A Mercy of Widows

By: Marcy Lane

Narrated by: Virtual Voice

When love is lost, how do you find the strength to go on?

Heddie Wright thought she knew what her future would hold: a home, a partner, and the beloved dog they shared. But when her long-time sweetheart dies of cancer, she loses not only him, but also her place in his home—and her right to be seen as his widow. Homeless and grieving, Heddie is barely holding on when she’s summoned for jury duty in a case that strikes far too close to her own heartbreak.

The defendant is another widow, accused of helping her terminally ill husband die.

The courtroom becomes a mirror for Heddie’s own questions:

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• What does it mean to honour someone’s final wishes?
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• What truly makes someone “family”?
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• And how do you move forward when the world doesn’t recognize your loss?
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Set in Calgary against the backdrop of Canada’s Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID) laws, A Mercy of Widows is a moving, character-driven novel about grief, dignity, and the quiet resilience we find in unexpected places. With moments of humour, the steadfast presence of loyal dogs, and a cast of flawed but unforgettable allies, Heddie discovers that even in the shadow of loss, connection can bring us home to ourselves.

🏆 Honours & Recognition

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• Finalist – Wishing Shelf Book Awards, National Indie Excellence Awards, IAN Book of the Year (Women’s Fiction)
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• Top 5% – North Street Book Prize
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🌟 Praise for A Mercy of Widows

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• “A moving and nuanced novel about grief and forgiveness.” — Foreword Clarion Reviews
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• “Bravely tackles the theme of assisted dying…a gripping and involving storyline.” — BookLife Critics Report
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• “Memorising…character development is strong and the suspense in the second half is top notch.” — The Wishing Shelf Awards
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For readers of Elizabeth Berg, Anne Tyler, or Elizabeth Strout’s Olive Kitteridge, this is a heartfelt novel about love, loss, and the fragile dignity of moving forward.