A review by cassiebartelme
Small Mercies by Dennis Lehane

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

2.75

It’s been a while since I picked up a Dennis Lehane novel and this was was fine. It has his signature style of weaving a story with a large web of characters and I appreciated the setting against the Boston desegregation busing crisis of early 1970s but I ultimately felt like it was familiar territory…The Southie projects of Boston, Irish Catholics struggling to resolve “right vs wrong”, alcohol, drugs, cigarettes, violence, the manifestation of parental love…

If you like what Lehane does in writing about Boston you will most likely enjoy this one. If you are looking for something different than pick something else.
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