At a recent book discussion of the Mystery Book Group at Lakeview we talked about Dennis Lehane's powerful (though incredibly tough to read) novel, Small Mercies. One description of the books says "this novel dives into the dark heart of American racism, weaving a complex tale of family, power, and revenge set against the backdrop of Boston's tumultuous history. As you follow Mary Pat's desperate search for her missing daughter, you'll be drawn into a world of racial tension, poverty, and the struggles of a community fighting for justice." And that certainly captures the main thematic elements of the novel. But along with being a dive into the racial tensions of Boston during the 1974 school desegregation effort, it's also a taut, suspenseful story of one mother's determination to avenge the loss of her 17-year-old daughter, by any means necessary.
Mary Pat Fennessy has lived in the projects of "Southie" her entire life. She's been knocked around by life and has already lost her son to the drugs taking over her community. When her daughter, Jules, fails to return after a night out, and a young black man is murdered in the neighborhood on that same night? Mary Pat knows it's not good. In her quest to discover what has happened to Jules, Mary Pat comes up against the head of the Irish mob and his entire crew.
Lehane has said "the book is very much about the price of hate" and that fact applies to everyone in the novel. Mary Pat isn't a "good" person and is, like just about everyone she knows, an avowed racist. But somewhere in that morass of a person, Lehane finds ways to let his readers understand her, even as they may despise much of what she says and does. This book is never easy, but it was one most of the group was glad they'd read. And while I don't always include trigger warnings, I will here for racism, racist language (intense amounts) and violence.