Crimes of Endearment - Paperback

by Lee Jones (Author)

Starred Review - Kirkus Reviews From H. Lee Jones, PhD - environmental scientist, research biologist, and author of Birds of Belize, the definitive field guide to the birds of a nation - comes a gripping psychological coming-of-age drama set against the competitive, obsessive world of birding. Fee Finneman has a secret. If revealed, her dearest loved ones could end up in prison - or be hailed as national heroes. But Fee has another secret - a secret buried deep within her subconscious; a secret so sinister that, if surfaced, could hijack her very soul. Scarred by early childhood abuse and the psychological trauma that can linger for a lifetime, Fee finds refuge in the natural world, immersing herself in the competitive sport of birding. As her expertise deepens, it draws her unexpectedly into both a notorious crime and a conservation mystery - all while her own inner world slowly unravels. But trauma does not stay silent. As she careens toward adolescence, she loses focus. She begins making reckless decisions that threaten everything she has built. With her world unraveling, she must confront the darkest corners of her own mind - or lose herself completely. Crimes of Endearment is a coming-of-age psychological drama about abuse, trauma, resilience, and the devastating consequences of denial. Written with the precision of a scientist and the soul of a storyteller, this novel will stay with you long after the final page.

"Powerful." "Stunning." "One of the most affecting novels I have read in years." - Verified Reader Reviews