Darkest Fear

By: Harlan Coben

Narrated by: Jonathan Marosz

Length: 7 hrs and 40 mins

Publisher's summary

Edgar Award-winner Harlan Coben is at his electrifying best in his latest novel - a dazzling tale of seething mystery and dark family secrets.

In Darkest Fear, Myron Bolitar faces the most emotionally shattering case of his career. And it all begins when Myron's ex-girlfriend tells him he is a father - of a dying 13-year-old boy....

Myron's sports agency is struggling. Now more than ever, Myron needs to keep his eye on the ball, sign up some big-name clients, and turn away from the amateur detective work that is taking precious time away from the agency.

But life is not going according to plan. Myron's father, recently recovered from a heart attack, is facing his own mortality - and forcing Myron to face it, too. Then comes another surprise. Emily Downing, Myron's college sweetheart, reappears in his life with devastating news: Her 13-year-old son, Jeremy, is gravely ill and can be saved only by a bone-marrow transplant - from a donor who has vanished without a trace. And before Myron can absorb this revelation, Emily hits him with an even bigger shocker: Jeremy is Myron's son, conceived the night before Emily's wedding to another man.

Staggered by the news, Myron plunges into a search for the missing donor. But for Myron, finding the only person in the world who can save a boy's life means cracking open a mystery as dark as it is heartbreaking - a mystery that involves a broken family, a brutal kidnapping spree, and a cat-and-mouse game between an ambitious reporter and the FBI.

Somewhere in the sordid mess is the man who once signed his name to a bone-marrow donor's registry, then disappeared. And as doubts emerge about Jeremy's true paternity, a child vanishes, igniting a chain reaction of truth and revelation that will change everyone's life forever.

At once a riveting mystery and a spellbinding journey into the secrets that haunt families, lovers, and friends, Darkest Fear proves once again that Harlan Coben is a master storyteller like no other - and one of the most original talents in suspense fiction today.

©2000 Harlan Coben (P)2000 Books on Tape

Critic reviews

"Don't let Coben's wry observations fool you. They gift wrap keen insights into our society." (Washington Post Book World)

Fun but a Little Contrived

Fun book with lots of twists and turns. Narrator reads the book in a monotone mimicking an old fashioned private eye thriller. Probably would have been better if presented in a normal fashion. That said, I found the book fun and worthwhile as a light summer read.

listened on a drive

absolutely riveting. just the right amount of suspense and not gore
I like the characters

Loved the book and the performance!

Myron Bolitar and friends feel like real life companions thanks to the outstanding performance of Jonathan Marosz and the storytelling talents of Harlen Coben. The lighthearted wit combined with the spellbinding drama of the stories in the series are second to none. I’ve enjoyed each and every one and look forward to more! This book is awesome from beginning to end!

If you enjoy juvenile, smartass dialogue

Mildly interesting story but dialogue designed to appeal to 13 year old boy. If you like smartass this is the book for you.

Great listen!

Just a well written story. Hard to turn it off. Didn't get a lot of work done, but I did stay on the treadmill longer and cleaned more house while I couldn't turn off the audio!

I hope that there will be others

I have read all the Myron Bolitar series and I can't find another to compare. I enjoy the wit and high jinx of the two. the plots are second

Get the chapters right

Awesome book and great performance but it always urks me when they can’t just line the chapters up correctly.

Good stories well-presented

BUT, although I am NO homophobe, Coben’s near constant snide gay jokes and comments is getting close to eeeyuu - just sayin

Darkest Fear

Harlan Coben's books always grab you at the beginning I like the Bolitar series because I appreciate the humor mix with the mystery

Harlan Coben delivers!

Excellent in every sense! Gripping, witty, unexpected twists and masterful storytelling! Highly recommend this incredible thriller.