Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane

(image source: Goodreads)

I admit it, I read Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane. I know what you are thinking: how on earth could I read another made-in-to-movie book? Ah, gentle reader; never underestimate my penchant for the lure of a book set in or around an insane asylum.

A sucker for this type of premise, I have read or watched quite a few stories that circle around these ideas. Most seem to exploit the subject matter by making the institutional patients into either supernatural villains or pathetic victims. Both options are irritating for their own reasons. But this book managed to focus on the plot line that, while dependent on the institutional setting, was able to expand beyond the institutional walls.

What made this book fun to read was its tight story-line and consistent character voice. The characters in this book follow some standard patterns found in many post-war suspense novels. Even the “just who are the real good guys” feel of the mystery is not entirely new. But how this book was written allows it to retain its own originality. The writer’s stylistic choices of an imperfect protagonist, an unusual setting, and the minor blending of historical politics within the fiction of the story-line create a fresh take on familiar ideas. Although I guessed some of the mystery, there were still enough surprises to keep the book interesting.

This book is for entertainment. But it is good entertainment. A good psychological thriller. It is a fast read perfect for a rainy weekend.