Plot/Summary:
Unable to speak since a traumatic childhood incident when he was eight, Michael Smith has an unbelievable talent--he can open any door without a key, any padlock without the combination or any type of safe. This unique skill makes Michael a hot commodity in the criminal world. This story is told in the first person by present day Michael and he flashes back to how he was trained to become a 'boxman' or safecracker and how these skills led to his descent into the criminal underworld and an unrewarding life of crime. As the past and present unfold, the pieces of the puzzle come together and the reader is gradually able to unlock the secret to Michael's past.  

Comments:
The action and pace build slowly and dramatically in this innovative thriller. Michael is an intriguing narrator and Hamilton hooks the reader by using a unique voice to tell the story. One cannot help but root for this tortured young man with such an extraordinary talent. As the story shifts between the shocking events of Michael's past to the challenges of his present, the reader is taken along for a ride on a poignant and emotional journey. The Lock Artist was winner of the 2011 Edgar Award for Best Mystery.

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Reviewed by bb, 05/11. Other reviews by bb. Have you read this book? Tell us what you think!