The Mercy Seat by Elizabeth H. Winthrop (Review)

'As the sun begins to set over Louisiana one October day in 1943, a young black man faces the final hours of his life: at midnight, eighteen-year-old Willie Jones will be executed by electric chair for raping a white girl - a crime some believe he did not commit.

In a tale taut with tension, events unfold hour by hour from the perspectives of nine people involved. They include Willie himself, who knows what really happened, and his father, desperately trying to reach the town jail to see his son one last time; the prosecuting lawyer, haunted by being forced to seek the death penalty against his convictions, and his wife, who believes Willie to be innocent; the priest who has become a friend to Willie; and a mother whose only son is fighting in the Pacific, bent on befriending her black neighbours in defiance of her husband.'

This book is an absolute masterpiece.

I wasnt sure about this book going into it. I'm not usually a huge fan of books with multiple character arcs, but this book was amazing. While the nine people in this story did have their own reasons for doing what they do, ultimately their stories all revolve around Willie.

As this story was unfolding, and the characters where being introduced, you got this deep sense of heartache and longing. This story was really emotional and it captivated me and had me hooked until the final page.

It did take me a few pages to get use to the language in this book. The racist statements were really jarring for me. I completely understand the need to have these words in this particular story but it was hard for me to read them. As it helped to show the different characters, the setting and the era, I am glad they were in it. I am also glad that it never got easier to read them.

Elizabeth H. Winthrop has created a completely stunning novel that will take you on an emotional roller coaster journey. I found myself complete immersed by her writing and story and I genuinely didn't want to put this book down. The Mercy Seat is a must read for everyone.

The Mercy Seat by Elizabeth H. Winthrop is one of the greatest books I have ever read. I honestly believe that everyone in the world would benefit from reading this book.