onegoodmove

I just finished Dennis Lehane's Mystic River a departure from the delightful Kenzie and Gennaro adventures. Is it better. I don't think so. It is certainly more literary. Lehane's writing is clearly improving. In this story we meet Sean, Dave, and Jimmy, childhood friends. Characters who won't be part of a future story in the way the more formalistic Kenzie Gennaro stories are. Lehane does a great job capturing the ethos of childhood friends, neighborhoods and how life changes us and those around us. I found myself reminiscing about my own childhood and how I have changed over the years. The plot is complex, the characters well developed and after the first 50 pages or so this is a real page turner. This is his best written book to date. If you enjoy more than the standard mystery fare give it a read. Dave says "It was amazing how friendly three beers could be after a long hard day." It is amazing to me how enjoyable a Lehane mystery can be any old time.