SMALL MERCIES by Dennis Lehane >> Lehane has hinted this might be his last novel--tune in to hear why the crime thriller works so well in his hands.

Weirdly, amazon added the subtitle "A Detective Mystery" to Small Mercies. When one of the best things about this book is that it's NOT a detective at the center. You all know this genre isn't my usual fare, but Lehane's historical focus, together with his excellent prose, and dialogue (plus plot, duh) made this so satisfying to dive into.