Helpful Score: 5
So many books are so heavily hyped that I get almost reluctant to read them, fearing disappointment. Steve Hamiltion had never disappointed yet, so gave this stand alone novel a chance. Reader reactions might vary to the constantly changing timeline as the narrator and lead character moves through the tale, telling his history by weaving different times and events together.
Quirky, fresh, and beautifully written, The Lock Artist is both powerful and adsorbing, succeeding on several levels. It's about what happens in a few years, yet it is almost a lifetime. A strange, and touching romance plays out in what initially seems a minor key, as Michael, survivor of the ultimate childhood trauma, goes silently through life, bonding with only a few a people, a friend who deserts him, and a girl Amelia. His great gift, besides art, is being able to open locks - all locks. Yet the one lock that he cannot open, is the self imposed one on his own voice. Justifiably an award winner.
The style takes some getting used to, though the author does warn that. I became so adsorbed, I forgot about it and just enjoyed a beautifully crafted, highly original book.
Quirky, fresh, and beautifully written, The Lock Artist is both powerful and adsorbing, succeeding on several levels. It's about what happens in a few years, yet it is almost a lifetime. A strange, and touching romance plays out in what initially seems a minor key, as Michael, survivor of the ultimate childhood trauma, goes silently through life, bonding with only a few a people, a friend who deserts him, and a girl Amelia. His great gift, besides art, is being able to open locks - all locks. Yet the one lock that he cannot open, is the self imposed one on his own voice. Justifiably an award winner.
The style takes some getting used to, though the author does warn that. I became so adsorbed, I forgot about it and just enjoyed a beautifully crafted, highly original book.
Helpful Score: 3
Great book! I don't usually like crime fiction that much; but this book is fantastic, couldn't put it down!
Helpful Score: 2
A fascinating revalation of the science of locks. The chapters switch alternately between dates, so you have to be alert.
Helpful Score: 1
Hamilton's books are well written. His writing makes you believe the characters are real and you begin to care about what happens to them. This is a can't put-it-down page turner that will have you staying up late just to finish the book.
Helpful Score: 1
Kept me interested til the end
The Lock Artist has been on my radar ever since I heard Steve Hamilton talk about it at a local author event. Now... if only my reaction to the book hadn't been so mixed.
Michael is a fantastic character, make no bones about it. Showing how those around him deal with someone who doesn't speak illuminates both Michael's character and theirs. Unfortunately, most of them seem to think he's some sort of freak, and once they learn what his talent is, all they can think of is how to exploit his skill at opening any sort of lock he's faced with. Michael is the sort of young man you root for. You want him to get away from the bad guys. You want him to find the peace and happiness he deserves. Because he is a good person trapped in the aftermath of the horrendous things that happened when he was eight years old. Michael behaves as though he has some sort of survivor's guilt, that he deserves whatever happens to him. That trauma seems to have stolen his will, and that's one thing that drove me nuts about The Lock Artist.
The other thing is the glacial unfolding of the story. It seemed to take forever for the story to finally arrive at the point where we learn what happened to Michael all those years ago, and once we find out what happened, a lot of Michael's behavior makes sense. Unfortunately, I'd begun to lose patience with the young man long before the reveal, which undoubtedly says more about me than it does the book. How many times does it take for a person to grow a spine and learn how to refuse to do something he knows is wrong? I know teenagers yearn for acceptance from their peers, but when those peers are repeatedly shown to be entitled jerks who don't care about anyone but themselves, how long does it take for the light bulb to go off over a person's head? In Michael's case, a long, long time.
Between the extremely slow pace and my exasperation with Michael, my enjoyment of The Lock Artist was blunted. However, your mileage may definitely vary-- especially if you have more patience than I do. Steve Hamilton has created a fantastic main character whom I shall remember for a long time, no matter how much he exasperated me.
Michael is a fantastic character, make no bones about it. Showing how those around him deal with someone who doesn't speak illuminates both Michael's character and theirs. Unfortunately, most of them seem to think he's some sort of freak, and once they learn what his talent is, all they can think of is how to exploit his skill at opening any sort of lock he's faced with. Michael is the sort of young man you root for. You want him to get away from the bad guys. You want him to find the peace and happiness he deserves. Because he is a good person trapped in the aftermath of the horrendous things that happened when he was eight years old. Michael behaves as though he has some sort of survivor's guilt, that he deserves whatever happens to him. That trauma seems to have stolen his will, and that's one thing that drove me nuts about The Lock Artist.
The other thing is the glacial unfolding of the story. It seemed to take forever for the story to finally arrive at the point where we learn what happened to Michael all those years ago, and once we find out what happened, a lot of Michael's behavior makes sense. Unfortunately, I'd begun to lose patience with the young man long before the reveal, which undoubtedly says more about me than it does the book. How many times does it take for a person to grow a spine and learn how to refuse to do something he knows is wrong? I know teenagers yearn for acceptance from their peers, but when those peers are repeatedly shown to be entitled jerks who don't care about anyone but themselves, how long does it take for the light bulb to go off over a person's head? In Michael's case, a long, long time.
Between the extremely slow pace and my exasperation with Michael, my enjoyment of The Lock Artist was blunted. However, your mileage may definitely vary-- especially if you have more patience than I do. Steve Hamilton has created a fantastic main character whom I shall remember for a long time, no matter how much he exasperated me.
Book Description
"I was the Miracle Boy, once upon a time. Later on, the Milford Mute. The Golden Boy. The Young Ghost. The Kid. The Boxman. The Lock Artist. That was all me.
But you can call me Mike."
Marked by tragedy, traumatized at the age of eight, Michael, now eighteen, is no ordinary young man. Besides not uttering a single word in ten years, he discovers the one thing he can somehow do better than anyone else. Whether it's a locked door without a key, a padlock with no combination, or even an eight-hundred pound safe ... he can open them all.
It's an unforgivable talent. A talent that will make young Michael a hot commodity with the wrong people and, whether he likes it or not, push him ever close to a life of crime. Until he finally sees his chance to escape, and with one desperate gamble risks everything to come back home to the only person he ever loved, and to unlock the secret that has kept him silent for so long.
My Review
This standalone crime fiction was a fascinating story which switched between different time periods. I listened to the audio and it held my interest all the way through to the end. The narrator, MacLeod Andrews, did an excellent job reading the book aloud. I never read Steve Hamilton before but I found this book to be well-written. I look forward to reading more of his books in the near future. I especially enjoyed the relationship between Michael and Amelia and how they communicated without Michael speaking. I would highly recommend this book to those who love crime fiction with a hint of romance.
"I was the Miracle Boy, once upon a time. Later on, the Milford Mute. The Golden Boy. The Young Ghost. The Kid. The Boxman. The Lock Artist. That was all me.
But you can call me Mike."
Marked by tragedy, traumatized at the age of eight, Michael, now eighteen, is no ordinary young man. Besides not uttering a single word in ten years, he discovers the one thing he can somehow do better than anyone else. Whether it's a locked door without a key, a padlock with no combination, or even an eight-hundred pound safe ... he can open them all.
It's an unforgivable talent. A talent that will make young Michael a hot commodity with the wrong people and, whether he likes it or not, push him ever close to a life of crime. Until he finally sees his chance to escape, and with one desperate gamble risks everything to come back home to the only person he ever loved, and to unlock the secret that has kept him silent for so long.
My Review
This standalone crime fiction was a fascinating story which switched between different time periods. I listened to the audio and it held my interest all the way through to the end. The narrator, MacLeod Andrews, did an excellent job reading the book aloud. I never read Steve Hamilton before but I found this book to be well-written. I look forward to reading more of his books in the near future. I especially enjoyed the relationship between Michael and Amelia and how they communicated without Michael speaking. I would highly recommend this book to those who love crime fiction with a hint of romance.
Disappointing. Not nearly as good as his last book.
Waste of money, waste of time--didn't find it 'brilliant' 'well written' at all--it just a story about a guy that stops talking and then gets interested in locks and becomes a safe cracker---oh hum--wasn't exciting, suspensful, just a waste!
