After being murdered, fourteen-year-old Susie Salmon observes her family and community from a personal heaven as they struggle to cope with her absence and the hunt for her killer. Susie navigates the afterlife, a construct shaped by her own memories and desires, while watching the physical world move forward without her. She remains tethered to her family, observing their grief, the disintegration of their relationships, and the slow, methodical investigation into her death. The narrative framework is unique, utilizing a deceased protagonist as an omniscient yet limited narrator who cannot intervene in the events unfolding on Earth. Her primary objective is to find peace while witnessing the impact of her absence on those she left behind.

Discussion often centers on the unconventional narrative perspective and the author's ability to balance the grim reality of the crime with the ethereal nature of the afterlife. Readers frequently highlight the emotional weight of the prose, noting how the story prioritizes the internal experience of grief over the procedural aspects of the murder investigation. Critics often discuss the atmospheric world-building of Susie's heaven and how it serves as a reflection of her unfinished life. The pacing is noted for being deliberate, focusing heavily on character development and the slow process of healing rather than rapid plot progression. Many readers find the exploration of how a family survives a tragedy to be the most significant element of the work.