Small Mercies, a compelling novel by Dennis Lehane, unfolds against the backdrop of a sweltering Boston summer in 1974. Mary Pat Fennessy is caught in a relentless struggle to fend off the bill collectors, living a life steeped in the traditions of Southie, the Irish American neighborhood that prides itself on its heritage and independence.

As the city simmers under a heatwave, Mary Pat's world is upended when her teenage daughter Jules fails to return home one evening. Concurrently, the mysterious death of a young Black man on the subway tracks appears to be a separate tragedy. Yet, as Mary Pat delves deeper into her search for Jules, she unwittingly stirs the pot of a brewing storm—posing questions that draw the ire of Marty Butler, the local Irish mob boss, and his henchmen who are quick to silence any disturbance to their operations.

Set against the explosive period of school desegregation in Boston, which ignites violence in the streets, Small Mercies is not just a thriller; it's a stark portrayal of criminality, the abuse of power, and a raw examination of America's persistent racial divide. Lehane delivers a narrative that is as enthralling as it is unsettling—a testament to his prowess as one of the finest novelists of our time.