Mystic River - Dennis Lehane

This book is so much better than the film! The first Dennis Lehane book I read was A Drink Before the War, which I loved because of its atmospheric quality. This is continued in his other novels, this one included. The writing is very visual, and you can see how it was considered ideal for a film. Somehow, Lehane manages to put intensely vivid pictures into your head while you are reading, although this is unexpected because it is not wordy or arty. The book is very much about family values, looking after one's own, keeping outsiders out. It is set in the 'wrong' side of town, which is controlled by a sort of mini-mafia. This is set against the crisp clean ...  Read the complete review

Sean Devine, Jimmy Marcus and awkward hanger on Dave Boyle grew up together in a blue collar district of Boston. When they were 11 years old one of the boys was abducted within sight of the others with long reaching consequences for them all. My library has placed a handcuffs sticker on the spine to denote a detective story. However, Dennis Lehane's Mystic River is much more. An absorbing novel as well as detective story, this book also becomes ultimately a pschychological thriller which drew me on through its 500 pages without any loss of impetus. The abduction is a prologue and we return to South Boston 25 years after the incident with ...  Read the complete review

1975. Sean's father and Jimmy's work together at Coleman Candy plant and the two have formed the tradition of hanging out together every Saturday. As a result, the kids have become close friends even if they come from the different side of the neighbourhood and go to different schools. Dave is the third member of the gang but only because he keeps tagging along even if no one invites him. Sean, coming from a blue-collar environment, is expected to have more sense and manner. Jimmy, growing up in a rougher neighbourhood is tougher in spirit and nature. Dave just hangs about. But the friendship is about to end when a mystery car pulled up and passengers claim to be ...  Read the complete review

1975 - three 11 year old boys Sean Devine, Jimmy Marcus and Dave Boyle were friends. They hung around together and played in the streets. One day a car pulls up. Two men emerge, saying they are policemen and that the boys are causing a nuisance and they need to go home. Two of the boys lie and say they live in the street but Dave Boyle gets into the car with the men. Four days later he?s found at an Esso gas station, having escaped his kidnappers. Something terrible happened during that time but nobody knows what and they certainly don?t want to talk about it. Sean and Jimmy suffer guilt as their friend ...  Read the complete review

I made the mistake of watching the movie adaption of Mystic River before beginning to read Dennis Lehane's Mystic River. The book is a lot better than the movie and has a lot of content that was left out of the movie adaption. The book centers around a group of three boys who take part in an incident while they grew up that was never spoke of again. The boys grow distant over time and do not really talk to each other until their paths cross again. One of the three boys' daughter is murdered. The main suspect is one of the boys and the chief detective is the other. The book does a good job of weaving past with present and keeping you reading the book to find out what ...  Read the complete review