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Why it matters
Hamilton gives the heist novel an unusual silent narrator whose technical gift is inseparable from trauma and coercion.
A celebrated work
The Lock Artist
Steve Hamilton2011 selection · Mystery & crime
The Lock Artist
Traumatized teenager Michael has not spoken for years, but he possesses an extraordinary ability to open locks and safes. Criminals exploit that talent, drawing him into increasingly dangerous burglaries as he tries to understand his past and imagine escape.
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Read this if…
You enjoy precise caper mechanics combined with a vulnerable coming-of-age story.
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Ideas inside
TraumaLockpickingCoercionEscape
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Edgar Award for Best Novel — official winner recordOfficial record↗ (opens in a new tab)