Stay Close

By: Harlan Coben

Narrated by: Scott Brick

Length: 11 hrs and 8 mins

Publisher's summary

Megan is a suburban soccer mom who, once upon a time, walked on the wild side. Now she’s got two kids, a perfect husband, a picket fence, and a growing sense of dissatisfaction. Ray used to be a talented documentary photographer, but at the age of 40 he finds himself in a dead-end job posing as a paparazzo, pandering to celebrity-obsessed rich kids. Broome is a detective who can’t let go of a cold case—a local husband and father who disappeared 17 years ago—and spends the anniversary every year visiting a house frozen in time, the missing man’s family still waiting, his slippers left by the recliner as if he might show up at any moment to step into them.

Three people living lives they never wanted, hiding secrets that even those closest to them would never suspect, will find that the past never truly fades away. Even as the terrible consequences of long-ago events crash together in the present and threaten to ruin lives, they will come to the startling realization that they may not want to forget the past at all. And as each confronts the dark side of the American dream—the boredom of a nice suburban life, the excitement of temptation, the desperation and hunger that can lurk behind even the prettiest façades—they will discover the hard truth that the line between one kind of life and another can be as whisper-thin as a heartbeat.

Master of domestic suspense Harlan Coben delivers his trademark combination of pause-resistant thrills and unrivaled insight into the dark shadows that creep into even the happiest communities.

©2012 Harlan Coben (P)2012 Brilliance Audio, Inc.

Zero to Sixty in a minute and a half...

This is the first Coben book I've read/listened to. I heard he was great suspense writer on one of the many podcasts I listen to, so I thought I'd give one of his books a try. While overall the book ended up being fairly good I was disappointed in how long it took to get going. The first half of the book was way to slow for my liking. It did pick up steam toward the end, and although I somehow was able to figure out where Coben was going before the book ended, I still enjoyed the ending. Coben can definitely paint a detailed picture with words, but the amount of time he takes to set things up may mitigate the excitement when you finally see the finished product.

Causes and Effects

Where does Stay Close rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Top 10

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

Yes, lots of danger and psychos

What about Scott Brick’s performance did you like?

Clear voice. Each character unique voice.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Surprise ending and the creeps got what they deserved.

Any additional comments?

Outward appearances are deceptive but it's the heart that matters.

Loved it!

This book kept me awake at night trying to listen even though I was exhausted. Great storyline, lots of mystery and suspense! Never saw the ending coming!!

Enjoy more than film!!

A very special well written piece of literagy. Hard to put down. The charatures are so life like. Please forgive my spelling I am still in middle school.

Couldn't put it down.

I love mysteries that keep you guessing with lots of twists and surprises. This was just that book. Loved Scott Brick, he never disappoints.

Love this book

I rarely listen a second time to an audiobook, however, know that I will at some time listen to this book again.

The narrator did a great job with his soft voice as he spoke for the women also did really well with the tough cop, gentle cop voices. Loved the narrator for sure.

Let me say also that not only was it a really thought out story but the characters fit perfectly where Mr. Coben placed them. I loved how these women were taken under the wing of the plot. I don’t want to spoil the end for anyone but after you finish you too will shake your head and tell yourself how awesome
This book is.

Loved it!

great story

Scott brick is great. This book keeps you interested and you can't put it down

Excellent Narrator-Highly Recommend

This narrator was great! I really enjoyed the way he read the story. Highly recommend!

Coben is great

I like almost all of Coben’s writing. Scott Brick ruins it for me. Way too melodramatic. It’s like he’s trying too hard. He just needs to tone it down. Some things are mundane. It would help if he had lower lows.

Liked it but...

Not as good as the other Coben books I've listened to but it was still good. I wasn't fond of the narrator but kept listening and eventually it turned out ok.