In "Out of Dog," Elgin Bern knows the danger that lies between want and need. His friend, Blue, shows a love for killing and an obsession for a woman who will never return that love. Who will Elgin protect when Blue loses everything he wants and needs?

In "ICU," Daniel’s world slowly crumbles. Unnamed men pursue him for a crime he did not commit. Will Daniel regain his life when everyone presumes his guilt?

In "Mushrooms," an urban city gang plays a deadly game of tag. Drugs heighten the need for honor, and innocents die with the targeted. What turns bystanders into players?

In "Until Gwen," Bobby leaves jail with one person carved in his heart and mind: Gwen. His father, a cold-hearted con man, greets his son’s release with a ride, booze, a hooker, and a quest to find his stolen gem. Their future twists in a powerful struggle of greed, love, and lies.

In "Gone Down to Corpus," a high school quarterback watches his college career plunge with a missed play by his teammate. A divisional play-off would have guaranteed his college scholarship and a ticket out of poverty. Rage drives him straight to the clumsy and rich teammate.

"Coronado," a two-act play based on "Until Gwen," introduces three couples who confront hate, love, and greed. A patient and her psychiatrist dance around their sexual interlude and a lifetime of mistakes. A husband outlines the future while his wife looks to escape with her lover. A father and his son’s small talk surges with lies, greedy intentions, and lost loves.

Dennis Lehane is the well-known author of the Kenzie-Gennaro detective series, Mystic River, and Shutter Island. Lehane’s visceral writing pulses through the Coronado stories. He expertly slices human behavior, mixes the raw and gritty, and then presents unforgettable characters. Readers will enjoy the bold characters in "Out of Dog," "Gone Down to Corpus," and the striking second person narrative in "Until Gwen." I watched the powerful play, "Coronado," in Florida. I also enjoyed reading the emotional dialogue and its birth work in "Until Gwen." Buy Coronado for your friends -- you won’t want to lend your own copy.