Product Description

Cameron MacDonald has spent his life guided by duty. As the police chief of a small Massachusetts town that has been home to generations of his Scottish clan, he is bound to the town's residents by blood and honor. Yet when his cousin Jamie arrives at the police station with the body of his wife and the bald confession that he's killed her, Cam immediately places him under arrest. The situation isn't as clear to Cam's wife, Allie. While she is devoted to her husband, she finds herself siding against Cam, seduced by the picture James paints of a man so in love with a woman that he'd grant all her wishes! even the one that meant taking her life. Into this charged atmosphere drifts Mia, a new assistant at Allie's floral shop, for whom Cam feels an instant and inexplicable attraction. While he aids the prosecution in preparing the case against Jamie, who killed his terminally ill wife out of mercy, Cam finds himself betraying his own wife.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #132669 in Books
• Published on: 2006-08-10
• Original language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• 448 pages

Review
"* 'What could have been a competent, topical novel about a mercy killing becomes, in Picoult's hands, an inspired meditation on love... Picoult pays loving attention to her central characters, fashioning a sensitive exploration of the balance of love.' - Publishers Weekly * 'MERCY, a quietly powerful book that examines the boundaries of love and loyalty, courage and forgiveness... Picoult writes with a fine touch, a sharp eye for detail and a firm grasp of the delicacy and complexity of human relationships.' - Boston Globe * 'A graceful stylist, Picoult entertains her readers not only with feel-good storytelling and irresistible characters but with consideration of such serious moral dilemmas as euthanasia and forgiveness.' - Booklist"

About the Author
Jodi Picoult grew up in Nesconset, New York. She received an A.B. in creative writing from Princeton and a master's degree in education from Harvard. Her previous novels include Keeping Faith, The Pact, and Mercy. She lives in New Hampshire with her husband and three children.

Customer Reviews

Disappointing
I am a really big fan of Jodi Picoult and have read all of her previous books but I was left disappointed with this one. It is not one of her best. I felt that the characters were unbelievable and I found myself not really caring what happens - which has never happened with Picoult's previous books. It took me a long time to read but I did finish it I found it a predictable story with not much drama.

Not the best I've read
I've read all of Jodi Picoults books and I am usually engrossed by the story. However this ione was a disappointment. It was a predictable story with not much excitement. If you are a fan do not read this as you will be left feeling hard done by.

completely real with a touch of magic
this is a novel i have really longed to read and i have not been disapointed. jodi picoult brings home the goods as always! a man ends the painful life of his wife who has a terminal illness because he loves her too much to see her in pain. He does it in a town where his cousin is the police chief and hopes for compassion although he still has to stand trial and face the prejudices of the New England towns folk.This story will make you cry because it touches onto things that have some relevances to everyones lives and yet in true Jodi Picoult style has an aspect of magic and a mini miracle which we all long to find. Totally absorbing, showing strength of human character and how deeply someone and love.