Live by NightLive by Night
Score Modern
What it's about
In 1926, at the height of Prohibition, Joe Coughlin, youngest son of a prominent Boston police captain, rejects his upbringing and climbs the ladder of organized crime, from Boston to Cuba, among a dangerous cast all fighting for their piece of the American dream.
Why it's worth reading
It won the Edgar Award for Best Novel. It's a sweeping gangster epic.
You'll love it if you liked
The Given Day
The Godfather
The SonGood to know
It follows The Given Day but stands alone. It's violent.
By the numbers
- Readers30 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics49 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller30 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Buzz1 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #314 of the 555 mysteries and thrillers we rank
- #1018 of the 1,573 modern books we rank
- #1878 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Gripping
More by Dennis Lehane
If you like this, read next
Say Nothing: A True Story of Murder and Memory in Northern Ireland
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Catch and Kill: Lies, Spies, and a Conspiracy to Protect Predators
13 Hours: The Inside Account of What Really Happened in Benghazi
The Devil in the White City
The Five: The Untold Lives of the Women Killed by Jack the RipperExplore the best-of lists
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Quick answers
Is Live by Night worth reading?
Yes. It won the Edgar Award for Best Novel. It ranks #1,878 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 65.0 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Live by Night about?
In 1926, at the height of Prohibition, Joe Coughlin, youngest son of a prominent Boston police captain, rejects his upbringing and climbs the ladder of organized crime, from Boston to Cuba, among a dangerous cast all fighting for their piece of the American dream.
How long does it take to read Live by Night?
About 7 hours (280 pages), or about 2 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What awards has Live by Night won?
Edgar Award winner (2013).
What should I read after Live by Night?
If you liked it, try The Given Day by Dennis Lehane, The Godfather by Mario Puzo or The Son by Philipp Meyer.