Police chief of a small Massachusetts town, Cameron McDonald makes the toughest arrest of his life when his own cousin Jamie comes to him and confesses outright that he has killed his terminally ill wife out of mercy.
Now, a heated murder trial plunges the town into upheaval, and drives a wedge into a contented marriage: Cameron, aiding the prosecution in their case against Jamie, is suddenly at odds with his devoted wife, Allie — seduced by the idea of a man so in love with his wife that he’d grant all her wishes, even her wish to end her life. And when an inexplicable attraction leads to a shocking betrayal, Allie faces the hardest questions of the heart: when does love cross the line of moral obligation? And what does it mean to truly love another?
Praised for her “personal, detail-rich style” (Glamour), Jodi Picoult infuses this page-turning novel with heart, warmth, and startling candor, taking readers on an unforgettable emotional journey.
How much do you love your significant other? Would you kill them if they asked you to? If they were dying of something terminal slowly and painfully could you do it? Could you face the aftermath? These are the real questions that Mercy brings up. You follow the stories of Jamie and his Wife Maggie who he has killed. And than Cam and Allie the Police Chief and his wife.
There are a lot of complex emotions in this book and Jodi Picoult manages to roll them out for you in a well woven tapestry of happiness and sadness all rolled into one. It makes you question what would you do if you were in Jamie’s situation. And not only that it makes you question what you believe with Cam, when Mia comes to town.
I can honestly say I wanted to slap Cam a few times but I suppose that it is my point of view as a woman. And I am still unsure if I would be able to do what Jamie did for his dear wife Maggie. To love someone so much you would kill them to stop their pain. That is an awesome and un-defining kind of love. But within the story we also see how Jamie begins to change, on how his perception of what he did and what he believes he want changes. There just really are no words to accurately describe how haunting and good this book is. I recommend you read it, and keep some tissues close.
I've had this book in my TBR pile for quite a while. I know that Picoult's books are very “heavy” reads, so I haven't been anxious to read it. It does sound really good, though!! I actually have an entire shelf of Picoult books that I have yet to read!! Soon – I hope!!! 🙂