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nereads's review against another edition
5.0
I very much read [b:Play Dead|7809428|Play Dead|Harlan Coben|http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51OrcRPOU2L._SL75_.jpg|208371] with an open mind. I think if I hadn't always had a concious thought that this was written when he was twenty my review and opinion would be very different. It is quite obviously a [a:Harlan Coben|24689|Harlan Coben|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1205264211p2/24689.jpg] book without fail – could tell this just from reading the blurb to be honest – yet you can quite clearly tell how far he has come with his writing after reading this. With this in mind, I loved this book. it managed to be both light-hearted but deep at the same time.
creative_mimz12's review against another edition
dark
tense
medium-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
Pretty much agree with what others commented, but also it's just such a strange premise. Kept my attention somehow and that's why it's not a one star.
bookswmoony's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
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? Yes
4.0
wrxtacy's review against another edition
dark
tense
fast-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? No
2.0
CAWPILE score: 2.57 (18/70, Okay)
FRTC
FRTC
graciezeeb's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.0
gabing's review against another edition
mysterious
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? No
2.5
daniboo22's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
weaselweader's review against another edition
3.0
“That’s how it is with early novels sometimes”
In a forward to a recent reprint of PLAY DEAD, which was his debut novel written (Holy Crap!!) almost 30 years ago, Harlan Coben didn’t quite go so far as to actually apologize for the novel. But he did suggest that, if you hadn’t read any of his novels, he’d prefer that you start with a more recent title and come back to this one later. He did confess that it was “flawed” but he also acknowledges (with a certain amount of pride in a lifetime of writing achievement, I dare say) that he loved the book.
So did I.
I’ll express my agreement with HC’s suggestions and even add that PLAY DEAD barely qualifies as a thriller which, as his fans know and love, has come to be his bread and butter genre. The back cover blurb begins the capsule description of the novel with, “Theirs was a marriage made in tabloid heaven”. In fact, - that word “tabloid” - that’s a BIG clue as to the actual nature of the book. It’s over-written; it’s melodramatic to the point of being a soap opera; it stretches credibility; and, the twists and turns were only barely beyond the ability of the reader to predict the outcomes and name the ultimate “bad guy”.
Recommended, provided you’ve already read and enjoyed something else by Mr Coben.
Paul Weiss
In a forward to a recent reprint of PLAY DEAD, which was his debut novel written (Holy Crap!!) almost 30 years ago, Harlan Coben didn’t quite go so far as to actually apologize for the novel. But he did suggest that, if you hadn’t read any of his novels, he’d prefer that you start with a more recent title and come back to this one later. He did confess that it was “flawed” but he also acknowledges (with a certain amount of pride in a lifetime of writing achievement, I dare say) that he loved the book.
So did I.
I’ll express my agreement with HC’s suggestions and even add that PLAY DEAD barely qualifies as a thriller which, as his fans know and love, has come to be his bread and butter genre. The back cover blurb begins the capsule description of the novel with, “Theirs was a marriage made in tabloid heaven”. In fact, - that word “tabloid” - that’s a BIG clue as to the actual nature of the book. It’s over-written; it’s melodramatic to the point of being a soap opera; it stretches credibility; and, the twists and turns were only barely beyond the ability of the reader to predict the outcomes and name the ultimate “bad guy”.
Recommended, provided you’ve already read and enjoyed something else by Mr Coben.
Paul Weiss
bobbikaye's review against another edition
4.0
All I gotta say is that is one messed up family! That says it all!
lbarber1980's review against another edition
4.0
Pretty good book. Not many slow times in the book and of course the ending was predictable. Happy endings right. Very good though.