The Drop

Dennis Lehane knows the world of working class Boston and uses that knowledge to build detail, wonderful descriptions that make you invest in the characters, but more than that, he shows compassion, for the failures, the bad decisions, the inevitable ruts that pass for the lives of those characters. You want to believe in them, because you want to believe in yourself.

Another excellent book by Dennis Lehane! The movie looks great, but the book just can't be better! Ignore any negative reviews and dive right in. If you enjoyed Shutter Island and Mystic River, you'll love this too....

Was hooked when I read Mystic River. The author weaves a good story with a special knack for character development. This one didn't disappoint. Looking forward to seeing the movie - though they don't usually measured up to the book. My advice: read the book even if you already have seen the movie.

I really liked this book. I saw the movie several times and wanted to read the book. I was not disappointed. The book goes along with the movie very closely. I love dogs so I was hooked at the beginning.

Not my favorite Lehane book. Few if any character has any redeeming features. Well, perhaps the dog is the only innocent. Bleak, dark story although in some ways it accurately reflects the reality of Boston's history.

A real page turner full of dark, mysterious people, makes one wonder how the author thinks this stuff up. The movie was just as good contrary to what is normally said; the book was better. Excellent job of casting, acting was excellent. I've been a big fan of Dennis Lehane for many, many years and this book only proves why. Well developed characters who live on the dark side of life, unscrupulous to say the least.

This is a tightly constructed work of story telling art, set in the Boston of gritty low bars. There are indelible characters, no wasted words- and action that comes at you like a locomotive.Breathtaking!

Not unlike the Low Lifes in Mystic River only this bunch are even lower. Lehane always tells a good story but it's a short read by today's standards. Interestingly enough the Copyrights for this book are owned by 21st Century Fox so we can expect a Movie. I think the writers of "Donovan" would make it into one episode.

The DROP was Lehane at his best. The characters were fascinating and as he portrays them, usually always twisted in some fashion;beaten down, co-opted, or subverted by evil, unconscionable characters or the dog-eat-dog world they live in. As is so often the case with Lehane's stories, its difficult to separate the good guys from the bad guys. I was so disappointed that the story wasn't longer. I've read the book and watched the movie and no doubt will do both again soon.

So good. Dennis Lehane created fully developed and deeply damaged characters and gave each a personal justification for his irrational and violent behavior. Hopefully Bob, like his dog, will learn to forgive and trust again. Brilliant. #MustRead

What a waste of my life. I read leasurely through the text, waiting for a plot, and then found that there wasn't one. I recommend this book to a Freshman Lit class because they can find symbolism in anything.

Typical Lehane stuff here albeit in a short story format. Simple enough tale and really it's all about the characters and the past that they bring along with them to the current day when the reader comes in. I read this in one sitting and thoroughly enjoyed it. For those lovers of the Kenzie and Gennaro books this will fit like an old pair of shoes.

I like the authors' previous books, this one left me cold and unsure of the message! Perhaps there isn't one and is the reader supposed to supply one? All in all, I think tried for style and not character development!

Saw the movie...wanted to read the book...very well written suspenseful story...takes place in a fairly detailed Boston..(don't understand why movie took place in a vague Brooklyn )...but that takes nothing away from the book

Lehane is an accomplished writer who has staked out his own territory in his niche. But there are, inherently, problems with a written word that is purposely aiming for translation onto the big screen. While the DaVinci Code springs to mind as being the poster child for that problem, such categorization isn't necessarily fair here, because Lehane really is a pretty good writer.

The Drop starts a little slow and the first few chapters feel a little ham-handed. The dialogue and the prose seem distracted for a while, and feels a bit like a poorly done self-pub. Once Lehane gets this story out of the gate and builds momentum, he finds his stride through most of the rest of the book. Even though the subject matter is a bit dark, the writing is light and airy, making The Drop a quick, competent read.

I really enjoyed this. Likely my favorite Lehane book yet. Short, subtle in places, tough in others. Great use of view point and characterization. Good pacing. Lehane comes in with lines and riffs that zip. Don't wait so long next time, Dennis.

As a resident of the greater Boston community, I felt that Lehane certainly captured the culture of Boston proper. This made the story line very real for me since I have friends who live in the area that serves as the setting for the plot. The twists and turns of the plot added to the enjoyment of this read. I have always been a fan of Lehane's work and this was no exception. I am looking forward to his next offering.