Her whodunit and motive feel unimportant and, at times, unnecessarily confusing. But Mercury is a character-driven novel; the point isn’t the plot, but what the people enacting it reveal about themselves. Though the book covers only nine years, there’s something epic about the love story at its heart ... And so the most powerful tension in this novel doesn’t come from the dead body. It comes from the question of whether Marley will demand a place for herself—and for her voice to be heard.
As Burns does what she does so well, rearranging those twenty-six letters of the alphabet, with such deftness, she invites us to discard those untruths in order to build something of value, to rebuild what was so sturdy before the pretensions became the cornerstones of what appeared to be solid structures, until they began to crumble. Burns just might be extending an invitation to each of us to remove the blinders that keep us from rebuilding, to embrace the truth of what is happening throughout rural America, and redefining our individual and collective place in America. By doing that, Mercury becomes a testament to the promise of a brighter future; a future that is not afraid to welcome possibilities, to welcome each one of us to claim our 'place at the table.' It’s a reminder that each of us matters—every single one of us has an offering to bring to that most open table. Are we strong enough to let go of our misguided loyalties and begin again?
...sweeping family saga highlights the power of secrets kept and revealed. With clear, luminous prose, able to plumb the complementary and contrasting depths of masculine and feminine energy, emotion, and ambition, Mercury is a delight.
Though there's a large cast, Burns brings depth and insight to each member.
Well-drawn, engaging characters and a vivid setting make this is a compelling study of family dynamics.
[An] appealing if florid sophomore novel ... Burns hits a few wrong notes, such as injecting implausible lyricism into Waylon’s perspective...Still, she keeps up the tension with multiple plot twists involving secrets about the town and the Josephs, and she portrays Marley’s working-class struggles as a young mother with precision. Once again, Burns delivers a satisfying portrait of life on the margins.
