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srharris's review against another edition
4.0
I started reading this series years ago, although bit in order because I don't remember reading this one.
Myron is such an enjoyable character to read about. This was a good suspense, I was more than halfway through the book before I started putting the pieces together.
As always, Win the sociopath best friend to Myron was my favorite. I love him so damn much.
Myron is such an enjoyable character to read about. This was a good suspense, I was more than halfway through the book before I started putting the pieces together.
As always, Win the sociopath best friend to Myron was my favorite. I love him so damn much.
wakers12's review against another edition
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.75
llkendrick's review against another edition
4.0
Great series! Love the humor between the characters.
my_a's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
2.5
This plot was less surprising than some other Harlan Coben books. I thought the murderer was clear really early - I'm not sure how Myron supposedly didn't figure it out! Some poorly-dated comments e.g. about bisexuality and race. But was a true-to-style Myron Bolitor book, fast-paced and funny.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Gun violence
Moderate: Pedophilia, Rape, Child abuse, Stalking, Suicide, and Murder
weaselweader's review against another edition
4.0
Harlan Coben serves up an ace!
Pop quiz! What do Agatha Christie’s Jane Marple, Susan Wittig Albert’s China Bayles, David Baldacci’s Camel Club, James Patterson’s Women’s Murder Club and Dorothy L Sayer’s Lord Peter Wimsey have in common? The answer, of course, is that despite being regular folks (if, admittedly, somewhat quirky and off-the-wall, one and all) they seem to find themselves, unlike you and me thankfully, constantly embroiled in crimes and skullduggery. What’s more, they take it upon themselves to sidestep, out-think, supplant, obstruct and generally upstage the legitimate constabulary by showing them up and solving the crimes they so frequently encounter in grand and brilliant fashion!
Myron Bolitar, Harlan Coben’s addition to that rather crowded genre, who successfully debuted in Deal Breaker makes a crowd-pleasing curtain call in the second novel in the series, Drop Shot. Anyone who has ever read anything in that “amateur sleuth” genre is well aware that the story itself, while obviously important, is only half the deal. The other half rests on dialogue, atmosphere and character development and back story. Myron Bolitar is no exception and Harlan Coben has done a great job in creating an exceptionally interesting persona – a skilled, dare I say lethal, martial artist; a talented athlete selected to enter the NBA in the first draft who suffered a career ending injury in a pre-season game; an intelligent, social animal who has turned those skills and his love of sports into a small but profitable sports representation agency; a tall, handsome and lucky fellow who is madly in love with his gorgeous, libidinous girlfriend but who, like all of us, worries about how to keep her; and, like Nelson DeMille’s John Corey, a man with a never-ending well of sarcasm, jokes or biting wit guaranteed to get under the skin of those at whom he directs it.
The Drop Shot story is certainly there and it is well done. The leading light in Bolitar’s stable of stars is on center court at the US Tennis Open when a former star is murder in cold blood outside the stadium. Bolitar discovers a connection between his client, the murder victim and another murder that had taken place over six years earlier. The game, as Sherlock would say, was afoot!
Despite its having been written as long ago as 1996, Drop Shot gets extra points in my book for being prescient in its observations about a problem that is widespread in the world of today’s sports, both professional and amateur. To mention the nature of that problem would constitute an unwarranted spoiler so I’ll refrain. But I will go so far as to say that it makes a thought-provoking addition to a mystery that is already well worth your time and attention if you’re a lover of the amateur sleuth genre.
Paul Weiss
Pop quiz! What do Agatha Christie’s Jane Marple, Susan Wittig Albert’s China Bayles, David Baldacci’s Camel Club, James Patterson’s Women’s Murder Club and Dorothy L Sayer’s Lord Peter Wimsey have in common? The answer, of course, is that despite being regular folks (if, admittedly, somewhat quirky and off-the-wall, one and all) they seem to find themselves, unlike you and me thankfully, constantly embroiled in crimes and skullduggery. What’s more, they take it upon themselves to sidestep, out-think, supplant, obstruct and generally upstage the legitimate constabulary by showing them up and solving the crimes they so frequently encounter in grand and brilliant fashion!
Myron Bolitar, Harlan Coben’s addition to that rather crowded genre, who successfully debuted in Deal Breaker makes a crowd-pleasing curtain call in the second novel in the series, Drop Shot. Anyone who has ever read anything in that “amateur sleuth” genre is well aware that the story itself, while obviously important, is only half the deal. The other half rests on dialogue, atmosphere and character development and back story. Myron Bolitar is no exception and Harlan Coben has done a great job in creating an exceptionally interesting persona – a skilled, dare I say lethal, martial artist; a talented athlete selected to enter the NBA in the first draft who suffered a career ending injury in a pre-season game; an intelligent, social animal who has turned those skills and his love of sports into a small but profitable sports representation agency; a tall, handsome and lucky fellow who is madly in love with his gorgeous, libidinous girlfriend but who, like all of us, worries about how to keep her; and, like Nelson DeMille’s John Corey, a man with a never-ending well of sarcasm, jokes or biting wit guaranteed to get under the skin of those at whom he directs it.
The Drop Shot story is certainly there and it is well done. The leading light in Bolitar’s stable of stars is on center court at the US Tennis Open when a former star is murder in cold blood outside the stadium. Bolitar discovers a connection between his client, the murder victim and another murder that had taken place over six years earlier. The game, as Sherlock would say, was afoot!
Despite its having been written as long ago as 1996, Drop Shot gets extra points in my book for being prescient in its observations about a problem that is widespread in the world of today’s sports, both professional and amateur. To mention the nature of that problem would constitute an unwarranted spoiler so I’ll refrain. But I will go so far as to say that it makes a thought-provoking addition to a mystery that is already well worth your time and attention if you’re a lover of the amateur sleuth genre.
Paul Weiss
tomaind's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed the second Myron Bolitar book. I thought the story was much better than the first one. I really like the combination of mystery and humor.
itssideeffect's review against another edition
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
johnnyb1954's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
Cops and bad guys too stupid and too cliche.
The big reveal at the end was telegraphed so early in the book it was just maddening that Myron couldn’t figure it out. He was right there and just didn’t make the most obvious logical deduction.
The detective novel trope of the main character having a best friend/sidekick who has no moral code and can take care of the dirty work is really tired.
The treatment and depiction of women by the author is cliched and inappropriate as well.
The book is described as hilarious but the humor is hacky and falls flat.
The big reveal at the end was telegraphed so early in the book it was just maddening that Myron couldn’t figure it out. He was right there and just didn’t make the most obvious logical deduction.
The detective novel trope of the main character having a best friend/sidekick who has no moral code and can take care of the dirty work is really tired.
The treatment and depiction of women by the author is cliched and inappropriate as well.
The book is described as hilarious but the humor is hacky and falls flat.