Wonderful book focusing on an Irish Catholic family in the turn of the century Boston. This family is held together by intrigue, molded by the molasses flood, joined in their hatred of anarchists and eventually defeated by their own ambitions. In their wake of destructive decisions they almost destroy a beautiful young immigrant trying to escape an abusive husband in Ireland, a young man running from gang crime in Chicago, and their own sons. Historically mentioned is Babe Ruth, The Great Molasses Flood, the Flu Pandemic of 1919. What impresses the most is Lehane uses his incredible story telling style to write this epic of a novel covering everything from the Boston Police Strike to the smallest interpersonal problem with equal intensity. Fans of his mysteries will not be disappointed with this latest novel. While there is no mystery to unravel the reader is satisfied watching the characters emotionally twist and turn their way out of the frying pan and into the fire. As a Bostonian I can only thank Lehane for finally delivering the "Manhattan" love story dedicated to a city that deserved it for a long time.