Rating: 
Summary: The Author Writes For Himself
Review: Lehane is a very very good writer. He uses his talent to construct a novel like July 4th fireworks that are beautiful and exciting. At the conclusion, however, the reader is left with ashes and an empty sky. I don't always need a happy ending but I also do not like hopeless ones or endings that are depressing. One is left with the impression that the author was very clever, leads one down a garden path, and then ultimately leaves one gutted. Lehane ought to use his talent to better effect than to simply dazzle us, let us taste everything, and then abandon us with our stomachs upset.
Rating: 
Summary: good light read
Review: Dennis Lehane is one of those writers whose books I buy on name recognition alone; I've read and enjoyed all his works. This one is no exception--but it is NOT one of his best.This book reminds me of the movie "A few good men"--you burn through a fast paced build up to a great finish, but while the finish may leave a good taste in your mouth you shouldn't forget the other 90% of the story. Suffice to say on second look there are some major holes in the plot. Once you read it, then go back through the plot, this story is more than a little bit far fetched. And without the far-fetched premise (think p. 209-210, for starters) you don't get the fantastic finish. All that being said, this is a good light read for the first time through--if this is a future screenplay I'm more than curious how they will make the ends tie together. All that being said, Lehane has a skill at dialogue and a writing style that is first-rate. I prefer his earlier stuff over this but it's still a good evening's read. When Mr. Lehane writes his next work I'll still be there with my $.
Rating: 
Summary: 4 1/2 stars unabridged audio
Review: What gave this novel the kick it needed was the excellent narration by Tom Stechschulte. He gave this very eerie story power. Dennis Lehane is a fine author but I think this novel ranks just a bit below his last. Highly recommended for the audio.
Rating:
Summary: This thriller keeps you going until the surprise ending
Review: Lehane's Shutter Island, is a fast-paced thriller but not in the league with his psychological thriller, Mystic River. Nevertheless the reader is plunged into a fascinating story set at a 1954-era mental hospital for the criminally insane on a lonely island. Two U.S. marshalls have been summoned to find an escaped mental patient, Rachel Solando, who drowned her three children in a lake behind her house. Marshalls Teddy Daniels and Chuck Aule start immediately to question patients and guards. They find a reluctance to help and evidence of the patients being coached on their answers. One of the patients scribbles in Daniels notebook "run" when the guards aren't looking. He also finds cryptic clues left behind by Rachel Solando and notes that he suspects involve some conspiracy about a missing patient. Daniels came on this mission with an ulterior motive,to find the inmate who set fire to his apartment house that resulted in the death of his wife. He suspects the man is being housed in Ward C, a lockdown for the most dangerous patients. A major hurricane hits the island and shuts down the electricity and thus all security. Daniels find more clues about Andrew Laeddis, the suspected arsonist and possibly the missing patient. A vanishing partner and no imminent escape routes from the island build suspense and keep you turning the pages. The clever surprise ending will have you rereading the book to look for the now obvious (in hindsight) clues.
Rating: 
Summary: Lehane gets better and better
Review: I've followed Dennis Lehane for most of his career, and find that he is best when not writing to a genre formula. As good as Mystic River was, Shutter Island will certainly up his reputation a few more notches. It has one surprise after another, and even when it becomes a bit predictable, it doesn't falter. I read it in two sittings, ( I am an admitted, but recovering insomniac.)and was not disappointed in the least.
Rating: 
Summary: Steer Clear of this Island
Review: Set in the summer of 1954, United States Marshall Teddy Daniels is assigned to an investigation involving Shutter Island, located just off the Massachusetts Coast. The island is the home of Ashecliffe Hospital for the Criminally Insane. In a variation of the classic locked room mystery problem, the Hospital staff has lost a patient. Somehow, Rachel Solando, responsible for murdering her three children by drowning them in a lake, escaped from her locked room and past the eyes of the not so vigilant guards and staff. Teddy and his partner Chuck Aule are sent in to investigate and find the missing patient who theoretically could not have escaped the island alive. What follows is a nightmarish world where reality and mental illness collide. Rumor has it that the Hospital is doing unethical, even for 1954, experiments on patients and engaged in a giant cover-up with links to the government and the Cold War. Teddy has been investigating the Hospital and its people for a long time and the missing Rachel Solando was a convenient excuse for him to get on the island. Once there, with a hurricane coming and no signs of Rachel Solando, it may prove impossible to leave. As one expects from Dennis Lehane, this is another dark and gritty novel. Usually that is his style along with a tight mystery, strong character development and plenty of action. His books maybe very dark at times, but usually for a reason and usually the book are good stuff. None of that applies to this effort. He is dark throughout the novel and there is some action to it. However, one does not expect such amazingly shallow character development along with contrived events like a hurricane coming towards the island. The actual cheap ending is amazingly contrived and considering all the shallowness of the novel, to be expected but leaves this reader feeling very cheated. That along with the overall depressing tone of the work, which deals extensively and graphically with mental illness, and some of the bizarre treatment methods of the past, makes this one to skip. This theme has been done better by others and simply is not even "good" under the standards set by Dennis Lehane in his earlier works.
Rating:
Summary: Do not peek at the ending!!!
Review: Our daughter read this book before I did, and she did peek ahead at the ending. It kind of spoiled the rest of the book for her. The final resolution to the story is so unexpected, that most people would not ever figure it out on their own. I am now anxious to read it again and see if there were any clues that I missed that would have lead me to anticipate the end. The writing was tight and fast-moving, and the book was hard to put down. I still feel that MYSTIC RIVER is better, but it was entirely different too. I've also read several of Lehane's Elvis Cole mysteries, and he has become one of my favorite authors.
Rating:
Summary: Excellant page turner
Review: While this book has little in common with the Kenzie/Gennaro novels or Mystic River, it does have the one thing that I've come to expect from Dennis Lehane - suspense. The excitement never stops in this well written novel. It was a great read and I'd highly recommend it.
Rating:
Summary: Couldn't read fast enough!!
Review: This was a wonderful mystery, full of unexpected twists and turns. I don't want to give away more than has already been described by others, so I will just say that, in addition to the fine mystery, I found especially nice the wonderful picture drawn of the early 1950s. Everything seems just right on target. Anyone who loves a good mystery, full of doubletakes, will love this book. The delimma that is mentioned in the book re the sorts of treatment, surgical vs drugs vs talk, has led to much discussion in my family. I will say, however, finally, that I did kind of guess the end before I was a dozen pages in. But that is not a reflection on the skills of the author -- I just have read lots of stories and there are only so many twists any plot can take. And the author gave exquisite little hints. I plan to read all his works!
Rating:
Summary: Incredible
Review: I have read all of Dennis Lehane's books, and he gets better and better with each outing. This book is incredibly hard to put down, and just when you think you have it figured out - you don't. Highly recommended.
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