Book Review: Shutter Island

Reviewed By: Jon Jordan - Crime Spree Magazine - RAM

Shutter Island     Amazon US PB Amazon US HC Amazon Canada PB Amazon Canada HC
Dennis Lehane
Class/Genre:   Mystery
April 2003, William Morrow, 352 pages / $25.95

UK-428 pages (1 May, 2003) Bantam Press;

I have yet to read a novel by Lehane that did not make me say “Wow, great book”. Well, Wow! Great Book!! I’ve been waiting, along with a great deal of others, for this new book by one of the new stars in literature. Well, it was worth the wait. With all the rumors surrounding this book coming out it was something I had to read right away.

Shutter Island is a prison facility for the criminally insane. Some one has turned up missing and two federal marshals are brought in to investigate. But naturally, things are not what they seem. Does one of our heroes have ulterior motives for coming to the island? Why does everyone seem so evasive? And what will happen when the storm hits and the power goes out? Does the Doctor really have ties to the OSS?

I’ll tell you this much, trying to guess won’t help. Lehane keeps the suspense high and the surprises coming. A wonderful locked room/island mystery, and also a wonderful character study. A great book, and worth the wait. I read until my eyes burned and I had to sleep. As soon as I woke up, I finished the book. Spectacular.

Jon Jordan - Crime Spree Magazine - RAM

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Jon Jordan - Crime Spree Magazine - RAM