Review: Brilliant, but not an easy read. Challenging emotionally, like all great literary fiction
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 08 3, 2012
This is literary fiction with a mystery at its heart. Mercy Mulcahy's father asks her to help him die when he is already dying a painful death. He just wants it over with. Assisted dying is a cause that needs highlighting - our sick animals can die peacefully in the arms of those who love them, but not our sick people. But in Ireland, as in the rest of the world, this is considered murder and she is accused of it, standing trial and watched by her daughter and lover.But this is not the main thrust of the book, and Ross doesn't make this easy reading. For this is a tale of family dysfunction, of men and women, of mothers and daughters, love, hate and duty. You will find yourself examining your own relationships, and questioning what you would do, what you would give up for the ones you love. Highly recommended.