Mystic River- Dennis Lehane

BEST SELLERS: Shutter Island; Gone, Baby, Gone

1ST PUBLISHED: 2001

ISBN: 0-553-81616-0

GENRE: Thriller

SYNOPSIS:

When they were children, Sean Devine, Jimmy Marcus and Dave Boyle were friends. But then a strange car pulled up their street. One boy got in the car, two did not, and something terrible happened- something that changed all three boys forever.

Twenty-five years later, Sean Devine is a homicide detective. Jimmy Marcus is an ex-con who owns a corner store. And Dave Boyle is trying to hold his marriage together and keep his demons at bay- demons that urge him do horrific things.

When Jimmy Marcus’ daughter is found murdered, Sean Devine is assigned to the case. His personal life unraveling, he must go back into a world he thought he’d left behind to confront not only the violence of his present but the nightmares of his past. His investigation brings him into conflict with Jimmy Marcus, who finds his old criminal impulses tempt him to solve the crime with brutal justice. And then there is Dave Boyle, who came home the night Jimmy’s daughter died covered in someone else’s blood…

EXCERPT:

She blew a stream of smoke up at the empty clotheslines.

‘These silly dreams you have when you’re young. I mean, what, Katie and Brendan Harris were going to make a life in LAS VEGAS? How long would that little Eden have lasted? Maybe they’d be on their second trailer park, second kid, but it would hit them sooner or later- life isn’t happily ever after and golden sunsets and shit like that. It’s work. The person you love is rarely worthy of how big your love is. Because NO ONE is worthy of that and maybe no one deserves the burden of it, either. You’ll be let down. You’ll be disappointed and have your trust broken and have lot of real sucky days. You lose more than you win. You hate the person you love as much as you love him. But, shit, you roll up your sleeves and work- at everything- because that’s what growing older is.’

‘Annabeth,’ Sean said, ‘anyone ever tell you that you’re a hard woman?’

She turned her head to him, her eyes closed, a dreamy smile on her face. ‘All the time.’

ARPITA SPEAKS:

Dark and disturbing, Mystic River will leave your mind reeling. With an awesome plot and nerve-racking twists, this is a book that will blow you away. However, take care not to take it too seriously- because here’s a novel that can actually deject you if you start looking at life the way the characters do. Stick to the surface, and you’ll thoroughly enjoy the read, despite the fact that everything seems to be going wrong with everyone’s lives.

Sean might appeal to the reader as the rich hero with the best house, the best job, and the best looks- but he has his own regrets to deal with; Dave is downright depressing but one tends to sympathize with him throughout; Jimmy (Sean Penn!!) is the one I love- the one I chose to forgive, no matter what he did. (Don’t judge me.)

The female characters are sketched with finesse. The three protagonists’ wives- and Katie- are curious and unconventional. A certain character is one I admired a lot- and ended up hating by the time I finished the book. The haunting images are just as impressive as the brilliant climax. There isn’t a happy ending; not for everyone. But it’s still going to make you glad- that you got to read such a fantastic thriller.

RATING: 4/5

PRICE: Rs.240/- (Scholastic)

NUMBER OF PAGES: 527