Dennis Lehane's masterpiece of mystery and suspense—brought to life for the first time as a graphic novel
In 1954, U.S. Marshal Teddy Daniels and his partner, Chuck Aule, are sent to Shutter Island to find a mass murderer who has escaped from Ashecliffe Hospital, a fortress-like federal institution for the criminally insane. As an intense hurricane bears relentlessly down on the island, the marshals are forced to piece together clues to a shocking puzzle hidden within Shutter Island, taking them on a dark, twisted journey, where paranoia assumes an air of cool rationality and the line between sanity and madness disappears...
Filled with his trademark grit, insight, and pathos, Shutter Island is vintage Dennis Lehane. Now adapted for the first time as a graphic novel by internationally renowned artist Christian De Metter, this riveting story brilliantly captures our capacity for depravity and deliverance.
While he was still in college, he wrote the first draft of A Drink Before the War. Published in 1994, this Shamus Award winner introduced Patrick Kenzie and Angela Gennaro, private investigators who live and work in Dorchester, the same blue-collar Boston neighborhood Lehane grew up in. Since their compelling debut, Kenzie and Gennaro have gone on to star in a gritty crime noir series acclaimed by readers and critics alike.
The idea for his breakout novel , 2001's stand-alone thriller Mystic River, came to Lehane while he was still writing the Kenzie-Genarro installment Prayers for Rain. The story of three childhood friends who share a dark past, Mystic River is a murder mystery with powerful psychological overtones. An immediate sensation, the book achieved blockbuster status when Clint Eastwood turned it into an award-winning film in 2003. Then, in his 2007 directorial debut, Ben Affleck adapted Lehane's favorite Kenzie-Gennaro novel, Gone, Baby, Gone, for the big screen.
Lehane's career shows no signs of slowing down, Since the success of his Boston-based mysteries, he has broadened his oeuvre to include television screenplays and short stories -- one of which, "Until Gwen," was adopted into a successful, limited-run play.
"My favorite job was parking cars."
"My favorite game is pool."
"I have an obsession with the color blue -- blue house, blue car, lots of blue shirts."
"I love good writing. Unequivocally. I think competition between writers is wonderful and healthy, but I never understood envy. When a peer writes a book that I know I couldn't have written, I feel the strangest elation because at this point I learn as much if not more from my peers as I do from the old masters."
"I unwind to Red Sox games and am a Patriots season ticket holder. The worst months of every year are February and March -- no baseball, no football, no point."
Claire Wachtel: I've been Dennis Lehane's editor since the beginning of his publishing career. When I read his first book, A Drink Before the War, I immediately realized that he was something special. He is a superb writer, whose work engages me every time I read it…and I read each manuscript at least three or four times as I'm working on it.
Mystic River is my all-time favorite of Dennis's books -- a fully realized novel that just happens to be a mystery. To me, that signals Dennis is no longer a genre writer, but a novelist in the sense of the literary greats.
Ransom Notes: What do you enjoy most about editing mystery/suspense books?
CW: I'm always enthralled by the unexpected in any genre, but there is nothing like the twists and turns and edge-of-the-seat suspense of a good mystery. This is especially true when the writing is as first-rate as Dennis Lehane's. In the case of Shutter Island, the characters are unique, the setting perfect for a thriller. And ultimately not knowing whose voice to trust made it as exciting as a roller-coaster ride.
RN: What did you think when Dennis Lehane first told you about his idea for Shutter Island?
CW: Dennis led several of us through the plotline, and we sat, riveted -- hanging on his every word. From the first I thought it was a brilliant idea, but I also thought it would be difficult to carry off, given the almost dual plots. Dennis handled this challenge superbly. Shutter Island is a tour de force.
RN: What did setting Shutter Island at a hospital for the criminally insane do for the story?
CW: It seems to me that the hospital setting is one of the keys to the book. I think Dennis did an amazing job portraying his characters' differing perceptions of realities, so at each turn the reader was left uncertain as to whom to believe. This really added to the suspense.
RN: What do you think setting much of the story in 1954 added?
CW: It seems to me that when dealing with conspiracy theories in novels, historical distance gives the reader an added perspective. Setting Shutter Island right in the middle of the McCarthy era signals readers that, based on what we know of history, something is amiss. One intriguing thing about Dennis's writing is that there always is a nub of truth. I think readers will come away from Shutter Island thinking it was a terrific read…and many will also find insights into issues that confront us in America today.
GiovanniG
Posted August 6, 2010
I have not seen the movie, but after reading this graphic novel I probably will have to see it. The g.n. was excellent. It was well written; the artwork was gritty, dark and was as moving as the dialogue. I really was taken aback by the whole thing. It really caught me off guard. I thought hey, the movie did okay, why not give it a shot; what can I lose? Pretty much a night's sleep.
The thing I think or at least hope is that the graphic novel is an excellent vehicle to reach people in a different way. I would not have even thought about viewing the movie if not for seeing the g.n.. There are many authors of novels that are using the g.n. format now, and I have seen many movies now use this as an extension of the movie itself. Some are prequels or new action in the series that helps build the legend and keep the characters fresh for some fans. I have gotten a few family members that have seen the film take a look at just the images in the graphic novel to see if the artwork did the movie justice. They felt it was spot on, especially after they review some of the dialogue.
Whether or not you have seen the film of the same name, this is a really good suspenseful graphic novel. All is not revealed till the very last frame. I am not a fright guy, but this was captivating, and hard to be separated from. Fast, action filled, a good mystery, and above all well written, well drawn, and great execution. Check it out. Have you seen the movie?
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I personally LOVED the book and prefer my mind to do the walking. However, my son doesn't share my love of reading, so getting him a graphic novel was one way of sharing the story with him. He seemed more open to it than the novel.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.phoenixphire24
Posted March 20, 2010
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As a fan of the book, and now the movie, I was glad I picked up the graphic novel. The artwork is lovely.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted February 25, 2010
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Overview
In 1954, U.S. Marshal Teddy Daniels and his partner, Chuck Aule, are sent to Shutter Island to find a mass murderer who has escaped from Ashecliffe Hospital, a fortress-like federal institution for the criminally insane. As an intense hurricane bears relentlessly down on the island, the marshals are forced to piece together clues to a shocking puzzle hidden within Shutter ...