Gone, Baby, Gone: A Novel by Dennis Lehane Search Amazon for other books by or about Dennis Lehane. Rating: Reviewed by: Luke Croll

This is the fourth novel to star private detectives Patrick Kenzie and Angela Gennaro. They are hired to find the missing Amanda McCready, as the police have found nothing. The case is very peculiar and as the summer fades, so do hopes of finding her. Suddenly, a second girl vanishes. Blocked at very turn, Kenzie and Gennaro realise that if they are not very careful, the secrets and lies that abound in the town could lead them in joining the ranks of the dead.

Dennis Lehane's novels have often been praised and this one is certainly not going to let him down. It is a rollercoaster ride from start to finish, with action, excitement, problems and a shocking ending that comes straight out of the blue. Indeed, the ending has taken some criticism from some people, but whatever happens, it will not fail to shock you. Lehane's characters, such as Patrick and Angie, go from strength to strength, being developed all the time. It is nice to see that Bubba is still going strong and at the same time, Lehane brings in new bad guys, meaner than before. I went through this book like a knife through butter, finishing it in about a day. It is incredibly easy to read and the plot does not disappoint. Being about child kidnapping and murder, it may put some people off, but there is no way that it will disappoint Lehane's growing legion of fans.

Lehane is one author who deserves a lot more respect than he gets, in the UK especially. In that country, "Gone, Baby Gone" was published as a paperback original whilst his next book, "Prayers For Rain" was already out in the US. It is time Lehane was put on an even footing with other authors and a hardback UK release. A blinding novel, probably his best to date.