Mercury

I would probably never have found this book on my own.  A friend recommended Mercury (#696) by Margot Livesey after hearing about it at a Writers' Workshop at University of the South.  It's a very twisty psychological tale about obsession. 

Without giving too much away, on the surface, Donald and Viv are a typical suburban couple with a couple of kids living outside Boston.  Everything changes when a newcomer to town decides to board her thoroughbred horse Mercury at the stable where Viv works part time. 

I think this novel works because Ms. Livesey sets up the reader from the beginning to expect something dramatic and drastic has happened to this couple by telling the story first from the husband, Donald's point of view, and then switches to Viv, the wife, (although we still don't know quite what has happened at this point), until the narrative finally is picked up again by Donald.. 

Nothing is wrapped up tidily with a bow at the end; we are still left wondering how the various characters will pick up their lives and go on from here.  But that doesn't really seem to matter.  What this novel does is prod the reader to think about the consequences of actions taken, and the role honesty and trust play in commitments not only to family, but to friends as well.

This is really an ideal book for book clubs to discuss.  I'm looking forward to the conversation with mine!