Mercy by Jodi Picoult

Jodi Picoult is no novice when it comes to tackling controversial subjects and this one deals with euthanasia. This is my second time reading this book and I enjoyed it more than the first time around.


Imagine for one moment, that your loved one (spouse, parent, sibling, partner) is young but ill. They have suffered greatly and will remain suffering until their time to pass comes to be. You see them struggling everyday as cancer eats them alive. They ask you to take their life to end it all.

You decided to take them up on their request and now you are awaiting your trial. You have been arrested by your cousin, Cameron and the small sleepy town you are in is torn apart and divides the marriage between Cameron and his wife.

Cameron and his wife, Allie's marriage is tested and their story unravels. The real story in this novel is about marriage and the trial/euthanasia is in the background.

The only character I ended up really liking is Jamie -- the man on trial. Initially I despised everyone but then I came to the realization that all of the characters are "real" and flawed just like you and me and maybe the reasons I didn't like them was because I saw pieces of myself and loved ones in the characters.

An overall good read but gives you an emotional punch to the gut.