The original short story was much better. I'm a big Lehane fan, and frankly I'm disappointed that he did a novelization to capitalize on Gandolfini's death. That's how I see it anyway. It worked much better as a short story. All he did was add some fluff.

As far as the film, they should have left it in Boston. Because Lehane IS Boston. Check out his Kenzie-Gennaro PI series and you'll see what I mean.