I enjoyed this book, but it wasn't a favorite of mine. I think it would have been more successful for me if we had spent more time with Ava, whom I adored. The POV switches were distracting, and though I think the story overall was interesting and entertaining (and unique!) I just would have had a better time focusing on Ava and her story directly. I listened to this on audio, which I also recommend, because it moves a bit faster than it would have in print!

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

This was a really interesting book. The main character was fascinating and I loved learning from and with her. Though I predicted the killer almost immediately, I didn't feel like that took away from my enjoyment.

Absolutely beautifully written!! The macabre nature of Ava drew me in immediately! Seeing her work through an investigation that was already ongoing and becoming a key part to it was perfect!

Cannot wait to see what more the author has up her sleeve for future books!

*I received a free ARC from NetGalley*

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of Deadly Animals by Marie Tierney. This book provides an intriguing look into some of the world’s most dangerous creatures, exploring what makes them so lethal and the environments they inhabit. Tierney’s writing is accessible and informative, making complex scientific details digestible for general readers. The vivid descriptions and anecdotes bring these creatures to life on the page, though at times I wished for more in-depth analysis or a stronger narrative thread to tie everything together. Still, the variety of species highlighted kept me engaged, and I came away with a deeper appreciation for the natural world’s complexity and the balance it maintains.

ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.

I’m a little backlogged with my ARCs but working diligently to get caught up. This book had an interesting storyline and characters to match! I liked how it’s a detective story, trying to find a murderer, while adding in little bits of hope to keep you on edge! I can honestly say I had no idea where it was heading and it wasn’t for lack of trying to figure it out. I would recommend to anyone who likes mysteries, horror, and detective fiction!

This book follows Ava, a compassionate and interesting teenage girl with an unsettling obsession with watching dead animals decompose. After a late-night outing, she stumbles upon the body of a classmate. Unsure of how the authorities would react to her dark hobby, Ava decides to report the body anonymously, and that’s when the story truly begins to unfold.

I had high hopes for this book. The premise intrigued me, and I initially found the characters interesting. However, as the story progressed, I realized I wasn’t connecting with any of the characters, nor did I feel invested in their journey. While the plot has great potential and could have been fast-paced, the execution felt slow and dragged in parts. That said, the reveal was well done, offering a twist I didn’t see coming. Despite that, I just never felt pulled into the story as much as I wanted to.

One thing to note is that the book contains extremely graphic content, particularly regarding dead animals and child death, so it's not for the faint of heart. I’d like to thank the author, the publisher Henry Holt & Company, and NetGalley for providing a complimentary eARC for review.

I absolutely loved this 1980s set book about a very unusual 14 year old girl who is obsessed with death and decomposition. When she finds a human body in her little body farm of dead animals, she tries to help the police solve the case. Beautifully written, very dark and creepy, and with a main character I'll remember, this book will be on my top books of 2024 list for sure! More details in my longer blog review, which is linked.

I loved the main character and wanted to enjoy the story, but it really dragged. It should have either been shorter and more plot-driven or included more character development.

I loved the main character, such a plucky, observant and clever girl! Give me more kids solving murders by fellow kids in 1980s England, please!

3.5⭐️'s for me. Ava was such a good main chartacter in this book along side Detective Delayhaye. The unusual interests that Ava had with macabre/bones put such a great aspect to her story and how she ended up being intertwined within the bodies being found and how she helps the police solve the mystery. The build up to the AHA moment was good and had you trying to figure out who the killer is. It would've been a 4 star for me if it had only gripped my attention just a little bit more, as I didn't feel the pull of "I can't put it down". Also just want to warn there are some very descriptive parts about dead animals that might make you cringe a little but I liked that!

An original combination police procedural/suspense/horror. This is an amazing work for a debut author. The character development is outstanding and there are plot twists throughout. For fans of Catriona McPherson and Mo Hayder.

Love love love this one!! I really enjoyed the atmosphere in the book and found it the right balance of creepy and atmospheric!

First and foremost, let me say, I am NOT a crime thriller girl. I typically dislike books that fall into that category because the typical police procedural stuff just doesn't do it for me. However, I liked the premise of this book enough to give it a shot anyways, and it was absolutely 100% worth it.

This book is split between different perspectives, and while the police investigation stuff is definitely my least favorite part of the story (again, this is a me thing), it's still palletable. But the other half? The stuff about Ava, the weirdo protagonist girl who is fascinated by death and decomposition? PHENOMENAL

I love weird girls because I was a weird girl growing up. I loved the premise of this book, of a young teen girl who is picking up on things the police are missing, but has to find subtle ways to help them because she knows they won't just believe her. It worked for me on so many levels. Ava has my whole heart, I think I could read about her and her odd hobbies forever and never get tired of her.

I will put out a fair warning that this book is extremely British, and I did have to look up terminology and slang like every other page. Also this book is very graphic, and I recommend checking trigger warnings, even if you aren't someone who normally does. There are some very tough scenes in here involving animals, and that will turn some people off, but it's still so good. Marie Tierney has my attention now, that's for sure!

Ava is a curious and intelligent young woman with a sharp scientific mind. I found her to be a fascinating character with a bravery and knowledge the nuances of life far beyond her teenage years. Ava has the ability to see adults as the flawed humans we all are. I thoroughly enjoyed the depths of all the characters in this book, well except maybe the villain but, even there the author showed us multiple sides ofthem, proving that people are not inherently good or bad, we are many varying shades in between.
There were a few chapters that seemed unnecessary but, ultimately this was a unique and carefully constructed storyline with a fully vested cast of characters.

Deadly Animals is a wild ride. It’s a bit slow at times, and the pacing felt off at times too. Still, it’s a unique and interesting premise. This wasnt for me, but people who enjoy police procedurals or more slow burn thrillers will love this book.

DNF at 30%.
I found this book very slow and boring. The characters have a lot of in-depth descriptions, but I just found myself not caring. There's a lot to digest in this book. Also did not appreciate jokes made about SA on minors. Def did not want to continue after that.

Ava’s unusual fascination with animal decomposition leads her to a chilling discovery—the body of a classmate. Her curiosity doesn’t stop there, pulling her deeper into a mystery drenched in folklore, this is a hauntingly unique read that sticks with you.

A quirky little book. It does some interesting things with the amateur detective genre, and the MC is one to root for. A slow burn with a decent payoff.

Although this eerie, macabre, and gruesome (in places) novel is the writer’s debut offering, the characters and setting are well developed. It was creepier and darker than my usual suspense and mystery reads. Yet at the same time the action moves slowly. I would not call it an exciting police procedural. Certain readers will love Deadly Animals; while not for everyone, it is a solid debut.,

A rather steady police procedural. Honestly the only thing that made it slightly stand out was Ava as a character. She seemed to make a lot of rather stupid decisions regarding the police while being extremely smart and intuitive otherwise. The last chapter seemed like the author pushed a lot into a small amount of time. Perhaps drawing out the ending so we could have time to really dig into the killers motive and past would have been nice. I would say a solid 3.5/5.
I received a ARC of this title, all opinions are my own.