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Title: Darkest Fear by HARLAN COBEN ISBN: 0-440-23539-1 Publisher: Dell Pub. Date: 08 May, 2001 Format: Mass Market Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $7.50 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.33 (48 reviews)
Rating: 5
Summary: THIS MADE ME AN INSTANT FAN OF THE "MYRON BOLITAR" SERIES!!!
Comment: DARKEST FEAR by Harlan Coben is not only the newest "Myron Bolitar" novel, but also the first in the series that I've read. I got hooked on Mr. Coben's writing when I read his newest hardcover, TELL NO ONE, which knocked me right out of my little white bobby socks. It was so good that I decided to go back and read his previous novels, all of which center around ex-basketball player, now sports agent and sometimes private detective, Myron Bolitar. Since I tend to start backwards when beginning a new series, I naturally picked DARKEST FEAR to read first. So, go figure. Anyway, in this novel Myron discovers that he's a father. It seems that on the night before his ex-girlfriend, Emily Browning, was to marry his college basketball rival, he and she did the two-bear mambo (uh, sorry, Joe!), and the son she produced was a product of his genes, rather than that of her new husband's. Though a little shocked and surprised, Myron finds that he can deal with it. The problem, however, is that Emily's son, Jeremy, is slowly dying from a disease called Fanconi anemia and desperately needs a bone marrow transplant to live. A donor, who was a perfect match for the transplant was found, but then suddenly disappeared. Emily wants Myron to track down the missing donor. Enlisting the aid of his closest buddy, Windsor Horne Lockwood ("Win" for short), plus long-time friends Esperanza Diaz, Big Cyndi, and Zorra, Myron begins the hunt for the man who could save his son's life. What should be a relative breeze in the park for this gang of amateur sleuths turns into something deadly serious when the "Sow the Seeds" serial killer comes out of hiding to warn Myron off. Exactly what a serial killer has to do with a bone marrow donor is a question Myron intends on answering. If that isn't enough, he's also being stonewalled by the Lex family (billionaires who guard their privacy with extreme measures) and warned to desist in his attempt to locate a missing family member. Myron certainly has his work cut out for him, but with Jeremy's life hanging in the balance, he's not about to let anybody get in his way or prevent him from finding the donor. He'll do whatever it takes to save his son. I have to admit that DARKEST FEAR really surprised me. I wasn't the least bit sure that I'd enjoy it. Instead, I found myself hooked in the first chapter or two, curious as to where the story was leading, enjoying the character of Myron Bolitar, along with his wild bunch of cohorts. Mr. Coben kept me guessing right up till the end with his meandering twists and turns-first going in one direction, then switching gears and heading in an entirely different direction. I have to say that the character of Win came pretty close to stealing the show. He's definitely someone I want to find out more about. Maybe it has to do with his martial arts ability, or possibly his inability to take anything seriously. Whatever it is, I'm drawn to this rather unusual character. I'm also happy to say that sports has very little to do with the story. If your lack of interest in sports has been the only thing holding you back from reading a "Myron Bolitar" novel, then forget about it and pick up this book or one of the others in the series. The writing is excellent, the plot holds you in its vice-like grip till the last page, and the characters are some of the most unusual ones that I've ever encountered in the "mystery" genre. I'm already trying to decide whether to read THE FINAL DETAIL or ONE FALSE MOVE next.
Rating: 5
Summary: Darkest Myron
Comment: Fans of this outstanding series may be a little surprised at how different this novel is from its predecessors. Harlan Coben has given us some of the best characters in modern suspense fiction: sports agent Myron Bolitar, a very human, fallible, and sensitive creature; the cold, calculating but extremely loyal (to Myron and Esperanza) sidekick who doesn't mind breaking a few legs to send a message; Esperanza and Big Cyndi, the ladies who are there to support Myron; and of course, Myron's parents, who are a refreshing addition to this genre.
In this novel, what is different is that it is the most "cerebral" of Coben's books; there's not a whole lot of action or fisticuffs or violence in this one. The story is unique and heartwrenching. Myron finds out he is a father, finds out that his own father had a massive heart attack, and has to deal with his nemesis Greg Downing and his wife. Their secrets from the past rise like a phoenix in this novel, threatening to destroy everyone, including Myron's son, who is a product of his affair with Emily on the night before her wedding to Greg. I don't want to rehash the plot; you can get that in the overall review.
What is so refreshing about Coben is his ability to stage not only remarkable action and suspense scenes, but such dynamic interpersonal scenes as well. This novel has several: Myron trying to talk to his dad about his heart attack--their awkwardness in what appears to be a shifting of roles; Myron and Greg have a short but powerful scene where Greg tries to apologize for what he did to Myron, and Myron's reaction to that apology; Myron's meeting with his son, Jeremy, and how he tries to tell him the truth; there are many, many of this types of scenes in this book.
My only "complaint" is that I don't know whether the identity of the real murderer is revealed or not; it's a labyrinthine story, and by the time it's over, you don't know who did what to who. This could be a ploy of Coben's to follow-up in a sequel, or maybe he wants everyone to make their own decision. I also find the character of Therese Collins, Myron's new love interest, to be tedious and boring; we know very little about her, which I'm sure Harlen plans on addressing in future Bolitar novels.
But, hey, what a great book in an excellent series. We'll miss Myron for a couple of years, but this reviewer would probably read anything Mr. Coben writes---he's that good!
Rating: 5
Summary: Fathers and Sons, the Tie that Binds
Comment: Sports agent Myron Bolitar's ex-flame Emily Downing, who broke his heart, comes back into his life with a sad story. Her son Jeremy is suffering from a rare disease and desperately needs a bone marrow transplant. They've found a donor, but he's vanished and Emily wants Myron to find him. And to entice him to help her, she tells Myron that he is actually Jeremy's father.
Myron finds out that the donor's name matches that of the son of a wealthy, prize winning author. He mysteriously disappeared as a young child. Now his name appears again. Myron's attempts to find him have him at odds with the donor's family, who refuse to give up his identity or where he can be found.
Myron also finds out that there is a serial killer in the mix who may or may not exist. The killer was profiled in a series of articles by a reporter who allegedly made the stories up with the help of an old novel. When Myron tries to talk to the reporter, the FBI gets interested and and that interest has Myron struggling to get to the bottom of just who the real donor is. Could he be the serial killer?
As with all Mr. Coben's books, this whodunit has more twists and turns than you can shake a stick at, more plot and subplot than anyone would expect. And I particularly liked the way Mr. Coben reminds us of that special tie between fathers and sons. However death and violence are present throughout: this is where John Lennon bled to death, over there is where Malcolm X was shot, but even so, this is another excellent read from Harlen Coben.
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Title: One False Move by HARLAN COBEN ISBN: 0440225442 Publisher: Dell Pub. Date: 11 May, 1999 List Price(USD): $7.99 |
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Title: The Final Detail by HARLAN COBEN ISBN: 0440225450 Publisher: Bantam Books Pub. Date: 08 February, 2000 List Price(USD): $7.99 |
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Title: Back Spin by HARLAN COBEN ISBN: 0440222702 Publisher: Island Books Pub. Date: 07 July, 1997 List Price(USD): $7.50 |
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Title: Fade Away by HARLAN COBEN ISBN: 0440222680 Publisher: Dell Pub. Date: 02 November, 1996 List Price(USD): $7.50 |
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Title: Deal Breaker by HARLAN COBEN ISBN: 0440220440 Publisher: Dell Pub. Date: 01 May, 1995 List Price(USD): $7.50 |
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