Little Mercies. Heather Gudenkauf

      In her latest ripped-from-the-headlines tour de force, New York Times bestselling author Heather Gudenkauf shows how one small mistake can have life-altering consequences…

      Veteran social worker Ellen Moore has seen the worst side of humanity—the vilest acts one person can commit against another. She is a fiercely dedicated children’s advocate and a devoted mother and wife. But one blistering summer day, a simple moment of distraction will have repercussions that Ellen could never have imagined, threatening to shatter everything she holds dear, and trapping her between the gears of the system she works for.

      Meanwhile, ten-year-old Jenny Briard has been living with her well-meaning but irresponsible father since her mother left them, sleeping on friends’ couches and moving in and out of cheap motels. When Jenny suddenly finds herself on her own, she is forced to survive with nothing but a few dollars and her street smarts. The last thing she wants is a social worker, but when Ellen’s and Jenny’s lives collide, little do they know just how much they can help one another.

      A powerful and emotionally charged tale about motherhood and justice, Little Mercies is a searing portrait of the tenuous grasp we have on the things we love the most, and of the ties that unexpectedly bring us together.

       Praise for Heather Gudenkauf

      ‘Brilliantly constructed, this will have you gripped until the last page…’

      —Closer

      ‘Deeply moving and lyrical…it will haunt you all summer’

      —Company

      5 stars: ‘Gripping and moving’

      —Heat

      ‘Her technique is faultless, sparse and simple, and is a masterclass in how to construct a thriller… A memorable read…A technical triumph’

      —Sunday Express

      ‘It’s totally gripping…’

      —Marie Claire

      ‘Tension builds as family secrets tumble from the closet’

      —Woman & Home

      ‘Set to become a book group staple’

      —The Guardian

      ‘Deeply moving and exquisitely lyrical, this is a powerhouse of a debut novel.’

      —Tess Gerritsen, No. 1 Sunday Times bestselling author

      ‘Fans of Jodi Picoult will devour this great thriller.’

      —Red Magazine

      ‘Heart-pounding suspense and a compelling family drama come together to create a story you won’t be able to put down. You’ll stay up all night long reading. I did!’

      —Diane Chamberlain, bestselling author of The Midwife’s Confession

      ‘A great thriller, probably the kind of book a lot of people would choose to read on their sun loungers. It will appeal to fans of Jodi Picoult.’

      —Radio Times

      ‘A real page-turner’

      —Woman’s Own

      HEATHER GUDENKAUF is the critically acclaimed and New York Times bestselling author of The Weight of Silence,These Things Hidden and One Breath Away. Her debut novel, The Weight of Silence, was picked for The TV Bookclub. She lives in Iowa with her family.

      Read more about Heather and her novels at www.HeatherGudenkauf.com.

       Also by Heather Gudenkauf

      THE WEIGHT OF SILENCE

      THESE THINGS HIDDEN ONE BREATH AWAY

      Little Mercies

      Heather

      Gudenkauf

      For my brothers and sisters

      Contents

       Cover

       Back Cover Text

      Praise for Heather Gudenkauf

       About the Author

       Title Page

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

       Chapter 11

       Chapter 12

       Chapter 13

       Chapter 14

       Chapter 15

       Chapter 16

       Chapter 17

       Chapter 18

       Chapter 19

       Chapter 20

       Chapter 21

       Chapter 22