Very well done thriller with an in depth cast of characters

Here we have a thriller with a large cast of suspects--3 teen agers and their parents as well as the teen murder victim's mother. I had to keep notes but in a compelling book such as this one it was not a chore for me. The in-depth characterizations were very well done which is quite an accomplishment considering the number of characters. I read a review comparing this book to Mystic River and I can see the similarity in that both books feature people in a small town involved in each other's lives and how a young girl's murder changes the dynamics of so many interconnecting relationships. The book really drew me in from beginning to end and I did not guess the ending although I was saddened by the demise of one particular character whom I grew to care about. I have not read this author's works in the past but will definitely read his future books.