Plot Summary（情節摘要）
Mercy tells the story of Cameron McDonald, a police chief in a small Massachusetts town, who faces a moral and professional crisis when his cousin Jamie confesses to killing his terminally ill wife out of mercy. Jamie smothered his wife with a pillow to end her suffering from cancer.
《慈悲》講述麻薩諸塞州小鎮警察局長卡麥隆·麥克唐納面臨道德和職業危機的故事，他的表弟傑米承認出於慈悲殺死身患絕症的妻子。傑米用枕頭悶死他的妻子 以結束她因癌症而遭受的痛苦。The novel explores two interconnected storylines: the legal proceedings surrounding Jamie's mercy killing and Cameron's personal struggles with duty, love, and loyalty. The heated murder trial plunges the town into upheaval and drives a wedge into Cameron's marriage with his wife Allie, particularly when he testifies for the prosecution despite his personal feelings.
小說探討兩條相互關聯的故事線：圍繞傑米慈殺案的法律程序，以及卡麥隆在職責、愛情和忠誠方面的個人掙扎。激烈的謀殺審判使整個小鎮陷入動盪，並在卡麥隆與妻子艾莉的婚姻中產生裂痕 ，特別是當他不顧個人感情為檢方作證時。
The story examines the complex relationships between the characters, including Cameron's suffocating sense of responsibility and the discovery of unexpected love that challenges his existing commitments. The novel weaves together themes of what people will do for love and the thin line between mercy and murder.
故事探討人物之間的複雜關係，包括卡麥隆感到窒息的責任感，以及對意外愛情的發現，這些都挑戰他現有的承諾。小說將人們為愛所做的一切以及慈悲與謀殺之間的細微界線編織在一起。
閱讀此小說幫助我們省思以下大哉問：
Ethical and Moral Dilemmas（倫理和道德困境）：
What constitutes true mercy versus murder in cases of terminal illness? （在絕症案例中，什麼構成真正的慈悲而非謀殺？）
How do personal beliefs about suffering and dignity influence your perspective on Jamie's actions? （關於痛苦和尊嚴的個人信念如何影響你對傑米行為的看法？）
What does “mercy killing” mean in the context of love and affection?（「安樂死」在愛與親情的情境中意味著什麼？）
Is Cameron morally obligated to uphold the law even when it conflicts with his personal feelings about his cousin's situation?（ 即使法律與他對表弟處境的個人感受相衝突，卡麥隆在道德上是否有義務維護法律？）
Love and Relationships（愛情與人際關係）：
How does the novel explore different types of love - romantic, familial, and compassionate? （小說如何探討不同類型的愛——浪漫之愛、家庭之愛和同情之愛？）
What are the boundaries of love, and when does love become destructive? （愛的界限是什麼，愛何時變成破壞性的？）
Duty and Personal Values（職責與個人價值觀）：
How does Cameron's role as police chief conflict with his role as family member? Can professional duty and personal loyalty coexist? （卡麥隆作為警察局長的角色如何與他作為家庭成員的角色相衝突？職業責任和個人忠誠能否共存？）
What role does guilt play in the characters' decision-making, particularly in Cameron's marriage and professional duties?（ 內疚感在小說主角決策中扮演什麼角色，特別是在卡麥隆的婚姻和職業責任中？）
Community and Justice（ 社區與正義）：
How do societal expectations shape the characters’ decisions? Consider the role of tradition, clan loyalty, and small-town scrutiny. （社會期待如何影響角色的決定？ 思考傳統、家族忠誠與小鎮審視眼光在其中的角色。）
How does the small-town setting influence the characters' actions and the community's response to the trial? （小鎮背景如何影響人物的行為和社區對審判的反應？）
Is justice served in the end? Does the legal outcome reflect moral truth, or does it expose the limitations of law in judging love? （最終正義是否得以伸張？ 法律的判決是否反映出道德的真相，還是揭示法律在判斷愛方面的侷限？）
Character Development（人物發展）：
How do the characters change throughout the novel, and what events serve as catalysts for their growth or decline?（人物在整部小說中如何變化，什麼事件成為他們成長或衰落的催化劑？）
Can betrayal be forgiven if love still remains? What does Allie’s response to Cameron’s infidelity suggest about resilience and self-worth? （如果愛仍存在，背叛是否可以被原諒？ Allie 對 Cameron 婚外婚外情的反應透露了什麼關於韌性與自我價值？）
