Mercy Review

Although I haven't been crazy about most of the Jodi Picoult books that I've read, my sister recommended and lent Mercy to me, so I decided to check it out.  The story centers around two couples: Jamie and Maggie MacDonald and Cameron and Allie MacDonald.  Jamie is married to Maggie, a woman in the end stages of cancer who asks him to kill her to end her suffering.  Cameron is the police chief of the town in which Maggie is killed, a cousin to Jamie, and married to Allie, a woman who loves her husband so much that she understands why Jamie would do what he did. 

The bulk of Mercy concerns Jamie's trial for "murder one" which is premeditated murder and could earn him life in prison.  Cameron doesn't even want to speak to Jamie, but his wife Allie does everything she can to support and assist her husband's cousin.  While Allie is busy with his cousin, Cameron finds himself involved in an extramarital affair with a newcomer to his small town.  The book ends with both the end of the trial and the reprecussions from Cam's affair. 

I found this book to be a fast and easy read which did make me think about the whole euthanasia/mercy killing issue.  It was well-written and something that kept me hooked and turning the pages as often as I could until I finished.  I wouldn't go out of my way to push Mercy onto anyone else that I know, but I would recommend it for Jodi Picoult fans and for those who are simply looking for an entertaining read.