Mercy Hill

 

Mercy Hill by Hannah Thurman
5/5/26; 352 pages
Knopf Doubleday 

Mercy Hill by Hannah Thurman is a recommended debut domestic drama/coming-of-age novel following a dysfunctional family of four sisters, their domineering mother, and easy-going father.

Starting in 1999 the narrative follows psychiatrist Dr. Lisa Cross, her husband Tucker Palmer, and their four daughters, J.J. (13),  Caro (12), Mimi (10), and Denise (9). The family lives in an isolated setting, in a cottage on the grounds of Mercy Hill, the state mental hospital in Raleigh where their mother is the head of psychiatry. As state mental hospitals are being closed across the country, Dr. Lisa Cross is single-mindedly determined to keep Mercy Hill open and expects her daughters to become doctors and work with her as part of her plan to protect the hospital. Part of her plan involves enrolling her four daughters in a magnate school, two grades above their level, without any thought to the emotional and social effects. Tucker reluctantly agrees to the plan. She even has the girls volunteer to help at the hospital which leads to distressing results.

This is a worthwhile debut novel in the sense that it explores the complicated relationship between mothers and daughters. Thurman also does a good job creating an atmospheric setting. Setting the novel over 5 years was to show the end of an institution in real time, which it does, but it also shows a family crumbling due to unrealistic expectations and demands placed on everyone by Lisa. Youngest daughter Denise Cross is the narrator of the story and her account shows her sister's struggles, along with her own. 

After a reasonably strong and interesting start the narrative begins to flounder a bit. Their mother, Lisa Cross, is quite simply an authoritarian bully. All her daughters have her last name rather than their father's and she has plans for all the girl's without even a modicum of thought about their own personal strengths and interests. This also has Denise starting college at 14. 

As the plot developed, the novel veered toward a new adult novel and my interest waned. At the same time, the plot slowed down and began to feel imitative and forced, as if it had to meet a list of expectations. Additionally, there are two major plot elements that simple stretch all credulity. All four of the girls being brilliant and allowed to skip two grade levels in a magnate school is unrealistic. period. The same is true of them being allowed to volunteer at the state hospital. No matter who their mother is, this is incredulous. 3.5 rounded down.

Mercy Hill is a good choice for those who enjoy domestic drama/coming-of-age novel featuring a dysfunctional family. Thanks to Doubleday for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.