Small Mercies

A Novel

By: Dennis Lehane

Narrated by: Robin Miles

Instant New York Times Bestseller

“Small Mercies is thought provoking, engaging, enraging, and can’t-put-it-down entertainment.”—Stephen King

The acclaimed New York Times bestselling writer returns with a masterpiece to rival Mystic River—an all-consuming tale of revenge, family love, festering hate, and insidious power, set against one of the most tumultuous episodes in Boston’s history.

In the summer of 1974 a heatwave blankets Boston and Mary Pat Fennessy is trying to stay one step ahead of the bill collectors. Mary Pat has lived her entire life in the housing projects of “Southie,” the Irish American enclave that stubbornly adheres to old tradition and stands proudly apart.

One night Mary Pat’s teenage daughter Jules stays out late and doesn’t come home. That same evening, a young Black man is found dead, struck by a subway train under mysterious circumstances.

The two events seem unconnected. But Mary Pat, propelled by a desperate search for her missing daughter, begins turning over stones best left untouched—asking questions that bother Marty Butler, chieftain of the Irish mob, and the men who work for him, men who don’t take kindly to any threat to their business.

Set against the hot, tumultuous months when the city’s desegregation of its public schools exploded in violence, Small Mercies is a superb thriller, a brutal depiction of criminality and power, and an unflinching portrait of the dark heart of American racism. It is a mesmerizing and wrenching work that only Dennis Lehane could write.

©2023 Dennis Lehane (P)2023 HarperCollins Publishers

A powerful story

I love an author who has the ability to turn imperfect people into unlikely heroes. I think the honesty of the characters at a time when this mindset was so ingrained in our society is an important reminder of why history should not be erased. To remove monuments because we no longer approve of what they stand for, to rid our children’s lives of books because they use terrible words of hate, is to assume we have no ability to learn from our past. And if that is true, what is the point of any of this? Books like this show an imperfect past so that we might have a better understanding of our future.

Amazing story

I just love novels that teach us about real events. This one is about the integration of schools in Boston the the 1960s, something I did not know about. The protagonist is an Irish woman who would do anything for her children. The other main character is a police officer who interacts with her. It took me a couple of chapters to get into the book, but then I was really hooked. The character development is wonderful, and the writing of Mr Lehane makes the reader care about the two main characters. On a scale of 1-10, I give this novel a 12!!!

If you liked Mystic River, read this!

If you liked Mystic River, read this! Truly excellent narration too with really great accents.

Now that’s a tough woman

Good story but a bit slow. Very. Disturbing parts reveal 1974 really not much different than today. People vs People.

I loved this book.

I listen to it nonstop for 2 days. The narration is excellent. I love all his books but I really enjoyed this one

Great book

I am a big fan of Lehane and small mercies is another great book from the author.

Another great story

Lehannes story telling is fabulous. I wish I could just jump to another one. Living near Boston helps bisualize the story.

Memorable characters

If you can handle the torrents of racial epithets, this is a worthwhile depiction of Boston in the 70s. The contrast between Mary Pat & Bobby held my interest as well.

Nothing better than Lehane

The world perspective and the nuances of the human condition are what Lehane always masters… Small Mercies is no exception. It makes you proud of your good qualities and ashamed of your bad ones.

Terrific story, well narrated.

Fast-paced, memorable story. I can recall the flat As of my childhood whenever we’d drive down the east coast to Boston.