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Content snapshot
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Violence
A lot
A child is sexually abused (backstory); a teenager is murdered; graphic violence throughout
Language
A lot
Strong language throughout, consistent with working-class Boston setting
Sexual Content
Barely any
Brief sexual references
Substance Use
Barely any
Some alcohol use
Emotional Intensity
Very heavy
Profound psychological damage from childhood trauma; a devastating tragedy of misunderstanding and wrongful violence
What this book is about
In a working-class Boston neighborhood, three childhood friends—Jimmy, Sean, and Dave—are scarred forever when Dave is abducted and sexually abused by strangers one summer afternoon. Twenty-five years later, Jimmy's teenage daughter is found murdered, and their lives collide again in a tragedy of misunderstanding, grief, and terrible justice. Lehane's masterwork is a devastating exploration of how childhood trauma shapes every choice that follows.
Notes for sensitive readers
Reader-flagged moments and themes that may affect your experience.
Child sexual abuse (backstory)
Murder of a teenager
Graphic violence
A wrongful killing with devastating consequences
Reader Verification
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