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Summary: EXCELLENT!
Review: I read one or two books a week. This is the first book by Dennis Lehane that I've read. I loved the characters especially Bubba. I couldn't put this book down, had to find out what happens next. Just ordered Gone, Baby, Gone and A Drink Before The War after reading the reviews.
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Summary: My First Dennis Lehane Book--How'd I Miss This?
Review: As a huge fan of Ed McBain, Michael Connolley, James Patterson, Nelson DeMille--I don't know how I've missed Dennis Lehane's books. "Rain" was gripping, suspenseful, entertaining--if a bit graphic in places--and Lehane truly holds his own with some of the better-known authors of his genre. I just finished the last page of "Rain" and came straight to Amazon to buy some of his other titles! I want to read more of these characters' lives--their stories are as compelling as the cases they're investigating (reminiscent of McBain's 87th P cops). If you like suspense, detective procedurals and intelligent, thought-provoking plots, this is a great page turner.
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Summary: The Perfect Beach read.
Review: Funny, great characters, twisting plot and a villian to hate.
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Summary: Technical glitches, but a terrific novel.
Review: Make no mistake, I LOVE Lehane's books (A Drink Before the War is stunning). He writes great detective fiction. However, as a reader wouldn't you be jarred out of your willing suspension of disbelief if an author describes his protagonist driving a car east from Baltimore to Washington, D.C. in ten minutes? (D.C. is southwest of Baltimore, and you'd never make it in ten minutes.) My point: Very basic technical issues are slipping past the editors! Bubba uses a silencer on a .22 caliber revolver - huh? Gas escapes from the gap between the chamber and the barrel, nullifying the silencer's effect. But with a .22 why bother anyway? Another: Patrick using a lead-weighted sap to try to knock someone out? That went out with running boards on autos. Would Patrick really run the high risk of killing someone by choosing such an inappropriate tool? (Dennis - Maybe a pocket stun-gun instead?) These kinds of errors detract from this otherwise fine novel.
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Summary: Trust me: Dennis Lehane is a living classic
Review: Maybe it's just me, but I read this book twice. Started it the second time at the same reading when I first finished it. My only regret is that I lent it to a friend and will probably never see it again. The writing has a very cool style, with spunk, good description and a wonderful, wonderful set of characters. I preferred it to my first of Lehane's - Gone Baby Gone - because GBG was just a bit grisly for my taste (still, well worth reading). My favorite character, aside from the protagonist, is Bubba. What a creation! Finally I've found another series to enjoy as much if not more than Block's Matthew Scudder.
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Summary: I LOVE Lehane's books....
Review: Dennis Lehane has quickly become one of my favorite authors. His characters (gotta love that gun toting Bubba) and story lines are well developed are simply reach out and grab your attention. Every books seems to get progressively better, though no book has been in the least bit bad. Since I only recently discovered Dennis Lehane (where in the world have I been?) I was able to go on a reading marathon and work my way through all of his books in succession. Now I've come to the end of the rope. I'm out of books. So I'm just counting the days until his next book comes out. I can't wait!
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Summary: A bit of a letdown after Gone, Baby, Gone
Review: I may be going against the prevailing opinion here, but I found Prayers for Rain a bit of a letdown after Gone, Baby, Gone. Make no mistake, Lehane is a fantastic writer, and he really distinguishes himself in his intricate plotting. To me, most writers in this genre break down into two major categories: action/suspense and mystery. Lehane is clearly in the former category, but his novels have amazingly twisted plots. I love Robert B. Parker's Spenser, but he's clearly for relaxation, whereas Lehane combines edge-of-the-seat action with truly intense mystery. Having said all this, I don't think this book is quite up to the standard of the last few. For one thing, Lehane strikes me as trying to push a little too hard to get Patrick Kenzie personally motivated and involved. I can see Lehane getting into a "can you top this" mode wherein each successive book needs to have greater threats to Patrick and those he cares about. It's not necessary to put the characters in these situations just to get an emotional response. Also, given the profound rupture in Patrick and Angie's relationship at the end of Gone, Baby, Gone, their inevitable re-involvement in Prayers for Rain seemed to come about way too easily. I think this might be the classic couple where they're more interesting apart than together. Anyway, I enjoyed reading the book thoroughly, with a few reservations. I hope Lehane tries a change of pace novel like Sacred, the third book in the series, next. For those of you who haven't read it, I highly recommend that one.
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Summary: The Best Novel He's Written So Far...
Review: Dennis Lehane never disappoints and he's not starting now. All the players are back, Patrick Kenzie, Angie Gennaro, Bubba Rogowski and they're better than ever. The story begins with the suicide of an old Kenzie client and takes off from there at a whirlwind pace. The villian, a sociopath who wages psychological warfare on his victims before he kills them, is as scary as they come. The writing and dialogue are gritty and true to life and the scenes are so vivid that you'll spend this novel on the edge of your seat. A real page-turner, not to be missed. Do yourself a favor, go back and read all of Lehane's books. You won't be disappointed.
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Summary: Dennis Lehane Rules!
Review: When Karen Nichols hired Boston PI Patrick Kenzie about a problem with a stalker, his impression of her was that of a wholesome, wide-eyed, corn-fed Mary Poppins clone. Patrick solves her problem, gets paid, and thinks little more about her 'til she ends up an ostensible suicide. But what on earth was Mary Poppins doing stoned out of her head and hooking out of a seedy motel? As Patrick pokes around a bit and meets her exceedingly weird family, he learns that Karen had been the victim of an unholy run of bad luck over the last months of her life, bad luck which appears to have been carefully orchestrated by some unseen puppetmaster. He has no client, ergo no fees, but Patrick feels compelled to find out what happened. As his non-case gets progessively more bizarre, to say nothing of dangerous, Patrick's erstwhile partner and lover, Angela Gennaro, joins forces with him. Add to this volatile mix psycho-teddybear Bubba Ragowski and the bad guy is about to have a major hurt put on him -- if they can find him before he destroys them. The villain in this story is one of the slipperiest, most evil characters seen in recent fiction. This is a true nail-biter and is guaranteed to induce chills and thrills as the chase to stop the evil proceeds at a breakneck pace. The suspense level is in the red zone. There is violence, some of it graphic, but such is the nature of this genre. There is a noir ambience to this book and, like all of Lehane's novels, it sparkles because the grit and the wit are presented in a stylish, literary fashion that is a pure joy to read. The novels of Dennis Lehane are gifts -- indulge yourself!
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Summary: Lehane is a God!
Review: It seems that each decade has a writer who has made an impression in the PI genre...Chandler, Hammett,Leonard. The new millennium has Dennis Lehane. As an avid reader and unpublished writer, I can appreciate the work that goes into crafting a good story. Some authors are able to craft stories, but don't have that "internal gift" that is given to only a few fortunate writers. Dennis Lehane is one author who has truly been blessed with that gift. PRAYERS FOR RAIN comes at you like a speeding train, and never lets up. Lehane is a master at dialogue, his prose is sublime. When you find yourself caring about fictional characters, absolute in your belief that they are real, you know you're reading a book by a great writer. The Kenzie/Gennaro series should NOT be missed...I can't say enough about Dennis Lehane. My only regret is that I have to wait for his next novel...I hope the wait isn't long.
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