In 'Small Mercies,' a search for missing daughter forces mother to examine racism in 1974 Boston

The year 1974 was a crucible in Boston's history. It was a time marked by violent resistance to the forced desegregation of Boston schools. It's also the backdrop of the 2023 novel "Small Mercies" by best-selling local author Dennis Lehane.

Lehane spoke with WBUR's Radio Boston about the events that inspired the novel and his own reflections on the anti-busing movement of the 1970s.

Read a buildout of this segment here.