Discover millions of ebooks, audiobooks, and so much more with a free trial

Only $11.99/month after trial. Cancel anytime.

Shutter Island
Shutter Island
Shutter Island
Audiobook (abridged)6 hours

Shutter Island

Written by Dennis Lehane

Narrated by David Strathairn

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

4/5

()

About this audiobook

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 seems. The New York Times calls Shutter Island, “Startlingly original.” The Washington Post raves, “Brilliantly conceived and executed.” A masterwork of suspense and surprise from the author of Mystic River and Gone, Baby, Gone, Shutter Island carries the reader into a nightmare world of madness, mind control, and CIA Cold War paranoia and is unlike anything you’ve ever read before.

LanguageEnglish
PublisherHarperAudio
Release dateDec 9, 2008
ISBN9780061805066
Author

Dennis Lehane

Dennis Lehane is the author of thirteen novels—including the New York Times bestsellers Live by Night; Moonlight Mile; Gone, Baby, Gone; Mystic River; Shutter Island; and The Given Day—as well as Coronado, a collection of short stories and a play. He grew up in Boston, MA and now lives in California with his family.

More audiobooks from Dennis Lehane

Related to Shutter Island

Related audiobooks

Historical Mystery For You

View More

Related articles

Reviews for Shutter Island

Rating: 3.9430425098774333 out of 5 stars
4/5

2,774 ratings146 reviews

What did you think?

Tap to rate

Review must be at least 10 words

  • Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
    2/5
    I understood the premise of the book, an investigation at an insane asylum. However, I could not follow the book. I would understand 3-4 pages and then the next 3-4 did not follow logically and I was unable to piece it together. To me, this book was a lot of mumbo-jumbo.
  • Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
    2/5
    I understood the premise of the book, an investigation at an insane asylum. However, I could not follow the book. I would understand 3-4 pages and then the next 3-4 did not follow logically and I was unable to piece it together. To me, this book was a lot of mumbo-jumbo.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    I am not a scary book/movie kind of person. I hate being scared and generally refuse to indulge in things that make me jump, except around Halloween when I allow myself to watch one scary movie. I don't mind suspenseful things, but even then I'm not the first one to jump on board. Which explains why I waited until 2011 to read Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane (and I still haven't seen the movie).The story is set in 1954, when two U.S. marshals are sent to Shutter Island, a hospital/prison for the criminally insane. A patient, Rachel Solando, has gone missing without a trace. In fact, no one can figure out how she got out of her locked cell, past three guard checkpoints, and a group of guards playing poker without being seen. It's up to Teddy Daniels and his new partner Chuck Aule to find her before she harms herself or someone else. But Teddy quickly realizes that things aren't as they appear, and as he falls deeper into the mystery of the missing patient, he becomes caught up in the secrets of the hospital itself: there are rumors of illegal brain surgeries and doses of toxic drugs that dull a patient's senses. And on top of everything, does Teddy have an ulterior motive for being on the island in the first place?Part mystery, part psychological thriller, this book is sure to please anyone looking for an escape from everyday life. And, while I thought this book was good, I have to dock it two stars. The first mainly because there were times I didn't know if I could finish it without hiding it in the freezer (anyone else seen the episode of Friends where Joey hides The Shining in the freezer when it gets too scary?) and because when I started explaining the plot to my husband, he guessed the major plot twist ending. So perhaps it's a bit predictable, at least to those who aren't wrapped up in the details. 3 out of 5 stars, but definitely worth a read.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Very well paced story line, the big reveal in the end ruins it all. I don’t like books where at the end it turns out that everything was a dream or that the main character is insane and imagined it all.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Starting with an epilogue by Dr Sheehan, we walk the life of the book through the eyes of U.S Marshal Edward Daniels (Teddy) who was called to investigate the disappearance of a criminally insane woman on an island that's set up to contain those who are criminally insane. Without much help from the director, it appears that there is more to the case of the missing woman and the existence of the hospital than there really is.It is a fast pace book, with things happening one after another and another, leaving me breathless at times and unable to put down the book willingly. So, thankfully, it was a pretty short book compared to some of those I have been reading recently. what kept the reader going is the constant mini-cliffhangers and twists in the plot that sometimes makes you come up going "what the.... how?!?!"Even at the end, you wonder what is real, what happened there but you will be left with only your own theories and answers (thus my 4 stars, rather than a 5), because the author isn't about to easily explain answers away for the reader.If you like psychological thrillers (and this one became a movie with just about everything intact from the book), this is the one for you - but don't expect answers at the end of the book or you will be left feeling terribly frustrated.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Amazing book! One of my favorites! Love the movie as well.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Great audiobook! Excellent voices, good pacing, easy to listen to and follow along with!
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Teddy Daniels and his partner Chuck Aule head to Shutter Island to investigate the disappearance of one of the criminally insane inmates. During his time on the island, Teddy encounters a hurricane, a secretive staff, and his own demons.Had a friend not handed this book to me, I would have stopped reading it. It just didn't appeal to me most of the way through. The characters were indistinguisable for most of the story, and it wasn't until the last 30 pages that I felt 'hooked.' I liked the twist, but then the last few pages didn't live up to it.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    the actor who reads the book, he is amazing. I highly recommend it, even you have already seen the movie.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    I absolutely loved this until the ending. I'm still not sure how I feel about that. But before that it is certainly is a page-turner, although a bit creepy.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I love a good mystery, and nothing is more exciting than reading a great book that keeps you guessing. Never in a million years would I have guessed the ending, and for this I applaud this book. Raging storms, isolated islands and mental hospitals - this has all the makings of your average stereotypical thriller - but in no way was this book average. I have just found out it is being made in to a movie - I can't wait.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    A riveting read but still don't know if he was Andrew or Teddy at the end.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Shutter Island is fairly unique and contains many twist and turns through out the story. You totally believe everything Teddy is going through, then start doubting the same things he does, and eventually question him. There is so much going on and you can come up with many theories on your own and that is all part of the fun. The 4th day part is well done and explained very well, so the reader can follow along. The reason why this book got a 4 star and not a 5 star is simply because of the last few pages. I understand what Lehane was going for, but I felt it was rushed and not set up properly to have much of an affect. I don't expect him to explain what happened, that's an open ended and left to the readers imagination, but the set up and the last few lines made it feel corny and left me thinking, well of course it would end that way. Even with the disappointing ending this book was well written and though out, and overall was a good read.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Two marshals go to an island off the West coast housing criminally insane inmates. The isolation, location, stormy weather, and a major plot twist made this a big favorite.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Excellent. I am so glad I read this before I saw the movie - the book is excellent and just what I expect from Lehane. I am forever thankful my BFF introduced me to this author!
  • Rating: 1 out of 5 stars
    1/5
    I saw the "abridged" too late. I don't even understand why do people make abridged versions.

    2 people found this helpful

  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    The less you know the better can be truly said about this thriller that takes the reader on a stumbling journey through the battlefields of the human mind with an epic storm and setting that may well ruin a good night’s sleep. This book has been made into a movie that I confess I watched many years before ever reading he book. Personally…I liked the movie better. The story is one that is best seen to get the entire horror and hopelessness of the hospital and the dreary atmosphere surrounding the entire place. The author is a brilliant writer and manages to combine the complexities of the past and the present to create a world that stays with the reader long after the book is closed or the movie runs to credits.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    It's been a good six years or so since I saw the movie so I had pretty much forgotten all about the twist. This psychological suspense novel has pretty good build. It keeps leaving you with more questions. US Marshal Teddy Daniels is sent to Shutter Island to look for a missing woman. The island houses the Ashecliffe Hospital for the Criminally Insane and all of the inmates are violent and crazy. Teddy and his partner are having a tough time getting answers and everything is getting jumbled. Are they doing illegal treatments on the patients? How could this woman have escaped? What are they hiding? Dark, disturbing, and the twist will leave breathless!
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Wow. Read this book slowly and deliberately and enjoy every word of it. An amazing thriller.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    This a good beach read, or a good audio book for a road trip. It’s entertaining and the story moves right a long keeping the reader interested and guessing. The ending is a bit far-fetched, but overall a good piece of storytelling.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    This book was published in 2003, and I finally got around to listening to it. I've not seen the movie, and I think if I had seen it before I read the book, the book would have lost some of its luster. It has the noir fiction feel, and it's set in the 50s, and fits into that period quite well. A federal marshal, the protagonist of the story, comes to an island with another federal marshal. The island is an isolated and secretive institution for the criminally insane. And there is something hinky going on there. The marshals have to investigate, but not reveal our protagonist's more personal reason for the visit. A hurricane makes everything more difficult.I was not expecting the ending I got, and the book was all the better for that. Perhaps readers more astute than I will have guessed what happened, but I didn't. The plot was strong, and I loved the noir pulp fiction flavor. If you like a bit of retro writing with your psychological thrillers, I think you'll enjoy this one.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    I have to say, I was a little underwhelmed and I think it’s because of the hype. When I picked this up to read, many people told me how much they loved this book and what a great psychological thriller it was, so I had (perhaps unreasonably) high expectations. I knew there had to be a big twist coming and while I did not guess all of the details, the twist itself didn’t really come as a huge shock. Rather, the whole thing was a bit of a let down. Sometimes, it really is better to go into something completely blind, with no expectations at all. Maybe I’ll feel differently in the morning, when I’ve had time to ruminate about what I’ve read, but as of right now, I feel rather “meh” about it.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I somehow forgot to review this back when I first read it. I honestly can't remember the details of the book as well as I recall the mood of incredible tension as I read it. It is the kind of book that makes you forget to breathe as you read it, the kind of book that will cause you to jump at any little sound that disturbs your reading. I'm not going to give it 5 stars only because I can't remember whether anything about the book really bugged me, but I know it was at least 4 stars for me so I compromised.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Despite being spoiled about the final plot twist, I enjoyed this. It didn't resonate with me as much as The Given Day, but still very much a good, quick, fun read.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    In 1954, a US Marshal comes to a mental hospital on a small island to investigate the mysterious disappearance of a patient from a locked room. But things are not at all as they appear to be...I saw the movie version of this ages ago. Long enough ago that I didn't remember most of the details, just that it was nicely atmospheric, that it had a surprising (and hard to forget) ending that somehow worked much better than it seemed like it ought to, and that I liked it.I liked the book, too, although this may actually be one of those times when a story works even better as a movie. Having been spoiled for it by the movie made this not exactly the reading experience it was meant to be, though, and I do kind of regret that. Although if I'd read the book first, likely I'd be thinking that about the movie instead.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    This book was one of the first I read that really fit the bill when it came to an unreliable narrator. I fell for it hook, line, and sinker. If you want a book full of surprise twists where everything is not what it all appears to be, this one is for you. And then go watch the movie (DiCaprio does a great job portraying the main character)!
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Shutter Island is fairly unique and contains many twist and turns through out the story. You totally believe everything Teddy is going through, then start doubting the same things he does, and eventually question him. There is so much going on and you can come up with many theories on your own and that is all part of the fun. The 4th day part is well done and explained very well, so the reader can follow along. The reason why this book got a 4 star and not a 5 star is simply because of the last few pages. I understand what Lehane was going for, but I felt it was rushed and not set up properly to have much of an affect. I don't expect him to explain what happened, that's an open ended and left to the readers imagination, but the set up and the last few lines made it feel corny and left me thinking, well of course it would end that way. Even with the disappointing ending this book was well written and though out, and overall was a good read.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Such an amazing story, but entirely too much useless chatter. I really don't understand authors who think longer is better at all costs. Boo!
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Overall, I enjoyed this book. It's engaging and easy to read. I had however, seen the movie before reading the book, and feel that this is one of the rare cases where doing it in that order spoils the book. I loved the movie, but the book didn't seem to quite carry the same atmosphere. One small thing - the author seems to use a lot of very long flow-on sentences - in at least one instance, a paragraph of more than a quarter of a page was one sentence. It may be a deliberate creative choice, but it comes off looking a little amateurish. A small criticism for what is otherwise a compelling read.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    This was a very good book in my opinion. Most of the characters were quite believable and the ones that weren't, we find out later, weren't supposed to be. The plot or the fccus of the book remains the same throughout; Teddy is to find a missing patient that has escaped or disappeared. However, there are many twists and turns in the story that you begin to wonder if that is all we was sent there to do. It is not until the final pages of the book that you realize what is happening and, for me, I still was taken by surprise. At the end I just kept saying "Really", "This is how it all REALLLY turns out for him?".

    I am now ready to go see the movie with Leonardo DeCapprio in the lead roll as Teddy. I think that he will do the part justice.