by decay and anatomy, She finds 2 bodies with one she preserves evidence. Whilst I did love Avas relationship with the police I also do not believe that they would have shared the detail they did with her. I did guess the murderer early on, but this did not affect my enjoyment of the read. It's a super gory debut.
September 4, 2024
This was definitely a unique tale that I would classify as thriller/ horror/ police procedural.
Ava is a a fourteen-year- old girl with an obsession with the bones of animals. One night she sneaks out to visit her roadkill collection and instead finds the body of a boy who has been brutally murdered.
Detective Dalahaye visits Ava for information and she soon assists the police with her knowledge as she finds another boys body. Who is killing these boys and could it be a wild animal? Wolf or human?
I really loved Ava’s and Delahaye’s characters! Their relationship was neat to watch unfold. Tierney did a fantastic job with characterization and I really look forward to reading more by her.
This is perfect for spooky season. Be aware of TRIGGER WARNINGS— child death, brutal murders, child abuse
Thank you so very much @henryholtbooks and @marie.Tierney971 for my awesome copy! I loved it!
4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Ava is a a fourteen-year- old girl with an obsession with the bones of animals. One night she sneaks out to visit her roadkill collection and instead finds the body of a boy who has been brutally murdered.
Detective Dalahaye visits Ava for information and she soon assists the police with her knowledge as she finds another boys body. Who is killing these boys and could it be a wild animal? Wolf or human?
I really loved Ava’s and Delahaye’s characters! Their relationship was neat to watch unfold. Tierney did a fantastic job with characterization and I really look forward to reading more by her.
This is perfect for spooky season. Be aware of TRIGGER WARNINGS— child death, brutal murders, child abuse
Thank you so very much @henryholtbooks and @marie.Tierney971 for my awesome copy! I loved it!
4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
February 16, 2024
AD/PR - 4.5* - When I saw that Chris Whitaker (author of my fave crime thriller EVER - We Begin At The End) called Deadly Animals “Exceptional in every way” and “a shockingly beautiful, rare and heartbreaking gem” I just had to have it! I’m happy to report he was absolutely right. What a debut and such an exciting new talent in crime fiction! This book is brilliant and brings something new to the genre that I’ve never seen before!
Ava is a truly wonderful and fascinating main character. Yes she has a macabre hobby of studying animal decomposition, but she only uses already dead specimens. She’s fiercely intelligent for an adult never mind a thirteen year old and I learned so much from her facts and knowledge! DS Delahaye is the perfect balance to her character and allows us to see events from the police side. I loved his interactions with Ava too! This dual PoV worked so well and kept the plot moving at a fast pace. I also thought the setting of 1980’s Birmingham really added to the gritty vibe.
Deadly Animals is detailed in its descriptions of murder and dead bodies with forensic detail and pathology but never feels gratuitous and I was morbidly fascinated by it all. The plot kept me totally absorbed and I loved how it all played out and came together. I soooo hope this becomes a series because Ava is too interesting and incredible a character to leave at one book!
Overall a dark and very twisted tale that’s gruesome in places and totally addictive. It’s a completely fresh twist on the crime thriller genre and also manages to be both funny and heartbreaking despite its gory subject!
Ava is a truly wonderful and fascinating main character. Yes she has a macabre hobby of studying animal decomposition, but she only uses already dead specimens. She’s fiercely intelligent for an adult never mind a thirteen year old and I learned so much from her facts and knowledge! DS Delahaye is the perfect balance to her character and allows us to see events from the police side. I loved his interactions with Ava too! This dual PoV worked so well and kept the plot moving at a fast pace. I also thought the setting of 1980’s Birmingham really added to the gritty vibe.
Deadly Animals is detailed in its descriptions of murder and dead bodies with forensic detail and pathology but never feels gratuitous and I was morbidly fascinated by it all. The plot kept me totally absorbed and I loved how it all played out and came together. I soooo hope this becomes a series because Ava is too interesting and incredible a character to leave at one book!
Overall a dark and very twisted tale that’s gruesome in places and totally addictive. It’s a completely fresh twist on the crime thriller genre and also manages to be both funny and heartbreaking despite its gory subject!
August 16, 2024
Deadly Animals is an original, unusual and interesting crime novel.
Set in Birmingham in the 1980s, there's much to appreciate: the exploration of friendship and kindness amid darkness, particularly evident in the bond formed between Seth Delahaye, the lead detective on a murder case, and 13 year old Ava Bonney who is a highly unusual young person; and lots of convincing period detail and social commentary.
A great debut novel from Marie Tierney and I would guess the two lead characters are going to reappear in the future. It would be criminal to leave their obvious potential unfulfilled.
4/5
Set in Birmingham in the 1980s, there's much to appreciate: the exploration of friendship and kindness amid darkness, particularly evident in the bond formed between Seth Delahaye, the lead detective on a murder case, and 13 year old Ava Bonney who is a highly unusual young person; and lots of convincing period detail and social commentary.
A great debut novel from Marie Tierney and I would guess the two lead characters are going to reappear in the future. It would be criminal to leave their obvious potential unfulfilled.
4/5
March 22, 2024
FINALLY my first 5 star book of 2024!! So happy I could cry 😭
Listened to the audiobook and I was COMPLETELY taken in and transported to Birmingham in the 80s.
This story is insanely dark and twisted, but oh-so-addictive.
Very much on the lookout for Marie Tierney's next book (and I hear it's still mostly the same characters a little older 👀)
Listened to the audiobook and I was COMPLETELY taken in and transported to Birmingham in the 80s.
This story is insanely dark and twisted, but oh-so-addictive.
Very much on the lookout for Marie Tierney's next book (and I hear it's still mostly the same characters a little older 👀)
February 18, 2024
Extraordinary. Will be one of the books of the year!
Thirteen-year-old Ava Bonney is unlike other children. Exceptionally bright, she has an obsessive interest in the rate at which dead animals decompose. The nearby motorway regularly offers up roadkill, and in the dead of night Ava likes nothing better than to creep out of bed and study her latest find in her roadside den. But one day she stumbles across the body of a fellow pupil.
Ava's ability to mimic adults and her local knowledge make her an asset to police, particularly as it becomes clear a serial killer who hunts young men is on the loose. And what a serial killer! Totally unforgettable.
I took Ava, and Det Sgt Delahaye, with whom she forms a surprising bond, to my heart. This book features in The Times' Best Thrillers of February list.
Thirteen-year-old Ava Bonney is unlike other children. Exceptionally bright, she has an obsessive interest in the rate at which dead animals decompose. The nearby motorway regularly offers up roadkill, and in the dead of night Ava likes nothing better than to creep out of bed and study her latest find in her roadside den. But one day she stumbles across the body of a fellow pupil.
Ava's ability to mimic adults and her local knowledge make her an asset to police, particularly as it becomes clear a serial killer who hunts young men is on the loose. And what a serial killer! Totally unforgettable.
I took Ava, and Det Sgt Delahaye, with whom she forms a surprising bond, to my heart. This book features in The Times' Best Thrillers of February list.
February 15, 2024
An unusual and slightly creepy premise drew me to this crime novel. It features a thirteen year-old girl who is interested in nature and science who finds a dead boy. Her unusual hobby helps the police with their investigation into his death.
The 'hobby' is monitoring how bodies decay under separate conditions, such as injury and weather. Fascinating in itself and surprisingly it's not too gruesome a read. It is good that she shows respect and care for the dead animals she comes across, found mainly on roads, because I am not fond of animal cruelty even in fiction. However, this is portrayed sensitively. The significant feature of the story is this girl who has a wisdom and knowledge beyond her years. Multi-talented and bright in spite of her dark interests. Pretty sure she will be a forensic scientist or pathologist when she grows up - watch this space.
The other main character is the detective sergeant, who is in charge of the investigation into the death of the boy. He is a very likeable man and his attitudes to women is very enlightened for the the 1980s, when this book is set. A sharp contrast to most of the other men, particularly the girl's step-father who is rather distasteful. There are plenty of likable characters in this book despite some possibly dysfunctional families included, and of course, the killers. The crimes are moving and involve children so there is some sadness. But the forensic aspects are very interesting.
Set in Birmingham around the time of the royal wedding of Prince Charles, this novel captures the place and essence of youth culture in this period in England, with references to the music, television, cars and slang words like 'bostin' and 'bab'. An original murder mystery story with themes around darkness, death and dogs, with kindness and friendship at its core. Recommended.
The 'hobby' is monitoring how bodies decay under separate conditions, such as injury and weather. Fascinating in itself and surprisingly it's not too gruesome a read. It is good that she shows respect and care for the dead animals she comes across, found mainly on roads, because I am not fond of animal cruelty even in fiction. However, this is portrayed sensitively. The significant feature of the story is this girl who has a wisdom and knowledge beyond her years. Multi-talented and bright in spite of her dark interests. Pretty sure she will be a forensic scientist or pathologist when she grows up - watch this space.
The other main character is the detective sergeant, who is in charge of the investigation into the death of the boy. He is a very likeable man and his attitudes to women is very enlightened for the the 1980s, when this book is set. A sharp contrast to most of the other men, particularly the girl's step-father who is rather distasteful. There are plenty of likable characters in this book despite some possibly dysfunctional families included, and of course, the killers. The crimes are moving and involve children so there is some sadness. But the forensic aspects are very interesting.
Set in Birmingham around the time of the royal wedding of Prince Charles, this novel captures the place and essence of youth culture in this period in England, with references to the music, television, cars and slang words like 'bostin' and 'bab'. An original murder mystery story with themes around darkness, death and dogs, with kindness and friendship at its core. Recommended.
February 29, 2024
So first things first: if you are sensitive to the deaths of animals (see title) or the deaths of children (see plot description), you may wish to stay clear. There’s also a certain gruesomeness about much of it.
That being said, it’s a fabulous book!
Ava is wonderful. Somehow the author manages to create a girl who has such dark interests and make her positive and charming! I also liked so many of our other characters.
Now, I will admit that I realized our *who* way too early in the book. The problem was that I adored them and kept hoping against hope that I was wrong. But while there was a soupçon of disappointment in that, it didn’t ruin the read for me. Instead, I was still rapt – just a mixture of rapt and incredibly saddened.
Dark as the book is, it’s full of engaging characters, fabulous friendships (some unexpected), and a plot that becomes a real adventure.
There’s room for a sequel here and I truly hope the author brings us back to this world!
• ARC via Publisher
That being said, it’s a fabulous book!
Ava is wonderful. Somehow the author manages to create a girl who has such dark interests and make her positive and charming! I also liked so many of our other characters.
Now, I will admit that I realized our *who* way too early in the book. The problem was that I adored them and kept hoping against hope that I was wrong. But while there was a soupçon of disappointment in that, it didn’t ruin the read for me. Instead, I was still rapt – just a mixture of rapt and incredibly saddened.
Dark as the book is, it’s full of engaging characters, fabulous friendships (some unexpected), and a plot that becomes a real adventure.
There’s room for a sequel here and I truly hope the author brings us back to this world!
• ARC via Publisher
July 5, 2024
This high quality audio introduces Ava a very complex youngster with bizarre interests in roadkill who keeps finding dead bodies and animals. She helps solve the who done it. This is engaging and interesting despite its length. This would appeal more to rhe teenage market as the majority of characters and interactions are teenagers. Fantastic debut really cared about ava. The plot got a bit complicated in places with elements of magic but was engaging to listen to . The narrator was able to give a little emotion but oin places felt forced. The ending felt opened for further adventures.
Be warned this does deal with complex issuses and may be disturbing in places towards the end. There is a lot if description of mutilated bodies and animals.
Thank netgallery and publisher and author and narrator for this 5 star listen.
Be warned this does deal with complex issuses and may be disturbing in places towards the end. There is a lot if description of mutilated bodies and animals.
Thank netgallery and publisher and author and narrator for this 5 star listen.
April 18, 2024
Listened as an audio and I was gripped. The story had some quite disturbing parts but it was fearless about describing them which I thought was brave.
July 4, 2024
Good lord this made me angry.
Very readable and I was very engaged through the first half, despite some occasionally clumsy writing and Tierney’s outrageously sympathetic description of the police force. The main detective character, Delahye, mentions leaving the Met after an anti corruption effort because it made working there so complicated… I mean come on! There’s another scene where all the local cops show up to symbolically mourn at the house of a dead child. This veneration of the police, who act consistently heroic throughout, is totally unrealistic. (Ironically by the end Delahye also makes some fairly unprofessional decisions in his conduct toward the main teen character, but it’s clear this is supposed to be a good thing.)
I did really love Ava, that teen, which kept me engaged with the book for a long while: she’s precocious but I found her believable, and her appetite for gore combined with her complex family situation felt distinct but real to me. Unfortunately, the book veers into some implausible places as it nears its conclusion, and Ava is sidelined for a while, and then given way too much access to police information. There’s a way to take a young character seriously while also acknowledging that she remains a child.
I was most of all troubled by the implication that the murderer’s actions
Very readable and I was very engaged through the first half, despite some occasionally clumsy writing and Tierney’s outrageously sympathetic description of the police force. The main detective character, Delahye, mentions leaving the Met after an anti corruption effort because it made working there so complicated… I mean come on! There’s another scene where all the local cops show up to symbolically mourn at the house of a dead child. This veneration of the police, who act consistently heroic throughout, is totally unrealistic. (Ironically by the end Delahye also makes some fairly unprofessional decisions in his conduct toward the main teen character, but it’s clear this is supposed to be a good thing.)
I did really love Ava, that teen, which kept me engaged with the book for a long while: she’s precocious but I found her believable, and her appetite for gore combined with her complex family situation felt distinct but real to me. Unfortunately, the book veers into some implausible places as it nears its conclusion, and Ava is sidelined for a while, and then given way too much access to police information. There’s a way to take a young character seriously while also acknowledging that she remains a child.
I was most of all troubled by the implication that the murderer’s actions
February 16, 2024
Ava is no ordinary teenage girl. Growing up in Rubery, a deprived area of Birmingham, she has a keen interest in anatomy and collects the corpses of roadkill to study their decomposition. Then she stumbles across the gruesome remains of one of her classmates, Mickey.
Her anonymous call to the police gets DSI Seth Delahaye involved. As he conducts his own investigation, Ava and her faithful sidekick John work in the shadows to help him.
But as another body of a young boy is discovered, and reports of a strange creature roaming the area come in, it becomes clear they are dealing with a monster. A monster who may or may not be human.
With its many-layered plotline, this story worked on every single level for me. The plot of a police investigation into a serial killer was well-executed, convincing, chilling and thrilling. The suggestion of a non-human monster lurking in the shadows added to the already tense atmosphere. Delahaye is a warm and sympathetic character.
But it was Ava who made the story really shine. She is a beautifully drawn character – young, clever, vulnerable, a good daughter despite her mother’s failings, a stalwart big sister, and a faithful friend. Her keen sense of justice won’t allow her to avoid danger.
In many ways the story reminds me of Stephen King’s writing. He too, has an affinity with children, making them the heroes of very adult stories, exploiting their fearlessness and strong sense of right and wrong to bring villains and monsters to justice.
I finished this book with my heart racing, and so many questions about the nature of monsters in human form. At one point Ava says, “We are our bones.” But we are also our emotions, our fears, our hopes and dreams, and Marie Tierney skilfully explores all this in a story that works on every single level.
Her anonymous call to the police gets DSI Seth Delahaye involved. As he conducts his own investigation, Ava and her faithful sidekick John work in the shadows to help him.
But as another body of a young boy is discovered, and reports of a strange creature roaming the area come in, it becomes clear they are dealing with a monster. A monster who may or may not be human.
With its many-layered plotline, this story worked on every single level for me. The plot of a police investigation into a serial killer was well-executed, convincing, chilling and thrilling. The suggestion of a non-human monster lurking in the shadows added to the already tense atmosphere. Delahaye is a warm and sympathetic character.
But it was Ava who made the story really shine. She is a beautifully drawn character – young, clever, vulnerable, a good daughter despite her mother’s failings, a stalwart big sister, and a faithful friend. Her keen sense of justice won’t allow her to avoid danger.
In many ways the story reminds me of Stephen King’s writing. He too, has an affinity with children, making them the heroes of very adult stories, exploiting their fearlessness and strong sense of right and wrong to bring villains and monsters to justice.
I finished this book with my heart racing, and so many questions about the nature of monsters in human form. At one point Ava says, “We are our bones.” But we are also our emotions, our fears, our hopes and dreams, and Marie Tierney skilfully explores all this in a story that works on every single level.
February 16, 2024
what a delightful debut that feels like it was written specifically for me as someone who also was a weird teen a little too interested in bones and death. Who knows what could've been if I had set up a roadkill body farm when I was young!
I utterly adore Ava and the perspective she brings to this adult thriller, her observations balanced with the much grislier adult perspective of Detective Delahaye made for a great combination in voice and tone. Any reader who is a fan of Wednesday Addams, Flavia de Luce or even Temperance Brennan will surely find another favourite morbid teen detective in Ava and I for one can't wait to hopefully read more of her deathly adventures!
full review to come once I stop screaming about how much I loved this book! I'm truly not kidding that this was written for me specifically, I am over the moon with how much Deadly Animals delivered on what it promised. Calling it, this one will be on my 2024 favourites list! Marie Tierney is absolutely an author to watch!
I utterly adore Ava and the perspective she brings to this adult thriller, her observations balanced with the much grislier adult perspective of Detective Delahaye made for a great combination in voice and tone. Any reader who is a fan of Wednesday Addams, Flavia de Luce or even Temperance Brennan will surely find another favourite morbid teen detective in Ava and I for one can't wait to hopefully read more of her deathly adventures!
full review to come once I stop screaming about how much I loved this book! I'm truly not kidding that this was written for me specifically, I am over the moon with how much Deadly Animals delivered on what it promised. Calling it, this one will be on my 2024 favourites list! Marie Tierney is absolutely an author to watch!
April 20, 2024
CAWPILE 7.71
4 STARS
Wow....just wow.
I devoured this book- it was everything, dark, twisty, mesmerising and I can't lie- I'd read a sequel in a heartbeat.
Our main character, Ava is so outstanding and so utterly captivating- I could see her becoming the central character in a long series as she ages up through her teens.
This book does not shy away from difficult subjects such as violence, rape, mental health, torture and more so beware but it is fantastically written- a debut from Marie Tierney who appears to be an incredibly talented author!
Will eagerly await anything Tierney writes next.
4 STARS
Wow....just wow.
I devoured this book- it was everything, dark, twisty, mesmerising and I can't lie- I'd read a sequel in a heartbeat.
Our main character, Ava is so outstanding and so utterly captivating- I could see her becoming the central character in a long series as she ages up through her teens.
This book does not shy away from difficult subjects such as violence, rape, mental health, torture and more so beware but it is fantastically written- a debut from Marie Tierney who appears to be an incredibly talented author!
Will eagerly await anything Tierney writes next.
February 15, 2024
If Flavia De Luce lived in now and was interested in the science of human decay. Gripping, darkly humorous, cute at times.
I loved Ava, her friendship with John, and how clever she is.
A well plotted coming of age story, a gripping thriller and a cast of characters I hope will feature in future books
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine
I loved Ava, her friendship with John, and how clever she is.
A well plotted coming of age story, a gripping thriller and a cast of characters I hope will feature in future books
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine
August 30, 2024
Ava Bonney isn’t your average teenager. Her thing is animal decomposition, but when she’s out at night looking for dead animals to fine tune her forensic skills on, she instead finds a dead boy.
As Detective Delahaye investigates the murder, Ava feels like he needs a helping hand. So she starts doing her own detective work and discovers more than she ever bargained for.
This is such a clever and original book. Ava and Delahaye are fantastic characters and really make the story special. Be warned the story does get quite dark and macabre but there’s also a real contrast with the warmth of the cast here, that it never becomes too menacing.
It did take me a while to get into the story, mainly because there were so many characters mentioned quite early on, which I did find bewildering. Over 30 mentioned within 40 pages. With my memory this is a struggle! But I’m pleased I stuck with it because once I got to grips with the cast the story flowed.
It’s quirky and unique with high tension and drama throughout. Deadly Animals is a book you definitely won’t forget about, and I would hope this isn’t the last I hear of Ava Bonney!
As Detective Delahaye investigates the murder, Ava feels like he needs a helping hand. So she starts doing her own detective work and discovers more than she ever bargained for.
This is such a clever and original book. Ava and Delahaye are fantastic characters and really make the story special. Be warned the story does get quite dark and macabre but there’s also a real contrast with the warmth of the cast here, that it never becomes too menacing.
It did take me a while to get into the story, mainly because there were so many characters mentioned quite early on, which I did find bewildering. Over 30 mentioned within 40 pages. With my memory this is a struggle! But I’m pleased I stuck with it because once I got to grips with the cast the story flowed.
It’s quirky and unique with high tension and drama throughout. Deadly Animals is a book you definitely won’t forget about, and I would hope this isn’t the last I hear of Ava Bonney!
April 17, 2024
3.5 stars rounded up for encouraging debut.
It was a very gripping story, and I really enjoyed it. One chapter somewhere towards 65% of the book was a bit of a let down, as it laid out the big mystery very clearly.
I am definitely seeing a lot of promise in the author and looking forward to her future work.
It was a very gripping story, and I really enjoyed it. One chapter somewhere towards 65% of the book was a bit of a let down, as it laid out the big mystery very clearly.
I am definitely seeing a lot of promise in the author and looking forward to her future work.
September 16, 2024
Perhaps more of a procedural than I initially wanted to read, but I was intrigued by the large amount of praise Deadly Animals received and the premise of a 12 year old girl with an intense interest in decomposition and forensics. It’s well plotted and features well drawn characters. The middle dragged a smidge too much and the plot took an almost goofy turn 2/3rds of the way through, but Tierney pulled it off in the end with an action-packed finale. It was a little hard to believe the police would share case files and inside info with a 13 year old, but still a pretty impressive debut.
June 29, 2024
‘ Since it is so likely that (children) will meet cruel enemies, let them at least have heard of brave knights and heroic courage. Otherwise you are making their destiny not brighter but darker’
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This was THE book I was looking forward to for my best read of 2024, and oh sweet bejesus, it left me in tears by the end. I wept for Ava, who broke my heart and left the rest of me in pieces…
I am just gobsmacked, and think this story will be an instant classic for years to come.
Some readers have commented on the story's resemblance to a children's story. I can well understand why. On the surface, it is indeed an engaging story about a bright youngster who helps find a murderer.
However, I think the author had so much more in store for us, because it soon became apparent to me who and how the murders had occurred.
One of the reasons I decided to study German language and literature, is because I love fairy tales, and from childhood I was absolutely fascinated by Grimm's fairy tales and (German) folk horror; what many people don't know is that fairy tales were never meant for children, they were moralising tales of deceit, adultery, jealousy and destruction meant for adult eyes only. They were initially particularly violent in tone and were later 'rewritten' so that children could read them.
Needless to say, the two most famous 'children's books' are mentioned in Deadly Animals, led, of course, by the true Master of allegory - author of one of the most famous 'children's books' ever written, in which anthropomorphism, paganism and symbolism play a major role.
The writer has even incorporated certain aspects of these stories into the narrative… (Instead of Turkish delight, it’s animal candy that proves to be a fatal attraction in this story).
This coming-of-age story is interspersed with Homeric themes of love and friendship, fate and free will, and honour. I loved the Easter-egg trivia throughout the book, even the names are alluding to '(cold) ‘cases'.
Like the classic hero, Lady A. forces us to look in the mirror at how we fail and the terrible consequences of looking the other way....not caring enough or just not giving a toss.
Parentified Ava is looking for a way out of the house, having to grow up too fast and entering the adult world too soon; with no support from her mother, - who sees her as a dumping ground for all her frustrations and shortcomings -, and with an absent father figure, Ada turns for love and support elsewhere, wandering the streets, showing respect to the dead (animals) carelessly left behind. Oh Ava, who is going to take care of you? You are far too young for the adult world.
After all this, one might wonder what the defining characteristics are that distinguish us from other animals. Is it language, empathy, or some other quality that sets us apart? Are we not the epitome of innovation, creativity, empathy, and genius, or are we the epitome of unspeakable evil?
Is it speech that binds us and places us outside the animal kingdom?
Language, I find - is a remarkable phenomenon, both intriguing and multifaceted. I have chosen to pursue a career as a translator, as I find the manipulation of language to be both enjoyable and intellectually stimulating. Language possesses a profound emotive value, and the ability to borrow words from other languages, - even dead ones -, is one of its most intriguing aspects.
I think it’s unnecessary to elaborate on the symbolism of the sweet, loyal German Shepherd, whose breed has been tainted by its association and connotation with what it was bred for during our darkest of times.
In the end, this story is not about ‘them’ at all. My heart is with all the Avas, the Victors, the Kaspars, who should have been young, carefree, and be loved. This is the story of US, what we truly are: the cruellest of beasts in the entire animal kingdom. Weep and shudder, because the truth is utterly horrifying.
A heart-wrenching tale about love, grief, horror, peppered with allusions, folklore, references, and symbolism moulded into a search for the guilty one, who ultimately can't do anything about it either. So beautiful and so sad at the same time.
I’d give it 10 stars if I could, a narrative I will remember for a long time, and dear sweet Ava, be well, and please, please, be good…
5+ read - a must-read!
+-+-
This was THE book I was looking forward to for my best read of 2024, and oh sweet bejesus, it left me in tears by the end. I wept for Ava, who broke my heart and left the rest of me in pieces…
I am just gobsmacked, and think this story will be an instant classic for years to come.
Some readers have commented on the story's resemblance to a children's story. I can well understand why. On the surface, it is indeed an engaging story about a bright youngster who helps find a murderer.
However, I think the author had so much more in store for us, because it soon became apparent to me who and how the murders had occurred.
One of the reasons I decided to study German language and literature, is because I love fairy tales, and from childhood I was absolutely fascinated by Grimm's fairy tales and (German) folk horror; what many people don't know is that fairy tales were never meant for children, they were moralising tales of deceit, adultery, jealousy and destruction meant for adult eyes only. They were initially particularly violent in tone and were later 'rewritten' so that children could read them.
Needless to say, the two most famous 'children's books' are mentioned in Deadly Animals, led, of course, by the true Master of allegory - author of one of the most famous 'children's books' ever written, in which anthropomorphism, paganism and symbolism play a major role.
The writer has even incorporated certain aspects of these stories into the narrative… (Instead of Turkish delight, it’s animal candy that proves to be a fatal attraction in this story).
This coming-of-age story is interspersed with Homeric themes of love and friendship, fate and free will, and honour. I loved the Easter-egg trivia throughout the book, even the names are alluding to '(cold) ‘cases'.
Like the classic hero, Lady A. forces us to look in the mirror at how we fail and the terrible consequences of looking the other way....not caring enough or just not giving a toss.
Parentified Ava is looking for a way out of the house, having to grow up too fast and entering the adult world too soon; with no support from her mother, - who sees her as a dumping ground for all her frustrations and shortcomings -, and with an absent father figure, Ada turns for love and support elsewhere, wandering the streets, showing respect to the dead (animals) carelessly left behind. Oh Ava, who is going to take care of you? You are far too young for the adult world.
After all this, one might wonder what the defining characteristics are that distinguish us from other animals. Is it language, empathy, or some other quality that sets us apart? Are we not the epitome of innovation, creativity, empathy, and genius, or are we the epitome of unspeakable evil?
Is it speech that binds us and places us outside the animal kingdom?
Language, I find - is a remarkable phenomenon, both intriguing and multifaceted. I have chosen to pursue a career as a translator, as I find the manipulation of language to be both enjoyable and intellectually stimulating. Language possesses a profound emotive value, and the ability to borrow words from other languages, - even dead ones -, is one of its most intriguing aspects.
I think it’s unnecessary to elaborate on the symbolism of the sweet, loyal German Shepherd, whose breed has been tainted by its association and connotation with what it was bred for during our darkest of times.
In the end, this story is not about ‘them’ at all. My heart is with all the Avas, the Victors, the Kaspars, who should have been young, carefree, and be loved. This is the story of US, what we truly are: the cruellest of beasts in the entire animal kingdom. Weep and shudder, because the truth is utterly horrifying.
A heart-wrenching tale about love, grief, horror, peppered with allusions, folklore, references, and symbolism moulded into a search for the guilty one, who ultimately can't do anything about it either. So beautiful and so sad at the same time.
I’d give it 10 stars if I could, a narrative I will remember for a long time, and dear sweet Ava, be well, and please, please, be good…
5+ read - a must-read!
January 16, 2024
I really enjoyed this book as I loved Ava as a character. I do feel it was a bit too much in terms of the plot.
April 10, 2024
Deadly Animals
By Marie Tierney
Review of Uncorrected ARC (Not sure if its the U.K. version or American)
Ava is a teenager who has an obsession with dead things. She enjoys studying the decomposition of animals, usually roadkill, which she keeps in various places around her town. One day while checking on one of the "subjects" she finds the body of a boy. She recognizes him from her town and knows the death wasn't natural. Is there a killer loose, and will she be able to find them?
This book was a very mixed bag for me. As I've stated in my bio and other reviews I make my ratings based on how much fun I had reading a book. With this book there is a lot to like. The descriptions of areas and objects are very well written and I don't think anyone will have a hard time picturing these things in their mind. The mystery is easily solvable so if you like mysteries where the author doesn't use secret information as a "twist" at the end explaining everything so you had no chance of figuring things out, this is a good one. But at the same time it's not a mystery you are going to read twenty pages and have figured out. Even as an uncorrected version the book flows pretty well jumping between Ava and DS Seth Delahaye.
Now what I didn't like. In a word, Ava. Ava is a 13-14 year old who knows everything. She has no sense of fear, she is never really surprised and she also just knows things. She has the knowledge and poise of someone many times her age and for some reason everyone just looks at her as this infallible being who you just listen to no matter what. She is in charge.
Now if this was a character Miss Marple's age, or even Cleopatra Fox's age, I'd find the character much more believable and enjoyable having had the years to actually accumulate her knowledge. With the only explanation for her knowing things I'm sure most adults in the law enforcement industry don't being "I read a lot", I just kept being taking out of the fun of the story to roll my eyes and put the book down while I went and did something else for awhile. This character, for me, ventured dangerously towards Mary Sue territory.
My only other complaint isn't a big one, I just wish there was a bit more of a reason given for certain details or characters in the book. There were questions I still had at the end but in the long run they didn't matter a whole lot to the main story line.
I have been really struggling with how many stars to give this book. Much like Ava "read a LOT" I didn't like her character "a LOT", however the book is very well written, it isn't a final version and though I would have found it more of a fun read with her "know-it-all-ness" toned down I do think that a lot of people will really enjoy Ava and the rest of the book. Some things get under my skin that other people don't even notice and I am not going to torpedo the book because there was one thing I wasn't happy with. Mrs. Tierney is a very talented writer and I think this is a good debut novel that will be well received.
3 out of 5 Stars
One final note regarding the U.K. version and the American version, at the end of my copy Mrs. Tierney thanks people for their advice on the American Copy, and I don't know if that is the one I received or not. I would guess not though, I had to look quite a few terms up, but being a fan of British books and other media I didn't mind that at all.
By Marie Tierney
Review of Uncorrected ARC (Not sure if its the U.K. version or American)
Ava is a teenager who has an obsession with dead things. She enjoys studying the decomposition of animals, usually roadkill, which she keeps in various places around her town. One day while checking on one of the "subjects" she finds the body of a boy. She recognizes him from her town and knows the death wasn't natural. Is there a killer loose, and will she be able to find them?
This book was a very mixed bag for me. As I've stated in my bio and other reviews I make my ratings based on how much fun I had reading a book. With this book there is a lot to like. The descriptions of areas and objects are very well written and I don't think anyone will have a hard time picturing these things in their mind. The mystery is easily solvable so if you like mysteries where the author doesn't use secret information as a "twist" at the end explaining everything so you had no chance of figuring things out, this is a good one. But at the same time it's not a mystery you are going to read twenty pages and have figured out. Even as an uncorrected version the book flows pretty well jumping between Ava and DS Seth Delahaye.
Now what I didn't like. In a word, Ava. Ava is a 13-14 year old who knows everything. She has no sense of fear, she is never really surprised and she also just knows things. She has the knowledge and poise of someone many times her age and for some reason everyone just looks at her as this infallible being who you just listen to no matter what. She is in charge.
Now if this was a character Miss Marple's age, or even Cleopatra Fox's age, I'd find the character much more believable and enjoyable having had the years to actually accumulate her knowledge. With the only explanation for her knowing things I'm sure most adults in the law enforcement industry don't being "I read a lot", I just kept being taking out of the fun of the story to roll my eyes and put the book down while I went and did something else for awhile. This character, for me, ventured dangerously towards Mary Sue territory.
My only other complaint isn't a big one, I just wish there was a bit more of a reason given for certain details or characters in the book. There were questions I still had at the end but in the long run they didn't matter a whole lot to the main story line.
I have been really struggling with how many stars to give this book. Much like Ava "read a LOT" I didn't like her character "a LOT", however the book is very well written, it isn't a final version and though I would have found it more of a fun read with her "know-it-all-ness" toned down I do think that a lot of people will really enjoy Ava and the rest of the book. Some things get under my skin that other people don't even notice and I am not going to torpedo the book because there was one thing I wasn't happy with. Mrs. Tierney is a very talented writer and I think this is a good debut novel that will be well received.
3 out of 5 Stars
One final note regarding the U.K. version and the American version, at the end of my copy Mrs. Tierney thanks people for their advice on the American Copy, and I don't know if that is the one I received or not. I would guess not though, I had to look quite a few terms up, but being a fan of British books and other media I didn't mind that at all.
August 25, 2024
Very frustrating read because I was SO excited starting this book, it completely grabbed me and I loved how vivid but uncensored the writing style was. Thing is, I have no idea what happened around the two-thirds mark? It’s as if two different people wrote this book!! Just got really stupidly weird, and unfortunately completely lost me by the end of the final act
Clear wrongdoer, which in the beginning really didn’t spoil it for me, but started to get annoying as neither the genius 13 year old pathologist nor the professional police detective noticed increasingly obvious signs
Idk, first two thirds were an EASY five stars, last third was like two if I’m being generous
Clear wrongdoer, which in the beginning really didn’t spoil it for me, but started to get annoying as neither the genius 13 year old pathologist nor the professional police detective noticed increasingly obvious signs
Idk, first two thirds were an EASY five stars, last third was like two if I’m being generous
January 29, 2024
What an amazing debut; my Mo Hayder void may well have been filled.
This dark crime thriller is set in 1980s Birmingham & I was there. The author references TV shows like TISWAS & contemporary car makes, which evoke the period & take me straight back.
It begins with us meeting Ava. Not your average teenager. She features throughout the story & provides the link that ties everything together in to a satisfying whole.
I’m not going to say anything else, it would spoil your enjoyment of this book. All I will say is that you need to read it & love it as much as I did. A satisfying flow & with plenty of humour too. What a read!
This dark crime thriller is set in 1980s Birmingham & I was there. The author references TV shows like TISWAS & contemporary car makes, which evoke the period & take me straight back.
It begins with us meeting Ava. Not your average teenager. She features throughout the story & provides the link that ties everything together in to a satisfying whole.
I’m not going to say anything else, it would spoil your enjoyment of this book. All I will say is that you need to read it & love it as much as I did. A satisfying flow & with plenty of humour too. What a read!
April 5, 2024
5 stars but I'd give this book more stars if I could. Not only is the actual writing of the book fantastic, but everything else is too. Like, EVERYTHING, and as you guys know from my previous reviews, I am extremely hard to please. The fact that this was a debut novel has blown my mind.
That said, I will give a slight warning: It isn't for the faint of heart. If you can't read depictions of decomposition (both human and animal), anatomy, cruelty, cruelty to children, and what it takes to find a serial killer, skip this book. But if you are true crime lover, are into forensics and science, and the depths of the human mind then this is the book for you.
This book keeps one foot in the light and one foot in the dark of the human experience. You find yourself fascinated with, and like Ava, in finding out the why of things, shutting your feelings off to get to the truth and the point of things, and then knowing when to allow yourself to get back to the things that matter, the things that are right. It's brilliant writing. You may have to suspend disbelief because Ava is what? 13 or 14 aka: a child, until you realize that her life experiences have made an already gifted child, an adult basically. A truth that while difficult to swallow for a lot of us, is definitely a reality for some.
This book was not a "short" book, and yet I couldn't put it down, even the parts where you would usually skim, you find yourself reading because it is that interesting. It's a mix of Mindhunter, Bones, Silence of the Lambs and Sherlock Holmes... It's the perfect creepy serial killer thriller story honestly, and you find yourself actually caring about the characters. Even the ones that you get to know just briefly, break your heart when something bad happens to them. And when I mean break your heart, I mean I definitely shed a tear or two reading this book. I haven't read something this great is an extremely long time. I hope Marie Tierney keeps writing because this was amazing.
I'm extremely grateful to Netgalley and Henry Holt & Co for the ARC, and the chance to get to know Ava, John and DCI Delahaye.
That said, I will give a slight warning: It isn't for the faint of heart. If you can't read depictions of decomposition (both human and animal), anatomy, cruelty, cruelty to children, and what it takes to find a serial killer, skip this book. But if you are true crime lover, are into forensics and science, and the depths of the human mind then this is the book for you.
This book keeps one foot in the light and one foot in the dark of the human experience. You find yourself fascinated with, and like Ava, in finding out the why of things, shutting your feelings off to get to the truth and the point of things, and then knowing when to allow yourself to get back to the things that matter, the things that are right. It's brilliant writing. You may have to suspend disbelief because Ava is what? 13 or 14 aka: a child, until you realize that her life experiences have made an already gifted child, an adult basically. A truth that while difficult to swallow for a lot of us, is definitely a reality for some.
This book was not a "short" book, and yet I couldn't put it down, even the parts where you would usually skim, you find yourself reading because it is that interesting. It's a mix of Mindhunter, Bones, Silence of the Lambs and Sherlock Holmes... It's the perfect creepy serial killer thriller story honestly, and you find yourself actually caring about the characters. Even the ones that you get to know just briefly, break your heart when something bad happens to them. And when I mean break your heart, I mean I definitely shed a tear or two reading this book. I haven't read something this great is an extremely long time. I hope Marie Tierney keeps writing because this was amazing.
I'm extremely grateful to Netgalley and Henry Holt & Co for the ARC, and the chance to get to know Ava, John and DCI Delahaye.
February 19, 2024
Deadly Animals
By Marie Tierney
THE INCREDIBLE DEBUT BRITISH CRIME NOVEL OF 2024!
Ava Bonney is 13, and she is on the trail of a serial killer…
Ava is different to her friends, she has several ‘road kill body farms’ dotted around the area where she lives in Birmingham. They are carefully hidden from prying eyes and she visits them at night, noting her findings in her red book with her blue pen.
Her interests include pathology, serial killers and animal biology.
When she discovers the body of a missing teenager, she becomes an integral part of the police investigation.
Ava is the teenage incarnation of Temperance Brennan and Kay Scarpetta.
The interactions between the children are so authentic and a total joy to read. I loved that the kids are so much more clued up and clever than the adults.
The book is set in the 1980’s and each reference to those times transported me right back to my fondest memories of growing up. Police 5 and Shaw Taylor, red phone boxes, Audi Quattro,
It reminded me of some of my favourite childhood books and authors; Harriet the spy (Louise Fitzhugh), The undertaker has gone bananas (Paul
Zindel), Nancy Drew and anything by Nicholas Fisk, Roald Dahl and Judy Blume.
I just know you will enjoy reading or listening to this gift of a book as much as I did. You need Ava in your life.
This is my new favourite book ❤️.
And this book led me to the beautiful music of Isao Tomita ❤️
Quote from the author on her lead character…..
“Ava wasn’t hard to write. The only difficulty was going back to that time, in that place, behind that face, because so much of it was unhappy, frightening and almost overwhelmingly enchanting.
She is not a ‘creation’ – she was the seed of the woman she would grow to become… me.
And Ava’s interest in dead things was rooted in the same pragmatic conclusion I had come to at the same age: dead things can’t hurt you.
It’s the living you’ve got to watch.”
And the author interview at the end of the audiobook is so so good! The narrator is superb! Thank you so much!
By Marie Tierney
THE INCREDIBLE DEBUT BRITISH CRIME NOVEL OF 2024!
Ava Bonney is 13, and she is on the trail of a serial killer…
Ava is different to her friends, she has several ‘road kill body farms’ dotted around the area where she lives in Birmingham. They are carefully hidden from prying eyes and she visits them at night, noting her findings in her red book with her blue pen.
Her interests include pathology, serial killers and animal biology.
When she discovers the body of a missing teenager, she becomes an integral part of the police investigation.
Ava is the teenage incarnation of Temperance Brennan and Kay Scarpetta.
The interactions between the children are so authentic and a total joy to read. I loved that the kids are so much more clued up and clever than the adults.
The book is set in the 1980’s and each reference to those times transported me right back to my fondest memories of growing up. Police 5 and Shaw Taylor, red phone boxes, Audi Quattro,
It reminded me of some of my favourite childhood books and authors; Harriet the spy (Louise Fitzhugh), The undertaker has gone bananas (Paul
Zindel), Nancy Drew and anything by Nicholas Fisk, Roald Dahl and Judy Blume.
I just know you will enjoy reading or listening to this gift of a book as much as I did. You need Ava in your life.
This is my new favourite book ❤️.
And this book led me to the beautiful music of Isao Tomita ❤️
Quote from the author on her lead character…..
“Ava wasn’t hard to write. The only difficulty was going back to that time, in that place, behind that face, because so much of it was unhappy, frightening and almost overwhelmingly enchanting.
She is not a ‘creation’ – she was the seed of the woman she would grow to become… me.
And Ava’s interest in dead things was rooted in the same pragmatic conclusion I had come to at the same age: dead things can’t hurt you.
It’s the living you’ve got to watch.”
And the author interview at the end of the audiobook is so so good! The narrator is superb! Thank you so much!
February 13, 2024
Gorgeous, GORGEOUS narration is the standout element of this debut, which I received from Bonnier UK Audio for review.
Olivia Dowd is a prolific and impressive vocal talent (I loved her contribution to 'The Guest List' by Lucy Foley), her performance characterised by clarity and terrific self-assurance in an assortment of accents and dialects.
It might seem a trivial thing, but Dowd's narration exhibits a marked absence of missayings and mispronunciations, the importance of which to my enjoyment of an audiobook can't be overstated.
Although the serial-killer plot isn't itself thrilling, I'd recommend 'Deadly Animals' simply on the basis of Marie Tierney's characterisation of her protagonist, Ava Bonney, the dazzling light of this British Crime Thriller.
Ava is a character of conviction: forceful, organic in her transformative arc from introspective at thirteen to the affable and brave fourteen-year-old at the novel's close. Ava is as absorbing a character as any Bildungsroman star - a self-possessed juvenile of Fox Network's Dr Temperance Brennan.
I felt like I was re-reading Deirdre Sullivan's 'Perfectly Preventable Deaths' throughout, with notes of 'Follow Me to Ground' by Sue Rainsford.
Aside from comparisons, though, this is a robust debut. My thanks go to author and publisher for a pre-release digital copy.
Olivia Dowd is a prolific and impressive vocal talent (I loved her contribution to 'The Guest List' by Lucy Foley), her performance characterised by clarity and terrific self-assurance in an assortment of accents and dialects.
It might seem a trivial thing, but Dowd's narration exhibits a marked absence of missayings and mispronunciations, the importance of which to my enjoyment of an audiobook can't be overstated.
Although the serial-killer plot isn't itself thrilling, I'd recommend 'Deadly Animals' simply on the basis of Marie Tierney's characterisation of her protagonist, Ava Bonney, the dazzling light of this British Crime Thriller.
Ava is a character of conviction: forceful, organic in her transformative arc from introspective at thirteen to the affable and brave fourteen-year-old at the novel's close. Ava is as absorbing a character as any Bildungsroman star - a self-possessed juvenile of Fox Network's Dr Temperance Brennan.
I felt like I was re-reading Deirdre Sullivan's 'Perfectly Preventable Deaths' throughout, with notes of 'Follow Me to Ground' by Sue Rainsford.
Aside from comparisons, though, this is a robust debut. My thanks go to author and publisher for a pre-release digital copy.
June 25, 2024
*Thank you, NetGalley, for providing an ARC of Deadly Animals
Marie Tierney's "Deadly Animals" intertwines the innocent curiosity of childhood with the chilling elements of a murder mystery. Despite its intriguing premise, the book fell short of its full potential.
I wasn't disturbed by MC Ava Bonney's obsessive interest in roadkill and decomposition (although I can see why some people might), it was more the pacing of the book. Some parts of the story dragged unnecessarily while others were rushed.
One of my biggest disappointments was the predictability of the mystery. I figured out who the killer was halfway through the book, which took away the suspense and made the story drag on longer than needed. There was a lack of genuine twists that made the latter half of the book feel tedious.
Additionally, some characters felt superfluous, such as Trevor, Ava's mom's boyfriend. While it's clear he meant to serve as a red herring, he lacked any development. I don't think he had any dialogue and was just an annoying background character.
In conclusion, Deadly Animals had the ingredients for a compelling thriller/mystery but ultimately failed to deliver a cohesive and engaging story.
Marie Tierney's "Deadly Animals" intertwines the innocent curiosity of childhood with the chilling elements of a murder mystery. Despite its intriguing premise, the book fell short of its full potential.
I wasn't disturbed by MC Ava Bonney's obsessive interest in roadkill and decomposition (although I can see why some people might), it was more the pacing of the book. Some parts of the story dragged unnecessarily while others were rushed.
One of my biggest disappointments was the predictability of the mystery. I figured out who the killer was halfway through the book, which took away the suspense and made the story drag on longer than needed. There was a lack of genuine twists that made the latter half of the book feel tedious.
Additionally, some characters felt superfluous, such as Trevor, Ava's mom's boyfriend. While it's clear he meant to serve as a red herring, he lacked any development. I don't think he had any dialogue and was just an annoying background character.
In conclusion, Deadly Animals had the ingredients for a compelling thriller/mystery but ultimately failed to deliver a cohesive and engaging story.
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