The Lock Artist

I read this on my Kindle and could not put it down...carried it everywhere I went all day yesterday and today so I could read whenever I had a few minutes to wait. Michael is the voice telling the story of his strange and hard life: a tragedy when he was eight years old rendered him mute, but the details of what happened are not revealed until much later in the book. In his silent world, he develops a remarkable talent for drawing, especially comic book style, as well as an amazing ability to unlock locks of all kinds; but what started out as little more than a parlor trick becomes the source of high drama and adventure. Unsavory characters realize what Michael's talent can do for them, and he becomes embroiled in some nail-biting escapades. Some of the heists in which he participated were among the most dramatic and suspenseful scenes I have ever read...the equal of any movie suspense I can think of. In fact, it would make a great movie. The jumping back and forth between two time periods is an effective tool for maintaining suspense and revealing the plot. In spite of the unusual circumstances, the author does a fantastic job of developing the characters and making them entirely believable, yet they are not stereotyped and are entirely original and fresh...even the bad guys. Remembering his first days in public high school as a mute, Michael says, "It makes my heart ache, just thinking back on that time in my life. How lonely I was. How out of place I felt every single minute of every day." I could feel it with him. Michael's seemingly remorseless bad luck is balanced with meeting and falling in love with Amelia, also a talented artist from a dysfunctional family. Their love interjects the hope that redeems the dark parts of the book.

Two thumbs up! When I go through a book this quickly, its gotta be good! This is the third novel I"ve read by Mr. Hamilton;all were good;but this one bests. "The Lock Artist" ,being such an enjoyable,fluid read puts Mr. Hamilton on my "bookmark author" list, hoping the next saga,if and when,comes soon.

I was prepared not to like this book. It's not an Alex McKnight novel, for starters. Despite Lee Child's assertion that the book is "can't-put-it-down spectacular," I did have to put it down a few times. It was just too intense and too sad. But then, along about page 150, everything that has been so deftly set up comes together and oh. my. gosh. It is a spectacular novel and a signal achievement. Congratulations to the author. This is one I will remember for a long, long time.

I have enjoyed Steve Hamilton's Alex McKnight series....entertaining, suspenseful,and Alex is always real. Opening The Lock Artist was fun.....something new and exciting from the author of some of my favorites.... so it could be tough to please me with this one. However, he did it and he did it great. Big suspense and real characters, plenty of imagination, and a very unique story. If you want something that steps out of the shadows of the run of the mill thriller....still packed with intrigue and suspense...I highly recommend The Lock Artist.