The novel “Where the Crawdads Sing” by Delia Owens is a captivating work of fiction that has resonated with readers worldwide. While the story is not directly based on a true story, it draws inspiration from real-life events and characters, lending it an air of authenticity and relatability.
The novel’s protagonist, Kya Clark, is a young woman who grows up isolated in the marshes of North Carolina. Owens based Kya’s character on the real-life figure of Chase Squires, a woman who lived in the marshes of North Carolina in the 1950s and was accused of murder. Squires was eventually acquitted of the charges, but her story stayed with Owens and inspired her to create the character of Kya.
