Friday, November 10, 2023

Tender Mercies by Dennis Lehane


I have not read a Dennis Lehane novel before and have always wanted to. When this came out and was reviewed, it had a great deal of appeal for me because of its historical significance; it's a crime novel set in "Southie" in Boston and takes place during the very difficult time when the schools were desegregated. I heard the author interviewed and heard about the character development and it sounded interesting.  And it was!

From the NYTimes review:

That tumultuous summer provides the backdrop to Dennis Lehane’s excellent and unflinching new novel, “Small Mercies.” The book has all the hallmarks of Lehane at his best: a propulsive plot, a perfectly drawn cast of working-class Boston Irish characters, razor-sharp wit and a pervasive darkness through which occasional glimmers of hope peek out like snowdrops in early spring.

This book was very satisfying, but in the end, very sad. 

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