Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane

In the summer of 1954 U.S. Marshal Teddy Daniels and his partner Chuck Aule come to Shutter Island. A patient, a murderess named Rachel Solando has escaped from Ashecliffe Hospital for the Criminally Insane, located on Shutter Island. It appears to be impossible for her to have escaped from her locked room, they begin their investigation, hampered by un-cooperation from the doctors, orderlies and warden, while at the same time a hurricane is bearing down on the island.

As their investigation continues, they come to realize that everything at Ashecliffe Hospital is not as it seems on the surface. Even their reason for being there, is it a missing patient, or to investigate claims of drug experimentation, hideous surgical trials and experiments in brainwashing? Or is Teddy there because of who he is, because of something in his past?

Trapped on the island by the hurricane, Teddy and Chuck get closer to the truth, but the questions increase and Teddy begins to believe that they must leave Shutter Island, or be driven insane.

This is not a long book, it falls into the category of thriller, and once you start on this thrill ride you need to see it through to the end. I kind of had clue to the end because of another review I read so I don’t know if I would have guessed the ending on my own, I don’t think I would have. The book has a sense of impending doom, I found myself, hoping it would have a good ending, but dreading that it wouldn’t. At the same time I couldn’t stop reading it. The plot follows a logical course, as logical a course as one can have in an insane asylum, at times confusing, but as events unfold the meaning of events becomes clear, the ending wraps things up, then you get the sense that things aren’t really over ….

Thriller
E-book
Stars: 4
Copyright 2006

I’ve linked this review to Cym Lowell: Book Review Party Wednesday