'I'm not me anymore.'

(4.5*) When a woman commits an unspeakable crime, convinced her daughter is possessed by the devil, it sets off a chain of events connecting her family with the detectives assigned to the case, examining how no one remains untouched by the legacy of trauma and violence.

Bluebird At My Window unfolds gradually, and I found it staggering how my empathy/sympathy shifted for certain characters as the story went on. It was truly impressive how H. Noah managed to hook the claws of one character in particular into me, and I couldn't let her go. Arthur, the detective driven to the edge by justice for a child he couldn't save, resonated with me deeply, particularly in parallel with Marie, who experiences her own trauma and must live with the fallout of that, supported by her girlfriend Maddie. Towards the climax and finale of the novel, where Marie and Maddie's storyline comes to the fore, I was struck by how actuely apt so many of the lines were to my own feelings and experiences.

This novel truly grew on me as I delved deeper and deeper into the story. At first, I wasn't too sure how I would feel about it, because there were a few too many point of view characters for my personal tastes. I still feel more time could have been given to character development if there were less narrators. However, that is my only slight criticism. Otherwise, I am full of praise for this novel. It may be difficult for some to read at times, and the author provides content warnings, but I also think it is a powerful and necessary read. The characters' stories, and particularly Marie, will stay with me.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a free eARC of Bluebird At My Window. These opinions are my own.