The Language of the Birds

The Language of the Birds

A Novel

About the Book

A brilliant but solitary teenager must unlock ciphers, unearth buried clues, and reckon with the outside world as she pursues an ancient secret in this brainteasing, puzzle-filled mystery that will leave readers wondering where the truth ends and fiction begins.

Seventeen-year-old Arizona’s favorite things include cryptography, geocaching, the writings of Jules Verne—and exploring the Sierra Nevadas on her Russian Ural motorcycle, her dog Mojo riding shotgun in his sidecar.

She’s not, in other words, your average teenager. 

So when she learns her mother’s been kidnapped and finds a cryptic test accompanying the ransom note, she’s not just horrified—but electrified. Solving puzzles and cracking codes are what she does best, and she knows exactly how to tackle the challenge the kidnappers are dangling in front of her.

What she doesn’t yet realize is that she’s been enlisted in a treasure hunt, on the trail of an occult, centuries-old secret her father supposedly took to his grave. And if the prize at the end is real, it could shake the world.

As Arizona chases the truth through fiendish ciphers and ancient texts, unearthing clues both buried underground and hiding in plain sight in the Western landscape, she’s forced to navigate the outside world in ways she never has before--and begins to forge connections she never dreamed she could. 

Featuring an indomitable young heroine and a plot that ingeniously weaves together real facts into a treasure hunt of epic proportions, The Language of the Birds is a clever, quirky, endlessly surprising adventure that delightfully blurs the lines between truth and fiction. 

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Praise for The Language of the Birds

“A thrilling page-turner full of heart and unforgettable characters—The Language of the Birds is a must-read for fans of puzzle books and intelligent suspense.”—Meg Shaffer, bestselling author of The Wishing Game and The Lost Story

“An intricate puzzle box of a novel with a whole amusement park of wonders hidden inside. A delight for readers who enjoy sifting through clues and poring over evidence alongside the hero, racing to see which of you can crack the mystery first. A high-stakes treasure hunt filled with hope, history and all kinds of heart.”—Ernest Cline, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Ready Player One

The Language of the Birds is a beautiful journey into isolation, connection, and communication. It’s also a mind-bending dive into the power of the puzzle. Sweeping across the American west, the story takes in ancient mythologies, classic literature, and sinister conspiracy theories to weave its own shade of magic. This is one enigmatic teenager’s quest to free her mother, with ciphers and symbols at the heart of an absolutely cracking read—a mystery, crime, adventure, and coming-of-age tale all wrapped up in a treasure of a book.”—Janice Hallett, internationally bestselling author of The Twyford Code and The Appeal

“A refreshing, unstoppable read, knitted with bookish ciphers and puzzles, alchemy and poetics, all starring a brave, funny, unfiltered young woman whose differences are her greatest gifts—and the keys to deciphering some very dark secrets. K.A. Merson has created a wondrous mystery that unlocks the mind and the heart.”—Matthew Sullivan, national bestselling author of Midnight at the Bright Ideas Bookstore

“A puzzle box of delights. K.A. Merson’s taut, engaging thriller has charm to burn, thanks to its literature-obsessed teenage codebreaker, Arizona, and her faithful hound, Mojo.”—Simon Wroe, author of Chop Chop
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About the Author

K.A. Merson
K.A. Merson is a vaguely reclusive writer who lives in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains, along with a patient spouse, a malevolent boxer dog, and an Airstream trailer. More by K.A. Merson
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