Several of my friends recommended Shutter Island, both the book and the movie. Mysteries aren’t usually my thing, but then this was a departure for them too.
I immediately liked the two Federal Marshals who went to the titular Shutter island to investigate a runaway. The writing style is engaging, and the dialogue especially is spot-on - it’s so hard to get funny dialogue where you feel it’s the characters being funny and not the author.
However, what begins as an intricate crime/conspiracy investigation becomes something entirely different in the last third of the book. (Note to self: working in a mental institution is not a good career choice for me.) When I reached the last page (with the final twist in the story) I physically threw the book across the room in horror. What did my friends see in it?
I feel like I have a scum of garbage water on my soul.
In conclusion, don’t read this book. I haven’t seen the movie (and, obviously, don’t plan to), but I feel confident in recommending you avoid it, too. Yikes.
While I can understand you might feel that way about the book, I wouldn’t necessarily discourage people from reading it. I thought it was a fantastic read (the movie is equally as good). If you are familiar with Dennis Lehane’s work you know it isn’t always the sunniest topics that are discussed in his storeis. While it may not be the story you wanted it be, it doesn’t mean that it isn’t a good book.