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hiddeka's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.0
legohelmet's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
purpledaisies's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
lauraah's review against another edition
Too much on my TBR and this didn’t capture my interest
5hawna's review against another edition
4.0
Story is decent, if a bit farfetched... and if one reads it remembering it's set in 1989.
marsetta's review against another edition
2.0
I'm so glad that I didn't read this book first as I don't think I would have read a second one. There is a good short story here but was too wordy and very predictable
michellefleming33's review against another edition
3.0
For being Coben's first novel EVER, this was pretty darn good. Now, don't get me wrong, there were a lot of characters from his most recent books (B Man and Clip Arnstein), but this was wholly original. I also know that this was one of those books that you ached to turn the page EVEN THOUGH you thought you already figured out who the killer was and all that. Granted, that was why I put down the book for so long and it took me forever and a day to pick back up again.
My Goodness, I'm glad I did.
So this starts out with two exceptionally, eye blindingly beautiful people who fall in love and go on a honeymoon. Everything is beyond perfect and they are in their own little nirvana. That is until David goes missing.
SPOILERS!!!!
First of all, I knew he faked his own death. Second of all, I knew he was Mark. Third of all, the story was flat. I know! Curse me and all that, but seriously? They're brother and sister? Yeah, right. Hello?! The crazy ass whore of mother would've seriously put her foot down a LONG time before that. Not just the subtle, I think you should stop seeing him. C'mon. I kind of figured that Coben was going to go that way with the story too. I said it out loud, "Oh no, they're brother and sister!" long before we got to the part about whom she slept with and before the whole "the patient would not say a word." This Sinclair must have been a schmoozer! And Stan got all the bad attributes about him.
I have to say that I really did enjoy the beginning of the book. I could see myself there on that remote island, very picturesque.
And before the epilogue came I was like OH MY GOD, Coben did NOT just go there! I could not believe he did that! I had to re-read that sentence over and over again, just to make sure my eyes did not deceive me.
Like Coben warned us in the beginning of this book to put this book down if we've never read him before and come back to it at a later date, he said that some of his followers would be appreciative of his characters that he incorporated in this novel. He also said that this was his first work so please be gentle.
I have to say that I was bored with Gloria, Serita, and TC. I know, I know they were fluff characters, but I feel like he could have down better that's all I'm going to say, in order to be 'gentle'.
I still give Coben major credit though for making me think the entire time through that the mother was the killer. Had my head spinning for a minute! And then right before the ending, BANG! He tricks you again. Oh gosh. I love this man.
And for one of his longest books I think he could've cut some crap out, but you know that's just me. I really just wanted to see what would happen to this once in a lifetime love that we were introduced to in the beginning of this novel. I wanted my happy ending and got it. But we were still left with, ok now what? How do they go on? Does "Mark" stay Mark or does he go back to being David? I mean how does that work? And also, um excuse me, but am I a complete idiot...don't you want to actually GET PROOF that you are related. I mean you had the marriage blood test. They would've denied you to get married because you are related, whether half brother and half sister. That's one of the reasons they make you take that test! NO INCEST and people need to registered if they have a BLOOD DISEASE. Um hello? I mean, right? Especially if the mother in law never really liked you, you would think that something fishy is going on here that she's telling you you're siblings. At least check that out first, son! C'mon.
Also, I don't think the Ayars want all of the world to know that their mother was a narcisstic cheating lying whore, or that their aunt was always considered beautiful but never stunning in her limelight of a sister's beauty. Poor Judy was always in Mary's shadow.
Overall, this was deceptively Coben and I was thrilled to keep pace with what was going on, EVEN THOUGH he would change point of views in the middle of paragraphs! Man that got me so mad. I wanted to know what happened so badly with this crazy messed up family, but I really wasn't thrilled with the writing. It was choppy, almost compulsive at points, and it was young. I know that sounds cliche, but even if I did not know this was his first book EVER, I would have said, man he kind of lost his mojo, didn't he? His style of writing was all over the place. Some of the chapters would be so long and then the one chapter randomly thrown in there was only a page or two long! WTF? He could have said all that in one of his segmental parts from someone else's point of view instead of bestowing just one chapter to it. It did not make it more impactful, made it more like uh....ok? that's great can we continue on here without this meaningless break?
Oh well. Like I said. I did enjoy the book and wanted to see how he was going to end it even though I thought I knew who the killer was. It was good, but I've had better by him. So glad he's matured from this! :)
My Goodness, I'm glad I did.
So this starts out with two exceptionally, eye blindingly beautiful people who fall in love and go on a honeymoon. Everything is beyond perfect and they are in their own little nirvana. That is until David goes missing.
SPOILERS!!!!
First of all, I knew he faked his own death. Second of all, I knew he was Mark. Third of all, the story was flat. I know! Curse me and all that, but seriously? They're brother and sister? Yeah, right. Hello?! The crazy ass whore of mother would've seriously put her foot down a LONG time before that. Not just the subtle, I think you should stop seeing him. C'mon. I kind of figured that Coben was going to go that way with the story too. I said it out loud, "Oh no, they're brother and sister!" long before we got to the part about whom she slept with and before the whole "the patient would not say a word." This Sinclair must have been a schmoozer! And Stan got all the bad attributes about him.
I have to say that I really did enjoy the beginning of the book. I could see myself there on that remote island, very picturesque.
And before the epilogue came I was like OH MY GOD, Coben did NOT just go there! I could not believe he did that! I had to re-read that sentence over and over again, just to make sure my eyes did not deceive me.
Like Coben warned us in the beginning of this book to put this book down if we've never read him before and come back to it at a later date, he said that some of his followers would be appreciative of his characters that he incorporated in this novel. He also said that this was his first work so please be gentle.
I have to say that I was bored with Gloria, Serita, and TC. I know, I know they were fluff characters, but I feel like he could have down better that's all I'm going to say, in order to be 'gentle'.
I still give Coben major credit though for making me think the entire time through that the mother was the killer. Had my head spinning for a minute! And then right before the ending, BANG! He tricks you again. Oh gosh. I love this man.
And for one of his longest books I think he could've cut some crap out, but you know that's just me. I really just wanted to see what would happen to this once in a lifetime love that we were introduced to in the beginning of this novel. I wanted my happy ending and got it. But we were still left with, ok now what? How do they go on? Does "Mark" stay Mark or does he go back to being David? I mean how does that work? And also, um excuse me, but am I a complete idiot...don't you want to actually GET PROOF that you are related. I mean you had the marriage blood test. They would've denied you to get married because you are related, whether half brother and half sister. That's one of the reasons they make you take that test! NO INCEST and people need to registered if they have a BLOOD DISEASE. Um hello? I mean, right? Especially if the mother in law never really liked you, you would think that something fishy is going on here that she's telling you you're siblings. At least check that out first, son! C'mon.
Also, I don't think the Ayars want all of the world to know that their mother was a narcisstic cheating lying whore, or that their aunt was always considered beautiful but never stunning in her limelight of a sister's beauty. Poor Judy was always in Mary's shadow.
Overall, this was deceptively Coben and I was thrilled to keep pace with what was going on, EVEN THOUGH he would change point of views in the middle of paragraphs! Man that got me so mad. I wanted to know what happened so badly with this crazy messed up family, but I really wasn't thrilled with the writing. It was choppy, almost compulsive at points, and it was young. I know that sounds cliche, but even if I did not know this was his first book EVER, I would have said, man he kind of lost his mojo, didn't he? His style of writing was all over the place. Some of the chapters would be so long and then the one chapter randomly thrown in there was only a page or two long! WTF? He could have said all that in one of his segmental parts from someone else's point of view instead of bestowing just one chapter to it. It did not make it more impactful, made it more like uh....ok? that's great can we continue on here without this meaningless break?
Oh well. Like I said. I did enjoy the book and wanted to see how he was going to end it even though I thought I knew who the killer was. It was good, but I've had better by him. So glad he's matured from this! :)
beth_books_123's review against another edition
4.0
A bittersweet murder - 4*
In the updated publication of this book, Coben leaves a note and states that this is a book, which he wrote in college, is not his best and tells the reader to revisit this book when they have read a more later and better work. I completely ignored Coben because I wanted to read him at his worst and then I can appreciate his work at his best better.
If this is crap then OMG SHOW ME THE GOOD STUFF. Yes, the plot was a bit predictable and didn't take Mrs Hudson to work out what was going on. I had the murderer limited to three suspects and knew there was such a connection but I had no idea. The motive is so well hidden that it is worth it. WHY? WHY DID HE DO IT? WHY ARE YOU FEELING GUILTY? I needed to know and wouldn't have expected it at all. That's why this deserves 4.
I had two hours commuting today and it honestly felt like an exhausting and exhilarating 10 minute journey because of this book. I am so amazed and I cannot wait for my next Coben book.
Coben, I'm ready.
Bring it on!
In the updated publication of this book, Coben leaves a note and states that this is a book, which he wrote in college, is not his best and tells the reader to revisit this book when they have read a more later and better work. I completely ignored Coben because I wanted to read him at his worst and then I can appreciate his work at his best better.
If this is crap then OMG SHOW ME THE GOOD STUFF. Yes, the plot was a bit predictable and didn't take Mrs Hudson to work out what was going on. I had the murderer limited to three suspects and knew there was such a connection but I had no idea. The motive is so well hidden that it is worth it. WHY? WHY DID HE DO IT? WHY ARE YOU FEELING GUILTY? I needed to know and wouldn't have expected it at all. That's why this deserves 4.
I had two hours commuting today and it honestly felt like an exhausting and exhilarating 10 minute journey because of this book. I am so amazed and I cannot wait for my next Coben book.
Coben, I'm ready.
Bring it on!
mrsfligs's review against another edition
2.0
I enjoy a good Harlan Coben thriller every so often so I picked this up for a little "candy bar" reading. UGH!! I didn't know this was one of his first books (he wrote it in his 20s). He writes in the introduction that he didn't go back and rework it ... but he really should have. I would be embarrassed to put this out there! The plot is ridiculous -- and I didn't understand WHY some of the characters chose to do what they did. The writing was bad too. As Coben says, "if this is your first book of mine, put it down and walk away." Really, this should apply to everyone. Not even sure why I finished this ... maybe to see if it would miraculously improve or when you can't look away from a car accident.