Moonlight Mile by Dennis Lehane is the sixth and final book in the Kenzie and Gennaro detective series. It offers a hopeful farewell that tries to balance the light and dark sides of human nature.

Moonlight Mile serves as a sequel to the series’ best entry, Gone, Baby, Gone, the only book in the series to receive a film adaptation. In that novel, four-year-old Amanda McCready went missing, and Kenzie and Gennaro were hired to bring her back. During the case, however, they were forced to confront a painful question: what if she was better off away from her drunken, neglectful mother? The fallout from that decision split the detectives apart for a time. Now, 12 years later, Amanda is 16 and missing once again.

This case is far more emotional, forcing the detectives to confront whether they regret their past decisions. The mystery itself, though, is too straightforward and lacks the masterful twists I expect from Lehane. I kept waiting for a major final reveal. There is a small twist, but it functions more as a character reveal than a case-changing development.

Moonlight Mile often feels like a greatest-hits retrospective. Familiar faces from earlier books reappear, but mostly as cameos rather than essential parts of the story.

The pacing, as in the rest of the series, is solid. Even though this was the book I cared least about, the pages kept turning thanks to Lehane’s sharp dialogue.

Bubba, my favorite side character, is largely sidelined and away from the case, which was disappointing after his expanded role in the previous book.

The ending has some exciting moments, but it lacks the complexity and surprises of earlier installments.

Moonlight Mile was first published on November 2, 2010, by William Morrow.

Why did I read Moonlight Mile by Dennis Lehane?

This is the final book in the excellent Kenzie and Gennaro series and a reread for me. While revisiting the series, one book I originally rated two stars jumped up to four stars and became my second favorite. Moonlight Mile was another of my lowest-ranked entries, so I hoped a second read would improve my opinion.

Edit: it did not. If anything, it may have been worse.

Plot Summary:

Twelve years after Kenzie and Gennaro found missing four-year-old Amanda McCready, she disappears again. Her neglectful mother, Helene, denies anything is wrong, even after Amanda’s aunt contacts the police. Because the first case involved corruption within the department, the police want nothing to do with the situation. If the mother claims Amanda is fine, that is good enough for them.

The aunt once again turns to Patrick Kenzie for help. He is reluctant due to the backlash from the original case, which nearly destroyed his partnership and left him at odds with law enforcement. Patrick is also close to leaving private investigation behind for a job with a law firm. After talking with Angie Gennaro, however, he agrees to take the case.

What I Liked:

The witty dialogue remains the highlight of this book and the entire series. Even if it is slightly weaker here, Lehane is still one of the best dialogue writers in the genre. Patrick’s ability to find humor in terrible situations is always entertaining.

The opening scene is strong. It has little connection to the main case but showcases how well Patrick and Angie work together. It also highlights why Patrick struggles to land the law firm job.

Bubba is my favorite side character. He barely appears, but when he does, it is memorable.

There is an extended interrogation scene with the father of another missing girl that stands out. As Patrick and Angie peel back his façade, the truth about him is revealed in a tense and compelling exchange.

The final scene is exciting, and I appreciated how Lehane closed Patrick’s character arc. It truly feels like the end for these characters.

What I Disliked:

The mystery is too easy to solve. There is an explanation for why it unfolds that way, but it feels more like an excuse than a satisfying narrative choice.

I could never get a clear sense of the character Dre. Despite being important to the story, he was difficult to grasp or visualize.

There is only a minor twist at the end. Lehane is known for powerful reveals, and this book feels noticeably lacking in that department.

Despite being the second-shortest book in the series, it feels bloated with filler. Many scenes come across as check-ins with past characters rather than meaningful contributions to the case.

Recommendation:

Moonlight Mile is the only weak link in an otherwise excellent detective series. It was written 11 years after the previous book, and that gap shows. Lehane’s style, reminiscent of Elmore Leonard, still delivers sharp dialogue and grounded villains with real-world problems. Fans of Leonard would likely enjoy the series overall.

I recommend Moonlight Mile only for completists. Read books one through five and stop there. I strongly recommend the Kenzie and Gennaro series as a whole, just not this final installment.

Rating:

Moonlight Mile by Dennis Lehane
2 out of 5 stars

I will be doing a full ranking of the Kenzie and Gennaro series soon.