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michaeljuan's review against another edition
1.0
A mediocre book that promised too much and gave too little.
lisaarnsdorf's review against another edition
2.0
Really crime fiction rather than a mystery. Interesting premise, certainly a new idea. I did feel like the book was about 100 pages too long. There was too much lead up, and boring lead up at that, to get to the two big reveals. The two timelines also meant that details you had to make inferences about were explained so late in the story that it seemed odd to be referring to them again.
Learning how someone picks a long or breaks a safe was interesting the first time or two, but it quickly got tedious. I could have done with a lot less detail on those two points. I ended up skimming big passages. Similarly, I skipped big chunks of text about the protagonist digging a pool for days at a time.
Additionally, the female characters didn't strike me as realistic. The two many young women were amazingly psychologically damaged, inexplicably sexually motivated, and lacking in other personality traits.
I never felt connected to any of the characters. When some surprising deaths take place, I didn't so much as blink. I didn't feel at all invested in the characters to be upset that they were gone.
Not a bad read, just tedious. I think this could have been a great book if it were a lot tighter.
Learning how someone picks a long or breaks a safe was interesting the first time or two, but it quickly got tedious. I could have done with a lot less detail on those two points. I ended up skimming big passages. Similarly, I skipped big chunks of text about the protagonist digging a pool for days at a time.
Additionally, the female characters didn't strike me as realistic. The two many young women were amazingly psychologically damaged, inexplicably sexually motivated, and lacking in other personality traits.
I never felt connected to any of the characters. When some surprising deaths take place, I didn't so much as blink. I didn't feel at all invested in the characters to be upset that they were gone.
Not a bad read, just tedious. I think this could have been a great book if it were a lot tighter.
knallen's review against another edition
4.0
Really, really liked this book. The main character was different and intriguing. The world he existed in was fascinating to me. The love story was bitter sweet and really lovely. Occasionally, reading it, I would get tripped up because it is told entirely non-linear. It worked really well for the plot though so that you didn't really know anything until the end. I kept guessing 'Oh! It's this time' and was entirely wrong. Very good book.
wishanem's review against another edition
3.0
This book is a stylish series of stories about crimes ranging from petty to deadly serious with a little bit of romance and other drama around the edges, narrated by and starring a mute safecracker called Michael. The narrator is immediately likeable in spite of his shortcomings, and makes realistically bad decisions considering his background and circumstances. I appreciated that he wasn't super-humanly competent at everything he tried, as so many heroes (or antiheroes) often are.
that_spunky_rebel's review
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
shinychick's review against another edition
3.0
I was recommended this by [a:Maggie Stiefvater|1330292|Maggie Stiefvater|http://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1268241579p2/1330292.jpg]. (No, not personally, but on her blog.) I decided to give it a shot, and I was kind of really happy to see that MacLeod Andrews, who was fantastic on [b:The Spectacular Now|3798703|The Spectacular Now|Tim Tharp|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1320493552s/3798703.jpg|3842894], also was the reader here.
And yeah, she was right - just when you thought you could imagine the worst possible thing that could have happened to Mike as a little boy, you are BLOWN OUT OF THE WATER with how much worse you could not imagine.
That said, I really enjoyed the 2000 storyline, with Mike as the established boxman (safecracker) working with the White Crew. The 1999 storyline interested me less, but I stuck with it, and did end up enjoying it.
The best part, overall, though, was the feeling that I could take this book to the places Hamilton mentioned and find them. That's something I really appreciate about definite-location books: the feeling of reality.
And yeah, she was right - just when you thought you could imagine the worst possible thing that could have happened to Mike as a little boy, you are BLOWN OUT OF THE WATER with how much worse you could not imagine.
That said, I really enjoyed the 2000 storyline, with Mike as the established boxman (safecracker) working with the White Crew. The 1999 storyline interested me less, but I stuck with it, and did end up enjoying it.
The best part, overall, though, was the feeling that I could take this book to the places Hamilton mentioned and find them. That's something I really appreciate about definite-location books: the feeling of reality.
hardscifi's review against another edition
5.0
Love, love, love Hamilton's characters
Great writing, characterizations and action. Great style.
You don't need more.
Try this one out.
You won't regret it. Promise.
Great writing, characterizations and action. Great style.
You don't need more.
Try this one out.
You won't regret it. Promise.
gawronma's review against another edition
4.0
A very well written book. Michael was an interesting character facing difficult choices.
dianadomino's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this one. Michael engaged my attention from page one and I kept turning them until the satisfying end.
chinacatsun76's review against another edition
5.0
Review on Reading Lark: http://readinglark.blogspot.com/2013/07/book-review-lock-artist.html
You know how sometimes you read a book that you'd never pick up on your own, but a friend strong-armed you into reading it? And then you're caught off guard when you absolutely LOVE it? I hope that The Lock Artist by Steve Hamilton becomes that book for you, because it was for me. The only difference between my hypothetical scenario and reality is that my "friend" was the American Library Association's annual Alex Awards which "are given to ten books written for adults that have special appeal to young adults," not an actual friend.
Michael is an 18-year-old who has a gift; he can open pretty much anything with a lock. Bike locks, padlocks, combination locks, key locks, safes, gym lockers - if it locks, he can open it. While Michael uses his lock picking abilities as a way to pass the time, once other people find out about his talent, they realize he is a commodity. But his "special gift" isn't the most interesting, or odd, thing about him. Michael hasn't spoken since he was eight years old; he hasn't uttered a word since the night both of his parents died which has earned him the nickname "The Miracle Boy."
There is little else I can tell you about The Lock Artist without giving away some minor and major plot points. I can tell you that Hamilton writes his main character with an incredible voice. And yes, I know saying that about a character that doesn't speak is sort of ironic, but it's true. Michael speaks directly to the reader and recounts the events leading up to his current predicament, which involves a prison cell and an orange jumpsuit, and is a believable and consistent character from the first few lines of the story to the final chapter. You root for him. You yell at him. You want good things for him. And most of all, you desperately want to know what happened to him that day back when he was eight years old. (You find out eventually, and even after reading 3/4th of the book with a huge build up of the mystery surrounding it, I was both surprised and immediately satisfied.)
And Michael isn't the only good thing about this book - his friends, relatives, and (ahem) business associates are varied and interesting and real. I loved Julian and Ramona and even the token sassy-but-damaged teenage girl is more complex than she initially appears to be. And the sequencing! I loved the way Hamilton played with time and sequence to keep the pacing fresh, interesting, and it never let the story get too heavy with the crime/first love/trauma details. Just when I was ready for a break from Lock Picking 101, the story went back to when Michael was 10. And when I was ready for something other than the teenage, angst-filled romance, it was time for slick criminal Mike to take over. Truly, this may be a crime/suspense novel, but in my opinion it is completely character driven.
Like I said in the beginning, based on the back-of-book description this is 100% not something I'd have ever picked up on my own, but I am SO glad I did. Now I'm looking forward to reading a few more of the Alex Award winners I have in my Goodreads list! And, if you're into that kind of thing, The Lock Artist also won an Edgar Award (presented by Mystery Writers of America) for Best Novel in 2011.
Final Word: If you enjoy great storytelling, rich characters, and the occasional "Wow, I didn't see THAT coming!" moment that makes complete and total sense once you think about it, read this book. Also, the audiobook version is fan-freaking-tastic - I can't recommend it enough!
You know how sometimes you read a book that you'd never pick up on your own, but a friend strong-armed you into reading it? And then you're caught off guard when you absolutely LOVE it? I hope that The Lock Artist by Steve Hamilton becomes that book for you, because it was for me. The only difference between my hypothetical scenario and reality is that my "friend" was the American Library Association's annual Alex Awards which "are given to ten books written for adults that have special appeal to young adults," not an actual friend.
Michael is an 18-year-old who has a gift; he can open pretty much anything with a lock. Bike locks, padlocks, combination locks, key locks, safes, gym lockers - if it locks, he can open it. While Michael uses his lock picking abilities as a way to pass the time, once other people find out about his talent, they realize he is a commodity. But his "special gift" isn't the most interesting, or odd, thing about him. Michael hasn't spoken since he was eight years old; he hasn't uttered a word since the night both of his parents died which has earned him the nickname "The Miracle Boy."
There is little else I can tell you about The Lock Artist without giving away some minor and major plot points. I can tell you that Hamilton writes his main character with an incredible voice. And yes, I know saying that about a character that doesn't speak is sort of ironic, but it's true. Michael speaks directly to the reader and recounts the events leading up to his current predicament, which involves a prison cell and an orange jumpsuit, and is a believable and consistent character from the first few lines of the story to the final chapter. You root for him. You yell at him. You want good things for him. And most of all, you desperately want to know what happened to him that day back when he was eight years old. (You find out eventually, and even after reading 3/4th of the book with a huge build up of the mystery surrounding it, I was both surprised and immediately satisfied.)
And Michael isn't the only good thing about this book - his friends, relatives, and (ahem) business associates are varied and interesting and real. I loved Julian and Ramona and even the token sassy-but-damaged teenage girl is more complex than she initially appears to be. And the sequencing! I loved the way Hamilton played with time and sequence to keep the pacing fresh, interesting, and it never let the story get too heavy with the crime/first love/trauma details. Just when I was ready for a break from Lock Picking 101, the story went back to when Michael was 10. And when I was ready for something other than the teenage, angst-filled romance, it was time for slick criminal Mike to take over. Truly, this may be a crime/suspense novel, but in my opinion it is completely character driven.
Like I said in the beginning, based on the back-of-book description this is 100% not something I'd have ever picked up on my own, but I am SO glad I did. Now I'm looking forward to reading a few more of the Alex Award winners I have in my Goodreads list! And, if you're into that kind of thing, The Lock Artist also won an Edgar Award (presented by Mystery Writers of America) for Best Novel in 2011.
Final Word: If you enjoy great storytelling, rich characters, and the occasional "Wow, I didn't see THAT coming!" moment that makes complete and total sense once you think about it, read this book. Also, the audiobook version is fan-freaking-tastic - I can't recommend it enough!