Mystic River

brilliant book, fine writing, solid plot matched by an equally superb film

What a heavy book. Heavy in so many ways. For once it felt pretty long. Especially the first half. Don't get me wrong, I've read and enjoyed longer books, but with this I felt like I've read so much, when in hindsight not very much happened story wise. But what happens is character development. And it's so good in it's own dirty way. Which brings me to the second heaviness: the setting. My god is this setting dark and depressing. There is not one(!) main or side character with a happy background. Nobody's experiencing something good for them. It's just a endless down spiral right to the end. And it fits perfectly. There should be nothing happy in all those topics.

The book keeps you on the edge and guessing. And the ending is so perfectly written, that I totally forgot the slower pace in the first half.

Former childhood friends
brought back together by death
though, no one likes Dave.

Dennis Lehane's Mystic River is a gripping tale that delves deep into the lives of three childhood friends whose paths intertwine tragically decades later. From the haunting prologue to the chilling climax, Lehane masterfully weaves a narrative that is both suspenseful and thought-provoking.

Lehane's characters are complex and relatable, their past traumas shaping their present actions. The author's vivid descriptions of Boston's gritty underbelly bring the story to life, making it feel both intimate and universal. The tension builds steadily as the mystery surrounding a young girl's murder unravels, revealing the dark secrets buried within the trio's friendship.

While the novel's themes of guilt, redemption, and the enduring power of childhood trauma are heavy, Lehane's writing style keeps the story engaging and accessible. The pacing is well-executed, and the plot twists are both surprising and satisfying.

Mystic River is a powerful and unforgettable novel that explores the complexities of human nature. Lehane's ability to craft compelling characters and a gripping narrative make this a must-read for fans of crime fiction and literary fiction alike.

Rating: 4.5

Loved this book about some friends from childhood who end up on the opposite sides of the law. The pace and characterization are brilliant.

Overall this was an interesting story that kept my interest. There are slow spots but I think it's necessary in order to understand the full picture.

I loved all the characters and the way this was written. My heart hurt for Dave the most as he is the tragic figure in this one. Jimmy was one you love to hate at first and then feel drawn to through the ordeal of his daughter's murder investigation.

Not a fast-paced book but definitely worth the read if you're looking for a solid mystery/crime type read.

Under the guise of writing a murder mystery thriller, Lehane gives us an extraordinary exploration of human darkness. Three boys, eleven years old, are playing in the street and something happens. Something that refuses to 'unhappen'.

As adults they live very different lives. One's a reformed criminal. One's a copper. One is just surviving, unable to throw off the darkness of the childhood experience. They rarely meet until a teenage girl is murdered. As the investigation proceeds the intertwining of their lives becomes shrouded in suspicion and alienation. They are drawn together but repulsed from each other at the same time.

Lehane writes very realistic characters. His prose is masterful as he lays open the deep emotions of these three men and their families. The plot has few twist and turns, this is not Agatha Christie dropping everything into place at the very end, it is the people that matter here. We become engaged in the lives of these disparate people, we feel with them, and we feel committed to them.

My only frustration with the book was the time it took for the setup. As Lehane fills in the stories of the three, first in childhood and then as adults, it is not until 30% of the way through that the strands start to draw together. I was engaged with the book from the start but it was not until that 30% point that I was hooked.

There was another point late in the book that he hinted at the identity of the killer. The 'means, motive, opportunity' triplets appeared on the horizon but the final reveal pulled the rug from under that idea. In the end, and after experiencing the depth of suffering of the main characters, it is the utter mundanity, the meaninglessness of the murder that hits the hardest.

This is my second Lehane novel and it certainly won't be the last.