Where the Crawdads Sing discussion

Hi there
This is my first post ever. I wanted to talk to others about this book beacuse I enjoyed it so much. I thought of something when I finished it and I wanted to see if others thought the same. Kya actually never denied killing Chase Andrews. Did anyone else notice that? The author did a great job of throwing us of course but then at the end when we find out she did it...it makes sense because she never denied it!

I noticed that too! The author did a fantastic job of keeping that hidden, I was surprised as heck when I found out she did do it, great twist at the end!!

Kya did plead "not guilty"

I had a feeling she did it, but then questioned myself throughout the court case. Some details just didn't add up. So she was the man in disguise on the bus but then was she also the older woman who rode the bus back to Greenville?

I thought she did it as well at first but then I was convinced it was Tate because of the details in the court were a bit far-fetched to attribute them to Kya. The idea that she would meticulously plan around bus routes, disguises, exact times on currents to murder someone seemed really out of character. It was funny because the defending attorney made such a big deal of how the sheriff's accusations were mostly here-say and wild theories when in reality he got just about everything right.

There were breadcrumbs alluding to Tate like his quiet anger at the person who hit her, the fibres from his hat. He had motive and opportunity and when he was getting arrested at the end, I was like "aha!" but then I was completely wrong.

I kinda wish that no one murdered Chase and it was an accident like he went up there to reminisce, threw the necklace away and then simply slipped. I don't like the malice the ending attributes to Kya.

This was my comment on "Marcia's review" - She made a comment that she thought Pearl actually did it. "I love your idea, that Pearl did it, so much and I have some thoughts on that. Pearl's complete disappearance bothered me all along and I wondered why she was never a suspect (more on that later). The red hat bothered me too. We know Tate was always wearing one. The author never expains the significance of a red hat to Tate and I wondered if it might be from the local high school or college (NC State? though, a Chapel Hill grad. would NEVER wear one of those). If that was the case, many people in town would have had one just like it so the fibers could have come from practically anyone. No one ever asked Kya where she got it or how long she had had it. If Kya was so careful with her disguises on the bus (where did she get a grey wig?) and got rid of them, why did she leave that cap out in the open for the cops to find? I also wondered how she contacted Chase to get him to the fire tower. I don't really think the towns people cared that much about ole Chase. They never said he was a good person, just a good quarterback in H.S. With the only auto parts store in town he may have cheated a few people along the way. I think it was a "Earl Had to Die" (Dixie Chicks song) situation or Two Black Cadillacs (Carrie Underwood - pick your country song) They figured it was easy to accuse the Marsh girl, aquit her, and let everyone go on with their lives. The debutant widow gets to inherit the family business and enjoy the sympathy and support of the town."

Yes! She did a really great job distracting us from that fact by focusing on how much the community discriminated against her for being different. I mean despite the fact she did do it, but you get what I mean.

There was a moment in the middle of the trial where it says something along the lines of: "Then they described how she had killed Chase." I re-read that line but just chalked it up to being a turn of expression. I kind of think that was a hint, because that chapter was from Kya's POV.

There was a poem along the story which explains how she killed him and why. I'll look it up.

I agree,
The author did an amazing job at distracting us from believing it was Kya.
At first, I chalked up the meaning of the book to her preserverance and life as an 'outsider'. I loved that the author allowed her to be capable of the act and not just a beautiful soul within nature. The ending was everything I had hoped for.

Like everyone in this discussion, I was SO surprised at the twist. Honestly, Kya killing Chase makes 100% sense and I don't think she's evil for doing it... After all her observations about insect mates killing each other it made sense, especially after he tried to rape her... What I found creepiest is the thought of her planning it out, disguising herself on the bus, and boating back during the night, and keeping the necklace in her little hidey hole... Gives me chills thinking about it

When Tate gave her the red ski hat I thought FOR SURE Tate had killed Chase...

I was also convinced that Tate had killed Chase, either in the heat of an argument or carefully planned out.
My main disappointment with the ending is that I would have liked a chapter from Kya’s point of view describing the plan forming and how she orchestrated it all so precisely. I found that, like the townspeople, I underestimated Kya’s ability to plan such an elaborate chain of events and get away with it.

Loved reading all your responses! Fabulous book!

RoseAnn wrote: "I was also convinced that Tate had killed Chase, either in the heat of an argument or carefully planned out.
My main disappointment with the ending is that I would have liked a chapter from Kya’s p..."

That's the weird thing, apart from the bits where Kya was pontificating about fireflies and mantises eating their mates as part of the natural order of things, there wasn't anything substantial that lets you understand that leap Kya took from being scared to methodically planning a murder.

Even after reading the book and knowing that Kya did it, I don't feel like Kya did it.

I enjoyed the whole book except for the ending. The ending was not satisfactory because it seemed rushed.

The ending was kind of expected, it was either tate or kya. Kya didn’t deny anything and her observations made her intentions clear to me. I was hesitant to believe she will actually carry it through. I’s taken a back a little by the way she was revealed to be the culprit.


The biggest puzzle for me, and this may sound silly, but why did Chase wear the necklace all the time? It doesn’t fit his character.. He -supposedly- only cares about himself, but the necklace makes me question that. He didn’t have to wear it.. His character fascinates me. He is still a horrible person though regardless of how he feels.

I loved this book but felt so sad at the way it ended. I think Kya truly loved people and I wanted her to find a way to interact with people beyond the marsh. I thought Tate should have felt proud of her and understood that being with people would complete her happiness. Just because they lived on the marsh didn't mean she had to be so isolated. Anyone else feel this way?

I really loved this book also. To be completely honest, it was out of my realm of normal reads for me, so I took a break after almost a six months of having gotten it. The twist was very well written through and through the book, though we did not know she was the poet she seemingly adored. I felt bad for her, and cheered her on, even after I realized she had done it. I was sort of proud of what she overcame and how the author played it so gracefully in having had hidden what Kya had done.

I really liked the book! It really showed what loneliness and isolation can do to someone. I thought the ending was really good, since it gave extra depth to (an already round and well written) character. I was especially blown away by the fact that she wrote the poems!
This is not what I normally read, but I really enjoyed it!

Jazz Internet Packages Yes! She did a really great job distracting us from that fact by focusing on how much the community discriminated against her for being different. I mean despite the fact she did do it, but you get what I mean.

"I kinda wish that no one murdered Chase and it was an accident like he went up there to reminisce, threw the necklace away and then simply slipped. I don't like the malice the ending attributes to Kya."

Exactly what I thought. I even re-read it to see if there was some hidden meaning or twist on a twist. I was hoping it was just an accident or some kind of self-defense, not carefully pre-meditated. Out of character for Kya, at least who I believed Kya to be. I'd go as far as to say the ending spoiled it for me.

I was also surprised and did not like the graphic sexual encounters. Felt like I was reading some cheap romance novel at times.

Thomas wrote: "I thought she did it as well at first but then I was convinced it was Tate because of the details in the court were a bit far-fetched to attribute them to Kya. The idea that she would meticulously ..."

I didn't see it as malicious. It was self defense in my opinion. There's that one part where she is thinking about how people like that don't stop, and she realizes why Ma had to leave, but of course she could never leave the marsh. But she knew he would keep coming back.

I really loved this book! I'm a Sparks fan, and as a fan I fell like I can say this was similar to his plots, but Owens' craft is better. The prose is beautiful and poetic. <3

Bushra wrote: "The ending was kind of expected, it was either tate or kya. Kya didn’t deny anything and her observations made her intentions clear to me. I was hesitant to believe she will actually carry it throu..."

I think he cared about her, but was too ashamed to admit it to anyone else. Then the attempt at rape was perhaps trying to control a situation that he felt had no control over. idk idk idk

It's not really self-defense if she is acting preemptively. She decided to kill him on the presumption that he would come back again and again which, despite how it was painted like he would come back, isn't really just grounds to plan out and go through killing someone. And, to then sit idly by in your own trial and straight up lie about it.

I mean it's not fair that Kya had to deal with someone like Chase but the only way you can describe what she ultimately did is very dark, regardless of her motivations or the way it parallels the male/female relationship in nature that the author foreshadowed.

Hi,

this is my first post. created the account for suggestions.

i usually don't get emotional while reading novels. but Where the crawdads sing and the character Kya connected with me and the Life of her portrayed by the author was so raw and real that i feel like such characters exist in real life. Towards the end after kya's death when the husband finds the poems and when he realizes the turmoil Kya went through out her life along with the mystery of Chase Andrew's death was the perfect end to the book.

Hope i find many such books and Please Suggest if you read any.

I can´t say I was surprised by the ending to be honest, I had the feeling she did it as soon as she was talking about the fireflies and how they killed their mates. I do feel that the murder suggests a darker side to Kya, for her to be able to plan an intricate murder like that with all the traveling and disguises. But I do like the dark ending, while I obviously don´t agree with what Kya did, I feel like it had a purpose in the story. This is what happens when you are left to fend for yourself and can only rely only on yourself, you go to horrible lengths to protect yourself.

Nailya (lost in translation) wrote: "I can´t say I was surprised by the ending to be honest, I had the feeling she did it as soon as she was talking about the fireflies and how they killed their mates. I do feel that the murder sugges..."
The fireflies gave it away for me. She referred to them often. What really was the cherry on top was at the end when Tate saw the fireflies...down yonder where the crawdads sing. Such a great book!

Carla wrote: "There was a poem along the story which explains how she killed him and why. I'll look it up."

Have you found the quote? I am wondering if it's this:

You came again,
blinding my eyes
like the shimmer of sun upon the sea.
Just as I feel free
the moon casts your face upon the sill.
Each time I forget you
your eyes haunt my heart and it falls still.
And so farewell
until the next time you come,
until at last I do not see you.
(Page 352)

And, found another one that might indicate Kya killed him:

The Firefly

Luring him was as easy
As flashing valentines.
But like a lady firefly
They hid a secret call to die.

A final touch,
Unfinished;
The last step, a trap.
Down, down he falls,
His eyes still holding mine
Until they see another world.

I saw them change.
First a question,
Then an answer,
Finally an end.

And love itself passing
To whatever it was before it began. A.H.
(Page 367)

It's puzzling me still why and how (not technically but her character-wise) she could kill Chase. But, I started to think that Kya was lonely after all and let her emotions wisely hidden only in her poets. I read all the things she went through and I thought I got her personalities etc but we all can't completely understand who she is at the end because her situation is beyond our (most of us) comprehension. Maybe the message is "you think you know, but you don't know".

Thomas wrote: "RoseAnn wrote: "I was also convinced that Tate had killed Chase, either in the heat of an argument or carefully planned out.
My main disappointment with the ending is that I would have liked a chap..."

The part in the story when she is leaving Tate and notice Chase waiting for her on the shore. She hides and says something about how he will never leave her alone. That for me supports that she did what she thought she had to do to survive.

With that said during the trial, I thought that Tate and the old man took care of Chase for hurting Kya. I even entertained that her brother may have done it.

I loved this book and its ending!

I have mixed feelings about this book.
Why didn’t we know what happened to her siblings?
She definitely did a great job for a first novel. The book has its charm. But I couldn’t get myself to rate it yet.

Really loved this book. I agree, the author did a great job distracting the readers and how she carefully made the court trial arguments incredibly believable (thanks to her lawyer who did a great job) that Kya did it. I thought, it was Tate and Jumpin killed Chase. The only thing that bothers me is how she made Chase agreed to meet her in the middle of the night after what happened to them in the island. I guessed, Chase really wants Kya so much.

Yes, I agree with all questions and the outcome and a great book. But how did they happen to meet at that time and place didn't add up to me.

Deb wrote: "Yes, I agree with all questions and the outcome and a great book. But how did they happen to meet at that time and place didn't add up to me."

Yes, that bothered me both at the trial and at the end of the book.

I don't think it was intentional that they happened to be there at the same time. I figured if Tate would have done it, he would've taken the blame. I loved, I absolutely love that she kept quoting from her favorite poet and it was herself all along. But did it not bother anyone else that Chase Andrews still wore the shell all four years. Did Chase really feel something or was it a trophy?

Yeah, there was a nuance to Chase keeping that shell that I wish would have been examined a bit more. I think it would too easy to say that he kept it purely as a trophy when the idea of holding onto a trinket like that speaks of underlying, deep feelings.

However, Chase is ultimately painted as an extremely crass person with little regard for people's feelings. The intro to Chase is that he is intrigued with Kya. I like to think that there is some truth to that like he did find her fascinating and he wasn't being driven purely by lust because I find a character like that to be extremely repugnant.

I believe that Chase cared and wanted her but he thrived off of being the town jock! His family or community wouldn’t let him be anything different nor would they have accepted a real relationship between he and The Marsh Girl! He was weak!

I felt like it was the juxtaposition of male vs female that defined and drove the plot. Men in the book (for the most part with just a few exceptions) are violent creatures capable of feelings (hence the shell necklace, a token of some sort of love) but mostly driven by things like possession, power and destruction. Kya never fully accepted her mother’s choice to leave without a fight, abandon her children, and spend the rest of her life in fear. That’s why I think she takes the matter with Chase in her own hands. It’s almost funny how everybody underestimates her knowledge of tides, currents and other aspects of nature simply because they don’t know the land they live on. But Kya does, with the marsh as her true nurturing and protecting mother. They commit the crime and destroy the evidence together in an act of self defense, but also maybe something her delicate city born mother could not have done to save her children.

I thought it was an interesting choice not to give Kya children of her own. I expected her to get pregnant during the affair with Chase, but then it turns out she can’t have kids. It was never explained, and sounded almost like a decision she made as a result of trauma, abandonment and survival she had to go through early in life.

This book has enchanted me and the fact of Kya killing Chase has been very clear to me since she mentions the fireflies and their mating ritual

Hi There. So I just finished this book yesterday.
1- The character that got to me the most was Ma. Looking at her life and how bad it was. Should she have just walked away and left her children with a drunk violent man? The book indicates she was mentally unstable when she left. But when I look at that scene, her leaving feels very premeditated. She planned to go to her family house, it would have been so easy to take her kids with. It guts me to think that a mother's survival instinct would be to survive herself before her children. Throughout the whole book my heart aches for Kya as she continues waiting for her mother that never comes back.
2 - why did Tate not put two and two together during the court case when they were discussing the red woollen fabrics from the cap. He would have known that he gave her the cap just before Chase died. So the fibers on the jacket could not have been from 4 years ago.
3. How did Kya get into and out of the tower without leaving any prints

Katy wrote: "I felt like it was the juxtaposition of male vs female that defined and drove the plot. Men in the book (for the most part with just a few exceptions) are violent creatures capable of feelings (hen..."

This is an interesting way to think about the book. Honestly, I felt the whole things was very cliché and was ultimately underwhelmed. Considering the rave reviews, I've been scouring the web to see what others find so captivating...

Anyway, I think this emphasis on females being nurturing and stable is an idea that Kya wrestles with throughout the story. Her observations of females in nature compared to her experiences with other females and her mother are in conflict.

Thomas wrote: "Yeah, there was a nuance to Chase keeping that shell that I wish would have been examined a bit more. I think it would too easy to say that he kept it purely as a trophy when the idea of holding on..."

I found it surprising that Chase wore that necklace--and for so long. Despite the fact that he is known to be a player, it doesn't make sense that he would advertise (even subtly) his relationship with the Swamp Girl... That was such an important piece of the trial but it never sat right with me that he would treasure that necklace so much.

Yeah, exactly. It seems weird that Chase is brushed off as a heartless lothario when he did in fact keep that necklace. It's like 2 separate things crashing together and it doesn't make sense. There's just level of depth that could have so easily been explored.

I felt the necklace was Chase's way of "possessing" Kya, or at least in his mind. I think he was obsessed with her but he never really loved her. By keeping the necklace, he could remind himself of what he had with her while pretending to care for his real girlfriend, who didn't excite him the way Kya did. It was more about control for him than affection.
I understand that people felt the ending was rushed but I loved this book. I felt like the author led us to the ending but that we (or at least I) missed the clues, which is why it felt rushed.

Francesca wrote: "Like everyone in this discussion, I was SO surprised at the twist. Honestly, Kya killing Chase makes 100% sense and I don't think she's evil for doing it... After all her observations about insect ..."
Yes- and also the fact that she acted surprised when Jumpers told her the news about Chase when she came back from her trip. What an actress!

Hello everyone - I recently finished this book a couple weeks ago and was looking for a group to discuss it. This looks like the place!! I thought the book was perfect, even if the ending was a little abrupt. But after reading it for the 2nd time, there are obvious clues throughout that lead to the ending being clear and well thought out. Definitely one of my most favorite books I have ever read. Will surely be a classic for years to come.

Anyone else find that by keeping the necklace, it made Kya just as creepy as Chase was for keeping it? Kya went from cool, to not cool for me.

If Chase wanted to keep that gift as "possession" of Kya or as a "trophy," what does that say about Kya for keeping it? A trophy for her too? Possession of his death? It gets creepier even more especially that she also saved This is How I Killed Chase poem. I mean, there have been serial killers known to do that crap.

The necklace and poem maybe was just a writer's plot device for the big reveal as Kya to be the real killer. Possibly inadvertently by the writer, it also gave Kya an unsympathetic psychology. Wicked, came to my mind.

Thomas wrote: "It's not really self-defense if she is acting preemptively..."

I feel the same way, Thomas. I lost understanding for Kya after the big reveal. She not only seemed darker, but also more primitive.

Debi wrote: "Anyone else find that by keeping the necklace, it made Kya just as creepy as Chase was for keeping it? Kya went from cool, to not cool for me.

If Chase wanted to keep that gift as "possession" of ..."

That's interesting. I didn't think of it that way at all. In my mind, when Kya took the necklace back she was taking back a part of herself that she had given to Chase. She alludes to it when she mentions that when you touch someone for the first time you give them a part of you that you can never get back. It doesn't seem a sinister as a trophy that a serial killer would keep, but more symbolic of how she tried to make herself whole again.

I'm not upset that Kya killed Chase, and I don't think it makes her evil. Because of her past, and learning about what drove her Ma to abandon her, she knew that she would either have to leave The Marsh, or force Chase to leave. Kya would never leave her marsh, it was a part of her, and therefore she had no choice.