When his wife Elsie is nearly killed after stepping out in front of a moving car and is then diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, Frank Herbert finds himself faced with the dilemma of his life; is it more or less merciful to let Elsie go on living in this terrible state, or to euthanize her and put an end to her misery? Torn by his love for his wife and his despair over watching her deteriorate mentally and physically, Frank wrestles with his quandary, seeking opinions from people on both sides of the euthanasia debate. Elsie's situation forces Frank to contemplate serious questions; should euthanasia be legal? Is it morally correct? What about the afterlife? Feeling as if he will be unable to live without Elsie, Frank also contemplates taking his own life. Ultimately he is confronted by the need to make a decision; is it mercy to end the suffering of the one you love, or is it murder?Goodnight, Elsie is a riveting novel that deals with both sides of the euthanasia debate, while also casting a light on the sad phenomenon of dementia and how if affects the lives of those we care for.