Aoife Fitzpatrick ~ The Red Bird Sings
Synopsis
West Virginia, 1897. When young Zona Heaster Shue dies only a few months after her wedding, her mother Mary Jane becomes convinced that Zona was murdered - and by none other than her husband, Trout, the handsome blacksmith beloved in their small Southern town.
But when Trout is put on trial, no one believes he could have done it, apart from Mary Jane and Zona's best friend Lucy, who was always suspicious of Trout. As the trial raises to fever pitch and the men of Greenbrier County stand aligned against them, Mary Jane and Lucy must decide whether to reveal Zona's greatest secret in the service of justice. But it's Zona herself, from beyond the grave, who still has one last revelation to make.
Review
I may be doing this book a slight injustice, but I read it after Other Women. Although set in a different period of history, both books are based on real life trials and deal with similar topics; sadly The Red Bird Sings doesn't have quite as much of an impact.
The opening is wonderful, with a letter from Zona to her daughter and this sets the tone for the heartfelt story. Fitzpatrick writes beautifully, but the choice to use a variety of media, including Lucy's wite-up of the trial, means that the story feels disjointed in places.
There is little mystery in the book, and clues are clear and coax us towards the ending before it is revealed. This makes the ending expected, with the promise of telepathy or mediumship disappointing and unnecessary.
Characters are vaguely interesting, but we do not learn enough about them to develop any real kinship; even Lucy is unlikeable and unreliable as a narrator.
It is a sad story, dealing with grief and death, as well as the mistrust of unmarried women. There are a few surprises, but the book plods along, with no real excitement, emotion or anticipation.
However, Fitzpatrick is a talented writer and perhaps we will see her tackle an original story from her soon.
Thanks to Virago Books for my proof copy. Opinions my own.
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