Shutter Island

Dennis Lehane

Oct 2010 · Hachette UK

About this eBook

The basis for the blockbuster motion picture directed by Martin Scorsese and starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Shutter Island by New York Times bestselling author Dennis Lehane is a gripping and atmospheric psychological thriller where nothing is quite what it seem.

U.S. Marshal Teddy Daniels has come to Shutter Island, home of Ashecliffe Hospital for the Criminally Insane, to find an escaped murderer named Rachel Solando.

As a killer hurricane bears down on the island, the investigation deepens and the questions mount. How has a barefoot woman escaped from a locked room? Who is leaving them clues in the form of cryptic codes? And what really goes on in Ward C?

The closer Teddy gets to the truth, the more elusive it becomes. And the more he begins to believe that he may never leave Shutter Island. Because someone is trying to drive him insane...

Readers say:

'What a roller coaster ride. The book is just as good as the film' five star reader review

'A treat of a reveal and it's a great journey getting there' five star reader review

'Shutter Island held my attention from start to finish. Can't wait to read more of Lehane's work' five star reader review

Ratings and reviews

A haunting and beautifully-written book. The character's voice is captivating and immediately draws the reader in, and to listen to him feels as though you're listening to someone recount true events and details of their past. This book packs an emotional punch. Through some black magic, the movie and book's tone perfectly match one another. I frequently recommend the book to people who have seen the movie and vice versa, because even if we can expect the same course of events to take place, the story in each medium is unique and worth experiencing.

I enjoyed this book and found it equally as good as the film. I was put off by the references to black people and the sudden and explicit erotic descriptions that didn't really fit with the surrounding text. But overall an interesting plot that I enjoyed.

The language / description in the book is repetitive. The story but itself isn't that interesting and the 'twist' isn't that great, shocking. I didn't care for any of the characters.

About the author

Dennis Lehane is the author of bestsellers Mystic River, Shutter Island, Gone Baby Gone, and Live By Night, all of which have been made into award-winning films. He is one of the most celebrated and critically acclaimed authors of his generation and the recipient of the Shamus Award for Best First Novel, the Edgar, Anthony and Barry awards for Best Novel, and the Massachusetts Book Award in Fiction. His work has been translated into over three dozen languages. He has written for The Wire, Boardwalk Empire, Bloodline, and the forthcoming Mr Mercedes, based on the Stephen King novel. Dennis was born and raised in Dorchester, Massachusetts, and lives in California with his family.