A murdered girl watches her family grieve from heaven while her killer walks free.
Who drives the story
Fourteen when Harvey murders her; she narrates from heaven, watching her family grieve and longing for the life she lost. She briefly borrows Ruth's body to finally know love.
Susie's father, an insurance worker in Chadds Ford consumed by guilt. He investigates Harvey alone, gets beaten nearly to death for it, and later survives a heart attack.
Susie's mother, whose dreams drowned in family life. After the murder she has an affair with the detective, then leaves for a California winery, returning only when Jack nearly dies.
Susie's younger sister by one year, who shares her father's suspicion and breaks into Harvey's house. She grows up, marries Samuel, and names her daughter after her mother.
The Salmons' neighbor, a dollhouse builder and serial killer of girls. He murders Susie, evades justice for years, and dies falling into a ravine in New Hampshire.
The outcast classmate Susie's spirit brushed past on its way to heaven. She becomes obsessed with the dead and lends her body to Susie for one night.
The boy from India, first and only boy to kiss Susie, initially suspected in her death. Years later he senses her in Ruth's body and loves her once.
Lindsey's boyfriend and later husband; they fix up an old house in the woods and have a daughter.
Also in the story
Susie's brother, ten years younger, who sometimes sees her watching from heaven. He never forgives Abigail for leaving.
The widowed detective on Susie's case who drops the investigation and sleeps with Abigail.
Abigail's eccentric alcoholic mother who moves in to raise Lindsey and Buckley after Abigail leaves.
Susie's best friend in heaven, implied Vietnamese American, named for Holly Golightly in Breakfast at Tiffany's.
A former social worker who mentors Susie and Holly in heaven.
Samuel's older brother, who runs a motorcycle repair shop and attends the engagement celebration.
Susie's best friend, admired for her freedom to smoke and wear platform shoes. Her secret cornfield meeting with Brian gets Jack beaten.
Clarissa's boyfriend, who nearly beats Jack to death after mistaking him for an attacker.
How they are connected
Fourteen when Harvey murders her; she narrates from heaven, watching her family grieve and longing for the life she lost.
She briefly borrows Ruth's body to finally know love.
Susie's father, an insurance worker in Chadds Ford consumed by guilt.
He investigates Harvey alone, gets beaten nearly to death for it, and later survives a heart attack.
Susie's mother, whose dreams drowned in family life.
After the murder she has an affair with the detective, then leaves for a California winery, returning only when Jack nearly dies.
Susie's younger sister by one year, who shares her father's suspicion and breaks into Harvey's house.
Susie's younger sister by one year, who shares her father's suspicion and breaks into Harvey's house.
She grows up, marries Samuel, and names her daughter after her mother.
Susie's brother, ten years younger, who sometimes sees her watching from heaven.
He never forgives Abigail for leaving.
The boy from India, first and only boy to kiss Susie, initially suspected in her death.
Go deeper
Grief as a whole-family event · Watching without power · Justice denied, not justice served · The body and the soul's unfinished business
Themes explainedThe full story act by act, the ending explained and a quick quiz.
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