Mercury, by Margot Livesey (Harper)

Mercury, by Margot Livesey (Harper). After his estranged wife makes a terrible mistake, the protagonist of this consuming novel must choose between the well-being of his family and his own integrity. Through recollections from both spouses, the events that led to the destruction of their serene, shared life are revealed: his father’s long battle with Parkinson’s; her fixation on a beautiful horse in the stable where she works. The novel explores themes of honesty and understanding by showing the impact that obsessions—grief, rapacity—can have on a marriage