Mystic River

By Dennis Lehane

            As I continue to read more and more, I’m trying to break some of the silly rules I have made for myself.  Some of these rules involve reading all the books in a series straight through, always read the book before watching the movie, only read one book at a time, etc.  Having already seen the movie Mystic River starring Tim Robbins, Kevin Bacon, and Sean Penn, this was my opportunity to read the book after the movie.

            The novel begins in Boston with three young friends: Jimmy, Sean, and Dave.  The boys are typical rambunctious youths, betting against their own mortality and freewheeling.  One day, Dave is abducted by child molesters and goes missing for several days.  Upon his return, his parents throw him a party and everyone seems to gloss over what he’s been through.  Fast forward to the future, all three boys are grown and still living in Boston.  Jimmy has done time in prison, has a teenage daughter (Katie) and is a widower.  He seems to have gotten his life back on track.  Soon, his daughter’s body is discovered in the park, the victim of a brutal murder.  His former friend Sean is one of the lead detectives on the case, and Dave becomes the primary suspect.  The night of the murder, Dave was involved in an altercation, and his wife has helped him dispose of his bloody clothes.  Despite their mutual trust, Dave’s wife begins to suspect that he may have been involved in Katie’s murder.  In a thrilling story, we dive into Sean’s past, and spend some time inside Dave’s head examining the lasting scars from his abduction.  This novel is intense, and you’ll be left wondering who did it until the end.

I must say that seeing the movie first definitely altered my perception of this book.  Knowing the outcome of the case, I didn’t fully appreciate some of the twists and turns.  However, the book was also able to get into Dave’s head to make you better understand him as a victim.  The dialogue was also brilliant, and I laughed a number of times at how intelligent Dave was when he was interrogated about the murder.  I love Dennis Lehane’s work, and I would strongly suggest you check this book out.  It won’t be spoiled even if you have seen the movie already.

Rating: 4 out of 5 Bunsen Burners

Up Next:  Damned or Haunted by Chuck Palahniuk, Dr. Sleep by Stephen King, Xenocide by Orson Scott Card, or On the Road by Jack Kerouac.