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.

Praise for The Mercy Step:

“From the very first page I knew The Mercy Step by Marcia Hutchinson was exceptional. Telling the story of a little girl called Mercy, and her connection with her mother, it draws you in from the get go.”—Salma El-Wardany, 2026 Judge, Women’s Prize for Fiction

“It’s dark, humorous, and passionately captures the unique realities of the northern Black experience. Powerfully told from a child’s vantage point, the storytelling is imaginative and animated, yet piercing in all the right places.”—The Observer, “Best Debut Novelists of the Year”

“[The Mercy Step] does not stint on accounts of poverty and systemic abuse, yet is pungent with wit and colour. For sheer vivacity and determination, it deserves its place on the shortlist of this year’s Women’s Prize for Fiction.”—The Guardian

“Heart-wrenching, deeply authentic, moving, a real tear-jerker . . . A stunning novel that everyone should read.”—Nussaibah Younis, Women’s Prize-shortlisted author of Fundamentally

“I laughed, I cried. Mercy’s voice will stay with me for a very long time.”—Roisin O’Donnell, Women’s Prize-longlisted author of Nesting

“A moving, funny and perfectly-observed slice of Black British life . . . has all the hallmarks of a modern classic.”—Paterson Joseph, author and actor

“A mesmerising debut—intimate, poetic and unforgettable. Marcia’s honesty and storytelling left me spellbound.”—Peter Kalu, novelist, playwright, and poet

“A brilliant debut. Both deeply touching and haunting, with a compelling child protagonist that’s impossible to look away from.”—Irenosen Okojie, author of Nudibranch

“A diamond-hard empathy illuminates every page of this wonderful book. Prepare to give your heart to Mercy. It could not be in safer hands.”—Russ Litten, author of Scream If You Want To Go Faster

“Heartbreaking and beautiful and funny at the same time. It’s a powerful and important story by a hugely talented writer.”—Diana Anyakwo, author of My Life as a Chamaeleon

“Illuminating the experience of the Windrush generation, this is important and beautifully written work.”—Olumide Popoola, author of Like Water Like Sea