I’m not sure I want to say anything at all about Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane because someone made an offhand remark to me about it a couple of years ago, and that was enough to spoil the ending. The remark itself was really innocuous, intended to encourage me to read the book, but it was enough to set my mind a-ticking. The audiobook was a series of confirmations. With every clue, I was nodding my head, thinking “I know what that’s about,” and I was almost always right.

As the novel opens, U.S. Marshall Teddy Daniels and his partner Chuck Aule are on a boat to Shutter Island, the site of a mental hospital for the criminally insane. A patient, Rachel Solando, has gone missing, and the hospital personnel are stymied. Patients are monitored 24/7, and there is simply no way she could have vanished so completely. On assessing the situation, Teddy agrees—and goes on to decide that it had to be an inside job. Before he’s able to get to the bottom of it, a hurricane comes and traps him and Chuck on the island in a facility filled with people they believe cannot be trusted. They are cut off and vulnerable.

This was my first Lehane novel, and I was impressed with the writing. Lehane has great skill at description and characterization, which is just what I want in a thriller writer.As far as the plotting goes, Lehane plays fair—everything you need to know to figure out what’s going on is provided, as long as you know what to look for. To me, the solution seemed obvious, but I’m not sure if that’s because it is obvious or because I happened to have a good hunch that turned out to be accurate.

I have a feeling I would have loved it had I not known anything much about it. It’s dark and strange and disorienting—just my kind of thing. And even knowing what was going on, I enjoyed seeing the plot unfold, but knowing made me much too aware of the author’s cleverness and less invested in the story. I wish I’d gone into it totally ignorant.

See my complete review at my blog. ( )

One of the best books I have read in a long time. It had me hooked from page one. I wasn't sure what happened in the end, but that didn't stop me from loving the book! ( )

Gripping and confusing...but a thriller nonetheless.

I enjoyed the characters and the story, but I am confused about the ending...was it a constant dream on Teddy's part as an inmate and they allowed him to believe he was a marshal to try to help him forget?

The ending really makes you think. ( )

The thin veil of sanity sometimes wears thin, unraveling in patches. The breach allows a clear, unfiltered line of sight from both sides. In [Shutter Island], US Marshal Teddy Daniels is having a difficult time deciphering which side of the veil he is looking from.

Daniels and his new and colorful partner, Chuck Aule, arrive on Shutter Island to investigate the disappearance of an inmate from the Ashcliff Hospital for the Criminally Insane. They are trapped there when a hurricane assaults the rocky island. Every day on the island brings more paranoia and doubt to Daniels' mind. Are the doctors and staff conducting inhuman experiments on the patients? Are they drugging him in an effort to scuttle his investigation? Is there a larger conspiracy targeting Daniels? In the end, the answers to these questions are bundled up with the question of whether or not Daniels is, or ever was, sane.

LeHane is clearly the standard bearer for the hard boiled style in the 21st century. No one currently writing can carry off the sarcastic banter and, at the same time, delve so deeply into the human mind and heart with his characters. Most who attempt such a feat are only ever able to get half of that formula right. Dashiell hammet would be proud.

Much of the criticism I've seen of this particular novel centers onLeHane's ending. To be sure, the climax and resolution of the story will leave you scratching your head. But I, for one, was pleased that LeHane could so effectively pull off such ambiguity in the conclusion. It leaves the reader in exactly the same conundrum that Daniels finds himself.

Bottom Line: 21st century hard boiled. A pleasure to read, and an ending that will send you back to the last few pages for a second read. ( )

I saw the preview for this movie and decided I needed to read the book immediately. I had no idea what I was getting into and was quite surprised by the time I finished it. It's a very good book, but I'm not really pleased with the outcome, of course I suppose that's the reaction I should have. I can't wait for the movie, though. ( )