Mystic RiverMystic River
Score Modern
What it's about
When they were boys in a blue-collar Boston neighborhood, Sean Devine, Jimmy Marcus and Dave Boyle were friends, until a strange car pulled up and one of them got in. Twenty-five years later, a savage killing brings them together again, as a detective, a grieving father and a suspect.
Why it's worth reading
It won the Anthony Award. It's a gripping, unnerving psychological thriller.
You'll love it if you liked
Shutter Island
Gone, Baby, Gone
The Silence of the LambsGood to know
It deals with child abuse. It became a Clint Eastwood film.
By the numbers
- Readers76 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics43 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller26 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Buzz0 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
- #95 of the 623 mysteries and thrillers we rank
- #441 of the 1,648 modern books we rank
- #887 of the 3,057 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Gripping, Adventurous
More by Dennis Lehane
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The Given DayGone, Baby, Gone
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1st to DieExplore the best-of lists
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Quick answers
Is Mystic River worth reading?
Yes. It won the Anthony Award. It ranks #887 of the 3,057 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 74.7 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Mystic River about?
When they were boys in a blue-collar Boston neighborhood, Sean Devine, Jimmy Marcus and Dave Boyle were friends, until a strange car pulled up and one of them got in. Twenty-five years later, a savage killing brings them together again, as a detective, a grieving father and a suspect.
How long does it take to read Mystic River?
About 12 hours (478 pages), or about 3 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What awards has Mystic River won?
Anthony Award winner (2002).
What should I read after Mystic River?
If you liked it, try Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane, Gone, Baby, Gone by Dennis Lehane or The Silence of the Lambs by Thomas Harris.