In summer 1954, two U.S. marshals, protagonist Teddy Daniels and his new partner, Chuck Aule, arrive on Shutter Island, not far from Boston, to investigate the disappearance of patient Rachel Solando from the prison/hospital for the criminally insane that dominates the island. The marshals’ digging gets them nowhere fast as they learn of Rachel’s apparently miraculous escape past locked doors and myriad guards, and as they encounter roadblocks and lies strewn across their path-most notably by the hospital’s chief physician, the enigmatic J. Cawley-and pick up hints of illegal brain surgery performed at the hospital. Then, as a major hurricane bears down on the island, inciting a riot among the insane and cutting off all access to the mainland, they begin to fear for their lives. All of the characters-particularly Teddy, haunted by the tragic death of his wife-are wonderful creations, but no more wonderful than the spot-on dialogue with which Lehane brings them to life and the marvelous prose that enriches the narrative. There are mysteries within mysteries in this novel, some as obvious as the numerical codes that the missing patient leaves behind and which Teddy, a code breaker in WWII, must solve; some as deep as the most profound fears of the human heart.
I had found this book through Swaptree and when it arrived I looked at the cover with a picture of a prison on an island on it and thought. “What was I thinking?” How did this book get on my wish list? Then I remembered, Dennis Lehane wrote Mystic River, which I loved (the book anyway, the movie I hated). So why not a book on a prison?
This book turned out to be a two day read that I could hardly put down. US Marshall Teddy Daniels is a strong character who had a mission on the island to find a missing prisoner who has done the impossible and escaped somewhere on the island. Yet Teddy’s motives are not all one sided. Lehane keeps this book flowing forward with twists and turns and when it is all done -
You sit back and can’t believe that you didn’t see that coming, yet knowing that Lehanes’ clues are so well woven into the story itself that how could you have known?
An absolute delight to read. This book which came out in 2004, will be a movie this October.
I highly recommend this read.
Filed under: Book Review | Tagged: mystery, Review
Wow, this sounds chilling! I didn’t read “Mystic River” and liked the movie—probably because I hadn’t read the book first! I’m usually disappointed in a movie when I’ve read the book.
So…I’m wondering. I’m such a movie buff, that I’ll probably see this one…should I read the book?
Sounds like it would be worth checking out. Thanks for a great review, Sheila.
I didn’t read Mystic River, but yeah I hated the movie. If it enthralled you so much I’ll be willing to try this book. It does in fact, sound interesting. Good review
thanks for the info.
Oh i’ll have to put this on my must read list! I never got around reading Mystic River but its on my shelf of TBR… Great review!
Natalie :0)
I thought this was an entertaining book. It was thunderstorming in my area when I read it, so the atmosphere was perfect. I hope to read more Lehane in the future. Mystic River has been on my list for a while.
I’m glad to hear it’s so good. This is one that I want to read in advance of the movie, so I got it on audiobook. I can’t wait to read it now.