by Jan Carson
First published 2025
In a Northern Ireland neighborhood still trembling from decades of sectarian conflict, ornithologist Miriam Hayes tracks endangered bird populations with scientific precision. Her meticulously maintained log becomes an unexpected record of survival—each rare species spotted a quiet defiance against violence. When a mysterious series of disappearances begins targeting local birdwatchers, Miriam realizes her careful observations might expose something far more dangerous than migration patterns. As community tensions resurface and her own research becomes potentially lethal, she must decide whether documenting fragile life means risking her own. A sharp, unblinking exploration of witnessing and resilience in a landscape marked by historical wounds.
Genres: fiction, mystery, crime, 21st-century, birds, bird-watching
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: resilience, witness
Setting: Northern Ireland
Period: 21st-century
288 pages · Hardcover · Doubleday
Content warnings: violence