In Elizabeth Winthrop's powerful novel, 'The Mercy Seat,' a small Louisiana town in 1943 braces for the execution of an eighteen-year-old Black man accused of a terrible crime. Over eighteen tense hours, the narrative unfolds through the perspectives of nine different characters, revealing the complex web of secrets, prejudices, and personal histories that connect them. This haunting and deeply moving story explores themes of race, justice, and the difficult search for truth and compassion in the face of profound injustice, forcing readers to confront uncomfortable truths about America's past.