Darkest Fear (Myron Bolitar Series #7)

Darkest Fear - One of my favorite Harlan Coben novels ever!

I have read just about every Harlan Coben novel, my favorites being his Myron Bolitar series. This is one of that series and probably the best one so far. Myron's character is so likeable, so humourous and so engaging that someone out there should really make a movie about him. Other characters in the series have distinct personalities: Win, the over-the-top violence-prone protector of Myron; Esperanza, the former sex-kitten with the heart of gold; Big Cindi, a female wrestler friend of Esperanza whose vulnerability is buried underneath extra tonnage, and even Myron's parents, each uniquely flawed but caring and wise. This time around, Myron discovers that he has a son he didn't know about- who is desperately in need of a bone marrow transplant from a donor whose identity remains elusive. Myron must face the agony of paternal worry for the first time and figure out the connection between the donor and a serial killer. This is a real page turner that you surely will enjoy!

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

FOR SOMEONE WHO DOESN'T LIKE SPORTS, I FOUND MYSELF THOROUGHLY ENJOYING THIS NOVEL!!!

DARKEST FEAR by Harlan Coben is not only the newest ¿Myron Bolitar¿ novel, but also the first in the series that I¿ve read. I got hooked on Mr. Coben¿s writing when I read his newest hardcover, TELL NO ONE, which knocked me right out of my little white bobby socks. It was so good that I decided to go back and read his previous novels, all of which center around ex-basketball player, now sports agent and sometimes private detective, Myron Bolitar. Since I tend to start backwards when beginning a new series, I naturally picked DARKEST FEAR to read first. So, go figure. Anyway, in this novel Myron discovers that he¿s a father. It seems that on the night before his ex-girlfriend, Emily Browning, was to marry his college basketball rival, he and she did the two-bear mambo (uh, sorry, Joe!), and the son she produced was a product of his genes, rather than that of her new husband¿s. Though a little shocked and surprised, Myron finds that he can deal with it. The problem, however, is that Emily¿s son, Jeremy, is slowly dying from a disease called Fanconi anemia and desperately needs a bone marrow transplant to live. A donor, who was a perfect match for the transplant was found, but then suddenly disappeared. Emily wants Myron to track down the missing donor. Enlisting the aid of his closest buddy, Windsor Horne Lockwood (¿Win¿ for short), plus long-time friends Esperanza Diaz, Big Cyndi, and Zorra, Myron begins the hunt for the man who could save his son¿s life. What should be a relative breeze in the park for this gang of amateur sleuths turns into something deadly serious when the ¿Sow the Seeds¿ serial killer comes out of hiding to warn Myron off. Exactly what a serial killer has to do with a bone marrow donor is a question Myron intends on answering. If that isn¿t enough, he¿s also being stonewalled by the Lex family (billionaires who guard their privacy with extreme measures) and warned to desist in his attempt to locate a missing family member. Myron certainly has his work cut out for him, but with Jeremy¿s life hanging in the balance, he¿s not about to let anybody get in his way or prevent him from finding the donor. He¿ll do whatever it takes to save his son. I have to admit that DARKEST FEAR really surprised me. I wasn¿t the least bit sure that I¿d enjoy it. Instead, I found myself hooked in the first chapter or two, curious as to where the story was leading, enjoying the character of Myron Bolitar, along with his wild bunch of cohorts. Mr. Coben kept me guessing right up till the end with his meandering twists and turns¿first going in one direction, then switching gears and heading in an entirely different direction. I have to say that the character of Win came pretty close to stealing the show. He¿s definitely someone I want to find out more about. Maybe it has to do with his martial arts ability, or possibly his inability to take anything seriously. Whatever it is, I¿m drawn to this rather unusual character. I¿m also happy to say that sports has very little to do with the story. If your lack of interest in sports has been the only thing holding you back from reading a ¿Myron Bolitar¿ novel, then forget about it and pick up this book or one of the others in the series. The writing is excellent, the plot holds you in its vice-like grip till the last page, and the characters are some of the most unusual ones that I¿ve ever encountered in the ¿mystery¿ genre. I¿m already trying to decide whether to read THE FINAL DETAIL or ONE FALSE MOVE next.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Love Harlan Coben

This is one of the few Harlan Coben I had not read. Glad to have found it on Nook Books.

Deathstar

Thats very good Vixenpaw...put tjat in fresh kill...thanks good night..

Witty!

I can not put down this series!

Kept me up

I was up reading this until 3am I think, and I picked it up first thing this morning. I haven't enjoyed a book this much in a long time. Very intense, dramatic mystery.

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Great Thriller

Great Thriller

Another great read

Since reading "Darkest Fear", I've also read #7 and #8 (final) in the Myron Bolitar series. In my estimation, this series is a must read! I am holding onto these books because I know they're worth re-reading. I love Harlan Coben's off-beat sense of human and his one-liners add a sense of reality to the character of Myron Bolitar.

Good Boook !!!

I have read 4 Coben books so far,The woods,Tell No One,Gone For Good & Darkest Fear,& Darkest Fear was the least favorite of the group.The book's plot seemed to bog down at times.Harlan Coben is the best & I'll definitely read all his books.Glenn

Harlan Coben has done it again

Harlon Coben was again wrote a brillant book. Ever book he writes is amazing. Darkest Fear is one of my favorite books that he has wrote. I highly recommend this book to everyone who likes mystery books.

One of the best !!

What a great book! This is definitely one of the best Myron Bolitar books and I've read all of them up to this point. ALL of the characters are so developed I feel like I'm buddies with each and every one of them. Mr. Coben...please do not stop writing Myron books!! Keep them coming!!!

LOVED THIS ONE!!!!

This is a must buy book to read and re-read. Readers will love this entire series and especially this one. Waiting for next one ....

the best

this book truely is a rollere coster of sorts, it has a few of the biggest surprises as other books the myron bolitar series is something to be reconed with i love how this books deals with alot of myrons emotions more then any other of the series it is also one of the more desccriptive books i'vve read harlan is very good at paying close attention to detail

Fantastic!!

This Book was one of the Most awesome books from Harlan Coben, he not only show's our human instinc but also a side of parenthood, Awesome book,I really enjoyed it the best there is!!!!!

Most outstanding Rufus

This is by far his best offering. I read the book this afternoon in one shot. You will not be disappointed. I would recommend this series to anyone.

THE BEST YET!!!

Harlan Coben has done it again!!! this time he takes several sub plots and interweaves them culminating with a stunning conclusion Myron, Win Esperanza and Big Cindi are quite a group to follow. I reccomend this books to fans of Robert Parker, Janet Evanovich and Robert Crais.

WHEW!

I've read and enjoyed all the Bolitar novels written by Harlan Coben, and I always say that he just can't top this one. Well, he topped them all with Darkest Fear, and if he tops this one, then I'll have to be sedated. :) I absolutely couldn't put the book down. The story begins with a touching moment between Myron and his father which brought tears to my eyes. Since I'm not sure I blinked after that passage, it is probably a good thing. This book is a page-turner in the best since of the word, and to call it thrilling is an understatement.

I HIGHLY recommend this book, but set aside enough time to read it all at one time. You won't want to put it down.

Brilliant Bolitar book

When sports representative Myron Bolitar visits his parents, he struggles with them selling the family home, and his father¿s illness. To his surprise, an unwanted ghost from his past arrives at his doorstep. The woman ended her relationship with Myron in college to marry his rival, but not before one last fling the night before her wedding. Before he can toss out on her butt, she pleads with him to find the missing person whose bone marrow matches that of her dying son. Without the transplant, Jeremy will die.

Although Myron sympathizes with her plight, he refuses to help her in anyway until she admits that he fathered Jeremy. After that bombshell, he immediately begins to search for the missing donor by obtaining the name from a totally secure database. That name leads Myron to a discredited reporter, who once plagiarized a series of articles on a serial killer. After that meeting, the FBI questions Myron as they strongly feel the journalist knows much more than he is saying. Triangulated by a psychotic murderer, a distraught mother, and a fanatical Fed, Myron continues his quest to save his son¿s life.

After every Bolitar novel, everyone agrees that secondary character Win Lockwood, a psychotic anti-hero with a strange sense of humor and loyalty, is as fascinating a player that has ever graced a mystery. He retains that eerie glow in DARKEST FEAR, a brilliant story that includes several major subplots that tie back to, while expanding, the main story line. Harlan Coben has written many superb Bolitar tales, but none as excellent as this one is.

Harriet Klausner

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