BOOK GROUPIE: 'Mystic River' a haunting work

Since I first read Dennis Lehane's "Mystic River" back in 2002, three of my children have celebrated their First Holy Communion.

The religious events have been beautiful and festive, but somewhere in the midst of them all, I've flashed back to a scene in "Mystic River."

One of the book's main characters, Jimmy Marcus, is at his youngest daughter's First Communion.

Jimmy is sitting in a church pew, worrying about his oldest daughter, Katie.

Katie hasn't shown up for her little sister's big day and Jimmy's wondering what could possibly be keeping Katie from attending such an important event.

In Jimmy's heart, he knows it's got to be something bad.

Ultimately, Jimmy must rely on the help of his childhood friend, Sean Devine, in the aftermath of Katie's disappearance.

Sean is a police detective assigned to Katie's case.

Also entrenched in the story is another childhood friend of Jimmy and Sean, Dave Boyle.

The three men are linked not just by memories of their youthful street shenanigans, but by a kidnapping incident that scarred them all.

While playing on the street as boys, Dave was abducted by men posing as police officers.

Ever since that fateful day, Jimmy, Sean and Dave are rooted in one another's thoughts.

However, it's not until Katie disappears that the three men are physically thrown together again.

"Mystic River" is firmly on my list of favorite books.

The writing is crisp and clean.

The emotional stakes are high.

The setting is superb.

The plot is believable, and the characters, though certainly flawed, are ones with whom I sympathize.

Lehane is a master storyteller.

In 2003, a movie was made based on "Mystic River," but I haven't seen it.

Most people who avoid book-based movies do so because they're concerned the movie won't be as good as the book.

I've avoided the "Mystic River" movie (for which Sean Penn and Tim Robbins both received Oscars), because I'm concerned it will be as good as the book; I don't know if I'd like all that raw emotion thrown at me through a screen.

Besides, after reading the book, I already have scenes from it playing in my mind.

Like all great books I've read, scenes from "Mystic River" have a way of sneaking into my life, even at First Communions.

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CONTACT THE WRITER: Anita Miller welcomes your book suggestions.

Read her blog at bookgroupie.freedomblogging.com or e-mail anita.l.miller@worldnet.att.net.