Reviews

Small Mercies by Dennis Lehane

oyveyori's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

sportula's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

elenakruse's review against another edition

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challenging dark fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

This was tough to read and simultaneously hard to put down. Violence was at the core of the whole plot, but it was tactful and intentional — the physical discomfort I felt reading this book made me feel immersed in the world it was depicting. 

Four stars because while incredibly well-written, I can’t possibly say I loved such a dark, gruesome book.

sherean's review against another edition

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5.0

A propulsive mystery and insightful look at inherited racism and its consequences. Unflinching. Rage in the streets of South Boston in 1964 during busing protests and rage in the heart of the protagonist. Fury, really. Lehane writes economically but dazzled me with how much I understood the characters and the setting.

estella513's review against another edition

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dark emotional informative mysterious sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

mwu's review against another edition

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fast-paced

5.0

echostarr99's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

amethystandcopper's review against another edition

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dark reflective tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

mcg's review against another edition

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4.25

Could probably have a long debate about the morality etc of the author writing this and talking in depth about racial tensions and school segregation from the perspective of a racist white woman in a college anthropology class but I’ll leave it at “this was a good crime read” 

shelfimprovement's review against another edition

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dark tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25