A Mercy of Widows
by Marcy Lane
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Pub Date Aug 23 2023 | Archive Date May 25 2024
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Description
Finalist: 2023 Wishing Shelf Book Awards
"A great voice that in spite of the heavy themes, carries a lightness so you root for Heddie and her dog, Fella. Clever and also quite touching." ~ J Marie Rundquist, author of All I'm Asking and As Though You Were Mine
Her heartbreak is real but lack of a wedding ring has left her defenseless. Will grappling with MAID legislation destroy her or bring her peace?
Heddie Wright is a shadow among the living. After her boyfriend's death from cancer, with no wedding ring to mark her loss, she stands defenseless against a world blind to her pain—mourning her lost love alone and unheard. But when she's thrust into a mercy-killing trial, her journey as a juror becomes a path of personal discovery, where each day in court peels back her emotional facade and forces Heddie to grapple with the letter of the law alongside the aching questions of love's endurance and the costs of loyalty.
A Mercy of Widows is set against Canada's Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID) legislation, capturing a nation's struggle with ethical dilemmas surrounding life's final dignity. Filled with dynamic dialogue, Lane's narrative combines the gravity of a legal drama with a wry touch of humour, sketching characters who are as flawed as they are fervent.
As secrets come to light, Heddie—and the reader—must consider what redemption truly looks like when peace feels just beyond reach. Echoing the moral complexity of Jodi Picoult and the emotional authenticity of Kristin Hannah, Marcy Lane's narrative is both straightforward and richly compassionate. A Mercy of Widows captures Heddie Wright's transformation from silent grief to a bearer of hope, where true courage lies in facing the past and real endurance is continuing to love amid life’s most profound trials.
Advance Praise
""A great voice that in spite of the heavy themes, carries a lightness so you root for Heddie and her dog, Fella. Clever and also quite touching."" ~ J Marie Rundquist, author of All I'm Asking and As Though You Were Mine.
A compelling, character-led novel looking at the thought-provoking and often challenging subject of assisted dying. A FINALIST and highly recommended!’ The Wishing Shelf Book Awards
Featured Reviews
Heather S, Reviewer
This is a heavy read involving a character grappling with loss and grief. The trial of mercy killings was so fascinating and I truly enjoyed this book.
Angie k, Educator
I couldn't put down A Mercy of Widows by @ marcy lane! This novel tells two parallel stories of women becoming widows too young as the result of cancer.
When Heddie finally is able to pick herself up and get back on track 3 months after her partner Hugh died, she finds herself in a terrible battle with Hugh's brother Stanley, the executor of his estate. Even though Heddie and Hugh dated for 6 years before he passed away, they were never officially married and were only living common law for about 10 months, not enough to legally make her to beneficiary of his estate, and as the result of some hard feelings on Stanley's part he is not willing to budge an inch when it comes to splitting the estate. To add to her stress (and homelessness and financial strain), Heddie is selected to be a juror on a trial where a widow is accused of killing her husband when he didn't meet the eligibility requirements for MAID.
As the case in the courtroom unfolds, Heddie's own story also comes together for the reader. There are many parallels between the two womens' stories and, as a result, many interesting angles to consider when it comes to planning a humane and relatively-comfortable death for cancer victims. The ethics related to suicide and consent are examined and debated from every perspective, as well as the difficulties of carrying out the wishes of ill and deceased loved ones when they are no longer able to voice their wishes.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me the chance to read and review this book!
Roxi W, Reviewer
This book addresses the controversial subject of right to die, and the author did it in a very gentle and unbiased way. Excellent character development .
The main character’s point of view , her grief journey and the courtroom scenes made it more genuine.
The story was told with humor and best of all there was a cute dog!
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