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Longlisted for the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year Award 2025, Marie Tierney, joins Harrogate International Festivals and host Joe Haddow, to talk about her book, Deadly Animals.
Thirteen-year-old Ava Bonney is different. While her friends play, Ava searches for roadkill. She knows studying animal decomposition is an unusual hobby, but Ava doesn’t care what other people think. Then, one night, when Ava sneaks out to find a fox, she instead stumbles upon the body of Mickey Grant.
Despite his many years in the police, Detective Seth Delahaye has never seen a murder case like this one – as though the victim was set upon by a wild animal. Nor has he met anyone quite like Ava: so determined, resourceful and… unusual. And when another boy goes missing, he has no idea that Ava will become his secret weapon in the hunt for a killer.
About the Author
Marie Tierney was a finalist in the Daily Mail First Novel competition and her debut crime novel, Deadly Animals, was selected by bestselling crime writer Peter James as his winner. She cites Richard Adams, Margaret Atwood and Stephen King among her literary influences and, when she is isn’t researching criminal history, she writes plays, poetry and creates art in different mediums. Born and raised in Birmingham, Marie held various jobs across four counties and dedicated almost twenty years to working in education before becoming a full-time writer. She now lives in The Fens with her husband and son.
