It begins with a dead body.
But the mystery of the one that stopped beating is not the heart of this story. It’s the family intrinsically linked to that body in one way or another.
Having adored Amy Jo Burns’ debut novel, Shiner, I had incredibly high expectations for Mercury, and I am elated to tell you that it did not disappoint.
A good portion of this story is seen through the perspective of Marley, a young woman who marries into the family at the core of Mercury’s narrative. Through her own pain and regrets, I formed opinions of the other characters that were later challenged as Burns quietly shifted into the intricacies of each member of the Joseph clan.
Amy Jo Burns tackled the simplest actions and reactions, chipping away at cause and effect, making even the most unlikable characters redeemable. She did this with such a gentle beauty that I easily forgot that there was even a dead body to reckon with. I was enchanted by her prose, and affected by the illustration of who we become and how often it strays from who we’d intended to be. The bitter chill of winter was once the summer’s comforting heat, and you’ll find these changing seasons here in Mercury.
I am immensely grateful to BookishFirst, Celadon Books, and Macmillan Audio for my copies. All opinions are my own.
But the mystery of the one that stopped beating is not the heart of this story. It’s the family intrinsically linked to that body in one way or another.
Having adored Amy Jo Burns’ debut novel, Shiner, I had incredibly high expectations for Mercury, and I am elated to tell you that it did not disappoint.
A good portion of this story is seen through the perspective of Marley, a young woman who marries into the family at the core of Mercury’s narrative. Through her own pain and regrets, I formed opinions of the other characters that were later challenged as Burns quietly shifted into the intricacies of each member of the Joseph clan.
Amy Jo Burns tackled the simplest actions and reactions, chipping away at cause and effect, making even the most unlikable characters redeemable. She did this with such a gentle beauty that I easily forgot that there was even a dead body to reckon with. I was enchanted by her prose, and affected by the illustration of who we become and how often it strays from who we’d intended to be. The bitter chill of winter was once the summer’s comforting heat, and you’ll find these changing seasons here in Mercury.
I am immensely grateful to BookishFirst, Celadon Books, and Macmillan Audio for my copies. All opinions are my own.