As a #1 New York Times Bestseller, author Dennis Lehane’s psychological-mystery novel “Shutter Island” takes its readers on a wild, mind-blowing ride that explores the psyche of the “violent man” and the fragility of every person’s sanity. Lehane’s novel takes place on an island housing an asylum for the criminally insane in the 50s. As he elaborately weaves together the fates of his characters, he also explores the history and development of psycho-pharmaceutical psychology, a concept then thought to be preposterous.

Using history to his advantage Lehane takes you back in time to the asylum for the criminally insane located on Shutter Island. Following two U.S. Marshalls in their search for a missing “patient,” readers will see the corruption that plagued the profession of psychology; the mass use of transorbital lobotomies, shock treatments and other frightening tortures.

Lehane utilizes the characteristics of the classic psychological thriller as well as tying in his own, unique form of plot and character development—which at once gets you insanely interested in the novel—to create a world where absolutely nothing is as it seems.

Due to its success and popularity the novel has been made into a motion picture directed by Martin Scorsese and starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Mark Ruffalo, Ben Kingsley, Michelle Williams and Max Von Sydow. It is set for theatrical release Feb 19.