Caught

By: Harlan Coben

Narrated by: Carrington MacDuffie, Danny Campbell

Length: 10 hrs and 50 mins

Publisher's summary

From the number-one New York Times best-selling master of suspense comes a fast-paced, emotion-packed novel about guilt, grief, and our capacity to forgive.

Seventeen-year-old Haley McWaid is a good girl, the pride of her suburban New Jersey family, captain of the lacrosse team, headed off to college next year with all the hopes and dreams her doting parents can pin on her. Which is why, when her mother wakes one morning to find that Haley never came home the night before, and three months quickly pass without word from the girl, the community assumes the worst.

Wendy Tynes is a reporter on a mission, to identify and bring down sexual predators via elaborate and nationally televised sting operations. Working with local police on her news program Caught in the Act, Wendy and her team have publicly shamed dozens of men by the time she encounters her latest target. Dan Mercer is a social worker known as a friend to troubled teens, but his story soon becomes more complicated than Wendy could have imagined.

In a novel that challenges as much as it thrills, filled with the astonishing tension and unseen suburban machinations that have become Coben's trademark, Caught tells the story of a missing girl, the community stunned by her loss, the predator who may have taken her, and the reporter who suddenly realizes she can't trust her own instincts about this story - or the motives of the people around her.

©2010 Harlan Coben (P)2010 Random House

Critic reviews

“The thrill-a-minute action zooms on sharp, slippery twists and turns in a white-knuckle race from start to finish.” (Number-one New York Times best-selling author Nora Roberts)

“With Caught, Harlan Coben knocked another one out of the park!” (Number-one New York Times best-selling author Lisa Jackson)

“A Tilt-a-Whirl of a story....Buckle up and prepare for whiplash.” (Number-one New York Times best-selling author Sandra Brown)

Agree and Disagree with other reviewers

Yes the narration was pretty bad, ok, really bad. The story however, I liked for the following reasons: the premise of someone being accused of molestation and the what if they are innocent conflict is interesting, the realistic portrayal of the relationship between the mother and her teen son was very dear really, and because I recently saw on J. Seinfeld's reality TV show featuring married couples, a bit about a middle-aged white guy as wanna-be rapper, I found this bit of the story very funny actually.
I also agree with the other reviewers that some parts of the story are not very realistic, but hey it kept my interest and I enjoyed the book overall, you might too.

intriguing

My husband and I listened to this while driving from Phoenix to Denver. There were so many unexpected twist and turns that we just did drive through meals during this 13 hour trip so we could find out what was going to happen next! i would highly recommend to anyone who enjoys believable, suspenseful fiction.

Great Entertainment!

MY REVIEW

I just loved this book, it is honest to goodness entertainment from beginning to end. In truth, I was a bit surprised by my enjoyment because the first and last Harlan Coben novel I had previously read was "Play Dead", a novel set in North Queensland. I was living there at the time and, well, let's just say I didn't much enjoy the book!

The beginning of "Caught" is told from Danny Mercers' point of view, of how, by responding to a call for help from the mysterious Chynna, his life as he knew it was changed forever. The story then continues from Wendys' point of view, if you've read the blurb then you will know that Danny was the latest mark for her TV show "Caught in the Act" which basically, casts the mark as being guilty without benefit of trial or jury. Human nature being what it is, even if subsequently proven innocent in a court of law, the victims' reputation is ruined.

Wendy later becomes interested in the disappearance of Hayly McWaid, a high school senior who simply fails to come home one night, her mother doesn't discover this until next morning. Yes, I did have to ask myself, what sort of mother goes to sleep before her child comes home! Anyhow, back to Wendy, bright breezy, confident Wendy whose world has started turning in all the wrong directions - and I can't tell you why! In fact there's not a great deal more I can reveal without spoilers. Suffice to say, that now my academic years are behind me, I read primarily to be entertained, so, what with the sky high entertainment value and the wonderful characters in this story and the many totally unexpected twists and unconventional turns, this book absolutely fitted my bill. A darned good read. "Caught" is a standalone novel

NARRATOR

Danny Campbell kicks off the story as Dan Mercer, and an excellent job he did too! The star of the show for me though is the amazing Campbell MacDuffie she became Wendy Tynes, clearly defining all her emotional changes from the somewhat arrogant, confident and snarky TV reporter to the woman who began to doubt her own abilities and judgements. I loved the way her voice and delivery changed with each character. I had no problems with gender changes, in fact I didn't really notice them which is a good thing. Pace and timing were just right. I can't comment on accents, as apart from the Southern States, they all sound pretty much the same to me! I'll certainly be looking out for more of Carrington MacDuffie.

I received this audiobook, without condition, from Tekreads monthly draw

Amazing!

Harlen Coben delivers another page turner, impossible to "put down". I would recommend this book to everyone.

Caught

I enjoyed this book. I like mysteries and normally I can easily decipher "Who donnuit", but this one kept me wondering.

Keeps you in its spell

Just when you think you've figured out where Coben is going, he's got another chapter--and another--and another!

Longer story but that’s the point

There are times that you really want to sit back and read a long interesting story. You don’t want to see the quick action. You really want to block out the world and take a break with a good story. This book does that. Starts slow but that is really the point. Enjoy how it develops. I did.

What A Twisty Ride!

Very engaging tale with a multitude of sharp turns and surprises. You never know the truth until the very end. Great insights into human behavior.

Never fails

I was so happy to see that this Harlan Coben wasn’t checked off as having read it. What a wonderful treat
As always we appreciate “articulate”. Thanks

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Some of the female voices ruined the book for me, especially that shrill attorney with an ego the size of Texas.