Book info

• Title
• Author Dennis Lehane
• Year
• Genres

Thoughts

We saw the film adaptation of this novel last year, to mixed reviews. The twist at the end was great but the film took an awful long time to get there, and the middle third was not enjoyed in my household. I was keen to read the book to see if it was any better, and I’m glad I did. I couldn’t put it down! Even though I knew the story, knew what was coming, it was just riveting.

I think it felt more believable, being able to get inside the character’s heads. Where in a film you are just watching, here it really felt like we were along for the ride with Teddy - standing alongside him as he tried to figure the whole mess out. I also think it had a less ambiguous ending, where there is still room for doubt, but the evidence is more highly stacked on one side over the other.

A fun read, not too long, and such a page-turner that it takes even less time to read than you would think! Particularly as it was the holidays, and I was ill, I was just glued to this the moment my eyes opened. Highly recommended, even if the film didn’t seem your kind of thing.

Rating: Unrated