Think Twice by Harlan Coben

We have been waiting 8 years for Harlan Coben’s character Myron Bolitar to come back! In Coben’s latest novel, Think Twice, Coben returns us to the adventures of Myron and Win (Myron’s best friend and sidekick), leaving the stand alone novels that Coben has become famous for writing. Such a treat!

Three years ago Myron, who is still a sports attorney / agent for athletes, gave the eulogy at the funeral of a friend and client who now has apparently left DNA at the scene of a double homicide. Of course, Myron and Win involve themselves in investigating the crimes — which only leads them further into trouble as they find a possible fake death and other missing people close to that client. So many past secrets and conspiracies — or not?? This type of quick witted and complex story line is just what Harlan Coben does best.

I love to witness Myron and Win older and wiser (and yes, less sexist on Win’s part) as they try to problem solve with less physical violence and more cunning and smarts. Myron was 31 when we met him in the first series novel, Deal Breaker, in 1995, and we haven’t been offered a Myron Bolitar novel since 2016’s Home. So while I don’t think Coben has written the character as aging in real time (Myron would be 60!), we do get to catch back up with Myron in his late 40’s, married and settled past all the turmoil of his younger life.

The Myron Bolitar Series of 12 books has won the Edgar, the Shamus, the Anthony and a RBA Prize for Crime Writing. This has always been one of my favorite series for its excellent mystery prose, sense of humor and thrilling plot lines. I recently went back and read some of the older novels in the series and was a bit put off by the outdated stance of characters, especially Win. But now even Win has mellowed and grown with age — that has been a joy to read.

I read all of the stand alones that Coben writes and love them — but it was with even greater pleasure that I was allowed back into the lives of Myron and Win again. Especially after such a long wait.

My rating: 5 of 5

This ARC title was provided by Netgalley.com at no cost, and I am providing an unbiased review.  Think Twice will be published on May 14, 2024.

Home by Harlan Coben

Myron Bolitar is back!! It has been 5 years since we got to hang out with Myron and Win as they quipped and joked their way through an investigation. This time Win calls on Myron for help in the 10 year old kidnapping of his then 6 year-old nephew. Win has a lead in London, and of course, things get sticky.

For those who are new to Harlan Coben, he has this wonderful series with Myron, a sports agent of sorts who helps clients and friends out of problems – think Jack Reacher with a great sense of humor. Coben also has 15 stand-alone thrillers which are good, but his Myron Bolitar series is where he excels.

This series reminds me of Louise Penny’s Gamache series combined with Robert Parker’s original series staring Spenser. Like with Penny, you quickly grow to love the characters who come back time and again. Esperanza and Big Cyndi (female wrestlers and Myron partners) make an appearance in Home, as well as Myron’s mom, dad, and nephew Mickey who has his own 3-book YA series now by Coben. And then there is Win, Myron’s mega-rich college buddy who I would really want as a friend if I had problems. Or even if I didn’t!

I don’t want to give the impression that the books are light or silly. The story line is quite serious, but the characters are enjoyable and sassy like Parker’s Spenser and Hawk. This plot is well played out and challenging to fully guess how it will go. You could not ask for a better book in this genre.

Coben’s stand-alone thrillers are good, some really good, but he finds his true form with  Myron, Win and the rest of the cast. If you are new to the Bolitar series, which has 11 books in it now, you might want to start with Deal Breaker, his first from 1995. Lucky you!

My rating 5 of 5.

Fool Me Once by Harlan Coben

Every now and then I like to read a thriller. Not a mystery where I use logic and analysis to decide who-dun-it. Rather I like to get on the roller coaster and ride for a short time with my heart in my throat, thrilled to the max.

Harlan Coben is the master of the thriller. Some would say his books are formulaic, and actually, I do agree with that. But what a fun formula! Coben had written seven consecutive #1 New York Times bestseller thrillers, and this one makes number eight.

Fool Me Once is a fast paced ride with all the necessary elements to keep you trying to guess what is going on. The novel opens at Maya’s husband’s funeral. He has been killed while with Maya during a robbery gone bad. The police arrest the bad guys and close the case, but Maya is sure that these men are not guilty. She decides to handle her own investigation, but then Maya sees her husband walking across the nanny-cam video used to watch her child’s nanny. Uh-oh…

Coben said in an interview that he wanted “to write a normal, intelligent woman” character – and he certainly has done so in Maya, a Special Ops pilot who has all the makings of a more classy Lizbeth Salander (The Girl in the Dragon Tattoo)!

News stories are reporting that Julia Roberts will produce and star in the movie adaptation. Apparently, she read the book in two days and solicited the part of Maya. I think that Fool Me Once is this year’s Gone Girl or Girl on a Train. Only this time the Girl is a heroine you can cheer for.

I love the twists and turns Coben puts in his thrillers. And yes, his novel plots are very similar to each other. But I am willing to take this wild ride every now and again, even if I know what I am in for.

Coben also wrote the Myron Bolitar series about a sports agent detective. If you haven’t read that series, start with number one, Deal Breaker, which won the 1996 Anthony Award in the category “Best Paperback Original.” I loved this series and fans will be happy to note that another Myron book will come out in September 2016, after nothing in that series since 2011.

  My rating: 4 out of 5