Reviews tagging 'Kidnapping'

Win by Harlan Coben

7 reviews

jmodef'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
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

A complicated “who dunnit“ meets Jack Reacher/James Bond. There are some possible triggers.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape and Violence

Moderate: Misogyny, Self harm, Sexual assault, Kidnapping, Stalking, and Toxic friendship

Minor: Mental illness and Terminal illness

cattpurrson's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

readbysloan's review against another edition

dark fast-paced

3.25

I have mixed feelings about this book. On the one hand, the story was interesting. It was full of twists and turns and I ended up flying through the last 200 pages.
But the character of Win was kind of awful??? And since he was the main character and you are reading from his POV, it took away from my enjoyment. There was way too much emphasis on his sex life and how he rates women and thinks he's god's gift. Oh and did you know he is rich and violent? Ugh. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual violence, Violence, Kidnapping, and Murder

jamballdonut's review against another edition

adventurous funny mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

I love Win, which is surprising because he's exactly the type of person that I would typically hate, but he's written in a way that makes me laugh and enjoy his sassy and macabre personality.  He's a rich, white asshole, and that works perfectly for him.  He knows he's better than everyone, and there's no point in hiding that.

In saying that, as an "introductory" book to the world of Win without Myron Bolitar, the actual plot itself felt a little.. ridiculous.  We get it, he's rich, he's self-indulged, he has access to so many things us peasants never will, but to base the book on the theft of a priceless one-of-a-kid art piece owned by Win's family just felt a little too "wow I'm so much better than you".  In saying all of that, I still enjoyed the book.

The twist was one I never saw coming, and I'm beginning to appreciate that about Harlan Coben.  He's quickly becoming someone whose every book I need to read, and I genuinely look forward to more books focusing on just Win, although hope his fame and fortune allows him to focus on cases that aren't so close to home next time.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Gun violence, Homophobia, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, and Gaslighting

ozshark's review against another edition

adventurous dark funny 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? It's complicated

3.0

I have read a couple of Harlan Coben novels, and enjoyed a couple of TV adaptations, but I am not overly familiar with his work. I didn't even realise that Myron Bolitar (a character who often gets referenced in Win) was a character with his own long-running series.

I enjoyed this. I particularly enjoyed the character of Win himself. He is written with just the right level of poise, arrogance and humour to suit him, without him becoming grating and unbearable. The story/mystery was less engaging for me. I found I didn't really care who was behind the theft, or whether it linked to the Hut of Horrors etc.

I will definitely give the character of Win another go though, and might check out one of Myron's stories too. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse, Pedophilia, Rape, Torture, and Kidnapping

kerrygetsliterary's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense fast-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Confinement, Death, Gun violence, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Kidnapping, Grief, and Murder

klutzykara's review against another edition

dark fast-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence

Moderate: Confinement, Death, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Rape, Kidnapping, and Murder