Mysteries by Lehane, Compton and Hall

I just read three mysteries by different authors. Prayers for Rain by Denis Lehane, The 37th Hour by Jodi Compton and Body Language by James W. Hall. Lehane is a phenomenal writer. I wrote down about thirty different lines that I really liked--very funny and brilliant. His descriptions of people are so original. One young woman looks like the type who irons her socks. Here's a description I like: "The green glass captured the sun glinting off the lake and then refracted it into the room in tiny beams so taht the entire cabin glowed the emerald of a tavern on St. Patrick's Day." The plot was nice and tricky with an ending that left the story ultimately unresolved just after you thought everything had been resolved. The bad guy gets away with his bad deeds, but the hero knows it and someday when the time is right he'll take care of it--or so he says.
Compton's book was very good, too. Compelling. And beautifully written. She's more literary than most mystery writers. Anyone who uses the word "sussurus" is working a notch above the rest of us. The ending of her book was also unresolved. I mean, the main mystery was resolved but then the reader is left wondering what will happen to the main character who could very easily get blamed for a murder she didn't commit. It's a great device--leaving you with a lurching thrill in your gut. Horror movies try for this effect, but I think they're mostly unsuccessful.
Hall has always been a writer I've liked. Body Language seems more cut and dry than some of his other work, but two real strengths I've noticed: dialogue and his main character's story. The main character in this book is a woman police photographer. Points for originality. She's also married to a real asshole which provides and interesting complication. And as I said, the dialogue in this book is really strong. It's interesting and different. One of the evildoers is a veritable encyclopedia on insect behavior. The dialogue is also very idiosyncratic.
I also read a few weeks earlier a book by Harlan Coben. He had the best villain in that book--believable and understandable while not being the least bit sympathetic.
I'm off to the library to get more tonight.