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Review
'A tale of blessing and curse, horror and redemption, a boy who is utterly locked out and a man who can bypass any security system, skilfully woven in the spare, elegant prose of unforced authenticity.' (GUARDIAN )
'Outstanding!' (TELEGRAPH & ARGUS )
'Outstanding!' (TELEGRAPH & ARGUS )
Review
'Never has a narrator been more eloquent, more heart breaking and more moving - and all without speaking a word... An utterly absorbing tale.9/10' PETERBOROUGH EVENING TELEGRAPH 'The talent that Steve Hamilton has developed over the course of the Alex McKnight series is in full bloom here in this daring and deeply satisfying novel.' REVIEWING THE EVIDENCE 'This reluctant safecracker is one of the most attractive, original and complete protagonists I've encountered in a lond while, in one of the most consistenly enjoyable and moving novels of the year.' MORNING STAR 'Steve Hamilton knows how to build tension - it is slow, but inexorable. The reader is given an indication of how things will shape up from the outset, but this in no way spoils the narrative - the sequence of events is compelling. LEICESTERSHIRE LIFE
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
The story begins with Michael introducing himself from jail. He asks you to think back to the summer of 1990 and recall the terrible events that ended up with him being known as the Miracle Boy. Of course we are not able to do this, but it has the effect of making you instantly intrigued and wanting to find out what happened to him. The things that happened that day were so traumatising for 8 year old Micheal that he is left unable to speak. His future is changed forever and he is sent to live with a batchelor uncle who owns a liquor store. School becomes a nightmare for him, until he discovers a talent for opening locks. Unfortunately this leads him into a high school prank that goes wrong. He ends up in trouble with the police taking the blame and refusing to name the others involved. As a result he ends up doing community service for the man whose house he broke into.
Whilst doing community work he strikes up a special relationship with the mans daugher Amelia. Unable to talk they converse though drawing, leaving pages of a comic book for each other that tell a story. Although unable to speak, Amelia is the one person Michael might tell his story to.
Amelias father is in trouble with the mob and to get himself out of trouble he uses Micheal and his special abilities as a bargaining chip. Michael graduates from locks to safes and is soon involved in a million dollar heist gaining the name The Lock Artist. All the time he is planning a way to turn the tables on his employers and find Amelia again.
The book is gripping, it tells the story in a series of flashbacks into the past, mixed up with the Michael's safecracking exploits in the present day. This could be confusing but its not. You are given an insight into how he learns how to crack safes and the details given are fascinating although there is not enough detail to enable you do this yourself. It is also a love story, Michael is driven to find Amelia again and to protect her at all costs. The characters are involving and believable. You will keep turning the pages wanting to know what happens and wanting to find out what happened to Michael all those years ago.
Whilst doing community work he strikes up a special relationship with the mans daugher Amelia. Unable to talk they converse though drawing, leaving pages of a comic book for each other that tell a story. Although unable to speak, Amelia is the one person Michael might tell his story to.
Amelias father is in trouble with the mob and to get himself out of trouble he uses Micheal and his special abilities as a bargaining chip. Michael graduates from locks to safes and is soon involved in a million dollar heist gaining the name The Lock Artist. All the time he is planning a way to turn the tables on his employers and find Amelia again.
The book is gripping, it tells the story in a series of flashbacks into the past, mixed up with the Michael's safecracking exploits in the present day. This could be confusing but its not. You are given an insight into how he learns how to crack safes and the details given are fascinating although there is not enough detail to enable you do this yourself. It is also a love story, Michael is driven to find Amelia again and to protect her at all costs. The characters are involving and believable. You will keep turning the pages wanting to know what happens and wanting to find out what happened to Michael all those years ago.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This a great book originally written to my mind from the perspective of someone suffering the phycological after effects of an extremely traumatic childhood experience. Its great in many ways. The author sets up questions from the beginning by writing the main characters perspective at the present moment and reflecting on the way that the character got here today. Several of the main questions and ideas are left to the latter parts of the book to be revealed which kept me as a reader enthralled to the end.
It probably says something that I read this book flat out in two days from cover to cover and never having read anything by this author before want to read more. The story is essentially about a teenager getting to grips with life in his late teens and on to his twenties but the concept of the phycological effects foisted on this individual make the book in my opinion unique and interesting.
I would normally try and compare the novel to others that I have read and similar sort of authors, but I don't think I can in this case because its very original. All I can say is that if you like fairly fast paced, original and intriguing books this may well be the book for you.
A journey of self discovery is described by the main character and it may well be that like me you the reader will discover something about yourself reading this book.
It probably says something that I read this book flat out in two days from cover to cover and never having read anything by this author before want to read more. The story is essentially about a teenager getting to grips with life in his late teens and on to his twenties but the concept of the phycological effects foisted on this individual make the book in my opinion unique and interesting.
I would normally try and compare the novel to others that I have read and similar sort of authors, but I don't think I can in this case because its very original. All I can say is that if you like fairly fast paced, original and intriguing books this may well be the book for you.
A journey of self discovery is described by the main character and it may well be that like me you the reader will discover something about yourself reading this book.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
From the cover splurged with hype to reviews from the NY Times like "Too good for words", music to this thriller fan's ears!
Me - I'll readily read anything I can get my hands on, from Shopaholic to Tom Clancy but it's always thrillers that get me going the most. So I raced off through the first chapters of "The Lock Artist" both impressed at the emotion conveyed and the interesting perspective of a boy who doesn't ever say a word on an imposed journey to become a safe-breaker or "Lock Artist".
I have not read any of Steve Hamilton's books before, so I didn't have any expectations other than the stellar reviews. The book starts you off in the first person narrative and you immediately can not fail to build a rapport with the character and be intrigued by the promise of what's to come. The premise is certainly original and I can think of no other plot similar but by the end I was left feeling underwhelmed - like Steve nearly had it but not quite and the potential didn't quite surface.
I'm afraid the offered-up explanations of how safe-breaking works (author's note that this was masked so as not to result in a "how to guide"), took maths to a higher level than I'm interested in and I zoned out for a couple of pages - the only real low point for me.
Are these books more targeted to a younger reader maybe? Some of the violence and dark moments make me think not. Overall it is definitely a page-turner but a little too simplistic. I don't want to knock it too much as it was a very easy read and if the film is ever made, I'd go and see it in a heartbeat.
Me - I'll readily read anything I can get my hands on, from Shopaholic to Tom Clancy but it's always thrillers that get me going the most. So I raced off through the first chapters of "The Lock Artist" both impressed at the emotion conveyed and the interesting perspective of a boy who doesn't ever say a word on an imposed journey to become a safe-breaker or "Lock Artist".
I have not read any of Steve Hamilton's books before, so I didn't have any expectations other than the stellar reviews. The book starts you off in the first person narrative and you immediately can not fail to build a rapport with the character and be intrigued by the promise of what's to come. The premise is certainly original and I can think of no other plot similar but by the end I was left feeling underwhelmed - like Steve nearly had it but not quite and the potential didn't quite surface.
I'm afraid the offered-up explanations of how safe-breaking works (author's note that this was masked so as not to result in a "how to guide"), took maths to a higher level than I'm interested in and I zoned out for a couple of pages - the only real low point for me.
Are these books more targeted to a younger reader maybe? Some of the violence and dark moments make me think not. Overall it is definitely a page-turner but a little too simplistic. I don't want to knock it too much as it was a very easy read and if the film is ever made, I'd go and see it in a heartbeat.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Lock Artist
Hamilton's characters are a bit one-dimensional, but since the main character is a teenager -- and the remaining figures mimic a comic book approach, you're apt to forgive the... Read more
Published 4 months ago by Morlech
Hard-boiled yet juvenile
I must confess that the first few chapters of this book had me gripped, but once I'd read it and thought about it a bit, it's flaws became manifest. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Telboy
A change of character
Having been a fan of Steve Hamilton for a long time, I was happy to read this standalone story. Whilst the jumping about back and forth with respect to the time frame was a little... Read more
Published 4 months ago by alastairl39
Atlas - Something Original!
The fact that this book is not piled high in every bookshop and airport lounge is a solid testimony to the incompetence of Steve Hamilton's agent and publishers. Read more
Published 5 months ago by David Craggs
I can't believe this is the same author...
I recently started reading Steve Hamilton's Alex McKnight series. After two books I have to say they are excellent up there with Connelly, Pelecanos , Lee Burke and other much... Read more
Published 5 months ago by Ascot Billy
Quirky and brilliant.
I can't speak too highly of this book. An unusual subject, handled brilliantly by a master craftsman. Read more
Published 6 months ago by James N. Beatson
Top, Top Read
I echo what many others have stated. This is an excellent read with great characters, well structured story and sharply written. Read more
Published 7 months ago by Tony Laforce
Intriguing
One of the first books I bought for my Kindle, I thoroughly enjoyed this. I bought as it was nominated for the CWA Dagger award in 2011, and their choices are typically worth... Read more
Published 8 months ago by Bristol Gog
A great read!
I really enjoyed The Lock Artist for many reasons. Firstly it is quite an unusual angle into the criminal underworld, focusing on enough detail to keep you interested in what would... Read more
Published 10 months ago by Willyum
The Lock Artist - Steve Hamilton
The Lock Artist is not only a crime thriller but also a romance, following Michael, a young man who became mute following an incident and his special skill for picking locks. Read more
Published 12 months ago by Mum2amutt
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