A Drink before the War
A Drink before the War
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1994
Book Brief
351
Novel • Fiction
Boston, Massachusetts • 1990s
1994
Adult
18+ years
Super Short Summary
In Dennis Lehane's 1994 crime novel, A Drink before the War, private investigators Patrick Kenzie and Angie Gennaro are hired by politicians to find missing documents, but their investigation leads them into a complicated gang war and the exposure of a child abuse case, complicating their personal struggles and revealing how public and private lives intersect. This novel includes child abuse and gang violence.
Gritty
Suspenseful
Dark
Mysterious
Challenging
Reviews & Readership
50,143 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Review Roundup
Dennis Lehane’s A Drink before the War has been praised for its gritty, engaging storytelling and well-developed characters. Readers appreciate the book's suspenseful, fast-paced plot and realistic portrayal of urban life. Criticisms include occasional predictability and reliance on genre tropes. Overall, it's a compelling read for crime fiction enthusiasts.
Who Should Read A Drink before the War?
Fans of gritty, urban crime dramas and morally complex narratives will enjoy A Drink before the War by Dennis Lehane. Comparable to Richard Price’s Clockers and George Pelecanos’s The Night Gardener, this novel appeals to readers who appreciate vivid, atmospheric settings and deep dives into societal issues.
50,143 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
351
Novel • Fiction
Boston, Massachusetts • 1990s
1994
Adult
18+ years
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