The Mercy Step cover art

The Mercy Step

 Preview

Get 30 days of Standard free

£5.99/mo after trial. Cancel monthly.
Try for £0.00
More purchase options
Buy Now for £3.99

Buy Now for £3.99

About this listen

Longlisted for the 2026 Women’s Prize for Fiction

Named one of the best New Novelists for 2025 by The Observer.

Bradford, December 1962.

A precocious Mercy makes her reluctant entrance into the world, torn from the warm embrace of her mother’s womb, to a chaotic household that seems to have no place for her. Her siblings do not understand her, her mother’s attention is given to the Church, and the entire family lives at the whims of her father’s quick temper.

Left to herself, Mercy finds solace in books, her imagination, and the quiet comfort of her faithful toy, Dolly. But escapism has its limits, and as the grip of family, faith and fear threatens to close in, Mercy learns she must act if she wants a different future; one where she is seen, heard, and her family set free.

The Mercy Step is a sharply-witted and tender portrait of a young girl’s quiet rebellion, and her refusal to be broken.

©2025 Marcia Hutchinson (P)2025 Recorded Books African American Genre Fiction Historical Fiction Literary Fiction Women's Fiction
All stars
Most relevant
I loved everything about this book. The author as narrator made everything more vivid. The tone of the book offered humour despite an undertone of poverty and threat of violence. A brave story.

An authentic account of a neglected childhood

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Beautifully written and narrated.

I felt as though I was there with Mercy the whole time, experiencing every emotion and injustice.

Wonderful warm and witty at times, but also harrowing and very moving.

An excellent book that I highly recommend.

A brilliant story that will stay with me

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
An accessible and enjoyable listen the writer/narrator does a great job. Women’s prize 26

Racism and the realistic journey of a young Black woman

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
A wonderful book from start to finish.
Told through the eyes of a child reliving their childhood, your heart strings will definitely be felt throughout.

A heartfelt story

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Why have I not heard more about this sharp, witty debut novel about the inner life of a little black girl from Bradford. I feel like I know each and every character, Especially Mercy. A bright, talented, neglected, feisty little girl, with more sense than anyone else around her who is saved by her imagination and hunger for knowledge. Brilliantly written, funny and sad. I look forward to reading more from Marcia Hutchinson. Wonderful.

A triumph of a debut novel. Beautifully written, poignant and funny.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
See more reviews