Deadly Animals

Finding a dead body is not normal. But Ava is not a normal teenager. In this chillingly beautiful mystery, only the obsessive spirit of youth can save a desperate town from the savagery within.

Ava Bonney is a compassionate and studious fourteen-year-old girl with a dark secret: She has an obsessive interest in the macabre and is fascinated by how dead animals decompose. The highway she lives by regularly offers up gifts of roadkill, and in the dead of night Ava loves 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. Fearing that her secret ritual could be revealed, she makes an anonymous call to the police. But even when local detectives take over the case, Ava won't step back--not while teenagers continue to go missing.

Racing alongside the police or against them, Ava is determined to figure out who is hunting her classmates before she becomes the next prey.

One of Amazon's Best Books of the Month and Best Mystery Books of 2024
Winner of the McDermid Debut Award for crime fiction
Finalist for the International Thriller Award for Best First Novel
Longlisted for the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year Award

"Beautiful and atmospheric. Ava is a strikingly original heroine, wise beyond her years... This is as much coming-of-age novel as it is macabre mystery."
-The New York Times

"Exceptional in every way, Deadly Animals is a shockingly beautiful, rare and heartbreaking gem. A story both harrowing and exquisitely told. I really can't recommend it highly enough."
-Chris Whitaker, New York Times bestselling author of We Begin at the End and All the Colors of the Dark

"Marie Tierney's debut novel is everything readers want a mystery to be: dark--even gruesome--dangerous, genuinely puzzling, and utterly addictive. It also introduces one of the most compelling characters in recent memory ... Brilliant plotting and pitch-perfect character portraits--especially the resourceful Ava, but also the kind Detective Delahaye--make us hope fervently that more books with these characters are planned."
-Vannessa Cronin, The Amazon Book Review, Best Books of November 2024

"Creepy ... One of the best books of the year."
-Crime Fiction Lover, named the Editor's Choice for Best Debut of 2024

"A thrilling read with surprisingly tender moments."
-Real Simple, named a Best Book of 2024

"Deadly Animals is a remarkable debut. It is funny, creepy, gory, and moving. Ava is a wonderful creation, precocious and ferociously intelligent yet vulnerable to kindness and a winning smile. As she gets closer to identifying the murderer, and the plot explodes into full-blown gothic horror, it's impossible not to root for this big-hearted child."
-The Times, Best New Crime Fiction

"A fast-paced, brilliantly plotted mystery ... As the book progresses, the stakes become higher and danger creeps closer to Ava and John, leading to a dramatic conclusion. With Deadly Animals, Tierney has created an exceptional heroine."
-BookPage, Best Mystery & Suspense of 2024

"By turns terrifying and heartbreaking in its depictions of the bloodthirsty killer--and, by extension, the brutality that lies at the heart of every human being--this eloquent, darkly suspenseful debut novel will haunt the reader's imagination. An edge-of-your-seat thriller with a savage twist."
-Kirkus Reviews

"Deadly Animals features one of the most engaging and unlikely heroines you're likely to find ... An extraordinary book, both chilling and heartbreaking, a story of horror and resilience that burrows deep into the human mind."
-BookTrib

"A first-rate character-based creep-out with literary chops."
-Shelf Awareness, Best Books of the Week

"Ava earns readers' investment in this macabre procedural--she's a clever, compassionate, and resourceful protagonist with series-carrying potential. Mo Hayder fans will find much to admire."
-Publishers Weekly

"Tierney's debut novel is a dark, twisted story featuring a unique heroine and a haunting mystery.... Thriller fans who like their stories on the darker side will adore this book."
-Booklist

"A riveting debut that blends crime fiction with social commentary, Tierney's storytelling and nuanced character development offer a thought-provoking exploration of darkness, resilience and the human capacity for both good and evil... Masterfully explores the concept of 'monsters' that exist in human form."
-The Straits Times, five star review

"A crime novel I wish I had written"
-Lynda La Plante, creator of Prime Suspect and author of Widows

"Marie's writing is beautiful."
-Belinda Bauer, author of Blacklands

"Crackling with energy ... Utterly mesmerizing ... This writer has huge talent."
-Peter James, international bestselling author and Daily Mail First Novel competition judge

"With writing as sharp as a canine's claw and an unforgettable protagonist, this is a dark glittering gem of a book."
-Lisa Gray, bestselling author of Thin Air

"Gloriously dark, deadly and deathly ... Gobbled it up - and it was absolutely delicious."
-C. J. Skuse, author of Rockoholic

"An incredible debut - original, epically dark and with such a strong voice. Damn near perfect."
-Susi Holliday, author of The Hike

"A masterpiece. Bold, daring, beautifully written and utterly chilling."
-William Hussey, author of Killing Jericho

"Feisty Ava and her sidekick John are just the heroes we need ... Original, and as fascinating as it is macabre, Tierney is a name to watch."
-Sam Holland, author of The Echo Man

Marie Tierney was a finalist in the Daily Mail First Novel competition. Born and raised in Birmingham, England, Marie dedicated almost twenty years to working in education before becoming a full-time writer. When she isn't researching criminal history, she writes plays and poetry. She lives in East Anglia with her husband and son.

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