Shelter: A Mickey Bolitar Novel

If you enjoyed Myron Bolitar, stay way away from this drivel. I'm guessing someone decided to take the Bolitar franchise to the children. Children who can read this aren't this stooooopid! Nick Podehl has the perfect voice for young characters. But this ensemble is simply less believable than a Castle TV show, and more contrived. You want to believe in international conspiracies that just happen to ooze from a haunted house down the street? One that gathers players from the local tattooist through NAZI survivors and the steamy jungles of the high exotic mountains? Want to believe in superboy? In every cliche ever crammed into 50s comic? Hey... this is your book. Problem is it is too young for its intended audience of middle schoolers and too insulting to their imaginations much less intelligence.

Who was the audience that whoever wrote this had in mind? I say whoever-wrote-this because I cannot... WILL NOT believe it was Harlan Coben. He is a gifted writer, and this was turned out on some kind of assembly line by robots who screwed in the different pieces as it went from station to station.

Just stay away... but do look for Nick Podehl again... He deserves to survive this mess.

The story picks up where the last Myron Bolitar story left off, only this is told from Mickey's perspective. Although none of the familiar Myron Bolitar characters are involved, Mickey stands on his own, with his own well-developed sidekicks to save him from himself. I listened to this with my 17 yr old daughter, and we both appreciated how the narrator was completely believable as a 15 year old without descending into stereotype. The story starts out almost like a halloween tale, but is actually quite intricate, from the disappearance of Ashley to the true identity of the bat lady. The story is compelling beyond the mystery - Mickey's loss of his father, his mother's addiction relapse, the resentment of his uncle, are woven throughout and create the image of a young man who is aching with loss, almost overpowering the mystery at times. A good listen!

I was disappointed with his last couple books but this one was really good. I couldn't stop listening, loved the characters and the tangents it took. Lots of mystery with more to come by the way it ends. Keeps you guessing. Can't wait for the next one. Love the narrator.

Book definitely WI! (worth it)

I turned on this book, laid back, and never wanted to turn it off. The reader was awesome. The setting small town USA. The likable young hero primed for conflict and adventure. I knew right away this was going to be great! I was right. The story flowed effortlessly from Beginning to E.

And I didn’t forget the “ND” from the end. The book didn’t end. It just kinda stopped. I was shocked, and was sure I was wrong, even as I heard the familiar words, “Audible hopes you have enjoyed this program.”

What?

I immediately went back to Audible to see if this was Part 1 of a series, but could’t find anything about it. Bummer. I’d really like to know what happens next. I really hope Harlan Coben has more coming.

The story was set in high school, with a 15-year-old Mickey Bolitar as the hero. He is at a new school in an unfamiliar town, and is thrust into 2 separate mysteries he must unravel, with help from his new, courageous, talented, outcast, lovable friends. Though he doesn’t know the town, the folks there seem to know him…freaky.

Good for most ages, this book shouldn’t be classified for teenagers only just because the cast is young. Most people in The States have been to high school, and everyone can identify with part of the story.

My only wish is to hear more! And 7 hours was not nearly enough. We just got to the center of the story, found the bad guys, the monsters, the secret society. Time for the hero to bare his basketball muscles and save the day! “Audible hopes you have enjoyed this program.” Arg.

You can read more of my reviews online

PS Love these $4.95 sales for members. I would never have bought such a short book with one of my credits, so I would have missed this gem. Will definitely listen to it again. It is now in my re-run bucket, so to speak.

I have been a huge Coben fan for years. I bought this on that basis, but almost sent it back to audible when I realized in the first two chapters that it was for teens. I kept saying I was going to shut it off, but before I knew it I was hooked and completed the book in a few days! Coben is BACK! Great stuff, looking forward to reading the next one in the series. I really like the character Spoon.

a book for young teens? I have 5 grandchildren in the young teen age group; and I suppose I'm in my second childhood. So I listen to the Audible versions while they read the same books. With Shelter Harlan Coben demonstrates his talent for the genre is as great as John Green. The book is excellent! The character development with Mickey, Ema and Spoon is superb. I recommend this book without reservation to all lovers of fiction regardless of age.

A really good listen, though a little far fetched at times. The ending...well, I'll just say I didn't like it, so as not to spoil it for someone who hasn't read it.

Well, it worked for Patterson, what with Maximum Ride and all.... And, thank goodness, it worked for Coben, as well! Mickey is Myron's nephew, his Dad dead, and his Mom in rehab. He's the New Kid in School, gets crosswise with the jocks, starts hanging with a Goth girl and a nerdy guy....But then the Big Mystery comes along. Mickey and his friends solve it, save the girl, and share the exciting romp with us. This is a typically gripping Coben yarn interpreted by Nick Podehl, who does a very good job. Mickey's well worth following!

"Coben for teens" caused me to hesitate momentarily, but then i reasoned, it is Coben. Thoroughly enjoyed it. A nice continuation of the previous novel where Mickey was introduced. Coben has a new character that I'll be interested in seeing him develop.
I've read and enjoyed all Coben's novels.

This one sat in my library for awhile but once I started I couldn't put it down. I really enjoyed this story.

Mickey of course but also Emma

Mickey and Spoon.

I don't know, but it would make a great film, it's sort of like "Stand by Me" by Stephen King.