Listen to a sample
The Mercy Step
- Author
- Marcia Hutchinson
- Narrator
- Marcia Hutchinson
- Publisher
- Recorded Books, Inc.
- Publish Date
- 22 July 2025
- Run Time
- 9 hours 3 minutes
- Format
- Audiobook
- Rating
- 4.9 (8 reviews)
What to expect
Shortlisted for the 2026 Women’s Prize for Fiction
Named one of the best New Novelists for 2025 by The Observer.
Bradford, December 1962.
A precocious Mercy makes her reluctant entrance into the world, torn from the warm embrace of her mother’s womb, to a chaotic household that seems to have no place for her. Her siblings do not understand her, her mother’s attention is given to the Church, and the entire family lives at the whims of her father’s quick temper.
Left to herself, Mercy finds solace in books, her imagination, and the quiet comfort of her faithful toy, Dolly. But escapism has its limits, and as the grip of family, faith and fear threatens to close in, Mercy learns she must act if she wants a different future; one where she is seen, heard, and her family set free.
The Mercy Step is a sharply-witted and tender portrait of a young girl’s quiet rebellion, and her refusal to be broken.
User Reviews
Book 4.9
Narration 5.0
-
5.0 5.0
A gorgeous book, with an amazing protagonist. Mercy is an utter delight of a character - clever, feisty, fiercely loyal, fighting battles no child should have to. This is a fabulous, kind of, coming-of-age story with a narrator who has a cross to bear literally from birth. Set in the 60s and 70s, Mercy is a child of the Windrush generation, a middle child taking on way more than her other siblings, and trying desperately to forge her own unique path in the world. This book has humour, warmth, heartache and tragedy, but overall, an unending optimism that all will be good. Shortlisted for the a Women's Prize 2026, I think this is a worthy contender!
SuzieM 2026-05-09 -
5.0 5.0
Wonderful book! I think Mercy is a new favourite literary character. Some significant themes handled beautifully.
Not every author is a good narrator, but Marcia was perfect.
Thank youbluedocs 2026-04-30 -
5.0 5.0
Powerful story , I came to love Mercy, and cared so much what happened to her and her family. Beautifully written.
jeannette 2026-03-25
Details
- Author
- Marcia Hutchinson
- Narrator
- Marcia Hutchinson
- Duration
- 9 hours 3 minutes
- Release Date
- 22 July 2025
- ISBN
- 9798894867359
- Format
- Audiobook
- Publisher
- Recorded Books, Inc.
- Genre
- Fiction: general and literary, Fiction: general and literary
- Rating
- 4.9(8 reviews)
- Narration
- 5.0(8 reviews)
Synopsis
Shortlisted for the 2026 Women’s Prize for Fiction Named one of the best New Novelists for 2025 by The Observer. Bradford, December 1962. A precocious Mercy makes her reluctant entrance into the world, torn from the warm embrace of her mother’s womb, to a chaotic household that seems to have no place for her. Her siblings do not understand her, her mother’s attention is given to the Church, and the entire family lives at the whims of her father’s quick temper. Left to herself, Mercy finds solace in books, her imagination, and the quiet comfort of her faithful toy, Dolly. But escapism has its limits, and as the grip of family, faith and fear threatens to close in, Mercy learns she must act if she wants a different future; one where she is seen, heard, and her family set free. The Mercy Step is a sharply-witted and tender portrait of a young girl’s quiet rebellion, and her refusal to be broken.
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