I tried, I really tried, it this was just not for me. I did finish,
This was not a gothic thriller as described.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book. I have chosen to write this honest review voluntarily and it reflects my personal opinion.
This book is described as a chilling gothic mystery but I don't think either of those adjectives are accurate. Whilst there is a ghost - and manifestations are described well - I didn't feel any creepiness. However I did think that the narrative is very atmospheric, clearly demonstrating how women's opinions were not valued and how little power they had. The characters were well-drawn, and there were a few surprising twists as the tale unfolded.

*The Red Bird Sings* by Aoife Fitzpatrick is a beautifully written and emotionally charged novel that follows the life of a young girl, Nora, whose voice becomes a source of strength and transformation amidst personal turmoil. Set in a small Irish village, the story blends themes of loss, identity, and healing, as Nora grapples with the complexities of her family dynamics and the weight of her own desires.

Fitzpatrick’s prose is both poetic and evocative, immersing the reader in the atmospheric setting and Nora’s internal struggles. The red bird, a powerful symbol throughout the novel, represents both freedom and the possibility of renewal. *The Red Bird Sings* is a compelling exploration of how art, music, and personal growth can be pathways to finding peace and self-acceptance in the face of adversity.

Although this book didn't capture me and I couldn't wait to finish it more simply to get it read. It was ok. I would try another by the author however this was a little slow for my liking. Things get a little better midway through however not great.

It's been a while since I've read a historical fiction, especially one set in the courtroom. This kept me intrigued and I enjoyed the different formats of letters, newspaper articles and the points of view of two main characters. I'm even more intrigued as it's based on true events so I want to go and research that now!
This was a quick read for me and although I didn't find any of the characters particularly likeable it was written well enough that I wanted to find out what happened to Zona and what the big secret was.

Fitzpatrick is a new author to me, I love historical ficti0n and enjoyed this book, it took me a while to plough through. It is well written and argued. Recommended.

This book is based on true events. It is well written. This is so atmospheric and captivating. The story starts quite slowly but then the pace builds up. A great historical fiction with a gothic twist

Read this book so long ago and unfortunately didn’t post my review in time! Review to come, apologies for the delay

I'm not a fan of courtroom, but this had intrigued me from publisher's descriptions ...very well worked out characters, and social ambience are persuasive in the telling-of-the-story .. but it's a long read, and I had trouble with collective male distrust of the women's existing .. I know it's a prevailing trope,but I guess I am getting weary of it. Good writing, however .. just lack of story drive, since we know what's coming.

The Red Bird Sings

I was intrigued to read Aoife Fitzpatrick’s debut, which is based on the real-life murder of Zona Shue. Upon having a vision, Zona’s mother Mary Jane is sure that her late daughter Zona’s husband Trout is to blame for her death. Lucy, Zona’s best friend, is the only person who believes her, and these two women team up in an attempt to get justice for Zona.
Told through narrative, letters and court records this story explores what happened and how no-one seems to be quite who they appear to be, by using this writing style I feel Aoife sustains the reader's interest throughout. Full of gothic intrigue, emotion and women full of inner strength and determination to see justice done, I thought this was a beautifully written debut of an amazing historical fiction novel with some exquisite language and I very much look forward to reading more by Aoife in the future.

Many thanks to Netgalley, author and the publisher for an opportunity to read and review an advance copy.

This reminded me of Where The Crawdads Sing in all its courtroom glory.

I really really enjoyed this and the message Fitzpatrick was trying to get across to readers.

It was ultimately a new concept also to anything I've read before.

I want to read more of what Fitzpatrick can offer going forward!

Let yourself be transported to a small town in West Virginia in the late 1800s in Aoife Fitzpatrick’s spellbinding debut based on a real life trial.

When Zona Heaster Shue is discovered dead at the bottom of her stairs only a few months into her betrothal to Edward ‘Trout’ Shue, her mother, Mary Jane, and her best friend, Lucy Frye, become convinced that Zona was murdered – and by none other than her husband, the handsome blacksmith beloved in their small Southern town, who is clearly of much darker character than he'd like us to think.

But when Trout is put on trial, no one believes he could have done it, apart from Mary Jane and Lucy, who always had suspicions of Trout and potential domestic brutality and controlling behaviours. But who would believe a couple of outspoken women?

As the trial rises to fever pitch and the men of Greenbrier County stand aligned against them, Mary Jane and Lucy must decide whether to reveal Zona’s most extraordinary secret in the service of justice. But it’s Zona herself, from beyond the grave, who still has one last revelation to make.

Fitzpatrick writes beautifully, capturing the feel of the life our characters lived. She utilises a variety of media types, including multiple points of view, flashbacks, letters and Lucy’s write-up of the trial, to great success.

There's great skill shown in how the three key female characters and their relationships are depicted, capturing the complexity and nuances of each woman, as well as the abundance of challenges and conflicts they faced in their families and society at large.

A compulsive gothic, historical fiction read, The Red Bird Sings will have your heart in your mouth and chills down your spine right to the final page as we explore questions as relevant today as ever. Who is listened to and who is ignored? Why are women so often not believed? And what does justice truly mean? 4.5⭐

Thank you to the publisher for kindly sending me an advance review copy. This is, as always, an honest review.

My overall impression of this book was that it left me underwhelmed. I couldn’t work out… what the point of it was. I checked the blurb and pull quotes to see if I was missing something, and clearly I was, because they talk about ‘who is believed?’ and ‘what does justice mean?’ etc, but I didn’t get any of that from the book itself. Maybe I was in the wrong mood when I read it, maybe I needed to be hit harder over the head with the theme for it to make an impact on me, but I wasn’t left thinking about whose voices get heard or who is failed by the justice system.

Because here’s the thing - the story is based around a murder trial. And it’s obvious from early on who the murderer is. And SPOILER he gets convicted. There is no miscarriage of justice there. The most tension in book was towards the end of the trial when we weren’t certain it would go the right way, but again, it did, so all of that tension let out like a deflating balloon. And none of the other elements - Lucy’s attempts at a journalistic career, Mary-Jane’s relationships with her still-living family members (and her attempts at relationships with the dead ones, the whole thing with the inventor - carried enough weight or pay off to make up for what the main plot was lacking for me.

The prose was not to my taste - it seemed to be attempting lyrical, but the result was so many similes and metaphors it all got bogged down. In general, this book was trying to a lot of things at once, not fully committing to any of them, and getting lost in the weeds in the process.

An enjoyable read, well written and entertaining. Hadn't read this author before but would consider reading again.

I enjoyed this book. Told from two different pov's with unexpected twist throughout. It gave insight into how court cases would have been carried out at those times and the way people lived the. At times it was slow and could have been told quicker. But overall I enjoyed it and would recommend.

I can only echo what others have said, that this book is slow.
And in being slow, it took a long time for me to get invested and care what happened to the characters.
An I threshing look on how domestic violence was looked upon back in the 1800s.
Things definitely picked up towards the end.

This is such a gripping and captivating read. I could not put it down.
This is one of those books which you can’t stop recommending to your friends and family
Thank you so much to the author and publishers for this wonderful read

A novel based on true events. The setting and time period are beautifully.presented but I failed to engage with the slow narrative.

A richly told, evocative historical novel which illuminated a fascinating true story. I was particularly impressed by Aoife Fitzpatrick's ability to touch on themes which have contemporary relevance while staying true to the time period and true story. Can't wait to read more of Fitzpatrick's work in future.

This is the story of Zona Shue, nee Heaster, her friend Lucy and Zona's husband Trout.
Zona and Lucy are best friends. They share each other's secrets and support each other unquestioningly. So when the unmarried Zona becomes pregnant Lucy knows all about the baby and following her adoption she helps Zona to write to her daughter.
Trout Shue is a local blacksmith and whilst Zona falls for him, Lucy has serious doubts. She doesn't like the way that Trout seems to manipulate Zona but she tries to put her concerns to one side for Zona's sake.
Then Trout and Zona get engaged and shortly afterwards they are married. But the ceremony is away from Zona's friends and family and Trout even choses her wedding dress.
A short time later Zona is dead and Lucy is certain that Trout is responsible. As a budding journalist Lucy digs into Trout's background and is a key witness at his trial.
Although this should have been a gripping take of love, murder and true friendship I found it rather slow. The moves between the trial and the events in Zona's life made it difficult to follow and, although I finished the book, I was certainly not gripped by it.