Fiona Maye is a married, sixty-year old very successful judge who sits on the High Court and presides over family court cases. Her marriage of thirty-five years is in jeopardy. Her court cases and her marriage are the two main themes of this extremely well written novel by Ian McEwan.
Fiona’s husband Jack tells her that while he still loves her a great deal, he feels that the excitement has gone out of their marriage. He wants one more grand passion before it is too late.
As she deals with the problems in her marriage, Fiona is called upon to try a very urgent case. A young boy, who is several months shy of being eighteen, is refusing treatment for his leukemia because of his Jehovah’s Witness beliefs. A blood transfusion would save him from a very painful death, but he refuses. If he is not treated immediately, he will die very soon.
Known for her sensitive, well-thought out decisions, Fiona hears from all sides that are involved and even meets with the young man before rendering her decision. Her judgment it seems settles the problem at hand, but the consequences of her actions change the boy’s life, as well as her own.
In this relatively short book, McEwan brilliantly creates a picture of of a renowned judge who is faced with enormous personal and professional decisions that will affect all in her life.