The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold is a murder mystery. Except that there isn't really much mystery since you know who the killer is within the first 20 pages. How it still manages to be suspenseful, fun, and introspective all at the same time...therein lies its merits. There is a heaven in this book as well and I am continually amazed that I would like to believe in this kind of a heaven. It is just realistic and yet still idealistic enough to work for the world created by Sebold in this book. It's not everyday that looking down from heaven is neither a gimmicky plot device nor so bogged down by the weight of its own implications that it drags the rest of the story down with it (What Dreams May Come, anyone?). Heaven in Lovely Bones is exactly what it should be: a place where people go after they die to live out (pun intended) the rest of their after-lives. It is neither more nor less than what it needs to be and is reflective of the kind of careful balance the book maintains as a whole. Highly recommended. 9/10. (Thanks again to Shryh for the recommendation.)