Shutter Island CD : A Novel

Rating:
Summary: Excellent thriller
Review: Let me say this right up front: Dennis Lehane is one of my favorite authors! I have read all of his books, and uniformly enjoyed every one of them. This latest work is no exception, even though it takes him in a far different direction than his previous works. This is a moody, atmospheric thriller, which leaves the reader guessing all the way through it, and then ends with the reader gasping in shock and surprise at the ending. I don't even want to go into the plot at all, for fear that I might inadvertently leave some tip as to what is happening in the book. All that I can say is that, if you enjoy good writing, with an extremely complicated and, at times, confusing (but never untrue to the storyline) plot, with characters you will grow to identify with, you should read this book. I guarantee that you will not be disappointed.

Rating:
Summary: WOW
Review: Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane is one of the top psychological, mystery thrillers I have ever read. I was totally caught up in the tragic story of Teddy Daniels and his deceased wife and the mission to Shutter Island. The relationship between the two U.S. marshals, Teddy and Chuck, was intricate,yet, very realistic. The Ashcliffe Mental Facility was a perfect evocation of mental health treatment in the pre-medication 1950's. Plenty of clues are sprinkled throughout the story, yet just when I thought I had it figured out, the ending threw me for a loop. Excellent, I highly recommend this novel.

Rating:
Summary: Enjoyable but easily solved
Review: As you can always expect with Dennis Lehane, this story has three dimensional characters and a great setting -- eerie and mysterious. However, you don't have to have experience as a WWII decoder to figure out who the mystery man really is - well before the ending. I'd say by page 200 you should have a pretty good idea of what's going on. Other than that, a good read during a hurricane.

Rating:
Summary: Best Yet
Review: I love Lehane's stuff, but this one is exponentially better than the rest. Simply put - the best book I've read in a decade.

Rating:
Summary: Best book I've read in a while
Review: This is a terrific book with a great twist at the end.
I plan to get Dennis Lehane's other books. This is not your average mystery/thriller. I literally couldn't put it down. Buy it and enjoy!

Rating:
Summary: Spooky, Sad, Fantastic Read
Review: I was initially disappointed that Lehand had deviated from his Boston detective duo twice in a row (following Mystic River), but a few sentences into Shutter island, I forgot all about Patrick and Angie. The writing is atmospheric and spooky, and while those who've read many thrillers (or seen many film thrillers) may figure out the twist early on, the development of the characters and the quality of the writing prevent any disappointment. My only word of warning and something of a spoiler - don't expect the standard happy ending.

Rating:
Summary: A Different Lehane - Again
Review: First there were the noir detective books. Then "Mystic River", which was 70-80% different. "Shutter Island" is a 100% switch from either of those. I was fortunate enough to purchase mine at a book signing where Lehane answered questions for about an hour. He has taught writing extensively and is a very patient, cordial and articulate inverview (not all writers speak well). Lehane said something that helps understand all his work, but especially this one. He said his stories are about people who strive and strive for what they want, only to wind up with what they need instead, and is makes their soul whole. "Shutter Island" is a very tight (we know what the main character, Teddy, knows - period), freightening story. Still, Lehane laces his outstanding literary skills and fantastic story line with his usual humorous passages, and his wonderful, punchy descriptive metapors. "Shutter Island" is not literally a haunted castle story. All the characters are "real" (human) and there are no ghosts or other-world beings. But it is absolutely, positively the best haunted castle tale I have ever read. This book goes on my list of all-time favorites.

Rating:
Summary: Mind Bending
Review: Best way I can describe is mind bending and disturbing. In Mystic River, Lehane dealt with a lot of moral ambiguity and gray areas. In Shutter Island, the question is whose reality and set of facts to believe. Any description of the plot would give too much away. You won't be able to put this down but if you like nice, tidy endings this is not for you. Lehane is simply a great, unique writer.

Rating:
Summary: Very disappointing!
Review: Coming after Mystic River, this is a big disappointment. I found it tedious and by the time I reached the conclusion I no longer cared what reality was. Dennis Lehane is a terrific author, but this book is not up to his standards.

Rating:
Summary: No Man is an Island???
Review: That this book comes from the same pen as the charming and throughly enjoyable series starring Pat and the Gang is amazing...I found Shutter Island to be pretentious, boring, confusing; there were few, if any redeeming qualities. It was not the good story told well that i have come to expect from this author. Bring back Pat and the gang in another excellent story told well.

C. Williams
Edgewater, NJ