The tough neighborhood of Dorchester is no place for the innocent or the weak. A territory defined by hard heads and even harder luck, its stre... read full description
reviews
Nov 20, 2011
Nancy
rated it: 
I knew this was going to be a very dark story. After reading the very disturbing Darkness, Take My Hand, about a vicious and sadistic serial killer who knew no limits when it came to human depravity, I didn’t imagine it could get much worse. I was wrong.
Though Patrick and Angie are tired of the violence and inhumanity that plagued their earlier cases, they agree to accept this latest case of a four-year-old girl who was abducted from her bed. Amanda’s mom, Helene, who is far from More...
Though Patrick and Angie are tired of the violence and inhumanity that plagued their earlier cases, they agree to accept this latest case of a four-year-old girl who was abducted from her bed. Amanda’s mom, Helene, who is far from More...
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May 04, 2011
Kemper
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And then depression set in….
This book wrecked me the first time I read it. It was almost like having post traumatic stress syndrome. I found myself staring blankly at the walls for days after I finished it the first time. I felt like calling my sister and telling her to keep my young niece locked in the house until she was at least 25. I remember meeting a friend for beers shortly after I finished it, and that he asked me what was wrong. When I tried to explain, he was skeptical. More...
This book wrecked me the first time I read it. It was almost like having post traumatic stress syndrome. I found myself staring blankly at the walls for days after I finished it the first time. I felt like calling my sister and telling her to keep my young niece locked in the house until she was at least 25. I remember meeting a friend for beers shortly after I finished it, and that he asked me what was wrong. When I tried to explain, he was skeptical. More...
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(26 people liked it)
Nov 02, 2007
Luis
rated it: 
Sad, sad, sad. this is the Boston of Dennis Lehane, populated by tough guys, lost souls, and heartbreak. This is the Boston of Patrick Kenzie, flawed hero of several previous Lehane novels. This is the first Lehane novel I read, and I found it compelling, if not enjoyable. The crime is not as important here, as the way the people around it react. Kenzie's primary character trait is his nobility - it compels to continue investigating the crime, even though he has several opportunites, an
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(4 people liked it)
Jun 08, 2008
Alison
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I didn't think I would like this book. I didn't think I'd ever even give it a shot. The title alone let's you know what you're in for, even if you haven't seen the movie trailers...an innocent little girl goes missing.
But for whatever reason, I picked this one up, and I was sucked in. I only truly paused once in a day for sleep. I was engrossed in this gritty story of two detectives, boyfriend/girlfriend who reluctantly agree to take on the case of Amanda McCready...a four-year o More...
But for whatever reason, I picked this one up, and I was sucked in. I only truly paused once in a day for sleep. I was engrossed in this gritty story of two detectives, boyfriend/girlfriend who reluctantly agree to take on the case of Amanda McCready...a four-year o More...
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Oct 24, 2007
Josh
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I have to be honest, I picked up this book because I saw the previews for the movie. I didn't even read Mystic River but really enjoyed it on screen so I thought, what the heck?
Lehane's depiction of Dorchester was so real, it felt like I was actually there. I could visualize the runned down Irish pubs where the characters drank. I could see the old dilapidated houses where crimes were committed. I had such a clear image of the characters and their surroundings, that I don't want More...
Lehane's depiction of Dorchester was so real, it felt like I was actually there. I could visualize the runned down Irish pubs where the characters drank. I could see the old dilapidated houses where crimes were committed. I had such a clear image of the characters and their surroundings, that I don't want More...
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Apr 20, 2010
Joyce
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4th in the Kenzie/Gennaro series.[return][return]I believe that the best works of fiction explore moral questions in one fashion or another and do it without preaching. This book fits that description. Even though it s a mystery or police procedural however you wish to make the classification it is still an examination of moral ambiguity: what is the correct moral decision in a lose-lose situation?[return][return]A four year old girl disappears without a trace from her working class Boston
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Nov 28, 2008
Eric_W
rated it:
The search for more writers in the hard-boiled detective genre continues, and Lehane can be added to the list. There’s nothing more pleasurable than a cynical, wise-cracking detective. For example, Boston private eyes Patrick McKenzie and partner Angela Gennaro become involved in a child disappearance case. The mother, Helene, is a sleaze, more interested in watching Jerry Springer and the soaps and getting herself on TV than in caring for her child, and the two detectives soon discover the litt
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Feb 02, 2012
Ian
rated it:
Chosen - Film looked good.
I think this is nearly as good as crime fiction can get. It works in the genre, a mystery needs to be solved, has an ear for dialogue, characterisation and realism. It is gripping with great set pieces but its real money shot is the ambigous ending. Time and time again we have good crime books where the mystery is solved and the players move on to the next in the series. In this, the players have a moral decision - solve the crime by the letter of the law More...
I think this is nearly as good as crime fiction can get. It works in the genre, a mystery needs to be solved, has an ear for dialogue, characterisation and realism. It is gripping with great set pieces but its real money shot is the ambigous ending. Time and time again we have good crime books where the mystery is solved and the players move on to the next in the series. In this, the players have a moral decision - solve the crime by the letter of the law More...
Sep 25, 2011
Marla
rated it:
Ok, so this isn't my usual kiind of book. The only reason I desided to read this book is because i seen that it was going to be made into a movie...I seen the previews for the movie and it looked really good. A real emotional roller coaster, So since i always know the books are way better than the movie, i bought and read the book before the movie came out. I know this is going to sound weird and what not to anyone who reads this. I know the story is a sad and disturbing one. But Lehane writ
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Aug 31, 2011
V.k.
rated it:
I actually got into Dennis Lehane through the movies--I watched Gone, Baby, Gone years ago (liked it), as well as Mystic River (liked it up to a point) and Shutter Island (loved it). So when I was looking for a new mystery series a few months ago, Lehane’s Kenzie and Gennaro series seemed like a good choice.
What I really like about the Kenzie and Gennaro novels are how the events in the previous books continue to haunt the private detectives. By this novel, the pair have seen their sha More...
What I really like about the Kenzie and Gennaro novels are how the events in the previous books continue to haunt the private detectives. By this novel, the pair have seen their sha More...
Jul 19, 2011
Craig
rated it:
Note: I saw the movie before reading the book (heresy!)
Solid writing, though less clearly influenced by the noirs of the 30s than a work like "A Drink Before the War", identifiable, 3-dimensional characters, and a terrifyingly plausible plot make for a heck of a read. As in the movie, my favorite character was Broussard, who is likable and relatable, and for those reasons is perhaps the scariest of the book's characters. The book ups the ante on Broussard, making him a bit More...
Solid writing, though less clearly influenced by the noirs of the 30s than a work like "A Drink Before the War", identifiable, 3-dimensional characters, and a terrifyingly plausible plot make for a heck of a read. As in the movie, my favorite character was Broussard, who is likable and relatable, and for those reasons is perhaps the scariest of the book's characters. The book ups the ante on Broussard, making him a bit More...
May 11, 2011
Vivian
rated it:
Although I've seen the film twice, I would never have read the novel if it hadn't been assigned for one of my book groups. And I, personally, would never have suggested this novel to the group - but that's what makes the world go round. I find it interesting to read and discuss what others recommend. Anyway - as probably everyone knows, it's one of Lehane's Boston private investigator/detective/crime tales, this time revolving around a missing 4-year old girl. As crime novels cum realistic a
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Jan 05, 2011
Megan
rated it:
I really enjoyed the plot of this one. Sure, it got overly complicated, but it was exciting and thematically thoughtful. I don't find Lehane's meditations on the big issues (parenthood, doing the right/wrong thing and the consequences of doing so) heavy-handed, although they do take time and space to develop, because they usually come from the characters. Patrick makes good observations, and I enjoy reading as he detects and he thinks through the puzzles both criminal and ethical.
I lik More...
I lik More...
Dec 30, 2011
Sasha
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Dec 04, 2009
Abilio
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Os detectives particulares Patrick Kenzie e Angela Gennaro são contratados para tentar encontrar Amanda McCready, uma menina de quatro anos, raptada da sua própria casa, sem deixar rasto. Apesar da vasta cobertura mediática, e da ajuda dos populares chocados com o acontecimento, a investigação policial nada consegue descobrir. Para Kenzie e Gennaro, o caso vai revelando contornos mais complexos do que aparentava ao início: a indiferença da mãe de Amanda, um casal com um histórico de pedofilia e
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Dec 15, 2010
Ka
rated it:
I missed the one before this, Sacred -- the bookstore didn't have it and I needed instant gratification. In fact, for further gratification, I also bought a book on Garden Shelters -- sheds, treehouses, gazebos, etc -- which I've been enjoying very much. Will get the exact title and add it here for any gardeners (Trudy). But, back to GBG. Each book in this Kenzie-Gennaro detective series has been a significant improvement on the previous one. In this, the plot is really quite gripping, and
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Sep 20, 2010
Kelly
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Apr 03, 2011
Alisha
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So, I've basically praised the Kenzie and Gennaro series in every single one of my reviews regarding this series. Gone, Baby, Gone is no exception. In fact, Gone, Baby, Gone may be my favorite of this series, case-wise.
One minor complain (very, very, very minor) that I've had over this series was that the cases weren't amazing. Well, in Gone, Baby, Gone, Lehane stepped up that aspect like you wouldn't believe. The case in this book was gripping, gritty, and heartbreaking. It was More...
One minor complain (very, very, very minor) that I've had over this series was that the cases weren't amazing. Well, in Gone, Baby, Gone, Lehane stepped up that aspect like you wouldn't believe. The case in this book was gripping, gritty, and heartbreaking. It was More...
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Nov 17, 2010
Aaron
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Gone, Baby, Gone is the first book of Dennis Lehane I have read and I am aware there are three books preceding it. I decided to read this as I wanted to read his most recent installment in this series Moonlight Mile, which is based on the events that occurred in Gone, Baby, Gone.
I felt the early part of the book fell into the typical mystery genre pattern of setting up the details of the case and surrounding information. These early chapters did not flesh out the characters greatly a More...
I felt the early part of the book fell into the typical mystery genre pattern of setting up the details of the case and surrounding information. These early chapters did not flesh out the characters greatly a More...
Jun 04, 2009
Scott
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Mar 02, 2011
Joyce
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I'm not a big fan of cop stories and I don't really enjoy reading books that have alot of violence, but I'll make an exception for Dennis Lehane because I love his stories and think he's a great writer. (he's very entertaining in person too, at his book readings/signings) Since I've walked around just about every area of Boston----the North End, Southie, Back Bay, Waterfront, Chinatown, Theatre District, Fenway, Beacon Hill, etc., I really appreciate his knowledge of the area. He's an expert
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Apr 06, 2011
Karen
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I really like good crime novels and this author and book was recommended to me by someone who shares my reading tastes with the caveat that Lehane was 'the best' crime writer he'd ever read. So, I came to this book with very high expectations. I was not disappointed.
This tale of the kidnapping of a young girl, taken from her narcissistic and pathetic mother who left her alone in an apartment while she went out to a hotel to get resoundingly drunk, is not an easy read. The reason for t More...
This tale of the kidnapping of a young girl, taken from her narcissistic and pathetic mother who left her alone in an apartment while she went out to a hotel to get resoundingly drunk, is not an easy read. The reason for t More...
Feb 28, 2010
Mazel
rated it:
Patrick Kenzie et Angela Gennaro - les "héros" de Un dernier verre avant la guerre (Rivages/Noir n° 380), Tenèbres prenez-moi la main (Rivages/Noir n° 424) et Sacré (qui sort simultanément en poche, Rivages/Noir n° 466) - sont chargés de retrouver une petite fille de quatre ans, Amanda McCready, disparue mystérieusement par une belle soirée d'automne. Leur rencontre avec la mère d'Amanda est pour le moins troublante : cette jeune femme de vingt-huit ans, célibataire, paraît peu concern
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Jan 14, 2010
Brion
rated it:
After having watched the film adaptation of this book as well as Mystic River, I was very interested to read some of Dennis Lehane's work. I was not disappointing. This book is very similar to the film, but as with most novel's much deeper in it's content.
While working on the very familiar basis of the crime genre, Lehane is able to weave something unique with his very human and faulty characters as they trespass through the dark and untidy underbelly of Boston.
At times More...
While working on the very familiar basis of the crime genre, Lehane is able to weave something unique with his very human and faulty characters as they trespass through the dark and untidy underbelly of Boston.
At times More...
Apr 02, 2010
Andre
rated it:
Man, oh, man, what a wonderful book. What a full and complete, emotionally gripping story. There are so many levels to this thing.
First, there is the development of Patrick and Angie's relationship from where we last saw them at the end of Sacred. As Gone, Baby, Gone is the fourth book about the pair, it is as though we have known them their whole lives, but there is still much for us, and them, to learn. So often when two people get together, especially in fiction, they mesh int More...
First, there is the development of Patrick and Angie's relationship from where we last saw them at the end of Sacred. As Gone, Baby, Gone is the fourth book about the pair, it is as though we have known them their whole lives, but there is still much for us, and them, to learn. So often when two people get together, especially in fiction, they mesh int More...
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Jan 06, 2012
Lisa
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Although I think Lehane is a writer of great precision and occasional beauty, I found this book too brutal. I was distracted by having stepped into the series in the middle, thus missed lots of references made to earlier books. I may try beginning at the first book, but perhaps I won't. I don't mind confronting ugliness and gore in the service of learning something valuable about injustice -- but Lehane seems to just write about futility and has a very low opinion of his fellow man. I don't
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Apr 16, 2011
Erin (PT)
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When I started Gone, Baby, Gone, my husband assured me that I would like it more than Sacred, the previous K&G novel. While Sacred still stands as my favorite, Gone, Baby, Gone was still another fast-paced and engrossing novel from Lehane.
My impressions about it are probably, to some extent, hung up in the fact that I saw the movie before I knew there was a book series. But, even so, I found myself caught up in the unresolvable, thickly tangled tragedy of the story.
The More...
My impressions about it are probably, to some extent, hung up in the fact that I saw the movie before I knew there was a book series. But, even so, I found myself caught up in the unresolvable, thickly tangled tragedy of the story.
The More...
Dec 14, 2011
Alicia
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Jan 29, 2011
Sean
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