Book Description:
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.
My Thoughts:
Ava isn’t your typical thirteen year old. She is fascinated with dead animals and where as most people would be grossed out finding animal remains, she is in her element, studying them as well as drawing them. She is without a doubt a lot wiser than most her age and devours anatomy and crime books. Being a crime fan, I was actually a little bit in awe of her as is Detective Seth Delahaye when he meets her.
A story of children dying brutally is not an easy read. The way they are killed is disturbing to say the least. It made for some highly emotional reading seeing the impact it has on the family and small community. I did guess the killer very early on but that didn’t take anything away from this story as there is so much more to it. Ava would make a great detective although I don’t think that is her calling in life but without her help and knowledge, the police would certainly have taken longer to catch the killer.
Deadly Animals is an excellent debut novel. It is deeply disturbing yet wholly compelling. Whilst the protagonist may be a child herself, this crime thriller definitely isn’t for children! It made for a fascinating read and it was impossible to put down. I would love to see more of Ava as her mind and interests were just fascinating to read of. Am very excited to see what the author has in store for her readers next as she has set the bar very high with this book. An absolute must read for fans of crime thrillers who love dark and twisted stories!
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