1) Mystic River, by Dennis Lehane

Picked this up on a friend’s recommendation of the author last month, and I must say I was really impressed. Superficially it’s the story of a murder, and the links between the victim’s father, the investigating detective and the chief suspect, who were childhood friends; but it’s also a story of a Boston community, of families, of deep secrets and love and hate, with fascinating characters and a twist or two in the tail. Excellent stuff, and I will look out for more from Lehane.

Just about passes the Bechdel test, as we follow the victim’s final evening with her friends.