The Given Day (Coughlin #1)
by Dennis Lehane
The Given Day by Dennis Lehane holds a highly rated rating of 4.03 out of 5, based on 16.5K reader ratings. First published in 2008. The book spans 704 pages.
About The Given Day
Set in Boston at the end of the First World War, New York Times best-selling author Dennis Lehane's long-awaited eighth novel unflinchingly captures the political and social unrest of a nation caught at the crossroads between past and future. The Given Day tells the story of two families—one black, one white—swept up in a maelstrom of revolutionaries and anarchists, immigrants and ward bosses, Brahmins and ordinary citizens, all engaged in a battle for survival and power.Beat cop Danny Coughlin, the son of one of the city's most beloved and powerful police captains, joins a burgeoning union movement and the hunt for violent radicals. Luther Laurence, on the run after a deadly confrontation with a crime boss in Tulsa, works for the Coughlin family and tries desperately to find his way home to his pregnant wife.Here, too, are some of the most influential figures of the era—Babe Ruth; Eugene O'Neill; leftist activist Jack Reed; NAACP founder W. E. B. DuBois; Mitchell Palmer, Woodrow Wilson's ruthless Red-chasing attorney general; cunning Massachusetts governor Calvin Coolidge; and an ambitious young Department of Justice lawyer named John Hoover.Coursing through some of the pivotal events of the time—including the Spanish Influenza pandemic—and culminating in the Boston Police Strike of 1919, The Given Day explores the crippling violence and irrepressible exuberance of a country at war with, and in the thrall of, itself. As Danny, Luther, and those around them struggle to define themselves in increasingly turbulent times, they gradually find family in one another and, together, ride a rising storm of hardship, deprivation, and hope that will change all their lives.
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Author | Dennis Lehane |
| Published | 2008 |
| Pages | 704 |
| Genres | Historical Fiction, Fiction, Mystery & Thriller, Mystery & Thriller, Mystery & Thriller |
| Average Rating | 4.03 / 5.00 |
| Total Ratings | 16,528 |
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Frequently Asked Questions
What genre is The Given Day?
The Given Day is categorized as Historical Fiction, Fiction, Mystery & Thriller, Mystery & Thriller. Its primary genre classification is Mystery & Thriller.
Is The Given Day worth reading?
Based on 16.5K reader ratings, The Given Day has an average score of 4.03 out of 5.00, which is considered "Highly Rated."
How many pages is The Given Day?
The Given Day has 704 pages. It is a longer read suited for dedicated readers.
Who wrote The Given Day?
The Given Day was written by Dennis Lehane. It was first published in 2008.
What is the ISBN for The Given Day?
The ISBN-13 for The Given Day is 9780688163180.0.
Data sourced from community book ratings and reviews. Last updated: April 15, 2026
