Book Review- Harlan Coben - Miracle Cure

Harlan Coben - Miracle Cure 3.5 Stars

Michael Silverman is a famous basketball star, and his wife, Sara Lowell, is a TV journalist. They are connected politically and medically by her father. An AIDS clinic in Manhattan seems to be making great strides towards a cure, but now the cured patients are being murdered by a serial killer. Michael has been diagnosed with the disease and they must put an end to this murder spree before Michael becomes just another victim.

Harlan Coben has an introduction apologising for the fact that this book is not as strong as his later work, as this was actually book two by him. He wasn’t kidding. It was still a good read, but not one I would read more than once. Coben certainly has stronger books. He also says that this should not be the first book you read by him, again he is correct. If this had been my first Coben read I would not have read another. The plot had too much going on at times and got to be too much to follow. At some points you are following four things at one time. The twists were pretty good; it was a strong point of the plot. I also thought that the characters were expertly crafted, another redeeming quality. Overall the book was a good one time read, but not the best of Coben.

For more of my reviews check out my website, www.tonypeters.webs.com.

Tony Peters

Kids on a Case: The Case of the Ten Grand Kidnapping

http://authortonypeters.blogspot.com/

Book Review- Harlan Coben- Caught

Harlan Coben- Caught 3 Stars

Wendy Tynes is a reporter catching pedophiles in the act by using chat rooms as a sting operation. When she catches social worker Dan Mercer in her web, she had no idea just how much it was going to change her life. Suddenly the story gets complicated and everything seems to be amuck. Nothing makes sense anymore and the question is, was he really guilty, or was he set up?

I loved the opening line for this book. It was a great way to draw you into the book. I also loved the opening chapter as it was really good at making you want to read on. That being said it got to be a little hard to follow for the next quarter of the book as it seemed like there was so much going on and so many shifts in perspective. The plot was really well thought out though and had great twists and turns along the way. I especially enjoyed the ending, though not completely unpredictable, it was a fitting conclusion. The characters were also really well done and assisted the plot nicely. Overall it was only a decent read. Not the greatest book by this author.

For more of my reviews check out my website, www.tonypeters.webs.com.

Tony Peters

Kids on a Case: The Case of the Ten Grand Kidnapping

http://authortonypeters.blogspot.com/

Book Review- Harlan Coben- Long Lost

Harlan Coben- Long Lost 3.75 Stars

When Myron Bolitar receives a strange phone call from a long lost fling asking him to go to Paris, he is reluctant to go considering his current relationship. When he finally does decide to go he finds himself thrown into the midst of something far scarier than he could have ever imagined. Even Win may not be able to help him. This cloak and dagger mystery will lead him to new places as he tries to help Terese find her daughter whom she though to be dead.

The book was a little slower to begin with, but it did pick up, albeit it took a bit. I may have preferred it to be faster-paced. When it did pick up it was quite interesting. I was happy to see this series changed up. It was the same basic plot, but we saw it spread out throughout the globe. It also went to a new depth that we have not seen in previous novels. The characters were once again very well done, and I enjoyed reading Myron and Win playing off each other so well. I did find that this novel was a little weaker overall than other books by this author, but it was still a good read.

For more of my reviews check out my website, www.tonypeters.webs.com.

Tony Peters

Kids on a Case: The Case of the Ten Grand Kidnapping

http://authortonypeters.blogspot.com/

Book Review- Harlan Coben- Hold Tight

Harlan Coben- Hold Tight (Signet Books 2009) 3.25 Stars

Afraid of losing their son, Mike and Tia Baye began to monitor Adam’s computer and phone activity. They never dreamed that it could lead them into so much trouble. After a haunting message leaves them racing to find their son who has suddenly disappeared, they now must fight to save both his life and theirs.

I never really was drawn into this book. The introduction kind of fell flat for me and the book never really grabbed my full attention. It had just enough to keep me reading, I was hoping for more oomph. The overall plot was actually really good, but should have been assisted by improving on the aforementioned fault. Harlan Coben did do a very good job at creating the characters, and I loved seeing Hester in the novel. Her hardnosed-no-nonsense lawyer attitude makes for an amusing character. The ending was really good; I thought that it wrapped things up nicely. Overall it was an okay one time read, but I have read much better by this author.

For more of my reviews check out my website, www.tonypeters.webs.com.

Tony Peters

Kids on a Case: The Case of the Ten Grand Kidnapping

http://authortonypeters.blogspot.com/

Book Review- Harlan Coben- The Woods

Harlan Coben- The Woods (Signet Books 2008) 4.25 Stars

Paul Copeland’s sister died in the woods outside of their summer camp, along with three other people, twenty years ago. Only two bodies were ever found; his sister’s body was not among them. Now as County Prosecutor he has a huge career case he is fighting to win, and he must still find time to raise his six year old daughter by himself, after his wife’s death. When one of the supposed dead actually turns up as a murder victim, he must figure out the truth, is his sister really dead? If she isn’t, why did she go into hiding?

The introduction to this book was unique; it grabbed my attention and made me want to find out what was going on. Normally I find two seemingly separate story lines revolving around the same person to be a little distracting, but in this book’s case they were interwoven amazingly well. True to Coben’s style, the plot had lots of great twists and turns, you just never knew what was going to come at you next. I did manage to figure out one of the twists way before hand, but it didn’t really detract from the book at all. A couple of situations in the book though, I did kind of wonder if it would have played out like that, but it was a minor complaint. I found the characters to be fun and they were quite well crafted. Overall the book was pretty good, and I would certainly recommend it to all thriller readers.

For more of my reviews check out my website, http://www.tonypeters.webs.com/

Tony Peters
Kids on a Case: The Case of the Ten Grand Kidnapping
http://authortonypeters.blogspot.com/

Book Review- Harlan Coben- Promise Me

Harlan Coben- Promise Me (Signet Books 2007) 4 Stars

It has been six years since Myron Bolitar tried to save
someone, not since the last brutal failure. Haunted by the death of a woman he
tried to save he now finds himself making a promise to the daughters of his new
girlfriend, and her best friend, daughter of one of his friends. He tries to
prevent them from catching rides with drunken friends by offering to give them
a ride if ever they need it; little did he know what he was getting himself
into.

The intro to this book was kind of interesting. It isn’t
action packed, but it grabs your attention and makes you wonder how this is
going to tie in. I found the characters to be really good. We got to learn a
bit more about Win’s past and how he became the man he is in the series. We
also got to see the character of Bolitar becoming stronger and less of a
pushover. The plot was pretty good, could have been a little stronger. It had
some great twists, but the big twist at the end I saw coming about a quarter of
the way through. Overall this was a pretty good book, I love this series and it
was a decent instalment.

For more of my reviews check out my website, www.tonypeters.webs.com

Tony Peters

Kids on a Case: The Case of the Ten Grand Kidnapping

http://authortonypeters.blogspot.com/

Book Review- Harlan Coben- No Second Chance

Harlan Coben- No Second Chance (Signet 2004) 4 Stars

When Dr. Seidman and his wife are shot in their home, his daughter is kidnapped. When he is given a ransom note, he checks himself out of the hospital. Trying to get his daughter back, things go wrong almost from the start. Now he must search for his daughter’s kidnappers and fight to get his daughter back, all the while not knowing if she was alive.

Great opening sentence and opening pages in this book; it grabbed my attention immediately. It lets the reader know that they are in for a wild ride. This book was pretty intense at parts, and had cooling periods to give the reader a little break, but not so much to be at the point of boring the reader. I liked the characters in this book; they were interesting and added to the book nicely. The plot was pretty good as well; it had many twists and turns, keeping the reader guessing. I did wonder why the cops were so set on Dr. Seidman being guilty; there were too many things that just didn’t fit into place for him being guilty. Overall the book was pretty good; I would recommend it for those who like a good thriller.

For more of my reviews check out my website, www.tonypeters.webs.com

Tony Peters

Kids on a Case: The Case of the Ten Grand Kidnapping

http://authortonypeters.blogspot.com/

Book Review- Harlan Coben- Gone for Good

Harlan Coben- Gone for Good (Dell Books 2002) 5 Stars

Will Klein’s brother was accused of murdering Will’s ex-girlfriend and quickly disappeared. Everyone assumed he was never coming back, but now eleven years later events are unfolding that have them all revisiting the past. Danger seems to come along with every shocking revelation they discover. Can they figure things out before it is too late?

I really enjoyed this book. It twisted and turned so many times, you just never knew what to expect. The plot was so intense you never had a dull moment. It was a little wordy at times, but not distractingly so. I also loved how the characters were so well done, and added so much to the book. The setting was pretty interesting and assisted the plot nicely in jacking up the intensity. I would certainly recommend this stand alone and any other book by this amazing author.

For more of my reviews check out my website, www.tonypeters.webs.com

Tony Peters

Kids on a Case: The Case of the Ten Grand Kidnapping

http://authortonypeters.blogspot.com/

Book Review- Harlan Coben- Back Spin

Harlan Coben- Back Spin (Dell Books 2009) 3.75 Stars

When a young teenage boy disappears in Philadelphia during the U.S. Open championship, Myron Bolitar is asked by the mother to discreetly look into the matter. The mother, golf sensation Linda Coldren, has one stipulation; there must be no police involvement for fear of the repercussions of the kidnappers. Her husband is trying to win the championship and Myron can’t help but wonder if someone is attempting to sabotage his chances. Myron is forced to discover what it is like to be alone, and just how dangerous life can get.

I enjoyed this novel, even if it did not quite have the same flare that this series normally does. Again I got to chuckle at Myron’s witty sarcasm, but we did not get as much from Win this time, for reasons you will discover as you read the book. I loved how this novel was used to deepen Win’s character, show us more about his past and why he has become the man that he is. Coben has done another wonderful job of working his magic on the plot. There were certainly some interesting twists involved and they were used to increase the suspense, drawing in the reader’s attention. I do wonder why Coben writes so much about finding a missing person, he does a great job of it, but it would be nice to see something different once in a while. That being said, I would recommend this book to mystery fans.

For more of my reviews check out my website, www.tonypeters.webs.com

Tony Peters

Kids on a Case: The Case of the Ten Grand Kidnapping

http://authortonypeters.blogspot.com/

Book Review- Harlan Coben- Play Dead

Harlan Coben- Play Dead (Signet Books 2010) 3.5 Stars

While on their secret honeymoon in Australia, supermodel Laura Ayars discovers that her husband, Celtics superstar David Baskin, has gone missing. He went for a swim and was never seen again. Laura Ayars will not take suicide as an answer, but no one seems willing to help her find the truth behind her husband’s disappearance. Her quest will bring up secrets from thirty years ago that someone will do anything to make sure stays a secret.

I was looking forward to this novel, especially since it is actually his first novel. That being said, I did not enjoy it as much as his other novels. A good book, just not as good as I am used to with him. The actual plot was very good, but I did feel that it could have been executed a little better. It was suspenseful though, you would think you knew who it was, but then you would second guess yourself. I found myself doing this constantly. The characters were excellently done; I was very impressed by them. I am not completely sold that someone would have done it this way, but it did make for an interesting novel. I would recommend this book to Coben fans. This should probably not be the first Coben book you read however.

For more of my reviews check out my website, www.tonypeters.webs.com

Tony Peters

Kids on a Case: The Case of the Ten Grand Kidnapping

http://authortonypeters.blogspot.com/

Book Review- Harlan Coben- Drop Shot

Harlan Coben- Drop Shot (Bantam Dell 2008) 3.75 Stars

When a prospective client is murdered at the tennis stadium, Myron Bolitar takes it upon himself to look into her murder and find out the truth. Along the way he discoveed that one of his other tennis clients may be involved and it might be all connected to a six-year-old murder of a senator’s son. Now he finds himself butting heads with a dirty U.S. senator, a group of mobsters, and a mother with something to hide. Everyone wants to put an end to his investigation, including the murderer.

Harlan Coben has certainly come up with better introductions, but it did not take long to pick up and draw my interest. I did find it interesting to see a tennis focus as it doesn’t usually get much attention in books. I once again enjoyed the sarcasm, as I usually do in the Bolitar series. I did find that the character development in this book wasn’t as good as it usually was, but was not bad. The plot was good, but not great. I had suspected the ending by a quarter of the way through, and figured it out by halfway through. That being said it was still interesting to see how Bolitar and Win would figure it out and how everything would unfold. Overall I did enjoy the book and would recommend it to anyone who likes sports and thrillers.

For more of my reviews check out my website, www.tonypeters.webs.com

Tony Peters
Kids on a Case: The Case of the Ten Grand Kidnapping
www.eloquentbooks.com/kidsonacase.html

Book Review- Harlan Coben- Deal Breaker

Harlan Coben- Deal Breaker (Dell Publishing 2007) 4 Stars

Myron Bolitar is a sports agent and is about to have one of his young rookies sign the contract of a lifetime. Now the young star is asking him to look into the disappearance of his fiancé a year and half after the fact. Triggered by the death of the girl’s father this case has the potential to be dangerous, just the way Bolitar and his friend Win like it. As he starts the investigation it becomes very clear that someone does not want him to succeed in his case. This becomes especially clear when another body turns up and Myron finds himself asking, just what exactly is going on?

I love the Myron Bolitar series and it was great to see where it all began for Myron. This book makes the others in this series make more sense and provides background for everything that has gone on. Again I love his sarcasm and how it always seems to land him into more trouble than if he had kept his mouth shut. Harlan Coben is a master at creating characters and using those characters throughout the series. I enjoyed the fast pace this book took on. One thing would happen and then before you could even think about that something else slaps you in the face and you are like, “What?” then as the scene plays out you get that, “oooohhhhh” moment. Coben is one the Kings of twists. I did not enjoy all the smut that this book was woven through, not outright smut, just talking about smut, hard to explain you really have to read it to understand. That of course was not enough to make me hate the book; in actuality I loved this book and highly recommend reading it and the series if you have not already started it.

For more of my reviews check out my website, www.tonypeters.webs.com

Tony Peters

Kids on a Case: The case of the Ten Grand Kidnapping

http://authortonypeters.blogspot.com/

Book Review- Harlan Coben- Just One Look

Harlan Coben- Just One Look (Signet 2005) 4 Stars

Grace Lawson has a life she loves, a great home, loving husband, and wonderful children, but one day it all seems to just unravel. It all starts when she discovers an old photograph mixed in her new roll of film, in the photograph is a man who looks just like her husband Jack. When confronted Jack denies it, but disappears with the picture. Now Grace must sort out just what is going on, but she soon realizes that she is not the only one who knows about the photograph, and is hunting for the details around that picture. Also searching is a ruthless killer who does not care who dies, just as long as he completes his assignment. With the police doing little she knows that if the truth is to be found she must do the digging herself. She must find the truth even if it costs her everything she has come to love.

At first I found Just One Look to be kind of difficult to get into, it had just enough oomph to keep me reading. Harlan Coben has definitely had better introductions, but the book did pick up the pace true to Coben’s reputation. The plot was a great with lots of twists and turns as Grace Lawson receives some shocking revelations. I love how Coben is able to make the reader think one thing and end up with a totally different result, just like an illusionist. I enjoyed the many characters we come across in this novel, they are expertly created and woven into the storyline, although I felt that I did not always how a couple of characters reacted, nor their actions. Coben chose interesting places to have some of the scenes, places where the reader would least expect their to be things of importance happening (for the novel’s sake anyways), which was good to see as it came across as a refreshing change from the places novels normally visit. Overall I really enjoyed Just One Look, and would recommend it to anyone who loves a good thriller.

For more of my reviews check out my website, www.tonypeters.webs.com

Tony Peters

Kids on a Case: The Case of the Ten Grand Kidnapping

http://authortonypeters.blogspot.com/

Book Review- Harlan Coben- Fade Away

Harlan Coben- Fade Away (Dell Publishing 1998) 4.75 Stars

The life of a famous basketball star should be wonderful, lots of money and a big home, but when Greg Downing disappears blood is discovered in his basement and it appears that his life may not have been so perfect after all. Myron Bolitar is a sports agent and former college ball player who competed against his rival Greg Downing and suspicions are out that Downing set up Myron’s career-ending injury, yet he has just been hired to locate the missing star. Now he must wade through the lies, deceit, and violent thugs involved in Downing’s life. Suppressed memories of the devastating injury are surfacing as he fights to solve this dangerous mystery. It turns out that solving it may cost him more than he had counted on, it may mean facing his past, and struggling through the present.

Another great read from an author I admire greatly. Harlan Coben knows how to weave a twisting tale of danger and intrigue. The introduction caught my attention and made me want to dig further into the mystery, but it did not stop there. I dug deeper and the pace did not slow down. It was a very interesting plot with really great work by the author to wind the tale in such a way to keep the reader guessing. I also love both Win and Myron as they make a great team. They work so well together and seem to connect on some odd level that helps them understand the other better than they understand themselves. I know I say this each time I read one of this series, but I love the sarcasm used by the author to relieve the tense situations, it makes me chuckle as I read, at times laughing out loud. I think my wife is beginning to wonder about my sanity. The setting was fairly well done, although could have been utilized a little better, not a big enough deal to lower my opinion of the book (pretty much just need to say something negative or it wouldn’t look balanced).

I highly recommend Fade Away or any other book in the Myron Bolitar series.

For more of my reviews check out my website, www.tonypeters.webs.com

Tony Peters

Kids on a Case: The Case of the Ten Grand Kidnapping

www.eloquentbooks.com/kidsonacase.html

Book Review- Harlan Coben- Darkest Fear

Harlan Coben- Darkest Fear (Dell Publishing 2001) 4 Stars

Myron Bolitar is shocked when an ex-girlfriend pays him a visit, only to announce that he is a father and has been for many years. Now his son is in need of a bone marrow transplant and the donor has suddenly disappeared. Is he really a father or is she just telling him that in the hopes that he will investigate and save her son? Either way he intends to find out the truth behind the donor’s disappearance. Suddenly he finds himself in the middle of a very dangerous mess. He seems to be worrying a wealthy family with secrets to hide, upsetting an FBI investigation, and digging up information about a ruthless kidnapper. Guess it’s time to bring in Win to help with his investigation.

I have to say that Darkest Fear started out a little bit slow, although I knew that with it being Harlan Coben, he would crank it up a few notches as I got deeper. It was Myron’s wonderfully amusing sarcasm that kept me interested. That and the fact that Coben seems to be able to create some of the most amazing characters that jump off of every page. Myron Bolitar’s witty sarcasm never fails to amuse and in this novel we get to see a different side of Myron, a side that I am not sure I liked, but it did make him seem just a little bit more human. Coben is always able to create plots that grip the reader and hold them in suspense for the majority of the thriller and he certainly did not fail to achieve this in Darkest Fear. The plot was weaving back and forth so much that the reader will be kept on their toes and it is strengthened by the amazingly intricate storyline of Myron’s past where we find out about a childhood rivalry and his not so smart decision to sleep with his rival’s fiancé. This indiscretion ultimately caused the ruin of his basketball career, something which he must face in this book.

I recommend Darkest Fear to Coben fans and those who love a good thriller.

For more of my reviews check out my website, www.tonypeters.webs.com

Tony Peters

Kids on a Case: The Case of the Ten Grand Kidnapping

http://authortonypeters.blogspot.com/

Book Review- Harlan Coben- One False Move

Harlan Coben- One False Move (Dell Publishing 1999) 4.75 Stars

Myron Bolitar, a sports agent, has agreed to protect Brenda slaughter, the daughter of a man he used to revere, even if she does not want his protection. Brenda’s mom abandoned her twenty years ago and now her father has disappeared as well. Deception seems to be around every corner and Myron must wade through the sea of lies to find the truth, even if someone may be willing to kill to keep it a secret.

I was very impressed with One False Move. It was an action-packed thriller/mystery that kept your mind working to figure out every angle of the case. My attention was gripped right away and I could not put the book down. I loved the character of Myron Bolitar. He is a very brilliant and extremely sarcastic man, and I love sarcasm in books. The humour was How I Met Your Mother meets Big Bang Theory, aka very funny, witty, and all around enjoyable. The plot was intense and very-well done, only letting you know details when Myron knows them, which helps keep your attention.

I recommend One False Move to thriller/mystery lovers, and Coben fans.

For more of my reviews check out my website, http://www.tonypeters.webs.com/

Tony Peters
Kids on a Case: The Case of the Ten Grand Kidnapping

www.eloquentbooks.com/kidsonacase.html