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sams84's review against another edition
3.0
This is an entertaining thriller that does keep you on your toes and turning those pages. Coben sets up intrigue after intrigue and twist after twist throughout this book and the ending is quite unpredictable although a little rushed and a bit anti-climatic given all the characters and twists involved. I found some of the aspects a little bit too unrealistic and unbelievable but I did enjoy the book none-the-less. This is a good holiday read to relax on the beach with (or in my case a good evening read to relax on the sofa with).
dutchessofbooks's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
4.0
vincederr's review against another edition
4.0
Dr. David Beck lost his wife eight years ago. One day he gets a mysterious email with information only his Elizabeth could know. Beck has been warned to tell no one. This book has vibrant characters that are heartwarming, puzzling, and bone chilling. Beck is swept up by the FBI and a crime family. This was a fun book and we were kept on or toes until the very end. Coben is quickly becoming a favorite suspense/mystery author.
4.5 out of 5
4.5 out of 5
redheadreader73's review against another edition
5.0
Captivating from start to finish. Fast paced, good characterisation and gripping!
ginaparrish's review against another edition
4.0
This was the first Harlan Coben book I’ve read, though I have seen his various TV mini-series. It was very different than his TV work (and much less British). That said, I enjoyed it in its own right.
Things I liked:
The pace. It was a quick read, typical for a thriller, but the pace felt appropriate for the story.
The conclusion. It didn’t rely too much on “the twist”, which drives me crazy in thrillers, and instead the whole story felt like a crumpled paper being ironed out.
The range of characters. Every character that entered the story was different than the others.
Things I didn’t like:
The violence. It may be a matter of preference but there it is. I felt like I didn’t need to read about it in so much detail, even for the sake of realism.
The lack of information at the start. The beginning felt like a lot of semi-related observations made by Dr. Beck, but as a reader you don’t have much to go on until about half way.
Some of it felt a bit cliched. It wasn’t too noticeable but it came to mind several times. The lesbians who don’t have a perfect relationship. The compassionate wife with a heart of gold. Comments like, “I guess we all have our secrets.” It is what it is.
Overall I found it compelling, but possibly forgettable.
Things I liked:
The pace. It was a quick read, typical for a thriller, but the pace felt appropriate for the story.
The conclusion. It didn’t rely too much on “the twist”, which drives me crazy in thrillers, and instead the whole story felt like a crumpled paper being ironed out.
The range of characters. Every character that entered the story was different than the others.
Things I didn’t like:
The violence. It may be a matter of preference but there it is. I felt like I didn’t need to read about it in so much detail, even for the sake of realism.
The lack of information at the start. The beginning felt like a lot of semi-related observations made by Dr. Beck, but as a reader you don’t have much to go on until about half way.
Some of it felt a bit cliched. It wasn’t too noticeable but it came to mind several times. The lesbians who don’t have a perfect relationship. The compassionate wife with a heart of gold. Comments like, “I guess we all have our secrets.” It is what it is.
Overall I found it compelling, but possibly forgettable.
taylor_broek's review against another edition
2.0
I didn’t check the publish date until I finished the first chapter or so and was stunned. 2009 was definitely a different time. The “subtle” racism & racial stereotypes was soooo thick throughout the book. The rich white doctor who needs to solve the mystery of his murdered white wife who helped the poor minorities of whom he is “disgusted by” by calling in a favor from the one and only ‘present’ black gangster thug dad. Besides all the prejudice and other -isms there were a lot of weird plot holes and things that came out of absolutely no where to tie up a weird loose end were amusing but so strange, the bogey man is the one that pulled you out of the water??? Nothing more logical than a never mentioned before boogeyman to solve that mystery?? Book best left in the past.
yanikg's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
ggirisgg's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-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? It's complicated
4.5