Introduction

Riptide, Oregon, 1983. A sleepy coastal town, where crime usually consists of underage drinking down at a Wolf Point bonfire. But then strange things start happening—a human skeleton is unearthed in a local park and mutilated animals begin appearing, seemingly sacrificed, on the town’s beaches. The Mercy of the Tide follows four people drawn irrevocably together by a recent tragedy as they do their best to reclaim their lives—leading them all to a discovery that will change them and their town forever.

Editorial Review

No editorial review at this time.

Excerpt

RIPTIDE, OREGON, 1983

TRINA FINSTER

Trina learned to fear the bomb two weeks after her mother died, and she fell into that fear like someone slipping into bed after a hard day’s work. Fell into it with a relief that bordered on gratitude. When she thought of the bomb, she felt like someone who was gravely ill witnessing a terrible and violent event: a merciless distraction, but at least one outside of her own body. ... view entire excerpt...

Discussion Questions

1. Do you think Sam and Toad would have gone on their road trip? Was Sam ready to leave his sister and father?

2. Would events in Riptide have transpired the same way if the skeleton had not been discovered in Tumquala Park?

3. Who should have received the Tumquala girl’s bones?

4. Were the Brief Asides necessary to the novel? Did they add or subtract from the overall story?

5. Were the Finsters good parents?

6. Had these events taken place in present day, in what ways would the characters have reacted differently? In what ways was the era and locale important to the story?

7. The Tumquala tribe of Native Americans was an invention of the author. Was it appropriate to include an invented Native American myth in the story?

8. The ending of the novel is vague but seems imminent. What do you think happens? Will there be a sequel, or is this the end of the story?

9. Were this story to take place today, would Nick Haylsip have reacted the same following the trauma he experienced during combat?

10. Did Hayslip redeem himself at the end of the novel?

11. Do you agree with the statement in The Looming Error that it’s in our nature to seek our own destruction?

Weblinks

»	Publisher's Book Info

Book Club Recommendations

Recommended to book clubs by 2 of 2 members.

Member Reviews

Rate this book