Mystic River by Dennis Lehane: A crime novel that goes thematically deep.

4.5/5. A great crime/thriller novel that goes far beyond its substance to give the reader a lot to reflect on by the end of the novel. At the heart of the novel, I think this is about childhood trauma and how that it deeply affects people, from the way they interact with others, how they feel about themselves, decisions they make, careers, perspectives on life, and so much more. The three main characters who are friends in childhood all share in a particular experience that deeply affects them. While you could easily read this as just an interesting crime novel, thematically speaking this book has a lot to offer. Besides dealing primarily with childhood trauma, Mystic River also deals with themes of justice, masculinity, vengeance, responsibility and how life events can push people one direction or another, violence and its effects on communities, fixating on the past and its effect on the present, loyalty, and more. I particularly appreciated Lehane not pulling any punches with this one. He presents the story in a mostly believable manner and there are no get out of jail free cards for anyone. Great book, easily recommended.