Dennis Lehane Books In Order

Dennis Lehane is New York Times Bestselling author of  Shutter Island and Mystic River (both which were made into movie with Sean Penn, Tim Robbins, and Kevin Bacon, and Leonardo Di Caprio respectively), however, the author has written several other worthwhile books, including his Kenzie & Gennaro series and the Coughlin series.

Here is the list of the Dennis Lehane books in order for his entire writing library.

Latest Dennis Lehane Books

Kenzie and Gennaro Books in Publication Order

1. A Drink Before the War, 1994
2. Darkness, Take My Hand, 1996
3. Sacred, 1997
4. Gone, Baby, Gone, 1998
5. Prayers for Rain, 1999
6. Moonlight Mile, 2010

Coughlin Books in Publication Order

1. The Given Day, 2008
2. Live by Night, 2012
3. World Gone By, 2015

Dennis Lehane Standalone Novels in Order of Publication

• Mystic River, 2001
• Shutter Island, 2003
• The Drop, 2014
• Since We Fell,  2017
• Small Mercies, 2023

Akashik Noir Series Contribution in Order of Publication

• Boston Noir, 2009
• Boston Noir 2, 2012

Short Story Collections

• Coronado, 2006

Anthologies and Contributions in Order of Publication

• The Mighty Johns, 2002
• The Best American Mystery Stories 2010, 2010
• Mystery Writers of America Presents Vengeance, 2012
• In Pursuit of Spenser: Mystery Writers on Robert B. Parker and the Creation of an American Hero, 2012
• USA Noir, 2013 (Akashik Noir, with Johnny Temple)
• FaceOff, 2014
• Trouble in the Heartland: Crime Fiction Based on the Songs of Bruce Springsteen, 2014
• The Best American Mystery Stories 2015, 2015 (edited by James Patterson and Otton Penzler)
• Exit Wounds, 2019 (edited by Paul Kane and Marie O’Regan)

Dennis Lehane Biography – About the Author

Dennis Lehane was born on August 4, 1965, in Dorchester, Massachusetts, and grew up in a working-class Irish Catholic family. His father worked as a supervisor for Sears and Roebuck, and his mother worked at a school cafeteria in Boston. His parents divorced when he was young, and he was raised primarily by his mother in the tough neighborhoods of Boston.

As a child, Dennis Lehane loved reading, especially books by authors such as Raymond Chandler and Dashiell Hammett. While reading crime novels, he became fascinated with the criminal underworld. He attended Boston College High School and then got a degree in English and creative writing. After college, he worked as a counselor for abused children and a freelance writer for a local newspaper.

Dennis Lehane’s first novel, A Drink Before the War, was published in 1994 and introduced his series characters Patrick Kenzie and Angela Gennaro, private investigators based in Boston. He then followed up with four more novels featuring Kenzie and Gennaro, including Darkness, Take My Hand, and Sacred. There is also the Graphic novel Shutter Island that the author published soon after.

In addition to his book list of series of novels, Dennis Lehane has also written several standalone novels, including Mystic River, published in 2001, which was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize and was adapted into an Academy Award-winning film directed by Clint Eastwood. Dennis Lehane’s novel Shutter Island, published in 2003, about an asylum for the criminally insane, also became a major movie directed by Martin Scorsese and starring Leonardo DiCaprio.

Dennis Lehane’s novels often deal with crime, corruption, and themes of redemption set in Boston’s working-class neighborhoods.

In an interview with The Guardian, he said, “Being a writer is hard. You have to be willing to fail, and fail a lot. You have to be willing to be alone, and to doubt yourself, and to work harder than you ever thought possible.” Dennis Lehane has also been vocal about his struggles with addiction and his commitment to becoming and staying sober.

In recent years, the author has continued to write novels, including Live by Night, Since We Fell, and Small Mercies. He also often spoke out about important issues such as gun violence and income inequality.

While most authors are best known for their mystery series (e.g., the author duo Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child are best known for their Pendergast series and less for their standalone books written by each separately, or Vince Flynn for his Mitch Rapp series rather than his standalone novel), Dennis Lehane is best known for his two standalone books.

One reason is that they are both made into two popular movies, however, I find it a pity not to read his series as well, which make some fascinating stories.

There is lots of violence and terror in these books, and some of the descriptions of what the killers do to their victims often make people even stop reading for a while. However, the author is also known for his gallows humor that comes through the books, and the vivid descriptions of everything Boston-related.

In addition to his novels, Dennis Lehane has also written for television, including the HBO series The Wire and Boardwalk Empire. He has also worked as a screenwriter and has adapted several of his own novels for the screen. He also received several awards, including the Shamus Award, the Edgar Award, and the Massachusetts Book Award. In 2013, he was awarded the Barnes & Noble Writers for Writers Award in recognition of his contributions to the writing community. His short story collection Coronaro was selected for The Best Mystery Short Stories and The Best American Short Story.

Dennis Lehane Awards and Nominations

• Darkness, Take My Hand – Dilys Awards Best Book nominee in 1997
• Sacred – Dilys Awards Best Book nominee in 1998
• Sacred – Shamus Awards Best Novel nominee in 1998
• Gone, Baby, Gone – Anthony Awards Best Novel nominee in 1999
• Gone, Baby, Gone – Barry Award Best Novel winner in 1999
• Gone, Baby, Gone – Shamus Awards Best Novel nominee in 1999
• Prayers for Rain – Shamus Awards Best Novel nominee in 2000
• Mystic River – Anthony Awards Best Novel winner in 2002
• Mystic River – Barry Award Best Novel winner in 2002
• Mystic River – Macavity Awards Best Novel nominee in 2002
• Shutter Island – Anthony Awards Best Novel nominee in 2004
• Moonlight Mile – Dilys Awards Best Book nominee in 2011
• Live by Night – Edgar Awards Best Novel winner in 2013
• Since We Fell – Dagger Awards Best Book nominee in 2018