Live By Night by Dennis Lehane

Kat Collins
Jul 28
3 min read

Updated: Aug 28

Overview of "Live by Night"

"Live by Night" is a historical crime novel that takes us back to the 1920s. We follow Joe Coughlin, the son of a Boston cop, who ends up getting tangled up in the organized crime scene. The story kicks off with Joe being a bit of a rebel, going against his dad's wishes and diving into a life of crime during the days of Prohibition.

Plot Overview

Joe kicks things off as a small-time thief but soon climbs the ladder in the criminal scene. He gets mixed up with the Italian mob and eventually heads to Ybor City, Florida, where he sets up his own bootlegging scheme. As he dives deeper into this risky world, Joe has to deal with rival gangs, cops on his tail, and his own moral struggles along the way.

Themes

The book dives into some pretty relatable topics like loyalty, betrayal, and the tricky nature of morality, especially in a world where right and wrong aren’t always clear-cut. It also takes a look at the American Dream and what it really costs to chase after ambition and success.

Character Development

As the story unfolds, Joe goes from being a wild young guy to someone who could pass as an upstanding businessman. He starts to really think about his choices and what happens because of them. His interactions with others, like his love interests and fellow criminals, show the personal and social struggles he's dealing with along the way.

My Thoughts

"Live by Night" is a thrilling story about crime, ambition, and the pursuit of power, all set during a tumultuous period in American history.

I’m seriously obsessed with this book. The storytelling was fantastic, and the attention to detail is next level. As someone who grew up in Tampa, I really connected with all the places he described. I knew every spot he mentioned—Tampa, Sarasota, St. Pete... and even a shoutout to my hometown of Valrico, which completely blew my mind! The roads, the buildings, the restaurants, the cigar factories—they all came alive in my head as I read. I could almost hear the city sounds and smell the delicious food from my favorite places. He even nailed the detail about the Lector being the most sought-after job in the factories, which is such an amazing part of our local history that a lot of people overlook. Honestly, it blew my mind. I have old photos my grandfather took of Ybor during the time this book is set, and as he described things, I could picture those black-and-white images so clearly. I am so grateful for the way he delved into this city's beautiful and not-so-beautiful history.

Beyond the setting, the story is super complex and layered. There are so many characters popping in and out, each with their own backgrounds and motivations—some you’ll love, and others you’ll love to hate. Lehane really knows how to write people in a way that feels genuine and relatable. I feel like I could stroll around Ybor and bump into Joe or Dion, not just passing by, but actually sit down and share a Café Con Leche with them, chatting about life and their experiences. His characters are so well-written that they practically jump off the page. He’s a brilliant writer, and his ability to create such depth in his characters is truly impressive.

I can’t even begin to tell you how much I loved this book! This is the third one I’ve read by Lehane, and I absolutely love his writing style. Each book feels like a fresh adventure, and he has this amazing knack for crafting stories that pull you in right from the start. His writing isn’t just straightforward; it’s rich and vivid, creating images that stick with you long after you’ve finished reading.

If you’re into mobster stories, you absolutely have to read this. The plot is packed with thrilling twists and turns that keep you on the edge of your seat, making it impossible to put the book down. But even if mobster tales aren’t usually your thing, if you love a book that can take you to a place you’ve never been, this one’s for you. Lehane’s storytelling crosses genre lines, inviting everyone to dive into the rich mix of emotions and events that unfold in its pages.

I wish I could read this for the first time all over again! Discovering each layer of the story, the excitement of the unexpected, and the joy of connecting with the characters are feelings that are hard to replicate. There’s something truly special about that first encounter with a book that hits home, and I find myself wishing for that initial spark of excitement and discovery. This book has left a lasting impression on me.

If you would like a copy for yourself, you can click on the Amazon links below:

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