World Gone By: A Novel

This is a fitting conclusion to the "Joe Coughlin Trilogy" (although he plays only a small part in the first book, The Given Day). This is a great read, with (be advised) a little sex, but plenty of crime, intrigue, and violence. Joe's story reaches its conclusion, and I would describe it as satisfying - although I'll miss him! I think that Live By Night is the best of the three volumes - but all are great novels, and very enjoyable writing. Well done, Dennis Lehane!

If you enjoy Dennis Lehane's writing this book will not disappoint. Everyone is going to tell you the high elements of the plot and I am not going to repeat those. If this is your first Lehane book then you might be at a bit of a loss at first because there is a back story here - Joe's father and his early life growing up in Boston, his move to Tampa and his rise in the underworld there, the death of his wife etc. t would be better to start with book one and work you way through the entire series of three. But you can still enjoy the story for what it is. Lehane writes well. His characters are well thought out and they come off the page and into your life. They re not one dimensional and his writing is rich in detail. You come to a point where you root for Joe who lives in a seedy world of crime bosses, prejudice and corruption and even as he actively and willfully participates in the vice and violence of his world, you root for him and his struggle to remain a human with some dignity in a world where humanity and dignity are very much in short supply. Joe Coughlin is a nuanced human being. You want to like him. You want him to do well and become a great person. The kind you would want to be your friend. You want to go to the Columbia Restaurant in Ybor City and sit down to some Cuban sandwiches and maybe some fried plantains with the man and spend the afternoon drinking and talking about life. So hop in and enjoy

What more can be said about Dennis Lehane except one of the better fiction writers starting with Mystic River. I think this is the fifth book I have read by him. For entertainment value, right there with Elmore Leonard.

The story continues in Ybor City fast forward ten years. Although Joe is semi-retired from mob biz, plenty of action and intrigue will
keep the reader turning pages. Lehane has done it again in fine fashion. The story can stand alone, but one might consider reading
the previous Live By Night for better character understanding.

Really a great read. The characters were well developed and the story line was great. Although it was the third in a series it was not really necessary to have read the earlier books to keep up with the story and characters. I liked the fact the old mafia guys were brought in to the story.

Amazing that this was written by the same man who wrote Mystic River and Given Day, to name only two. The plot of this book was beyond trite, and the dialogue was unbelievable. Lehane didn't hit the mark with this one.

"The Given Day" is the first in the Coughlin family series and it is easily the best of the three. That said, the #2 book, "Live By Night," like "World Gone By (#3), is a must -read for Lehane newbies, including myself. Lehane's prose is lucid and captivating. I'm hooked on his stories.

Nice to visit again with Joe Coughlin but a little too much of a "wrapped up pretty and tied in a bow ending" with a wide open gate for a 4th book.. I am thinking in #4 the step brothers Tomas and the mayors wife baby either are in the circuit together or opposed to each other on either side of he law? .....

Loved the Coughlin series and LeHane did no disappoint on this one. Carefully woven love story within the backdrop of prohibition in Florida and Cuba. The last 50 pages truly make this one of the best endings ever. Kudos for LeHane and can't wait for his next book.

Well, it's the last of the trilogy. Well written and readable it ties the loose ends together and is worth the time. Being from the Tampa area the insights to the past are also appreciated. Good book for the beach, better if you read the first two.

I have followed Joe Coughlin in 3 novels. Felt like I watched him grow from a bit to a man. Felt his anger, fear, lust, disrepair, need, etc. Dennis Lehane did not fail to deliver with this novel. Without giving away too much, a must read for all his fans.

I know you should read books in their series order, but I'm so glad I didn't this time. I got the full flavor of nostalgia, the settling of old problems and worries that an older person gets, and the wonderful picture of Tomas, the main character's son. Everything is here, you don't need to have read the others to understand this character. Old Florida was also artfully done. A triumph. (In fact, when I went back and read the one just before this in the series, I was disappointed--the love interest is much better in retrospect than in the present.)

Dennis Lehane never disappoints! The moral of this gangster tale is that no one lives forever. Eventually your luck runs out. Joe Coughlin is a likeable gangster. The story flows like a river and is wonderful like a great bourbon! Sit back and enjoy.

I always look forward to reading novels by LeHane and always give 5 stars, but only 4 for World Gone By. In the last couple chapters the story seemed to wander and I thought not up to his usual gift of getting the reader fully involved in the story. Still a good book and does not blunt my eagerness to read LeHane.

This book wraps up Joe Coughlin's story so beautifully. Thank you, Dennis Lehane, for an unforgettable reading experience. Don't start with this book: Go back and read the first in the series, The Given Day, and read all three in order (Live by Night is in the middle). You will not be disappointed.

Having relatives in Tampa was my principal interest in this book. The story itself is a ho hum potboiler, but the author's familiarity with the geography of Tampa, and the history of mob there, is quite amazing. Good "beach book."

I found this novel gripping and engaging. I didn't read the two previous books in the trilogy but felt that this was a wonderful stand-alone novel.
Although the lead character, Joe, is a coldblooded killer ,he is also a loving father and loyal friend and the author makes you care about him... In the beginning of the book, you find out someone has ordered a contract hit against Joe. the rest of this page turner has the reader guessing is it read, why was this ordered and will it succeed.
I have been a fan of the author since his Shelter Island and Mystic River days. He sure can write!

Perfect storytelling start to finish.

I'm working my way through everything this author has ever written. Love history, and the way he makes it come alive through the characters I know as if I'd lived next door to them.

A classic Lehane novel which while not great does not disappoint this reader. For me a five star rating warrants a different discussion than the present four since a five star rating would denote a classic. There is suspense, action and a reasonable plot with real characters to live with. Enough said.

Dennis Lehane writes well. I read all three books in this series one after the other. They kept my interest the whole way. Clearly developed characters, good descriptions, good plot, though very violent. Good reads all of them.

The author finds a way to make characters that are really bad immoral people totally compelling. You make not like these guys but I found them fascinating. Nothing is contrived and some of the out comes are stunning. Loved this book.

WORLD GONE BY: A NOVEL (COUGHLIN SERIES BOOK 3)

The third installment in Lehane's "Coughlin" series certainly does not disappoint. Full of surprises, twists and turns that will keep you on the edge of your seat, this novel is set during an important time in history, and will transport you to a different world. I would highly recommend this series as It's a perfect mix of history and fiction.

A climatic and dramatic follow up after Live By Night. Lehane keeps you on the edge of your seat from page one to the end. A book that is hard to put down as you follow the continued journey of Joe Coughlin from Boston to Tampa to Cuba in the heyday of the mob. Lehane knows how to bring a page and characters to life. Rivals "The Godfather" trilogy!

Very heavy with details i.e. Unit numbers and commanders, etc.
Most significant difference between previous reportage of Normandy.....The German soldiers, on the line, were superior to Allied, especially American ground troops. But for superior close-air support and artillery, the Allied offensive might have stalled in France.

Big change for Dennis Lehane's other Boston based novels. It took me a while to warm up to what I was "used to", but sometimes change is a good thing. Great writing, pace, and an overall excellent book.

An interesting but not riveting look at the inner workings of the mob in Fla. during WWII. The main character is surprisingly like able for a gangster, but the ending was predictable to anyone who has ever watched a mob movie.

Dennis Lehane wraps up his entertaining and somewhat historical Coughlin trilogy... IMO Lehane writes some of the best fiction out there nowadays, and this book is no exception... If you like Lehane, you won't be disappointed...

This is the best Dennis Lehane yet. The Joe Coughlin series is wonderful. I have read all Dennis Lehane's books. I hope they don't make a movie because the casting director hasn't read the book or favors are called in.

Complicated interrelationships among the characters, with significant violent resolution of conflicts. Hard to identify with main character. Easiest to identify with his son who is 10 years old. Ending was less than satisfying.

Complicated interrelationships among the characters, with significant violent resolution of conflicts. Hard to identify with main character. Easiest to identify with his son who is 10 years old. Ending was less than satisfying.

Having lived in Boston for many years I have loved Dennis Lehane's other novels and looked forward to reading WGB. But w/ few exceptions I found WGB predictable and dull. I hope Mr Lehane will consider taking his prodigious story telling talent back
to Boston.

For such a dark episode in our history, the author made the time and characters come to life. I almost felt sorry for Joe Coughlin, the main character, but I had to realize that he was not a very nice person himself. A good read!