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4.07 AVERAGE
4.07 AVERAGE
adventurous
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
I had watched Clint Eastwood' s Mystic River only two weeks before reading Dennis Lehane's novel. While that may have taken the suspense out of this detective story, it wasn't what ruined the book for me. This is not a typical murder mystery. Mystic River isn't just about catching a killer; it's about what happens when the ripples caused by a child abduction of twenty years ago collide with those created by a current day murder.
I decided to read the novel even though I saw the movie because I wasn't that impressed by the movie. It was a well-acted film, but I thought that the writing had some weak points. I know that turning a 400-page novel into a 2-hour screenplay means weeding out some story so I was interested in what was left out. Unfortunately, very little was cut. The weak points of the movie were the weak points of the book. It tried to be about the struggles each of the three lead characters had with their wives, their families, their jobs, their neighborhoods, their pasts, and themselves. That sounds too ambitious, and it was. The book ended up too wordy in some places and too shallow in others.
The only other detective novel I've read this year was Jonathan Letham's Motherless Brooklyn. I would highly recommend that book.
I decided to read the novel even though I saw the movie because I wasn't that impressed by the movie. It was a well-acted film, but I thought that the writing had some weak points. I know that turning a 400-page novel into a 2-hour screenplay means weeding out some story so I was interested in what was left out. Unfortunately, very little was cut. The weak points of the movie were the weak points of the book. It tried to be about the struggles each of the three lead characters had with their wives, their families, their jobs, their neighborhoods, their pasts, and themselves. That sounds too ambitious, and it was. The book ended up too wordy in some places and too shallow in others.
The only other detective novel I've read this year was Jonathan Letham's Motherless Brooklyn. I would highly recommend that book.
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Horrible. Truly horrible. 460 pages of boredom and filler. I knew who the killer was almost immediately. What a waste of a TBR.
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Had me guessing at every turn.
An intelligent page-turner that explores friendships, human nature, and dealing with struggles from the past. Strong development of three-dimensional characters. Loved it!
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
After reading the last 200 pages in 2 days, I can safely say this was awesome.
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
5 / 5 “Thanks, Dennis, Now I Will Compare All Crime Novels to This”
I picked up Mystic River thinking I was getting a gritty crime novel. You know—cops, suspects, maybe a twist or two. What I didn’t expect was to be emotionally eviscerated by a father named Jimmy Marcus who loves his daughter so fiercely it made me sit in silence and reevaluate my entire existence.
As a dad with daughters, Jimmy’s story gutted me. His grief isn’t poetic—it’s raw, messy, borderline feral. There were moments I had to put the book down, walk away, and peek in on my girls just to confirm they were still safe in their rooms and not characters in a Dennis Lehane novel.
The mystery is compelling, but honestly, it’s just the vehicle for exploring pain, friendship, loyalty, and how people break in different ways. Everyone in this book is haunted. Some of them hide it better than others. Some go looking for blood instead of closure. And as much as I wanted to judge Jimmy… I couldn’t. I got it.
Lehane’s writing is almost unfairly good. It’s so gritty and atmospheric you can practically hear the Red Sox game in the background and smell the Dunkin’ coffee while your soul crumbles. The dialogue crackles, the pacing is perfect, and the emotional depth punches you square in the feels. I came here for a whodunit and left with a therapy bill.
Final Verdict: 5 / 5 - Read it. Hug someone. And never underestimate the long-term psychological impact of childhood trauma, folks.
I picked up Mystic River thinking I was getting a gritty crime novel. You know—cops, suspects, maybe a twist or two. What I didn’t expect was to be emotionally eviscerated by a father named Jimmy Marcus who loves his daughter so fiercely it made me sit in silence and reevaluate my entire existence.
As a dad with daughters, Jimmy’s story gutted me. His grief isn’t poetic—it’s raw, messy, borderline feral. There were moments I had to put the book down, walk away, and peek in on my girls just to confirm they were still safe in their rooms and not characters in a Dennis Lehane novel.
The mystery is compelling, but honestly, it’s just the vehicle for exploring pain, friendship, loyalty, and how people break in different ways. Everyone in this book is haunted. Some of them hide it better than others. Some go looking for blood instead of closure. And as much as I wanted to judge Jimmy… I couldn’t. I got it.
Lehane’s writing is almost unfairly good. It’s so gritty and atmospheric you can practically hear the Red Sox game in the background and smell the Dunkin’ coffee while your soul crumbles. The dialogue crackles, the pacing is perfect, and the emotional depth punches you square in the feels. I came here for a whodunit and left with a therapy bill.
Final Verdict: 5 / 5 - Read it. Hug someone. And never underestimate the long-term psychological impact of childhood trauma, folks.
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated