Shutter IslandShutter Island
Score Modern
What it's about
In 1954, U.S. Marshal Teddy Daniels and his partner, Chuck Aule, come to Shutter Island, home of a hospital for the criminally insane, to investigate the disappearance of a patient who vanished from a locked cell. As a hurricane bears down, the case grows darker, with hints of radical experiments.
Why it's worth reading
It was an Anthony Award finalist. It's a gripping psychological thriller with a famous twist.
You'll love it if you liked
Mystic River
Gone, Baby, Gone
The Silence of the LambsGood to know
Avoid spoilers. It became a Martin Scorsese film.
By the numbers
- Readers68 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics18 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller56 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #91 of the 623 mysteries and thrillers we rank
- #433 of the 1,648 modern books we rank
- #874 of the 3,057 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Gripping
More by Dennis Lehane
Mystic River
The Given DayGone, Baby, Gone
Live by NightIf you like this, read next
Say Nothing: A True Story of Murder and Memory in Northern Ireland
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Gone Girl
The Martian
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Quick answers
Is Shutter Island worth reading?
Yes. It was an Anthony Award finalist. It ranks #874 of the 3,057 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 74.8 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Shutter Island about?
In 1954, U.S. Marshal Teddy Daniels and his partner, Chuck Aule, come to Shutter Island, home of a hospital for the criminally insane, to investigate the disappearance of a patient who vanished from a locked cell. As a hurricane bears down, the case grows darker, with hints of radical experiments.
How long does it take to read Shutter Island?
About 10 hours (400 pages), or about 3 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after Shutter Island?
If you liked it, try Mystic River by Dennis Lehane, Gone, Baby, Gone by Dennis Lehane or The Silence of the Lambs by Thomas Harris.