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Best Delia Owens Books

Updated June 2023

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Pros

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Best of the Best

Delia Owens

Where The Crawdads Sing

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Most Popular

Bottom Line

This #1 New York Times bestselling novel is packed with mystery and offers a coming-of-age story.

Pros

Following two timelines that intertwine, the book centers around the murder of a local celebrity and the adventures of a young girl named Kya who is suspected of the crime. Kya faces the hardships of growing up, coming to difficult decisions and dealing with tragedy. It's available in paperback and hardcover editions.

Cons

It may be confusing to follow the back and forth between two narratives.

Best Bang for the Buck

An international bestselling book, animal lovers will appreciate this non-fiction story about two Americans traversing the Kalahari Desert.

Pros

With few supplies and gear, Mark and Delia Owens set up camp in the Kalahari desert in 1974. The couple highlights their encounters with wildlife such as hyenas, lions, jackals, and giraffes and what it took to survive in the desert.

Cons

It's a gripping natural history book, but those seeking the thrills of a fictional novel will be better off reading Where The Crawdads Sing.

Delia Owens

The Eye Of The Elephant

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Customer Favorite

Bottom Line

Chronicling their adventures in Africa, Delia and Mark Owens co-wrote this book detailing their experience of getting caught in the middle of a poaching fray.

Pros

Hundreds of elephants were killed annually in the 1970s and 1980s in Africa, and this book chronicles Delia and Mark Owens' attempt to put a stop to it. It's a beautiful adventure story that deals with angry hunters, strenuous labor on the plains, and clear depictions of African wildlife.

Cons

It's not for the faint of heart, as there are multiple instances of the authors recounting disturbing and tragic details of the ordeal.

Delia Owens

Secrets Of The Savanna

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Survival Non-Fiction

Bottom Line

This book details Delia and Mark Owens' final years in Africa, where they struggled to protect elephants and their own lives.

Pros

Local ivory poachers who were put out of business shift their sights toward Delia and Mark Owens and will stop at nothing until they're gone from Africa for good. The Owens couple writes in vivid detail about how they helped villagers start small businesses and discovered a mystery surrounding the reproduction of the elephants they vowed to save.

Cons

If you've read Cry Of The Kalahari, this book might be too similar.

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