Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.
Shutter Island  By  cover art

Shutter Island

By: Dennis Lehane
Narrated by: Tom Stechschulte
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $25.19

Buy for $25.19

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

Publisher's summary

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 listener into a nightmare world of madness, mind control, and CIA Cold War paranoia and is unlike anything you’ve ever heard before.

©2003 Dennis Lehane (P)2003 HarperCollins Publishers

Featured Article: Listening Recommendations to Pair with 2020 Prime Film Releases


There's no shortage of exciting films being released by Amazon Studios this year—and we've found just the listens to pair with them while you wait, based on your favorite genres. Whether you're on the lookout for a new listen to add to your library or a new movie to add to your watchlist, we've compiled a handy guide sure to help you find just what you're looking for. Discover a Prime Video recommendation—or a new listen to get lost in!—with this list.

What listeners say about Shutter Island

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    1,981
  • 4 Stars
    939
  • 3 Stars
    332
  • 2 Stars
    84
  • 1 Stars
    37
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    1,682
  • 4 Stars
    528
  • 3 Stars
    139
  • 2 Stars
    31
  • 1 Stars
    16
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    1,585
  • 4 Stars
    548
  • 3 Stars
    184
  • 2 Stars
    50
  • 1 Stars
    22

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Outstanding psychological thriller set in the 50s

Shutter Island was an amazingly enjoyable audiobook, from the first to last sentence. Tom Stechschulte does a great job with the narration, as he usually does.
But it's the story that really hooked me. I don't leave many reviews, but had to mention my surprise at how ingenious this story is, and how well it flows toward the surprise ending (I really didn't see it coming).
US Marshall's suspect that some illegal activities are taking place at a prison for the criminally insane. The Marshall's are welcomed to the island, but quickly feel they're being given the runaround.
The suspense builds and never lets up, one of the most enjoyable reads in months.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

37 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

WOW! A great find....finally!

Read the book before you see the movie!! Actually.... skip the movie! LOVED this book! I've read / listened to over 100+ books in the past 2 years and have never written a review. I just had to on this one. The narrator was ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC! Every character had a distinct voice and in a few places he had to switch back and forth at lightening speed....and he did! Excellent job on his part. Hats off! The story was as good as the story teller.Something interesting happened quite often and I found myself trying to figure things out too...right along with the main character.
If twists and turns are what you like, get this book. Something different from soooo many others. I've been getting very bored with the same old plots and storylines and this was refreshing.It really was enjoyable and I'm sure you wont be disappointed.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

31 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Wonderful Narration

I'm going to preface this by telling you that I saw the movie version of Shutter Island when it was in the theaters. If you haven't seen it, please do. The previews really don't do it justice and I left the theater wanting to read the book. Now, it's often the case that the book disappoints when you've seen the movie first (or vice-versa), but not here. I'll say that the movie is very true to the book and really captures the atmosphere of the book quite well. And, although both movie and book have a surprising ending, it actually adds to the experience rather than detracting from it when you already know the surprise. Think about how "Sixth Sense" becomes a different movie on second viewing, but it's somehow richer when you know how it ends.

The audio book edition of Shutter Island is exceptional. The narrator's pace fits the story perfectly. When I got to the last couple of hours, I couldn't stop listening because both the story and the narration had become so dramatic. The narrator really captured the essence of the story.

This is my first encounter with Dennis Lehane, but I'm sure it won't be my last. Shutter Island is an amazingly well-done story in all it's incarnations.


P.S. I just noticed that there's an abridged version and an unabridged version of this book. The one I listened to was the unabridged version released in 2008 and narrated by Tom Stechschulte. From the sample on Audible, the narrator of the abridged version sounds quite different.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

26 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

WOW!!!!

I read alot of books, but this is the first one in a long time that had my attention so thoroughly that I couldn't put it down. I could constantly be seen with my earbuds plugged into my head. I always thought I was pretty good at figuring out the ending, but this one caught me totally by surprise. Not only does the author do a great job of making his characters three dimentional, the narrator does a remarkable job of bringing them all to life. No sooner had I reached the last page when I started the book over again to see how differently it would read after knowing the ending. This is one author I will add to my favorites, and one narrator that I will watch for in my book purchases. It was a fantastic read!!1 I now find myself wanting to attend the movie to see if it follows the book. As far as the ending, I liked it. It still leaves you wondering about Teddy.It allows you to use your own imagination. I'm still pondering it!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

18 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Keeps you riveted until the end

I am an avid reader and listen to a lot of audiobooks because of my long commutes. There are very few that I would recommend as highly as this one. The opening was a little slow but once the reader is ushered into Shutter Island,the narrative moves at a quick pace, taking you on a psychological thrill ride that keeps you guessing. The narrator does a great job of illuminating the characters. This is not a typical predictable read!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

14 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

Boring, Boring, and More Boring

First, I have read an enjoyed all of LeHayne's series mysteries. He is a good writer. He's still a good writer on this book; his skill got this book two stars instead of one star. Now, I have to admit I couldn't finish this book. I didn't care about the characters, the plot, anything.

The problem for me was that is just moved so very slowly. The other reviews noted that it was "spooky" or "suspenseful" or something that indicated that something-- anything happened. Well, it didn't. At least it didn't in the over half I listened to. I can see now why the Abridged version of this book costs more! Maybe if I hadn't had to wade through so much of absolutely nothing happening, it would have been okay. But seriously, for over 4 hours the only thing that happens is that the marshalls get to the island and look at the escaped prisoner's room. Seriously. That's all. It was boring beying belief.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

13 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

Very well performed and a fun experience

This is my second Dennis Lehane read and I thoroughly enjoyed it -- until the last chapter. Lehane needs, a closer, a lierary Jonathan Papelbon, who can close a story with authority. Unfortunately, Lehane struggles a bit with his endings, and this one doesn't seem worthy of the rest of the book.

Don't let that keep you from this, though. Because, as in life, it's not the destination, it's the journey. And Dennis Lehane has crafted a fantastic journey.

The narration on Shutter Island is excellent and with just the right amount of acting. Reminded me of when my grandfather used to read to me. Very well done.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

11 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars

I feel so tricked!

This is my first review after many, many Audible books. I just finished Shutter Island and I feel so angry. While I love mysteries, thrillers and all kinds of surprise endings, I felt totally manipulated and cheated. More than a surprise, the ending was completely unpredictable. I went through the whole book under completely false pretenses. I don't ever remember having such a visceral reaction. I only wish that somewhere, in all the glowing reviews, someone had suggested that this book is not what it seems. I want those 10 hours of my life back!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

9 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

Lehane's worst novel?

Dennis Lehane is not my favorite crime/police novelist, but I am a fan and I have several of his excellent books in my Audible library. I'm amazed how some fans of authors will give their horrible books very high ratings. Shutter Island is, in my view, worthless trash, and I write that as a Lehane fan.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

8 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

Really Good Mystery and Narration

I gave it 4 stars, taking one off for the overall darkness. However, it is a great psychological mystery that kept me wondering and guessing...and I'm still thinking about it!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

6 people found this helpful