Rating: 
Summary: A Sad dissappointment
Review: Prior to this book, Lehane was my favorite author, "Darkness, Take my hand" being my particular favorite. This book, however, felt incredibly forced and was, I'm sorry to say, totally predictable. I understand that the loss of someone you love is incredibly tough, but he milks that pain like you wouldn't believe. It was describes so much that the reader (or at least I), become numb to it. I'm sad to see such a great writer become so bogged down.As an interesting note, I've heard that Lehane's publisher likes this new kind of "stand-alone" novel and asked him what it would take to write more like it. So it appears we may not see Patrick Kenzie (his character from previous books) for a while (or, god forbid, ever). Here's hoping his next effort is better.
Rating: 
Summary: Lehane does it again
Review: I never thought of Boston as having "mean streets", but then, I just go there as a tourist on a fairly regular basis, and Dennis Lehane was born and bred in the local neighborhoods about which he writes so eloquently. This is not another of his Kenzie and Gennaro tales, but the characterizations and the setting are the same: the soon-to-be-gentried older neighborhoods. These are places of despair and failure, but also places where folks try to live their lives as best they can, under the circumstances. We are granted the status of voyeurs into this area, and the heartbreak and the happiness that we see gives us new perspective into everyday living. Lehane is an author of rare power, and his writing chills us while we race along, turning the pages to discover what is going to happen next to people that we come to care about quite deeply, even the flawed, failing ones. Very few authors have the ability to call forth that type of emotion from me while I read, but Lehane can, and does. I don't want his works to end, and I eagerly look forward to the next book. Read him; you won't be disappointed!
Rating: 
Summary: Terrific Read
Review: This is my first read of a Dennis Lehane book and I am certain to buy and read more of his works.I picked it up on a Friday evening and finished it on Sunday in between chores, kids etc. If you grew up in a neighborhood you will identify with the characters even more. Wonderful book.
Rating:
Summary: 10 Stars!
Review: Like magic or the theory of relativity, Dennis Lehane is hard to describe. Is he a mystery writer or a noir thriller writer or is he a writer of literary fiction? He is all three and he's dynamite. I waited for this novel and opened it with anticipation expecting Angie and Patrick...but found instead an amazing novel of fear and secrets and well, of course, murder. I was born and raised in a neighborhood not far from Dorchester and I knew some of these people and the havoc they rained on their children. The drink, the lies the fear...Lehane captures all of that and weaves them into magic. This is a wonderful novel. Dennis Lehane is a fabulous writer. He is lightning in a jar...a wizard of words...just buy the darn book. you'll be glad you did.
Rating:
Summary: 4 1/2 stars
Review: See story summary above. This was my first experience with a Dennis Lehane novel. A story of how the past can influence the future. I thought it was very good. A psychological thriller with great depth to the characters. Written in such a manner that you can actually feel how most of the characters feel. At times deeply emotional and compassionate, at other times, suspenseful and thrilling. As the editor says, 'It's not just a whodunit, it's a why they 'dunit'. After reading this novel, I intend on putting Mr. Lehane on my reading list. Highly recommended.
Rating:
Summary: River of Tears
Review: Mystic River is the first Lehane book to NOT feature Patrick and Angie -- but I won't hold that against it. Like most Lehane fans, I eagerly awaited his newest novel only to be disturbed and fairly disappointed by it. Mystic River should have been titled River of Misery -- there is not one single happy character or happy incident in the book which makes for very tough reading. To be fair, the pretense of three childhood friends growing up on different sides of the tracks, complicated by the fact that one of them was molested, is not necessarily a cheery idea for a novel. But unfortunately, the characters seem to mire themselves in unhappiness throughout their lives -- one goes to prison (his wife dies of cancer while he's inside), one marries (and develops a split personality), and one becomes a state cop (whose wife leaves him after she has an affair and becomes pregnant). When one of the three's daugther is murdered (she was lucky to escape such a life of misery), the perceptions in the neighborhood change about the three main characters and their possible involvement in the murder. Dennis Lehane is skilled writer, but in an effort to be "literary" he falls into the trap of trying too hard -- a Greek tragedy has more laughs than this novel, and what becomes of one of the main characters is telegraphed long before it ever happens. That scene alone made me want to put the book down and not finish it. So much misery crammed into 400 pages.... It's funny that Dennis Lehane says publicly that he wanted to take a break from misery and death to give Patrick and Angie a rest from it (which is why he wrote Mystic River with new characters) -- too bad he didn't feel the same compassion for his readers. On a positive note, the mystery is fine and the ending is a pleasing twist. But on the flip side of the ending, the sudden shift in personality of one of the main characters is disturbing and leaves the reader feeling cheated for ever rooting for him at all. Overall, the story is fine, if a bit mired in despair and melodrama. Ultimately, however, this latest novel left me not caring what happens to the characters, so much so that I wouldn't read a sequel (which has been clearly set up by the author). If the characters didn't start out as unsympathetic, they certainly became unsypathetic as the story progressed. Mystic River is a huge disappointment.
Rating:
Summary: Simply, The Best of All!
Review: I'm glad to see that most people liked and appreciated this novel, because it's not only wonderfully written, but a great story. For those of you who want more of his series, you have to understand how tiresome it gets for an author to keep writing about the same people. I know. The man most likely had to take a break and what a break he took. This writer is only 35 years old and has written an amazing book. The best I've read in a long time. And I hope he writes more stand alone novels. I predict now that he'll win the Edgar in 2002!
Rating:
Summary: Lehane at his best
Review: This was a great read; The tension was there from the start and the "whodunnit" aspect was perfect; I certainly didn't figure out who the killer was. Each of the main characters is well developed, some of this coming from the excellent way their thoughts are described. Lehane also does an excellent job of describing the social and ecomonic status of the characters and how they fit pefectly in to this "South Boston/Charlestown" milieu. Keep them coming; Dennis!!
Rating:
Summary: Mystic River
Review: A cannot-put-down, extremely well written book. Dennis Lehane just gets better and better. Loved it!
Rating:
Summary: BEST BOOK I'VE READ IN A LONG TIME
Review: Dennis Lehane is my favorite author and I've read all his books. Everytime I get completely drawn in. However, Mystic River is more powerful than anything he has written. As much as I love Patrick, Angela and Bubba, I found this book absolutely engrossing. It's the story of three boys, Sean, Jimmy and Dave who are brought together by the brief friendship of Sean and Jimmy's fathers (Dave is Jimmy's friend who tags along). One day the boys get in a fight and two men pretending to be policemen abduct Dave for three days. The three drift apart. As men they are brought together by the slaying of Jimmy's daughter. The resulting story of the murder is fascinating.
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