Mystic River

The layered storytelling kept me hooked, but I wonder if the pacing of revealing their histories was a deliberate choice or evolved during writing.

The moral ambiguities made me question whether the characters' actions were justified or influenced by their pasts. Would love to hear others' thoughts on this.

The mood is so intense and foreboding—I'm curious whether Lehane aimed to reflect the harsh realities of the characters' lives or if it was more about creating suspense.