I have been a long-time fan of Joyce Carol Oates. You won't find any series or repeat
characters here. No two of her books are anything alike, but each gives you an emotional
story with complicated themes and characters who engage your mind long after you have
turned the last page.
At the core of this story is the unsolved murder of a young woman in a small town in New
York. This isn't a murder mystery in the strictest sense, but rather the story of the
relationships between the suspects and their children, and how tragedy affects everyone
involved. There is Krista, who narrates the first part of the story. She idealizes her father,
and is certain that he could not have killed Zoe Kruller, even though suspicion breaks up her
parents' marriage and puts her life in turmoil. Krista's father was having an affair with Zoe,
and may have been the last person to see her alive.
Then Krista fancies that she may be in love with Aaron, the son of the murder victim and
her estranged husband who is also a suspect in her killing. Aaron is a few years older than
Krista. Although they attend the same school, they are strangers; but when Krista is the victim
of a near rape, Aaron rescues her.
The second part of the book is narrated by Aaron, who had the traumatic misfortune of
discovering his murdered mother's body. Though he never openly shows it, he is infatuated with
Krista. There are underlying themes of drug and alcohol addictions, love and loss, prejudice
and injustice, all of which affect the emotions of the characters. Both Krista and Aaron must
deal with the confusion of loving both the murder victim and their fathers, and the resulting
feelings of guilt.
Though some of the story appears at first glance to be a repeat, it isn't really, because
you always gain new views from the differences. Oates writes with brilliant insight into the
minds of characters who struggle with conflicted emotions. Little Bird of Heaven is
not a light read, but rather an engaging, thought provoking journey. I thoroughly enjoyed
every minute of it.