Where the Crawdads Sing
Her debut novel and principal work of fiction.
Author guide
Delia Owens Books in Order
Delia Owens is an American zoologist and author. She holds a BS in zoology from the University of Georgia and a PhD in animal behavior from the University of California, Davis. With Mark Owens, she co-authored three nonfiction books about wildlife research and conservation in Africa: Cry of the Kalahari, The Eye of the Elephant, and Secrets of the Savanna. She later wrote Where the Crawdads Sing, her first novel, a coming-of-age mystery set in the coastal marshes of North Carolina. Owens has received the John Burroughs Award for nature writing.
literary fictionmysterynature writingwildlife nonfictionmemoir
Catalog record updated .
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Cry of the Kalahari
The first of her three co-authored books about wildlife research and conservation in Africa.
Outside the series
Bibliography by category
Novels (4)
- Cry of the Kalahari
nonfiction · 1984
This account of the author's seven-year stay in Africa's Kalahari wilderness covers their adventures of survival, their contact with curious and dangerous animals, and the establishment of their conservation research project
- The Eye of the Elephant
nonfiction · 1992
An “exciting” true account of battling the elephant poachers of Zambia by the author of Where the Crawdads Sing and her fellow biologist (The Boston Globe). Intelligent, majestic, and loyal, with lifespans matching our own, elephants are…
- Secrets of the Savanna
nonfiction · 2006
"Vividly written...Their story is thrilling—the kind of tale that wild-animal lovers won't easily forget."—People In this riveting real-life adventure, Mark and Delia Owens tell the dramatic story of their last years in Africa, fighting…
- Where the Crawdads Sing
novel · 2018
For years, rumors of the “Marsh Girl” have haunted Barkley Cove, a quiet town on the North Carolina coast. So in late 1969, when handsome Chase Andrews is found dead, the locals immediately suspect Kya Clark, the so-called Marsh Girl. But…
Frequently asked questions about Delia Owens
Who is Delia Owens?
Delia Owens is an American zoologist and author who grew up in southern Georgia. She earned a zoology degree from the University of Georgia and a PhD in animal behavior from the University of California, Davis.
What did Delia Owens do before writing fiction?
She spent 23 years researching endangered species and conservation in Africa, studying animals including lions, brown hyenas, and elephants. She also wrote wildlife nonfiction with Mark Owens.
Sources: deliaowens.com (opens in a new tab)ecology.uga.edu (opens in a new tab)
What inspired Delia Owens to write Where the Crawdads Sing?
Her childhood connection to wild places, her mother’s encouragement to explore nature, and her experiences living in remote African research camps shaped the novel. Her animal-behavior research also influenced its themes of isolation, social groups, and survival.
Sources: global.penguinrandomhouse.com (opens in a new tab)deliaowens.com (opens in a new tab)
What awards has Delia Owens received?
Among the honors listed in her official biography are the John Burroughs Award for Nature Writing, the Golden Ark award, and the University of California Award for Excellence, recognizing her nature writing, research, and conservation work.
What is Delia Owens’s legacy beyond her novels?
Her legacy includes wildlife research and conservation work in Africa as well as support for future ecologists. In 2023, she established an ecology fellowship at the University of Georgia and donated her papers and field records to the university’s special collections.