©1995 Harlan Coben; (P)2006 Books on Tape
"Like fellow-wisecracking P.I.'s Spenser and Elvis Cole, Myron Bolitar is great fun in the best hard-boiled tradition." (Houston Chronicle)
"Deal Breaker"
I have just started reading/listening to Harlan Coben this summer, and have been more than pleasantly surprised. I started with "The Woods", and went on to "The Promise", and when I read "The Promise" I had to start at the beginning! In Deal Breaker we are introduced to Myron Bolitar, who is an ex-basketball star, and is now a sports agent/detective. I found this book to be both engaging and thrilling, and highly recommend it to one and all. I believe that it bridges many genres, and that it will keep you interested from the first page. I can't wait to read all of the Myron Bolitar novels!
"Mystery + Sports Angle = Great Story"
This book was a great surprise, much better than expected. Myron Bolitar is a sports agent and his client's girlfriend is missing. His client is a promising quarterback who wants a lot of money from his new contract. So what happened to his girlfriend and who is responsible? Harlan Coben weaves an interesting case that keeps the reader guessing as to who killed her or if she is actually alive. One thing I really appreciated was several times during the book the author reviews the facts as they stand. Helps the reader not miss any important clues. The reader was excellent. He made the characters come to life by his voice, timing, and inflection. This was like finding a treasure. I loved this book and I can't wait to read more by this author.
"Pretty good, characters a bit 'overdone'"
I enjoyed the story, the first i've read by this author. Not sure i'll seek out the next one in the series but i might. It just seemed a little heavy on the macho stereotypes, and the "too perfect" woman, the "handsome but slightly imperfect" hero, a "rich, nth degree black belt best friend".. i know we don't want to read about everyday boring people, but they can't all be the most, or the best, can they? (even side characters were "ex champion boxers" etc) Anyway, like i said, it was enjoyable, just a bit much. (Narration was well done, though maybe a bit stiff at times.)
"Not just for men"
I just started listening to Harlan Coben books, and at first I was a little worried that these would be just for men, however I was pleasantly surprised - I love the characters and the stories always seem to have twists and turn.
"Great Listen"
I have enjoyed all the Myron Bolitar books I have listened to -this one no exception. Johnathon Marosz does an excellent job of reading
"Just so so for me"
I wasn't particularly interested in the sports agent theme. I quickly became tired of the hand-steepling and the descriptions of the breathtakingly beautiful women and thugs with hands the size of garbage can lids. Otherwise, it was a quick easy read. The ending was wrapped up a little to easily, though. I guess this was not my cup of tea (or whiskey) and I would not pursue further Myron Bolitar stories.
"Witty, fast-paced Haran Coben at his best"
Even though this was evidently one of Coben's earlier novels, it is a witty example of his real talent in combining highbrow wisecracking with intrigue and mystery. The Myron Bolitar books, in my opinion, are his best. His recent ones grew too dark; and there always seemed to be a child or loved one abducted. That plot line wore thin to me; and I was delighted to find one of the smart witty ones that I had missed. I wish he would return to these roots for his new books!
"Very Surprising"
I really like listening to this book. I was afraid it would be geared more toward men, but it held my interest as well. I loved Myron's wise-cracks and really loved Win! This book had lots of surprises & twists that I didn't see coming. I wouldn't have purchased this book without Audible offering the First in a Series sale. Now, I'm looking forward to buying the next book in the series.
"Good book!"
Not the greatest of the Myron Bolitar books, but it was his first, he get's better as he goes. Plus I started out with a different narrator who really understood the smart alec tones of Myron. But it was still good. Not great, but good.
63 y/o psychologist with two sons, living in SF Bay Area. I absolutely love all the feedback I've been getting for my reviews. It's very gratifying. Thanks to all of you.
"Early Harlen Coben: very enjoyable"
I believe this is one of the first Myron Bolitar books, which now number about seven. Myron is a wise-cracking ex-basketball star, a Jewish guy who still lives with his parents in his thirties, who has a buddy named Winston Locke Horne III. What's not to like? Win is the ultimate WASP: superrich, unimaginably dangerous, a cad of the highest order who just loves to drop whatever it is that he is doing to help Myron, who is actually a sports agent, to solve a case which appears to be mighty detective-like. Coben has a wonderful sense of humor. He has now branched out far from this series, but, frankly, I think the Myron Bolitar books are his finest work. In this one Myron is brand-new at being a sports agent, and he has only one large client, whom his right-hand-girl Esperanza calls "meal ticket." Myron also has a burning crush on an author named Jessica Culver, whose sister Cathy is the girlfriend of Christian Steele, the meal ticket. Confused yet? The plot gets thicker and thicker. Cathy has been kidnapped and possibly turned into a phone sex slave. Our heroes set out to rescue the damsel in distress. Tie the girl to the railroad tracks, the train approaches, and...
Jonathan Marosz is a wonderful narrator for these books. His voice is very comfortable and friendly. He may not be as versatile as the greats, but he does an excellent job here, and in all of the Bolitar books. Coben now sells books by the millions, and does book tours all over the place. He deserves his success.