Book Review – The Mystery Of Mercy Close

by Marian Keyes (Michael Joseph) ISBN 978-0-718-17681-5

Almost three years after her last book the queen of smart chick lit is back with a wonderful new novel.

This book features two minor players from previous novels, the obnoxious youngest Walsh sister, Helen, the private detective with a knack for stealing her sisters’ clothes and Wayne Diffney, the ‘Wacky One’ from boy band Laddz.  Helen is hired by her ex-boyfriend to find Wayne. He’s gone missing just days before a reunion concert. With times being hard financially, Helen can’t afford to turn him down and she embarks on an eventful investigation of Wayne’s background.

During her search Helen skirts the edge of a mental abyss of overwhelming darkness and fear. She reflects on a previous even darker episode that led her to extreme emotional and financial depths. The more she sees this in perspective the clearer it becomes to her where ‘Wacky’ Wayne can be found.

Apart from her quirky, fun writing style what attracts me most in Marian Keyes’ books is the honesty with which she deals with serious issues like alcoholism, drug addiction, abuse and now depression. She makes it ‘normal’ and shows how these things can creep up on anyone. Her own recent experience with severe depression shines through in this book and touched me deeply.

Josine Overdevest 
4/5