pattieod's review against another edition
4.0
Wow - quite a page turner. But that's to be expected by 2011 Edgar Award winner for best novel. One of those books I made the mistake of starting when I got into bed, and then stayed up far too late reading it.
The story jumps around in time, which keeps you on your toes, and the character is...completely different from any other author you've read. Although I'd categorize this as a "guy" book (lots of violence, action and shooting) there is some great character development, as well as a really unique exploration of the art of lock-picking and safe-cracking. Plus the narrator is mute, which puts it in a category by itself right there.
The story jumps around in time, which keeps you on your toes, and the character is...completely different from any other author you've read. Although I'd categorize this as a "guy" book (lots of violence, action and shooting) there is some great character development, as well as a really unique exploration of the art of lock-picking and safe-cracking. Plus the narrator is mute, which puts it in a category by itself right there.
mochavonbee's review against another edition
5.0
Was not expecting this book to be this good and so well done at all! Haven't given 5 stars in a while and was beginning to wonder if it was just me being over-picky and awkward, but the thing is, when it's 5 stars, you feel it. For me, it felt like 5 stars the whole way through so long as the ending held up. And it did. Recommend this to everyone. You don't need to be a big crime fan. I'm not.
amygoldmacher's review against another edition
5.0
His best work yet. I couldn't put it down. Highly recommended if you 1) like Steve Hamilton, 2) like crime fiction, 3) like a good novel, or 4) all of the above.
owoityra's review against another edition
5.0
I'm not really sure how to...describe why I gave this book five stars. I felt very...hmmm....like...eh...alright. This was my first time ever reading crime fiction, and I think that if I had started with anything else, I would have gotten off on the wrong foot. The Lock Artist is very clearly crime, and there are many scenes where that shines through. But I felt like, while I was reading it, it was the story beneath all of the crime that really shone through. The Lock Artist has a truly amazing story beneath all of the amazing action scenes. The Lock Artist was really a love story in some ways, to me. There was so much more that impressed me with this book, too. The author does an amazing job with the writing. You can pick up the book and in two seconds you feel like you're in Mike's world, caught up in all of his crazy mishaps. The characters are strong throughout, and each one, even if you find them dead a few pages after they're introduced, has a clear, well-thoughtout personality and an important role to the story. Especially the main character and the voice of the novel, Mike.
I'm begin to ramble here, and there's tons more I could say, but I have to go off to school. I definitely think that anyone - both boys and girls - should check out the description of the book on Goodreads and see if they want to give it a show. It is technically an adult book, and there are some tiny scenes with gore and lots of bad language, but if you can handle that it isn't that bad.
I'm begin to ramble here, and there's tons more I could say, but I have to go off to school. I definitely think that anyone - both boys and girls - should check out the description of the book on Goodreads and see if they want to give it a show. It is technically an adult book, and there are some tiny scenes with gore and lots of bad language, but if you can handle that it isn't that bad.
lilginny's review against another edition
5.0
This book is absolutely stunning. I just could not put it down. I was drawn in and hard to know what was going to happen next. I was rooting for Michael and wanted to see everything work out for him. I thought it was such a brilliant and ingenious idea to write a character who could not say a single word. I found myself almost unable to talk after reading it. I felt so pulled into Michael's world that I felt I was standing next to him watching and experiencing all of these things. I just can't say enough good things about this book.
julie_loves_books's review against another edition
3.0
I enjoyed the theme of the book and learning about cracking locks/safes. It truly does seem like an art...although an illegal one if you use it the wrong way.
It gives a true picture of how one little misstep can lead you into a life of crime. And, that that life of crime is very hard to escape, if not impossible to escape.
It gives a true picture of how one little misstep can lead you into a life of crime. And, that that life of crime is very hard to escape, if not impossible to escape.
angeliqueazul's review against another edition
5.0
The Lock Artist is an amazing book. It is full of suspense, has a wonderful narrative voice and great humor. I recommend it highly.
The thing that bothered me a little about the book was the fact that Michael's narrative voice was so lively when he as a person had stopped talking for years... I mean, I loved his voice and he's one of the most original characters I've ever come across, but nevertheless I kept asking myself whether this was not a bit of an inconsistency. I wouldn't have wanted it to be different though, which makes my whole argument pointless, I know, it's just something that got me thinking once in a while.
If you love books for their characters, this is definitely for you. If you love funny crime/action movies, this is definitely a book for you. (In case some readers out there are as easily freaked out with scary stuff as I am - don't worry, you can read this without getting nightmares.)
The thing that bothered me a little about the book was the fact that Michael's narrative voice was so lively when he as a person had stopped talking for years... I mean, I loved his voice and he's one of the most original characters I've ever come across, but nevertheless I kept asking myself whether this was not a bit of an inconsistency. I wouldn't have wanted it to be different though, which makes my whole argument pointless, I know, it's just something that got me thinking once in a while.
If you love books for their characters, this is definitely for you. If you love funny crime/action movies, this is definitely a book for you. (In case some readers out there are as easily freaked out with scary stuff as I am - don't worry, you can read this without getting nightmares.)
powermetalgirl's review against another edition
A fantastic crime story from Steve Hamilton, as usual. Well written, engaging, yet never your standard book. Though the main character, Mike, never actually speaks, his communication with the reader and other characters is always clear. A pleasure to read.
zombeesknees's review against another edition
5.0
Full review can be found here: https://www.criminalelement.com/the-edgar-awards-revisited-the-lock-artist-by-steve-hamilton-best-novel-2011/