general

After having been exposed for the first time to Dennis Lehane last year with his terrific mystery Mystic River, I've read all that he has written. Since that point he has yet to disappoint me. "Shutter Island" is no different.

Lehane's novel is set in 1954 and told from the point of view of Teddy Daniels, a federal marshal sent to investigate the escape of a patient from the mental hospital on Shutter Island. As Teddy gets deeper into his investigation, the list of people the reader can trust gradually diminishes. Lehane keeps you guessing throughout the book and may even fool you at the end.

My only disappointments came at the length of the book (325 pages), simply because I was really enjoying it, and that it *screams* for an eventual movie adaptation. At some points it seems to read more like a script. I was entertained from page one, however, and definitely think that any mystery fan would enjoy this novel.

Highly recommended, especially to fans of Lehane's earlier work.

Unfortunately, Lehane follows his best book, Mystic River, with his weakest effort in Shutter Island. I won't give the plot away, only to say that the entire construct depends on the end, which is reminiscent of about a half-dozen movies I've seen recently.

It is well-written, but lacks the visceral punch of Lehane's best work. While the ending isn't completely predictable, it has a been there, done that feel, and most of the "secrets" can be solved with a minimum of thought (I figured out the main "mystery" in the book nearly by accident). The book also reads very, VERY fast like a screenplay--sometimes it read more like something from Crichton or Grisham (that isn't a compliment). More disappointing is the lack of crisp, standout dialogue that marks Lehane's novels.

It's a shame--at his best, Lehane's work sticks with you long after you're done reading (I've read and re-read portions of "Gone, Baby gone" more times than I can remember). But Shutter Island is more of a diversion than anything: quickly read, and more quickly forgotten.

Don't mean to be too critical--His writing skill nearly brought my review to three stars, despite the fairly weak characters. His other books are excellent, and I look forward to his upcoming trilogy. But for me, this was a misfire.

Just read this book. I picked it up at the airport. I've never read any of Mr. Lehane's other books. I COULD NOT STOP READING IT. I read it on the plane from Vancouver to Los Angeles. I read it until I couldn't see anymore. What else do you WANT from a book for God's sake? It's FABULOUS. It breaks your heart and pulls you in and makes you THINK. It's just good writing and there is no substitute for that.