Tap cover to enlarge

The Red Bird Sings

Published
Apr 2023
Main Genre
Historical Historical

About This Book

A prize-winning, spine-tingling gothic suspense novel based on a real-life murder trial in 1897 West Virginia

A SUNDAY TIMES BEST HISTORICAL FICTION BOOK OF 2023

SHORTLISTED FOR THE 2023 IRISH BOOK AWARDS

'A novel that demands you turn the pages' THE TIMES, BEST HISTORICAL FICTION
'A gothic mystery pulsing with suspense' MAIL ON SUNDAY
'An intense, memorable tale' SUNDAY TIMES
'Brilliant' IRISH TIMES
'I was tenterhooked from the very first to the very last page' JO BROWNING WROE, author of A Terrible Kindness
'Compelling' ANNE ENRIGHT
'A glorious tour de force - gorgeous and moving' IRISH AMERICA
'Truly superb' VICTORIA MACKENZIE, author of For Thy Great Pain Have Mercy On My Little Pain

West Virginia, 1897. Young newlywed Zona Heaster Shue is found dead in her house, in what seems to have been a tragic accident. However, her mother, Mary Jane, is convinced Zona was murdered - and by none other than Zona's 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.

*The Red Bird Sings was announced as the winner of the Kate O'Brien Award 2024 on 25/02/24

Readers love THE RED BIRD SINGS:

'Amazing' READER REVIEW ★★★★★

'This book has so much: feisty feminist characters ahead of their time, ghosts, historical drama, justice,
beautiful writing' READER REVIEW ★★★★★

'Very compelling . . . not one to be missed!' READER REVIEW ★★★★★

'A haunting story of love, revenge and grief' READER REVIEW ★★★★★

'Difficult to put down' READER REVIEW ★★★★★

Genres & Themes

Subgenres

Themes

Buy This Book

Formats & Editions

Browse the different covers, formats, and publication history for this title.

Hardcover

Hardcover edition cover
Hardcover
Apr 2023 Little, Brown (UK) ISBN13 9780349016641 ISBN10 034901664X
Buy

eBook

eBook edition cover
eBook
First Edition Apr 2023 Little, Brown ISBN13 9780349016665 ISBN10 0349016666
Buy
eBook edition cover
eBook
Apr 2023 Virago ISBN10 B09XMDFZFT
Buy

Audio

Audio edition cover
Audible
Apr 2023 -- Not Selected ISBN10 B0BTYZ2PQT
Buy