by Lauren Holstner

The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold is a remarkable tale about a young girl who was murdered. The story tells about after she was murdered and what is happening on Earth after her death.

Susie Salmon was tricked into a secret underground hideaway, raped, and murdered.  All that was found was an elbow.  As she dies that night she tells about what happened after death and about her view from her heaven.

On Earth, her family is torn by her murder. Her murderer lives right down the road, free of suspicion, and her little brother says he can still talk to Susie.  Not to mention her sister lives in the shadow of her murder everywhere, even at school.

This story breaths misery, remorse, little happiness and heart breaking sadness.

“Deeply affecting….A keenly observed portrait of familia love and how it endures and changes over time,” said Michiko Kakutani, from the New York Times.

I liked the way the author gave a new twist to the traditional murder.  The fact that the narrater is deceased adds to the compelling words and details.  Sebold was able to draw me into the novel in the first page and kept me inthralled with every word.  The entire concept was enough to make me wish for more.

I loved this story, it tells the tale of something readers might not have thought of.  Not many would think to write about a murdered girl from her point of view as she watches her family from heaven.  Sebold gave a new outlook on the typical murder story.

This is the perfect book for anyone who loves heart wrenching tales.  I recommend this to all readers who are in the market for a new book.