Part way through and it's looking ripe to add Pears's debut to my magical realism faves.

I'll be honest, I thought the premise sounded ridiculous but, mainly on account of exquisite prose, I was fully persuaded to suspend my disbelief, and come along on this mesmerising adventure. A daring and spectacular return to form for one of world's premier storytellers.

What a beautifully crafted meditation on a family's struggle to cope in the aftermath of the sudden loss of a loved mother and wife. Part novella, part poem, this is not a mere wallow through the stages of misery, but an inpiring and thought-provoking journey of discovery as each member of the family, thanks in no small way to the crow, learns to carry on. Utterly beautiful.

Just finished. Fantastic, especially the rather gruesome self-parody. Rapidly becoming my favourite living author (top 10 at least).