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Summary: Prayers for more
Review: I heard a lot of accolades regarding Dennis LeHane. I read 'Gone Baby Gone' and really didn't like either the story or the characters. I thought I would try again (reading Lehane) as the storyline of 'Prayers for Rain' sounded good and with so many people liking LeHane thought it was worth another shot. I thought 'Prayers' was excellent. Good villain, good characters, action, mystery, comedy and more. It kept me reading until the end. I also like the way they rescued Angie's character from 'Gone Baby Gone' where I found her extremely shallow.
Rating: 
Summary: Prayers for Rain
Review: Excellent, fast paced and witty dialogue. Great plot.
Rating:
Summary: More great Lehane
Review: In the fifth Kenzie-Gennaro book, Lehane invents a villain who seems to be able to emotionally manipulate people into being his puppets. This villain even uses his power to help someone commit suicide. And, because of message that was never returned, that suicide sticks in the bad part of Patrick Kenzie's brain, and sends him along an ever twisting plot to solve what he believes is really a murder. Prayers for Rain is a wonderfully plotted and written mystery. If you have read other books by Dennis Lehane, then you will certainly want to read this one. If you have never read a Lehane book, well start now.
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Summary: Not Up to Lehane's Usual Standard
Review: After four engrossing and original novels, Lehane takes a major step backwards into triteness and cliche with "Prayers for Rain:" Good guys beat up bad guys. Bad guys beat up good guys. Good guys really beat up bad guys. Bad guys . . . well, you get the idea. The excessive violence is accompanied by excessive sex, with various characters going to bed with each other for no good reason. It seems that Lehane has finally succumbed to the difficulty of writing a series: he has run out of ideas, and is filling up pages with graphic content that he hopes will sell. The characters are also less interesting or even stereotypes, including an unethical psychiatrist, a dysfunctional family, and a sociopathic ruthless criminal. The latter two are all too reminiscent of previous Lehane novels. I hope that there will be a sixth Kenzie/Gennaro story. I also hope that Lehane waits until he has one of his uniquely original plots before he writes it.
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Summary: Great Audio Treatment
Review: This is the first Dennis Lehane book I've read/listened to. Thomas J.S. Brown does an outstanding job capturing the different voices of the characters. And Lehane.....well, I can't wait to go and read every single one of his other books now. I can't remember another author who so richly develops the voice and personality of his characters...I'm just thrilled that this is a series, so I can enjoy more the brilliant dialogue and plot. If you enjoy mysteries or just great writing...you'll love Dennis Lehane.
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Summary: truly chilling
Review: Like most readers of this genre, I crave the wry comments on humanity, the suspense and the action that are endemic to mystery/suspense novels. I found this book especially worthy because the depravity of the villian was believeable and thus truly chilling. Most 'evil' protagonists in thrillers are simply too outlandish or stereotypic to actually cause the reader to reflect on the role of evil in the 'real' world. Here, Dennis Lehane presents an evil presence that 'feels' real and haunting. Some of the plot twists are manipulative and predictable (e.g. the inevitable 'shootout'), but that is easily excused when one considers the fine writing and psychologic insight on display. We have all read books in which the PI is flawed, introspective and humorous, but rarely has one been so unapologetic about his human inconsistencies. A great read. I enjoyed it much more than the only other Lehane book that I have read, 'Gone, Baby, Gone.' I felt that book had a needlessly complicated plot.
Rating:
Summary: Flawed, but still great!
Review: First of all, the BIG error: in one scene, the main character Pat Kenzie is taken by Bubba to see a mob guy, who then warns him off pursuing his main target. This mob guy is prepared to kill Bubba, who he describes as a close friend and 'good earner', if Kenzie doesn't take a step back. We are led to believe, therefore, that this target's hold over the mob guy is very strong. We then learn a chapter later that in fact the mob guy hardly knows the target, was merely paid $10,000 to warn Kenzie off. Now, if Bubba was indeed a valued friend and 'good earner', there's no way a mob guy is going to take him out for just $10,000. A 'good earner' would imply that Bubba's putting fifty thou a year or more on his table, otherwise the mob guy just wouldn't notice. Also, Bubba would be no easy target (this scene builds up how even a lot of the mob guys fear him), the risks would be considerable. So he might start thinking about wasting him for $100,000 or more, but below that I think this particular part of the plot just doesn't hold water - it's just something else thrown in quickly to add to the tension. Having said that (and really, this is something that a good editor should have picked up on), this book has great pace and some of the snappiest (and funniest) dialogue to be found on the bookshelves. So only one star off for not making the mobster scene work.
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Summary: The twists are intruiging and inventive
Review: Having just finished Prayers for Rain, I have to say, it's another book you can't put down and wish there were more when you are done. Lehane weaves a seductive tale of force and brutality of a man able to get into the lives of people and forces their breakdown. The characters are rich with substance and are portrayed as vulnerable, yet unwilling to back down from their fears. I am running out right now to get another of his books!
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Summary: A real intense read
Review: I read this Lehane book first and went directly to the store and bought his others. Lehane's books show a real darkside of human nature and are a bit disturbing but the way the main character, Patrick Kenzie fights the depravity makes up for it. He is tired of his fight against evil and the way it has jaded him. He will continue it though as he feels it is his duty and it is all he knows. He has many personal demons and his kind of sarcastic take on things is likeable. I enter a whole different world when I pick up a Dennis Lehane book. Patrick Kenzie is a rough but honorable man on his search for justice- much more than an average private investigator.
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Summary: I agree with the positive reviews below...
Review: ... and just want to add that whoever designs the slipcovers of Lehane's books should get some sort of award. A Drink Before the War, Darkness, and this one really stand out. How often do you notice slipcover art, or realize that it affects the overall mood of a book, even slightly?
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