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Harlan Coben follows four consecutive #1 New York Times bestsellers with a stand-alone thriller in the vein of his beloved breakout novels Caught and Hold Tight.
Megan is a suburban soccer mom who once upon a time walked on the wild side. Now she's got two kids, a perfect husband, a picket fence, and a growing sense of dissatisfaction. Ray used to be a talented documentary photographer, but at age forty he finds himself in a dead- end job posing as a paparazzo pandering to celebrity-obsessed rich kids. Jack is a detective who can't let go of a cold case-a local husband and father disappeared seventeen years ago, and Jack spends the anniversary every year visiting a house frozen in time, the missing man's family still waiting, his slippers left by the recliner as if he might show up any moment to step into them.
Three people living lives they never wanted, hiding secrets that even those closest to them would never suspect, will find that the past doesn't recede. Even as the terrible consequences of long-ago events crash together in the present and threaten to ruin lives, they will come to the startling realization that they may not want to forget the past at all. And as each confronts the dark side of the American Dream- the boredom of a nice suburban life, the excitement of temptation, the desperation and hunger that can lurk behind even the prettiest facades- they will discover the hard truth that the line between one kind of life and another can be as whisper-thin as a heartbeat.
With his trademark combination of page-turning thrills and unrivaled insight into the dark shadows that creep into even the happiest communities, Harlan Coben delivers a thriller that cements his status as the master of domestic suspense.
A proficient but routine thriller in which you can tell for miles in advance who's disposable and who's slated for survival, marked by the virtual absence of the baroque plot twists fans of Coben (Live Wire, 2011, etc.) expect as their due.
Harlan Coben is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of twenty-one previous novels, including the popular Myron Bolitar series. The winner of the Edgar, Shamus, and Anthony awards, he lives in New Jersey.
Debuting in 1995, the series that cemented Coben's reputation revolves around Myron Bolitar, a wisecracking sports agent who always finds himself getting into trouble, via his clients or his own past. What's endearing about these books is Coben's willingness to have fun as he spins a story. He might poke fun the yuppie wardrobe of Bolitar's partner, Win, or his gal Friday (and sometime female wrestler), Big Cyndi's, tendency to wear "more makeup than the cast of Cats." There's a slight boys' club air to the series, but it's more frat house than locker room -- or more appropriately, rec room, since Bolitar finds himself still living at his parents' in his early 30s.
Sports-averse readers should not avoid the Bolitar books; in the end, sports play only a peripheral role in the story, which is primarily about the mystery. Given this, it's not surprising that Coben has called William Goldman's Marathon Man one of his favorite thrillers and has cited Philip Roth and Alfred Hitchcock as influences.
And yes, there's certainly life beyond Bolitar! Coben has crafted a number of superb stand-alone thrillers filled with tortuous twists and turns and peopled with characters you can't help but root for. In a 2001 interview, the author stated, "I love a book that sneaks up behind you at the end and slaps you in the back of the head." Ultimately, that describes everything in Harlan Coben's oeuvre.
Coben advises aspiring writers thusly: "Write. Don't take classes. Don't join workshops. Don't listen to me," he told the Charlotte Austin Review. "Just write. Oh, and cut. Cut a lot. You're probably not editing yourself enough. Then rewrite. Then rewrite again. Repeat. Like with shampooing."
Coben says his mother was his best literary inspiration in an interview with the Page One literary newsletter. "We'd go to the old Barnes & Noble in Manhattan (back then, if you can believe this, I think there was only one) and spend the entire day. We didn't have much money back then and we almost never bought toys -- but we were always allowed to get whatever books we wanted."
In our interview, Coben shared more fun facts:
"I once worked as a tour guide in the Costa del Sol of Spain."
"I pretty much only wear Lilly Pulitzer ties because my best friend owns the company."
goskins21
Posted March 28, 2012
I have been a huge fan of Harlen Coben and pre-ordered this book in January. I was so excited when it was released but I have to say that I am stil reading it. In the past, I have read his books in 1 or 2 days; however, this book is beyond boring. The characters are uninteresting, and the story is moving way too slow. So far, it has been very disappointing and I'm sorry I paid as much as I did for the Nook version. :-(
10 out of 10 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted April 15, 2012
Mr. Coben,
WHY are you holding out on one of the best series ever?? Myron Bolitar or course!! Forget the "stand alone" novels and give your adoring public just what we adore you for...... Myron, Win, Big Cindi, Esperanza................ These are novels that made us cry, laugh, made us guess and made us love Harlen Coben. Why so few and so long drawn out inbetween books? I along with many of your fans can't get get enough of the Bolitar searies. Other dear reader friends........ You feel the same way?! Please let Mr Coben and his publishets know. MYRON WIN MYRON WIN MYRON WIN
Please, A loyal reader: DIANE DIAMONDU
6 out of 7 people found this review helpful.
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Posted April 6, 2012
I Also Recommend:
Really enjoyed it. Would recommend for a great weekend read
6 out of 6 people found this review helpful.
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Posted March 24, 2012
Harlon Coben is one of my favorite authors and I have read most of his books. This was a real let down. It was superficial, trite and I suspect a ghost writer did the collaboration. I WOULD NOT suggest purchasing this one!
5 out of 8 people found this review helpful.
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Posted March 21, 2012
I Also Recommend:
I have recently become a Harlan Coben fan. Stay Close is one of the best yet! It has you guessing throughout the end and what an ending! It has so many twists and turns and edge of your seat suspense! There is one scene in particular involving a knife(I dare not give anything away), it was written so well that I could visualize it my mind's eye! This is a must read!!
5 out of 9 people found this review helpful.
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Posted May 15, 2012
I'm still struggling to get through this and Harlan Coben is not just one of my favorite authors - he is my favorite author whom I have recommended to dozens of people. But this book doesn't seem like it's written by the same author. I have no empathy for any of the characters - something that Harlan has managed to instill in me through each and every chapter of his previous books. With Mr. Coben's sophisticated sense of humor, maybe this book is categorized as a mystery because the mystery lies in who wrote this book?
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted April 5, 2012
First off I am a HUGE Harlen Coben fan. I have read everything he has written and have turned everyone I know into a fan as well. That being said, this book was a huge disappointment. The story line just kind of drug on and I never connected with the characters or the story. If this is your first Harlen Coben book try any of his others first. I can't wait for his next book and hope this was a fluke.
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful.
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Posted March 25, 2012
I have read and loved all of Harlan Coben's books, and was looking forward to reading this one but, unfortunately, ended up very dissapointed for the first time. All of the characters were one-dementional, cliche, and boring. The story moved slowly, without his signature twists and wit, especially the less-than-shocking ending, which I found even difficult to make it all the way through. This book did not seem to be written by the same author as all of his other great mysteries.
4 out of 7 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted April 7, 2012
Die hard coben fan here , this book is cluttered akward and not his style. I read a lot and was very dissapointed i preorded ,lost patience half way through started another book. Hope he finds his muse and comes back as the writer he is capable of being. Aurelia
3 out of 5 people found this review helpful.
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Posted March 23, 2012
This book was an easy read....almost too easy. I love his Myron Bolitor character but in this book I really found myself not really liking any of the characters or caring what happened. I did like Loren Muse coming in at the end and recalling some of Mr. Coben's finer works.
Still a decent read....more of a Patterson feeling to it.
3 out of 4 people found this review helpful.
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Posted April 17, 2012
I am a Harlan Coben fan but what happened here?? The plot does not flow. The disjointed sequence of events is not interesting,merely confusing and frustrating. I am trying to finish the last few chapters, but it is a struggle!
2 out of 4 people found this review helpful.
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Posted July 14, 2012
I love Harlen Coben books, but NOT this one! I actually told my husband, after finishing it, that I don't think Coben wrote this book. It read like a publisher said, "OK, Harlen, we need to push out another book real quick, and since you're busy, I'll have someone write it for you, trying to write like you." The book was so boring and stale, it actually made me angry!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Posted May 17, 2012
Seriously? That was the 'twist/shocker' of the story? Is that the best he could come up with? Even at the character's worst moments, the actions described in the book were not even remotely believable. Incredulous. An inane storyline. Obviously trying to meet a publisher's deadline. Several typographical errors that spellcheck wouldn't catch. A fan of Coben's earlier works; interest has been waning as of late. This book sealed the deal.
1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
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Posted May 12, 2012
Hi! I heard u need some help. What do ya need?
1 out of 3 people found this review helpful.
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Posted April 12, 2012
Typical Harlan Coben with characters that are believable. Hard to put down, even when you finish it.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.My first Harlan Coben book. Very good. I'll have to check out his other stuff.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Posted March 27, 2012
as always another great read by Harlan Coben. One of my favorite authors!! Couldn't put this one down. Grabs you from the first page!!
1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
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Posted March 17, 2012
This book seems like its a good book by its title
1 out of 36 people found this review helpful.
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Posted May 11, 2013
Anything this author writes is nothing but great. I have read all his books and wish he had a hundred more. I love Harlan Cobin.
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Posted April 21, 2013
Even though I love Harlen Cobren's books,this was not one of his best work.Usually his books have a dramatic twist and a somewhat way that you can't explain what will happen. It holds people on the edge their seats, until the very end. But on this book, you have to read it over and over to understand the concept of what's really going on.
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Overview
Harlan Coben follows four consecutive #1 New York Times bestsellers with a stand-alone thriller in the vein of his beloved breakout novels Caught and Hold Tight.
Megan is a suburban soccer mom who once upon a time walked on the wild side. Now she's got two kids, a perfect husband, a picket fence, and a growing sense of dissatisfaction. Ray used to be a talented documentary photographer, but at age forty he finds himself in a dead- end job posing as a paparazzo pandering to ...