Book Reviews of Mystic River

Three young boys from the mean streets of Boston lives are forever altered when one of them is abducted. Jimmy Marcus and Sean Devine did not get in the car with the two men who turned onto their street one day, but Dave Boyle did. Although Dave manages to escape from the pedophiles the friendship is never the same and all three men move on with their lives. Sean is now a police officer, Jimmy a reformed mobster who spends a few years in jail and changes when his wife dies while he is away, leaving him to raise their daughter Katie. Dave is married but hasn't done much with his life, still harboring the pain of his past. All three of these men's lives come together again when a teenaged Katie is murdered; Sean is the lead investigator, Jimmy is wracked by grief and guilt, and Dave becomes increasingly unraveled as many of his secrets become exposed. Powerfully written with unforgettable and complex characters, this is one of the best suspense books I have read in a very long time. Each character seems so real they almost come off the page. You empathize with them; shake your head at their weaknesses but care about each one. The language is real, the situations are real and the question of morals and ethics is explored time and again. Good people do bad things; sometimes bad people can do good things, and there is a strong sense of karma throughout the book. The ‘what if' questions of making a different turn on a given day and the consequences are explored and the scars that are left on three boys as they mature into men is examined in their day by day reactions to Katie's death. I have never read Lehane before, but I plan to remedy that situation. I have A Drink Before the War on my TBR and I will definitely read that one very soon.

"Mystic River" is a thoroughly intriguing book with characters that were three dimensional. Unfortunately I saw the movie prior to reading the book, which is not what I prefer to do since nearly every movie fails miserably in it representation of the book. However, I realized two things: the movie did a very good job of representing the book and the book was still fresh and new to me. Anyone who is looking for a great read to introduce them to a potentially new author, this is it.

I saw the movie first and thought it was excellent but there is no comparison to reading this book. It is one of the best mystery thrillers I've ever read, a sad-but-true story of karma and "the sins of the father"...

Sean, Jimmy and Dave were thrown together as friends for about a year when they were 11. One day, a car drove up with two men in it. One boy got in and the other two didn't. What happened then and afterward touched their lives forever. They grew up, went in different directions and then were brought together again by a tragic murder.

Great book!

Incredible book, I can't recommend this one enough. I, too, saw the movie first and loved it. The movie followed the book very closely and the book does the characters justice, that much more. The wives all have an integral part and the book is able to go into those depths that the movie would not have been able to. Nothing was left out of the movie, it's just more insight. Being in Dave's head in the book can't be duplicated and there was one scene in the movie that I found very powerful and was looking forward to reading it in the book: the scene toward the end between Sean Penn and Laura Linney-- a very chilling scene in the movie and very high impact in the book as well. I would re-read again in a few years.

I love this book. I saw the movie first, which I thought was great, and then wanted to read the novel. The movie is very faithful to the book, by the way. Very moving.

I loved this book. I watched the movie after I read the book, and it did not do the book complete justice. Very compelling read.

When they were children, Sean Devine, Jimmy Marcus and Dave Boyle were friends. But then a strange car pulled up to their street. One boy got into the car, two did not, and something terrible happened--something that ended their friendship and changed all three boys forever. Now, years later, murder has tied their lives together again.

"One powerful, wrenching tale of murder, revenge, the meaning of friendship, and the vagaries of fate..." USA Today

"A literary murder mystery of the highest order...The way this story unfolds and wraps itself around your innermost fears makes it a gut-clenching winner" USA Today

Very heavy. but so well done you can't help but empathize with the characters. Very compelling story (even if sad).

Lehane's best book

Follows the movie with a lot more depth. Dark.

One of the best books I have read. DO NOT bother with the movie.

Very, very good read with a lot of surprising twists, and deep character development. Great story and he spends a lot of time leading you through it. I highly recommend it.
My only "problem" (and it's not really a problem, more of a "quality"), it's hard to read again. I read books several times for different reasons, and this one is a little hard to wade through emotionally when you don't have the mystery pushing you along (since you already know what's coming).

The story of three boys, once the best of friends, separated by a terrible event that changed their lives forever. Years later murder thrusts them together once more.

ummmm..saw the movie first (unusual for me); however, the book was good, but in this case, I liked the movie better (also unusual for me).

One of the best mystery novels I've read. Not the formulaic, usual "mysteries" that leave you disappointed at the end. Great characters! The movie is excellent also.

Beautifully written. A wrenching tale of murder, betrayal, revenge, and the meaning of friendship. Engrossing book.

Every word of this novel rings genuine.

Dennis Lehane is one of my favorite authors. He manages to bring the characters to life and the readers feel their pain and joy as if they are members of their families. This book is very compelling and the best Lehane yet. It centers around a troubling situation (a parents worst nightmare) and alters the lives of three young friends. As it nears a horrible outcome-you will not be able to put the book down!

Really good book! Couldn't put it down. He not only writes a good thriller he delves into the emotional tole and pasts of each of the individuals. A very mature read. Can't go wrong with this one.

This was a really good book as always the book is much better then the movie. I would highly recommend this book. If you liked the movie then you should read the book.

my favorite Lehane book so far.... really good, especially if you live in or are familiar with the Boston area.... now i want to see the movie!

The book is even better than the movie.

This was really a good book. Kept my interest til the end.

When they were children, Sean Devine, Jimmy Marcus and Dave Boyle were friends. But then a strange car pulled up to their street. One boy got into the car, two did not, and something terrible happened - something that ended their friendship and changed all three boys forever.

This is a good story. Lehane has a great way of making the characters come to life.

Great character-driven drama/mystery!

Really really good.

Very well done thriller. Yes, it is better than the movie!

A great read, a look into the complex lives of its characters.

Better than the movie!

When they were children, Sean Devine, Jimmy Marcus, and Dave Boyle were friends. But then a strange car pulled up to their street. One boy got into the car, two did not, and something terrible happened...
Very good - extreme language though. Made you care what happened to the characters.

Great book, much better than the movie. Young boys who start out as friends grow up to be very different men. Murder, revenge and fate all play a part in this story.

When they were children, Sean Devine, Jimmy Marcus and Dave Boyle were friends. But then a strange car pulled up to their street. One boy got into the car, two did not, and something terrible happened-something that ended their frindship and changed all three boys forever.

"A literary murder mystery of the highest order...The way this story unfolds and wraps itself around your innermost fears makes it a gut-clenching winner" USA Today

Dennis Lehane creates a compelling story while also developing the characters fully.

Great novel for people who enjoy both mysteries and literary fiction.

-----A New York Times #1 Bestseller-----
When they were childern,Sean,Jimmy and Dave were friends.But then a strange car pulled up to their street.One boy got into the car,two did not,and something terrible happened-something that ended their friendship and changed all three boys forever.
Now,years later,murder has tied their lives together again...

Lehane's books are more violent than I usually read.

Better than the movie.

This is an amazing and haunting book, wonderfully developed characters and horrifying, electrifying plot. Harsh, brutal, astonishing and unforgettable. Highly recommended.

This is one of the best books I have ever read, I think it is better than the movie!

One of my favorite authors.
This is a great one.

Mystic River is a must-read and WAY better than the movie. It is disturbing and not for those who are disturbed by crimes against children. It left me feeling unsettled.

Much better than the movie. more character development.

Excellent film and book.

Good book!

Twenty-five years ago, Dave Boyle got into a car. When he came back four days later, he was different in a way that destroyed his friendship with Sean Devine and Jimmy Marcus. Now Sean's a cop, Jimmy's a store owner with a prison record and mob connections, and Dave's trying hard to keep his demons safely submerged. When Jimmy's daughter Katie is found murdered, each of the men must confront a past that none is eager to acknowledge. Lehane tugs delicately on the strands that weave this neighborhood together, testing for their strengths and weaknesses; this novel seems as much anthropological case study as thriller.

A dark novel of boyhood friends and enemies whose lives are tragically intertwined as adults. Makes you remember all the "What Ifs" in your life. A great read. No wonder the movie was a hit.

I loved this book. It twists keeped me reading all night.

Intense literary murder mystery set in Boston area. Working class cop struggles with members from his past. GREAT!

When they were childern,Sean,Jimmy and Dave were friends.But then a strange car pulled up to their street.One boy got into the car,two did not,and something terrible happened-something that ended their friendship and changed all three boys forever.
Now,years later,murder has tied their lives together again...

Loved this book.

My first book of Lehane...I really enjoyed this mystery!

Great story--murder mystery but more of a psychological profile of three very different men

movie is based on this book

Better than the movie, and the movie was very good.
"powerful, wrenching tale of murder, revenge, the meaning of friendship and the vagaries of fate.." Very real and a bit haunting.

I very much enjoyed this book, suspensful until the very end. Better then the movie by far.

very good book...kept my interest throughout, better than the movie. Lots of character developement, good story line.

better than the movie, an excellent read!

Cover is Different. New/never read

great

A great mystery!

I really enjoyed this book and the characters in it. The book takes some twists and turns, but is easy to follow.

A very good story with a bit of a twist at the end.

This is a story of 3 boys who are friends in childhood, and the different directions their lives take. Murder brings them back together as adults. Pretty suspenseful.

A very good mystery and suspense read. When Sean, Jimmy, and Dave were little kids a strange cur pulled into they street and one of the boys got into the car. Something terrible happened which ended their friendship forever, and now years later a murder has begun to tie them together again. Very suspenseful and even better than the movie.

Great book!

Spawned award winning movie. Excellent mystery!

I don't normally read Dennis Lehane but picked this up because Nick Hornby raved about it in an essay. This is a fast read--had some good twists and turns--pretty well written. Definitely thumbs up.

I know this book and the movie was very popular; however to be perfectly honest, I was less than impressed. Different strokes for different folks...

Great book, really keeps you guessing. Much better than the movie, so read it before viewing.

I enjoyed this book alot. Very suspenseful, and good to read even if you HAVE seen the movie!

Excellent book!

When they were children, Sean Devine, Jimmy Marcus, and Dave Boyle were friends. But then a strange car pulled up to their street. One boy got into the car, two did not, and something terrrible happened-something that ended their friendship and changged all three boys forever.
Now, years later, murder has tied their lives together again...

When they were children, Sean Devine, Jimmy Marcus, and Dave Boyle were friends. But then a strange car pulled up to their street. One boy got into the car, two did not, and something terrible happened - something that ended their friendship and changed all three boys forever. A good read, very chilling, however.

One of Lehane's best

The movie was compelling, the book is more so.
There are spine creases on the book; but otherwise
in excellent shape.

Great story line! Lots of action, hard to put down. Adult language.

Excellent.

Did not like this book

when they were children sean,jimmy,and dave were friends, but a strange car pulled up to their street. one boy got in the car, two did not. and somrthing terrible happened something that ended their friendship

Loved the book, kept my interest

This book was very good. Better than the movie!

One of his best books...
The daughter of one of Sean Devines old childhood friends is found murdered in a park. One of the suspects is another childhood friend.

Great book, awesome characters and story.

Haunting suspense novel about three men who were once friends and who share a horrible secret. I'm told that the movie version is terrific.

Very good read....the movie followed the book almost verbatim.

Extremely good!

A fun read! Extra good if you're from Boston.

The book is always better that the movie. It is about the different paths three boys who have grown into men have taken and how they after all these years still intertwine due to a murder in a town. great book

Good Book Good movie

Loved this book, and the move was just as good

i read this after the movie came out. i still have not seen the movie. i really liked the book but i think the hype of the movie may have had my expectations too high..a good read tho'
my favorite Deaver book is Blue Nowhere

The movie starred Sean Penn and Tim Robbins. Men who had been friends as boys are drawn back together by a murder. Very well written.

Excellent read. I have not seen the movie yet, but I will now that I have read the book.

Very intense book to read.

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