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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.
mbpartlow's review against another edition
4.0
Can't remember why I picked this up, but the book really captured me. It's two stories going on at the same time, the trial the main character is active in, and the hints that a horrific event from his past isn't over yet. He has to stay focused on his prosecution, unravel the clues about his past, and take care of his young daughter at the same time. I think the story is pretty balanced, and there were a lot of twists that I didn't see coming. Definitely going on my "read more of this author" list.
shannontrombley's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
3.25
kaustin81's review against another edition
2.0
2.5?
This was my first (and probably last) Coben read. I’ve had 2-3 of his books on my list for a while now and was excited to dig into a good ol’ reliable genre fiction thriller. This book was not one of my top picks but it was available with no wait from Libby and sounded good.
The story was… fine which in itself wouldn’t even warrant a review but from the first 2-3 chapters I was seriously shocked by his dialogue and the way he described characters. Embarrassingly cheesy (not in a cute way either!) and unrealistic. I was scoffing throughout. I finished it partly because it was amusing and partly because after anticipating his books for so long: “Wow, his plots must be incredible if his characters and dialogue are this bad”. Nope that was not the case. He’s a better marketer than genre author that’s for sure. I can’t believe all the adaptations made from someone who writes women and gay men with the insight of a ‘Mad Men’ character. Disappointing.
This was my first (and probably last) Coben read. I’ve had 2-3 of his books on my list for a while now and was excited to dig into a good ol’ reliable genre fiction thriller. This book was not one of my top picks but it was available with no wait from Libby and sounded good.
The story was… fine which in itself wouldn’t even warrant a review but from the first 2-3 chapters I was seriously shocked by his dialogue and the way he described characters. Embarrassingly cheesy (not in a cute way either!) and unrealistic. I was scoffing throughout. I finished it partly because it was amusing and partly because after anticipating his books for so long: “Wow, his plots must be incredible if his characters and dialogue are this bad”. Nope that was not the case. He’s a better marketer than genre author that’s for sure. I can’t believe all the adaptations made from someone who writes women and gay men with the insight of a ‘Mad Men’ character. Disappointing.
cecile87's review against another edition
3.0
This is my first Harlan Coben novel. It had all the right elements to keep me engaged. A likeable protagonist along with an interesting array of characters, an interesting number of women. That the lines of right and wrong, the ethical and unethical get blurred is clearly on display here. These days I so want accountability and justice here in the real world. But I guess that has never been the case. The history of the police industry uncovers how it was built to maintain white power after reconstruction, after all.
Anyway, I read this book to escape the issues of current politics, the pressures of COVID and quaratining, the misery of the incessant white-body assaults upon black bodies. Looks as though I can’t escape that. This story ended up not being as much an escape as I’d hoped. I did not avoid the never ending litany of white-bodies attacking black ones and trying to get away with it. This was not the main issue in the story, but it led to some of the woes of the protagonist.
The timely cultural details were overused: music titles in particular. I did like his chief investigator—a strong, very competent woman. Also, I’m not much into learning how much struggle men have around attractive women. Been done to death—not entertaining, especially when repeated over and again.
I may read another one of his books at some point.
Anyway, I read this book to escape the issues of current politics, the pressures of COVID and quaratining, the misery of the incessant white-body assaults upon black bodies. Looks as though I can’t escape that. This story ended up not being as much an escape as I’d hoped. I did not avoid the never ending litany of white-bodies attacking black ones and trying to get away with it. This was not the main issue in the story, but it led to some of the woes of the protagonist.
The timely cultural details were overused: music titles in particular. I did like his chief investigator—a strong, very competent woman. Also, I’m not much into learning how much struggle men have around attractive women. Been done to death—not entertaining, especially when repeated over and again.
I may read another one of his books at some point.
sas_marie's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
katietoon's review
2.0
Well this took forever. Put my right back into the reading slump I’d not long got out of.
Never quite got into it, plot’s kinda eh and ending’s even more ‘eh’.
Never quite got into it, plot’s kinda eh and ending’s even more ‘eh’.