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Small Mercies

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Small Mercies

By: Dennis Lehane
Narrated by: Regina Reagan
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About this listen

'You'll be lucky if you read a more engaging novel this year' The Times Thriller of the Month April 2023

'Small Mercies is thought-provoking, engaging, enraging, and can't-put-it-down entertainment' Stephen King

'A jaw-dropping thriller... a resonant, unflinching story written by a novelist who is simply one of the best around' Gillian Flynn

New York Times bestselling author Dennis Lehane 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.

'Mrs. Fennessy, please go home.'
'And do what?'
'Whatever you do when you're home.'
'And then what?'
'Get up the next day and do it again.'
She shakes her head. 'That's not living.'
'It is if you can find the small blessings.'
She smiles, but her eyes shine with agony. 'All my small blessings are gone.'

In the summer of 1974 a heatwave blankets Boston and Mary Pat Fennessey 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.

Please be aware that this audiobook covers themes of racism and abuse, using language which may cause offence to others if you're listening in public.©2023 Dennis Lehane (P)2023 Hachette Audio UK
City Life Genre Fiction Historical Mystery Suspense Thriller & Suspense Urban Fiction Boston
All stars
Most relevant  
Extraordinary story of womanhood and female strength, and how hope flickers amid mindless hatred and deliberate cruelty. Another Lehane masterpiece that will leave you thinking about right and wrong, and legacy. PS: absolutely brilliant narration.

Small mercies, huge rewards.

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The book is an exceptional listen as it is so well put together by the author and narrator. You can feel the grime and tension in the neighborhoods and characters themselves. You desperately want the good to triumph. Highly recommended

Gritty and strong characters

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Dennis LeHane knocks you in the face with this book. That said it is a must read thriller with some tough subject matters. Fiction with the real historic setting of 1970's Boston. Mary Pat Fennessy is a mother who will not stop until justice is delivered. Regina Reagan does a great read; you will be in Boston.

No-holds-barred thriller

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Great writing, a moving story that had me gripped from start to finish. First class narration.

Excellent

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Small Mercies is classic Dennis Lehane—dark, gritty, but full of heart.
The story's intensity is matched by Regina Reagan’s outstanding narration. Her mastery of accents, character differentiation, tone, and pacing brought the book to life, elevating the entire experience.
I’ll definitely be on the lookout for more of her narrations in the future.
LOVED IT

Don't hestitate LISTEN NOW!!!

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