Dennis Lehane Interview

Patrick Kenzie is missing and presumed dead.

No, it’s not the latest plot line for a Dennis Lehane whodunit. It’s a sad fact for the best-selling author. The character who helped him sell a million books and launch a bankable career just doesn’t speak to him anymore.

“At first, I was ready for a break and I took it for granted that I could go back to him when I felt like it,” Lehane said. “Then I tried to go back and I couldn’t do it. I’ve tried it a lot in the last nine years. I’ll say to people, ‘Man, I did not abandon those people. I would love to have them back.’ I’d love to do another one right now, just to have Patrick’s voice again.”

Like most people who have lost someone they love, Lehane has moved on. His latest, “The Given Day,” is a striking departure from the 43-year-old’s previous work, no matter the genre.

Dennis Lehane’s latest mystery: What’s next? – Yahoo! News.