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dianawohl's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
jemma_wag's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
amber_03's review against another edition
4.0
A good written thriller. We have fast pacing, excellent suspense, and a bit of intrigue left at the end. The only thing I didn't like is the kind of a negligent attitude of the main male character towards his kid, but perhaps the writer was trying to underline a point with it.
ohyes_that_girl's review against another edition
3.0
All his books are formulaic and a bit cheesy but once you start, you do get hooked.
arianatee's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I had the worst case of deja vu with this book and I do believe at some point I'd started reading the book at some point, never got very far in, and stopped. I also knew that I'd seen the show based on the novel a few years ago and loved it. I really have enjoyed the Harlan Coben formula in the past--a clue from a past crime comes to light and brings together people in the present. It been a while since reading one of his books and I wanted an easy-to-get-through murder mystery for the summer. Surely enough, that's what I got. I remembered bits and pieces and more or less found the characters likable. I'm not sure why, but the dialogue felt a bit stilted and I wasn't a big fan of the writing in general. I knew his books were not going to be five stars for me but it feels more like the poolside or airport kind of book (and I did indeed read 100 pages by a pool). There was nothing particularly annoying about any of the characters, but I just didn't love them. The plot, however, was so good and is always what ties together the Harlan Coben books. Really it's closer to a 3.5 for me since I really wanted the writing to be a bit better and I wasn't totally surprised by the plot (also likely my fault for having seen the show even if it was years ago).
ladyfrances80's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
maeva_xena's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
4.5
lauraborkpower's review against another edition
1.0
I'm so torn about this book. It could have been really solid. It's got a tense plot and an excellent sub-plot with a courtroom drama element, which I adore. There are some nice twists and the last line is actually quite terrific. However, it's full of trite dialogue and descriptions (and how many different ways can Coben have his narrator, Paul, describe the feeling of his heart being broken/torn/lurched about? Let's try One Million Times).
Coben also goes way, way, WAY overboard with the pop-culture music references. He fits in Counting Crows, Ben Folds Five, and Bruce Springstein, among others. He also mentions a bunch of films as his characters "take things" from their plots and stories. Oy. And I don't say "oy" very often. In fact, I never say it. But Coben's references already feel way dated and I can't imagine how dumb it will read in another decade. Also, it's really irritating to get an allusion to a pop song rather than a really lush or real description of feeling. It got tedious. Very. Quickly.
Also, nearly every woman in the book is breathtakingly gorgeous. Christ. Why does every woman need to be extraordinarily beautiful? Especially the minor characters! There's a coroner who's so drop-dead gorgeous (yes, that pun is intentional) that all the cops are oogling her during the crime scene investigation, and then all she does is have one more small scene where she discovers a bone. And THAT'S IT. So why did we get an entire paragraph (about two solid minutes of narration) devoted to her hotness? I don't know. I think that Coben suffers from DanBrownitis: heaping on enough unnecessary details throughout the novel to make Chekhov's Gun turn over in its literary grave.
And to top it all off, this audiobook was narrated by Scott Brick, who also narrated Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? In the Dick novel, Brick's halting narrative technique fits; it's a distopic reality filled with androids and android bounty hunters. His weird, nasal voice and Shatneresque delivery fit quite perfectly. BUT, in a straight-forward thriller, it does not work at all. It is also laughable when he does "accents": New Jersey Cop, New Jersey Jew, Latino Couple, Russian Gangster, Other Russian Gangster. There was one section of third-person narration--not dialogue-- where I swear that he actually worked in the hint of an accent. That is not necessary and just downright idiotic.
Had I read the novel rather than listen to it, I might not have had such issues. But I actually sighed, yelled, and laughed at various moments during Brick's narration, something I haven't done since The Road audiobook and its moronic narration (yes, I know it's supposed to be brilliant. I'll give it another shot and read it the old fashioned way).
I know this is a long review and I apologize. But it was such an irritating book. I should have just stopped listening, but after an hour or so I chalked my irritation up to the narration and tried to get over it (unsuccessfully) and then I got hooked by this great sub-plot, and then I was too far into the mystery to not find out what happened. But I'll sleep better at night knowing that I never have to read another one of Coben's books again.
Coben also goes way, way, WAY overboard with the pop-culture music references. He fits in Counting Crows, Ben Folds Five, and Bruce Springstein, among others. He also mentions a bunch of films as his characters "take things" from their plots and stories. Oy. And I don't say "oy" very often. In fact, I never say it. But Coben's references already feel way dated and I can't imagine how dumb it will read in another decade. Also, it's really irritating to get an allusion to a pop song rather than a really lush or real description of feeling. It got tedious. Very. Quickly.
Also, nearly every woman in the book is breathtakingly gorgeous. Christ. Why does every woman need to be extraordinarily beautiful? Especially the minor characters! There's a coroner who's so drop-dead gorgeous (yes, that pun is intentional) that all the cops are oogling her during the crime scene investigation, and then all she does is have one more small scene where she discovers a bone. And THAT'S IT. So why did we get an entire paragraph (about two solid minutes of narration) devoted to her hotness? I don't know. I think that Coben suffers from DanBrownitis: heaping on enough unnecessary details throughout the novel to make Chekhov's Gun turn over in its literary grave.
And to top it all off, this audiobook was narrated by Scott Brick, who also narrated Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? In the Dick novel, Brick's halting narrative technique fits; it's a distopic reality filled with androids and android bounty hunters. His weird, nasal voice and Shatneresque delivery fit quite perfectly. BUT, in a straight-forward thriller, it does not work at all. It is also laughable when he does "accents": New Jersey Cop, New Jersey Jew, Latino Couple, Russian Gangster, Other Russian Gangster. There was one section of third-person narration--not dialogue-- where I swear that he actually worked in the hint of an accent. That is not necessary and just downright idiotic.
Had I read the novel rather than listen to it, I might not have had such issues. But I actually sighed, yelled, and laughed at various moments during Brick's narration, something I haven't done since The Road audiobook and its moronic narration (yes, I know it's supposed to be brilliant. I'll give it another shot and read it the old fashioned way).
I know this is a long review and I apologize. But it was such an irritating book. I should have just stopped listening, but after an hour or so I chalked my irritation up to the narration and tried to get over it (unsuccessfully) and then I got hooked by this great sub-plot, and then I was too far into the mystery to not find out what happened. But I'll sleep better at night knowing that I never have to read another one of Coben's books again.
diceydia's review against another edition
1.0
fuuuuuck him omg, copeland is incredibly annoying and unlikeable. so over the top sexist and racist while saying he isn’t? he has a daughter and i guess the author wants us to care that the daughter doesn’t like him? but copeland doesn’t care so why would we?! the over all plot was sometimes intriguing i guess, would not recommend.