Silent Mercy #BookReview
Silent Mercy by Linda Fairstein
If you’ve read my other reviews you’ll know that I don’t usually reveal anything about the story, I prefer to tell you my opinion of it and leave you to enjoy the story for yourself if you choose to read it. However, as I’m deeply unimpressed with something about this book I’m not sticking to my usual principles!
I loved the synopsis on the back of this book, it hooked me by saying the was based in New York (I love it there) and starts by saying “In the middle of the night, the burnt headless body of a young woman is found on the steps of a Baptist church in Harlem…” my kind of book!
I enjoy the two lead characters, Assistant DA Alexandra Cooper and NYPD Cop Mike Chapman, and how they work together. The story itself isn’t a bad one.
However, that’s where the good stuff ends!
For me, there were so many faults with this book that I’m surprised it got to print, such as:
The relationship between Cooper and her boyfriend Luc is weak and irrelevant.
The story is incredibly slow and hard to get into, it starts very slowly and in a lot of places, although the complexities of the Cooper/Chapman relationship remain, everything else seems an afterthought.
But what really, really lets the book down is the fact that the ‘villain’ is only a villain because he has been diagnosed with Leprosy. What an enlightened and helpful view that is! I’d love to know what @Lepra_HinA think about this? In fact, @Lepra_HinA if you want to see the book let me know and I’ll post you my copy, don’t go out and purchase another one.
Wow – really? Interestingly one on of the challenges facing any modern leprosy control programme is tackling the issue of leprosy stigma. Myths and misconceptions including that leprosy is a punishment for wrongdoing still persist. They are a major barrier to people seeking timely treatment which sadly leads to disability, fuelling the cycle of social and economic exclusion that so are often, unnecessarily associated with this disease.
Leprosy (also known as Hansen’s Disease) is completely curable. Like TB is caused by a bacterium and spread more easily where people live in poor and close conditions. If treated and managed early leprosy need not lead to any visible deformities. Yet ignorance and fear are still leaving people disabled.
Every two minutes someone starts treatment for leprosy but there are many more who are yet to be diagnosed and millions are already disabled.
LEPRA has been fighting the physical and social effects of leprosy for nearly 90 years. It is always sad to see the myths perpetuated in modern popular culture.
Six common leprosy myths busted: http://www.leprahealthinaction.org/leprosy-myth-busters/
Want me to post the book to you?
Yes please! LEPRA Health in Action, 28 Middleborough, Colchester, CO1 1TG