3.5 stars. Mercury centers around the Joseph family in the small town Mercury. It's the 1990's and The Joseph family has made a name for themselves in the Rust Belt being the best roofers around. Mick and Elise have 3 sons: Baylor, Waylon, and Shay. 18-year old Marley and her Mom move to Mercury and the Joseph boys: Baylor and Waylon take notice. It is a non-linear timeline that runs throughout, we see the dysfunctions of the Joseph family, including Marley now, and the secrets they keep. And even better is the secret most of them are keeping involving a dead body that is found in the local Presbyterian Church.
This book really started getting good halfway through. I enjoyed the family drama, the settings, and the plot surrounding the dead body. I felt that the characters were flawed, but I still tried to find ways to relate or like them better. I understand when people don’t like characters' tragic flaws getting romanticized or ignored. Honestly I paid it no mind, and felt maybe that’s just the story. I love and complexity of characters and the recognition of why characters are the way that they are. With this story though, there were some instances where something tragic happens to a character and it gets swept under the rug. It would’ve been nice to see it expanded, only for the sake of plot and more story.
This book really started getting good halfway through. I enjoyed the family drama, the settings, and the plot surrounding the dead body. I felt that the characters were flawed, but I still tried to find ways to relate or like them better. I understand when people don’t like characters' tragic flaws getting romanticized or ignored. Honestly I paid it no mind, and felt maybe that’s just the story. I love and complexity of characters and the recognition of why characters are the way that they are. With this story though, there were some instances where something tragic happens to a character and it gets swept under the rug. It would’ve been nice to see it expanded, only for the sake of plot and more story.