Shelter: A Mickey Bolitar Novel

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.

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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.

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.

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!

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.

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!

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.

Shelter ranks in the top five among all audiobooks I've listened to so far.

I would compare Shelter to Variant, and the Maze Runner Series. Both of the above series had primo narration as well, and are seemingly directed towards the teenager. Yet, all were just as exciting and riveting as any "adult' book I've listened to.

Yes. He just has fantastic use of his voice and nails all his characters. I'm never thinking it's him doing several characters. They ALL take on a unique life of their own.

A thriller based on a boy coming of age, who will go to any length to protect the ones he loves!

I compare Nick Podehl to HOLTER GRAHAM, who happens to be my ALL time favorite male narrator and Nick is just as talented and multi dimensional in his performances.

Not sure why a successful writer goes for young readers, but this book seems to miss the mark anyway. I got sick of the rather whining young man who was basically doing things that were way too adult. And the book is billed as a series, so the ending just seemed to be a way to make you want to buy the next one. No chance. You can't have everything fall into place and make it all realistic. At the end all I can say was that the plot and story were ludicrous. The relationships between the kids was OK, but that's it.

I like Harlan Coben a lot...and thus goofed by grabbing several of his books without reading the details. alas, the Mickey Bolitar series is for kids... adults may enjoy but it won't be able to identify with it. (But hey, if you like Harry Potter agewise, you may love this.) After 3 chapters I punted. I assume it is another great Coben book....but this one is too young for my taste.

Not sure

Not sure

Again, I missed the "young adult" label...and should have caught it. This sat in my library until too late to return.