The Drop by Dennis Lehane

Published: January 1st 2014

Dennis Lehane returns to the streets of Mystic River with this love story wrapped in a crime story wrapped in a journey of faith—the basis for the major motion picture The Drop, from Fox Searchlight Pictures directed by Michaël Roskam, screenplay by Dennis Lehane, and starring Tom Hardy, Noomi Rapace, and James Gandolfini.

Three days after Christmas, a lonely bartender looking for a reason to live rescues an abused puppy from a trash can and meets a damaged woman looking for something to believe in. As their relationship grows, they cross paths with the Chechen mafia; a man grown dangerous with age and thwarted hopes; two hapless stick-up artists; a very curious cop; and the original owner of the puppy, who wants his dog back. . . .

This book began as a short story called Animal Rescue. Animal Rescue had its film rights purchased and led to the brilliant Dennis Lehane writing the screenplay, and then this novel/novella.

I am very eager to see the film. Past films based on Lehane’s work never truly did the books justice. Now, for a book to be based on a screenplay—it is going to be wickedly good.

The story is centered on Bob, whom is a seemingly harmless bartender who works at a bar once owned by his cousin Marv. The bar has transferred hands and is now owned owned by Chechen mob bosses who occasionally use it as a money drop for the day’s dirty business.

Bob’s quiet life takes an interesting turn when he saves an abused puppy from a trashcan. This leads him to meet Nadia, who becomes a pivotal character in the story. The bar is robbed one night he Chechen owners and a determined cop are pressing for answers from Bob.

For such a short read, only a few hundred pages, Lehane has crafted a brilliantly vivid neighborhood, rich with dynamic characters and believable drama.

Lehane is one of this generations best creative minds. His stories never disappoint.

I look forward to watching the film, The Drop and seeing these characters come to life on screen.