About this item
Highlights
- "Dark family secrets, the lore of the sea, and a tender, protective friendship between women all converge in The Speed of Mercy, an unusual and surprising story set in idyllic rural Nova Scotia.
- Author(s): Christy Ann Conlin
- 440 Pages
- Fiction + Literature Genres, Literary
Description
About the Book
"Stella Sprague is mute and has lived at the Jericho Care Centre for most of her adult life. With no family around and a scattered memory, she draws comfort and a sense of protection from the beauty of the dramatic seasons, daily rituals, and her abiding friendship with Dianne, a wise and hilarious elderly resident. When a young woman on the trail of a cold case shows up asking questions, Stella's quiet life as she knows it is over, and she decides to run to the ocean and take shelter in an old family cottage. She may not be able to remember what happened in the summer of 1980 -- the summer when as a thirteen-year-old she forged a pact with her best friend and uncovered a dark family secret of murder -- but it is becoming impossible to deny that someone else does. Unlikely friendships and unusual heroes show Stella that while she can't change the past, she might be able to discover her true inheritance and change the future."--Book Synopsis
"Dark family secrets, the lore of the sea, and a tender, protective friendship between women all converge in The Speed of Mercy, an unusual and surprising story set in idyllic rural Nova Scotia. With subtle humour, Conlin picks the locks on the long-closed doors of two families and bares the ugly, painful skeletons everyone knew were there but chose to hide." -- Sylvia D. Hamilton, author of And I Alone Escaped To Tell You
The Speed of Mercy captures the unbearable cost of childhood betrayal and what happens when history is suppressed, our past is forgotten -- yet finding the truth can change the future. Christy Ann Conlin rips into the myths and stereotypes about older women and those on the edge of conventional society to reveal the timeless gift of mercy in this feminist tour de force.
"Christy Ann Conlin is a conjurer: of place, people, and the haunting past. I was instantly caught up in the darkly mysterious world and indelible characters she has brought to life. Gripping, suspenseful, and lyrically written, The Speed of Mercy caught me by the throat and didn't let go." -- Alix Ohlin, Scotiabank Giller Prize-shortlisted author of Dual Citizens
Review Quotes
"[Christy Ann Conlin has] a truly distinctive voice ... [The Speed of Mercy] features characters you don't usually see: older, rural women."
-- "Toronto Star""[Christy Ann Conlin] uses breathtaking prose to explore insidious commodification of women, ruthlessly deconstructing stereotypes of female capability, worth, ageism, and mental illness ... The Speed of Mercy is a stunning literary work. Conlin's writing is nothing short of brilliant, and her ability to create characters who are flawed, mercurial and magnetic is effortless."
-- "Globe and Mail""Eerie and timeless, this powerful story about trauma, resilience, and finding your voice proves powerfully relevant for 2021 ... Conlin shows a remarkable ability to evoke an atmosphere of fear and uncertainty."
-- "Winnipeg Free Press""Written with the intrigue of a thriller and executed with the mystical grace of poetry, The Speed of Mercy is a fierce and thoughtful novel about trauma, healing, and the tender covenant made between survivors."
-- "Quill & Quire"