Ten top novels for National Crime Reading Month

The UK-based Crime Writers' Association is now celebrating National Crime Reading Month. For the Waterstones blog ten CWA authors recommended one of their favorite page-turning reads. Catherine Kirwan's pick:

Mystic River by Dennis Lehane

Following the publication in April of Small Mercies, Dennis Lehane’s first book since 2017, I recommend revisiting this 2001 masterpiece. Mystic River tells the story of the far-reaching consequences for boyhood pals Sean Devine, Jimmy Marcus and Dave Boyle after one of them gets into a car and the other two don’t. Years later, when Jimmy’s daughter is murdered, the three former friends are drawn inexorably back together. Lehane’s characters live and breathe and suffer in a blue collar Boston so real it compels you to turn the pages.

Read about another entry on the list.

Mystic River is among Brian Lebeau's eight top New England psychological thrillers, James Lee Burke's six top books for aspiring novelists, and Tana French's top ten maverick mysteries.

--Marshal Zeringue