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3.59 AVERAGE
3.59 AVERAGE
Not as good as some previous works. Jake Fisher was a bit slow on the uptake...for a Poly Sci professor I expected him to come to those conclusions much sooner. Overall it was enjoyable and a fast read.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Writing: solid.
Plot/characters: fun, fast read.
Profundity: eh. That life is full of lots of grays maybe? Things aren’t always black and white.
Plot/characters: fun, fast read.
Profundity: eh. That life is full of lots of grays maybe? Things aren’t always black and white.
I am a huge Harlan Coben fan but it had been awhile since I read another one of his books. The story line was great but it took far too long to get into the meat if the story. Normally for me, HC holds me from the first page to the last. This one not so much. It wasn't until the last half before it became a real page turner. I did enjoy it but not as much as earlier works by HC.
College professor falls in love with a mysterious woman he meets at a secluded art retreat in the mountains of Vermont. Affair is cut short when said woman suddenly announces that she is getting married to another man and explicitly tells him never to contact her again. EVER.
Six years later, college professor still carries a torch for mysterious woman (which is unrealistic and lame if you ask me) and has his hopes up when he stumbles upon mysterious woman's husband's obituary. He decides to express his condolences by going to the funeral personally. Only problem is that it is a different widow he sees there, and no one seems to have any recollection of this woman that he fell in love with six years ago. Yep, vanished without a trace, like she never even existed.
For a college professor, Jake Fisher really makes a lot of stupid decisions. I appreciate the fact that he's supposed to be just a regular guy thrown in to a web of mystery and murder, but a reader can only take so much. There's a promising and exciting back story here, but I spent most of the time rolling my eyes at the main character's dialogue and decision-making, he just plainly ruined it for me. Maybe the film version will be much, much better. Hugh Jackman will be playing Jack Fisher in the movie, and Hugh Jackman is always a good idea.
Six years later, college professor still carries a torch for mysterious woman (which is unrealistic and lame if you ask me) and has his hopes up when he stumbles upon mysterious woman's husband's obituary. He decides to express his condolences by going to the funeral personally. Only problem is that it is a different widow he sees there, and no one seems to have any recollection of this woman that he fell in love with six years ago. Yep, vanished without a trace, like she never even existed.
For a college professor, Jake Fisher really makes a lot of stupid decisions. I appreciate the fact that he's supposed to be just a regular guy thrown in to a web of mystery and murder, but a reader can only take so much. There's a promising and exciting back story here, but I spent most of the time rolling my eyes at the main character's dialogue and decision-making, he just plainly ruined it for me. Maybe the film version will be much, much better. Hugh Jackman will be playing Jack Fisher in the movie, and Hugh Jackman is always a good idea.
Rounded up from 2.5. A very fast read albeit a little repetitive in places. This was my first Harlan Coben book - wanted to start with a stand-alone rather than jumping into a series. Although it was not my favorite mystery/thriller of the year, I will give another of his books a go!
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
It’s been six years since Jake Fisher watched the love of his life, Natalie Avery, marry another man, soon after ending their relationship. For six years he has tried to move on with his life, working as a Professor at a prestigious college and keeping his promise not to look for Natalie. Until he comes across an obituary for Todd, the man Natalie married, and he just can’t help himself. He goes to the funeral in the hopes of getting a glimpse of the woman he still loved but when he sees Todd’s griefing widow he is shocked to see that it’s not Natalie. The more he digs the stranger the story becomes; people who should remember them as a couple claim not to, places that were important to them like the retreat where they met allegedly never existed and if Jake isn’t careful he’s going to end up in serious danger but can he let Natalie go again?
I love Harlan Coben’s books. He always does a good twist and his writing is extremely gripping. This was no exception on that score, I was hooked from the start and gobbled it up in chunks at a time. I love a good mystery and this had all the elements of one.
My only complaint is that at times there were just too many coincidences for my liking. Natalie was supposed to be the love of Jake’s life but none of his friends met her and the whole time they were together she managed to avoid them having any pictures taken together. I’m not saying that plots need to be fully rooted in reality but it was all just a little too convenient for my liking.
That aside, I did enjoy the story for the most part. It had a bit of something for everyone. There was some romance, some intrigue and a healthy dose of criminal acts.
As with all of these types of books there were some twists along the way, some more obvious than others.
I’d had a lot going on so was very much after something that was an easy read and this definitely ticked that box.
very unlikely plot lines that don't really come together naturally.
this was an audio book, and the narrator, who is very good, is way over the top for this story.
also- is Coben writing for Harlequin Romance now? such shallow characters it was disappointing.
this was an audio book, and the narrator, who is very good, is way over the top for this story.
also- is Coben writing for Harlequin Romance now? such shallow characters it was disappointing.
I bought this book based on all the amazing reviews I've heard about this book. Didn't find it as suspenseful, exciting or even well written as I'd anticipated. I think the concept was so good, but the book didn't deliver.
The mystery was easy to figure out. I knew "whodunnit" not far into the story...and i was sadly disappointed that i was right. it's so much better when as a reader your original guess is twisted and turned on it's head so that you are surprised. i was never surprised when reading this.
The mystery was easy to figure out. I knew "whodunnit" not far into the story...and i was sadly disappointed that i was right. it's so much better when as a reader your original guess is twisted and turned on it's head so that you are surprised. i was never surprised when reading this.
I liked the action in this book. It was kind of a sappy love story on the main character's part, but the search for his missing love made up for it. I don't think this was one of Coben's best, but it wasn't the worst book I ever read either.