Rating: 
Summary: A Very Different, but Satisfying, Thriller
Review: I very rarely read books like SHUTTER ISLAND, but there was so much hype about this one, that I finally gave in. There is no doubt that it is well written, but for a long time I couldn't decide whether I liked the ending or whether I felt Lehane had not been "playing fair" with his readers. In the end, I decided he had been playing fair because, in all fairness to Lehane, there are clues about SHUTTER ISLAND'S ending scattered all through the book.
I didn't care for the prologue. Whenever I see a prologue, no matter how well written (and this one is very well written), I am skeptical of the author's ability to begin a book in medias res. That being said, the prologue of SHUTTER ISLAND works well and doesn't really detract from the book's pace.
The plot of SHUTTER ISLAND revolves around Teddy Daniels and Chuck Aule, two US Marshals whom we meet as they are taking the ferry from Boston to Shutter Island. Daniels is the more experienced of the two and, we learn, he does his job well, though he is plagued by migraines and haunted by the violent death of his wife two years earlier.
Throughout the book, there is a bad storm brewing and I think Lehane used this storm masterfully to create just the right atmosphere for his book. This is a very dark book and, had it taken place on a sunny day, the juxtaposition of light and dark would have detracted, rather than added, to the story.
The ferry is headed for Ashecliffe, a maximum security hospital for the criminally insane and it is there that the bulk of the action takes place. Presumably, Daniels and Aule have gone to Ashecliffe to look for an escaped mental patient named Rachel Solando (the name is very important). Another important thing to remember while reading SHUTTER ISLAND is that escape from it is all but impossible.
As the book continues, we learn a lot more about Daniels and the day his wife was murdered and slowly, the pieces begin to come together. I don't want to give away anything of the plot except to say that some readers are going to be shocked by the ending, some are going to feel cheated and some are going to be able to figure it out far before the last page. There are, after all, as I said, clues scattered all through the book.
The quality of the writing in SHUTTER ISLAND is very good, far above that of the typical mystery/thriller and the tone fit the book and its plot very well. Even though I thought SHUTTER ISLAND was a well written book, I doubt that I'll be visiting the genre again soon. It's just not my cup of tea. For those that do love suspense, however, and can tolerate an ending that is quite surprising, SHUTTER ISLAND more than delivers.
Rating:
Summary: In a league of his own!
Review: I love my job but never have I regretted its low wages as much as I do right now because after having read "Shutter Island" (my first Dennis Lehane experience) all I want to do is rush out and buy every single other book he has written. The story takes place in 1954 when two US. marshals arrive on Shutter Island off the Boston coast to investigate the inexplicable disappearance of one of the patients of the hospital for the criminally insane which is located on the island. The chief physician and the rest of the staff are unhelpful to say the least and the more that the two marshals look into the whole affair the stranger it all gets. Something is definitely not as it seems and perhaps their reason for going to the island isn't what it seems either...? Every time you think that you've got it figured out the story takes another turn and draws you in even further and you wouldn't be able to predict the ending to save your life. All of the elements as such have been seen before but it's not what he does that makes this book great, it's how he does it. How he puts it all together and creates a book which is absolutely mind-blowing. Everything fits together just right and is just where it should be and the ending, although it is sad, is the only proper one. There may not be such a thing as "perfect" in literature but this is close enough to kiss. Read it, read it, read it! :)
Rating:
Summary: I'll Be First in Line for the Movie
Review: US Marshall Teddy Daniels is the son of a fisherman, who was unable to cope with the vastness of the sea, instead he became a peace officer and, in the late fifties, finds himself on a mysterious quest on Shutter Island, accompanied by fellow Marshall, Chuck Aule, a man he'd never worked with before. Rachel Solando, has escaped from the confines of the Ashecliffe Hospital, an institution for the criminally insane on Shutter Island and is at large. Teddy and Chuck have been sent to find her and return her to captivity. Teddy can't help but think about Andrew Laeddis, the man who set the fire that killed his wife. Laeddis is also incarcerated on the island. The marshals must guard against Solando catching the ferry back to the mainland in Massachusetts and they suspect there are things they should know that the people on the island are keeping from them. Plus they have to surrender their weapons, despite their official status and if that isn't enough to hinder their investigation, there is the small matter of the biggest hurricane in years bearing down on the island. Rachel has apparently left coded messages for them and Teddy, who worked in Intelligence in the army, cracks the code. Teddy feels there is conspiracy afoot to keep them from finding out the truth about the hospital and the island. Teddy, however, has his own secrets reason for coming to the island. Lehane's characters, Teddy and Chuck, are both tough, vulnerable and very believable. The hospital staff are devious, the patients murderous. We learn what's really going on over time, suspense mounts, tension grows and I must say that when they make this one into a movie that I'll be the first in line.
Rating: 
Summary: time & setting details somewhat off.
Review: This is the second Lehane I read, it was ok and a fast read but it seemed again that little details are wrong. For instance I don't believe people generally bought coffee at newstands in 1950's. The idea of people walking around drinking coffee is kind of new. I went to college in boston & worked in town in the late 60's and that wasn't typical then even (I'm addicted to coffee so I'd remember). Also he made it seem like those harbor islands are remote and inaccessible. There are little islands all over the place and not too far away from each other. I also wasn't surprised. I will read Mystic River before I see the movie however.
Rating:
Summary: I was totally blown away
Review: It's a long time since a book - especially a thriller - had this affect on me. I DID guess a lot of the solution before the end (being good at crosswords helped) but I was still absolutely gobsmacked by the ending. My advice would be to buy this book now and read it - you won't be disappointed. Now I need to get my hands on his other books ...
Rating: 
Summary: Don't waste your life!
Review: The ending of this book was so horrible it actually got me out of bed, made me turn on my computer, and write this review at 2AM. I'm not sure how this book received the rave reviews given on amazon. I always finish reading books I begin but I didn't think I would be able to make it through this one. Some people talk about the surprise ending and how great and unexpected it was. But, if the book is sub-par to begin with, who cares about the ending? I actually began skimming, which is something I never do, about halfway through. The ending is very confusing and frankly not worthy of deep thought to try and understand the authors meaning. And, by the end of the book I could care less about any of the possible scenarios I briefly thought out. Before you read this you might want to do a google search for "Shutter Island explanation" to see how many others were confused too. There doesn't seem to be a consensus in terms of the outcome and I have already wasted too much of my time reading this to bother thinking about it. I love books that provoke thought but not books that are unworthy of it and have wasted my time! Stay away from this at $18.00 or at the library for that matter.
Rating: 
Summary: Waiting for the Next Dennis Lehane Book!
Review: I first began reading the author Dennis Lehane several years ago when an online mystery reader highly recommended the first book in his Patrick Kenzie series,A Drink Before the War. What began then was a series of books I looked forward to and titles which never failed to garner my highest praise. Then Dennis Lehane wrote his first stand alone, Mystic River, and I wondered what he would do for a book encore after reading this book. Unfortunately, after reading Shutter Island, I don't think that the author wrote as powerful or masterful a book this time as his previous titles. While the author certainly set the gloomy scene of Shutter Island and the hospital, I found the first 100 pages tedious and never felt the plot, characters nor revelations by the end improved my opinion of this book. While readers are afforded a glimpse into the world of a former war hero who is now part of the FBI, the plot was far too predictable and reminiscent of a recent movie based on the true story of John Nash. Teddy Daniels and Chuck Aule are summoned to Shutter Island where there is a hospital for the criminally insane to search for a woman murderer who has somehow vanished. A hospital situated on an island which can be reached only by ferry, it is surrounded by turbulent waters and there is little chance of anybody escaping and surviving. Upon their arrival the two FBI agents are met with great resentment on the part of the staff. And while these two men find clues to where the woman may be hiding in anagrams and other devices, the two men do find it unbelivable that anybody could just vanish from this facility with no trace. While the men continue to be stalled in every direction, things are not what they appear to be. During a violent storm certain truths are revealed which should surprise the reader and make them think this book was as terifiic a read as Mystic River ot Gone, Baby, Gone. But by the macabre ending, though, I was less than surprised or shocked but instead was glad to see this book end. I'm not sure why there was no AHA ending for me but instead sheer logic had me figuring out what was going on mid - way through the book and what happened to the missing woman. I looked forward to this book with such great anticipation and obviously hoped for a much better and intersting read. That said I know I will continue to read Dennis Lehane's future books. Even now I am waiting patiently for his next title.
Rating:
Summary: Great book!
Review: This is one of the better books I've read in the past 2 years and I average about a book a week! This is my first introduction to Dennis Lehane and I am pleased that I listened to my friend who recommended it. It's an easy read. Great escapism. Make the time for this one, you won't be disappointed.
Rating:
Summary: Shutter Island
Review: Great Book, the ending is so unexpected!
Rating:
Summary: Shutter Island...
Review: Dennis Lehane proves again his impressive writing skills in this finely crafted, atmospheric and gripping suspense novel. This book is remarkable book which makes you feel that you are actually on Shutter Island, the descriptions are so finely written that you lose yourself on this eerie island where things are not what they seem... The surprises are multiple in this book, they deal with code-breaking, dark and light images of Man's subconscious and action in the real world that leaves you begging for more. An excellent novel that pulls you into a strange world and only lets you out on the very last world.
Shutter Island awaits...
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