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3.82 AVERAGE
3.82 AVERAGE
My first Harlan Coben book is the definition of a good thriller.
Spoiler
The end of the audiobook had a "author speaks" moment with Harlan and he describes this book perfectly "What if a man loses his soul mate and can't move on from it"
Even though it's been eight years since his wife was kidnapped and murdered and he was beaten and left for dead, Dr. David Beck still can't quite move on with his life. Now, after the bodies of two men are found buried on the land where the attack occurred, the FBI and local police are trying to pin the blame on him. At the exact same time as this suspicion is aroused, Beck receives an e-mail from an anonymous sender that contains information only he and his wife Elizabeth would know. Is she still alive? Beck must find out while at the same time avoiding the authorities who want to lock him up. Very intense and well-written story that will keep you glued to the pages. The twists keep coming, as well, until the very last page. All the characters are very well developed and Coben does a nice job of even making you feel somewhat sympathetic towards the "villains" in his story by giving them a more human dimension than many other suspense novelists would.
Describing the problems with the plot would require a lot of spoilers. Suffice it to say there are holes and quite unlikely scenarios.
Also, Coben should stop trying to write black characters, or at least stop giving them dialogue he thinks represents how black prime speak. He also puts a lot of negative stereotypes on this book, especially harping on Medicaid users (presumably all cheating the system) well beyond what is necessary for the story.
I did finish the book to see how how it all unraveled, so a generous 3 stars for keeping me interested.
Also, Coben should stop trying to write black characters, or at least stop giving them dialogue he thinks represents how black prime speak. He also puts a lot of negative stereotypes on this book, especially harping on Medicaid users (presumably all cheating the system) well beyond what is necessary for the story.
I did finish the book to see how how it all unraveled, so a generous 3 stars for keeping me interested.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Adding this wonderfully told story to my favorites! Ed Sala’s narration was excellent. His voice was David Beck…. but also sounds very much like Baldacci’s Amos Becker. I had to check to see if it was the same narrator.. it wasn’t, but Ed Sala should read for David Baldacci.
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Was certainly a good page turner, but felt more like I was reading your average action movie rather than a mystery thriller. There wasn't any "Aha!" or "Wow!" moment like I'd expect from a mystery and, even though it really did pull me in, at the end I didn't feel any particular way towards it other than "Welp that's that I guess".
I feel like the main problem was that Elizabeth was a very flat character. She was barely more than just "Beck's wife". This made it impossible to feel invested in the hunt to find her and what really happened as it kind of just felt like searching for some important paperwork rather than reuniting two soul mates.
The rest of the characters are exactly what you'd expect to see in a 2000s crime action. The incompetent cops, the cop on the books, the one cop who goes against the tide, a hard hitting lawyer, the thug black guy and his big bodyguard, and the "Bruce Lee on steroids" that works for the rich powerful villain. Unexpectedly there was a lesbian couple though and Shauna was honestly the best part of the book. Beck was your average white guy in a prominent job but, as it was so unnecessarily often pointed out, he works with the stereotypical poor rather than making the big bucks.
The 'mystery' it self felt really disjointed. By the end I wasn't really sure who dug up what, maybe partly due to the shifting points of view, but also because it was a bit all over the place. Beck would go and "take action" and feel "damn good" about it but either nothing would come of it or we would learn something from it several chapters later, usually through someone else.
Wasn't a good mystery and the characters were quite lacking in substance, but it was a good fast paced, action-packed read that has a way of sucking you in.
I feel like the main problem was that Elizabeth was a very flat character. She was barely more than just "Beck's wife". This made it impossible to feel invested in the hunt to find her and what really happened as it kind of just felt like searching for some important paperwork rather than reuniting two soul mates.
The rest of the characters are exactly what you'd expect to see in a 2000s crime action. The incompetent cops, the cop on the books, the one cop who goes against the tide, a hard hitting lawyer, the thug black guy and his big bodyguard, and the "Bruce Lee on steroids" that works for the rich powerful villain. Unexpectedly there was a lesbian couple though and Shauna was honestly the best part of the book. Beck was your average white guy in a prominent job but, as it was so unnecessarily often pointed out, he works with the stereotypical poor rather than making the big bucks.
The 'mystery' it self felt really disjointed. By the end I wasn't really sure who dug up what, maybe partly due to the shifting points of view, but also because it was a bit all over the place. Beck would go and "take action" and feel "damn good" about it but either nothing would come of it or we would learn something from it several chapters later, usually through someone else.
Wasn't a good mystery and the characters were quite lacking in substance, but it was a good fast paced, action-packed read that has a way of sucking you in.