Back Spin

By: Harlan Coben

Narrated by: Jonathan Marosz

Length: 8 hrs and 31 mins

Publisher's Summary

Kidnappers have snatched the teenage son of super-star golfer Linda Coldren and her husband, Jack, an aging pro, at the height of the U.S. Open. To help get the boy back, sports agent Myron Bolitar goes charging after clues and suspects from the Main Line mansions to a downtown cheaters’ motel - and back in time to a U.S. Open 23 years ago, when Jack Coldren should have won, but didn't. 

Suddenly Myron finds him self surrounded by blue bloods, criminals, and liars. And as one family's darkest secrets explode into murder, Myron finds out just how rough this game can get. 

In novels that crackle with wit and suspense, Edgar Award winner Harlan Coben has created one of the most fascinating and complex heroes in suspense fiction - Myron Bolitar - a hotheaded, tenderhearted sports agent who grows more and more engaging and unpredictable with each pause-resisting appearance. 

©1997 Harlan Coben (P)2000 Books on Tape

Critic Reviews

"Another winner....Pungent observations, indelibly drawn characters and a twisting, surprise-laden plot." (Atlanta Journal-Constitution) 

“Sharp plotting and emotional density, as well as nonstop wisecracks.” (Publishers Weekly)  

More motives than ever...

I enjoy Harlan Coban's mysteries and have just finished this gem set during the US Open for golf. The plot is loaded with twists and turns and it seems everyone has a motive to kill or kidnap! While the ending is a bit of an all too quick wrap up I enjoyed the story and was disappointed that there was no more.
The narrator excels on all the parts except the sidekick Esmerelda (Esmee) where the accent falls short.

Coben Dunnit Again!

Marosz voices Myron Bolitar alive again - this time at Philly's Main-Line soooper snooty Merion golf club and... and... Myron fingers a murderer... The whole ensemble cast grows here upon the rich background nourished in Deal Breaker, Drop Shot, and Fade Away.... but Coben keeps it fresh. Don't be frightened away from this wonderful series by the fact that protagonist Bolitar is a sports agent. Everything you need to know is easily accessible in Back Spin... but that's been true of the entire series so far.

Now... a word of caution. Don't start this series here. No need to. Go first to Deal Breaker and work your way forward. They all fit together yet stand alone. The cool thing about Audible.com is that we have entire series in stock and available so we can go from beginning to wherever we want. And what do I want? Well, to get One False Move... the fourth in this series' marriage of Harlan Coban and Jonathan Marosz.

This is the best yet of Coben's work in the series

I rarely write a review about any of the 200+ books I have listened to. Yet this Short book of The Myron Bolitar Series has gripped me from the first opening sentence to the last.
I mention “short” book even though at 8+hrs, there is so much more that I am left wanting. When a book has the edge and creativity to reach out through the excellent quality of narration such as Jonathan Marosz has demonstrated to touch me with laughter, sadness, incredulity, and yes even ridiculous plot sequences I am forced to share this with the listeners/members of Audible.com.
Never will the Molitar series ever compete with the ilk of a “Ken Follett, The Pillars of the Earth”, type of masterpiece. Saying that does not mean in any way Harlen Coben has not found an amazing way to spin such a wide array feelings into an act of suspenseful fiction.
To this series I tip my hat, and will grant my rare 5 stars across the board. I would certainly enjoy a discussion with someone whom could not enjoy this book. It would be fascinating to know the mindset of such a polar opposite than I.

Good book, very good series

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Absolutely. This is a great series very well done by the reader. If you like well done light mysteries, you should like this.

What about Jonathan Marosz’s performance did you like?

The voices make it easy to follow which characters are speaking.

Very entertaining

Harlan Coben is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors. This book is consistent with all his other books in the series which I love. Although I always prefer to start at the beginning of a series of books Coben does a good job of tying what has happened in the past books into the future stories so you won't feel lost if you start in the middle (each story stands alone just fine). There are enough twists and turns to keep you interested but it's the comical delivery that I really enjoy most.

Bunker Shot

Too bad. I'm normally a big fan of Harlan Coben but I struggled through Back Spin. A teenage boy is kidnapped but since you know almost nothing about him you almost don't care. Unfortunately much of the storyline is built around that. Top that off with some ridiculous characters that are sometimes funny and sometimes just trying to be funny and you end up with a book that belongs in the sand trap. Still, my appreciation for this author keeps me from giving it less than 3 stars.

Different than what I expected

This was a pleasant suprise. It kept my attention with the twist and turns, the humor. It didn't bore with me with a bunch of golf lingo. Usually I can guess the ending in a book but this took me by surprise. The book moved at a good pace.

Backspin

As a Coben fan, I really enjoyed the story. Unfortunately, the narrator drove me to distraction. I thought the dialog and voices were pretty good, but the narative between was sing-song and totally unnerving. The narrator could do with some lessons in reading the non-dialogue parts.

Wishing for more Myron Bolitar

I was sad to see this series come to an end (my assumption based on how the various storylines were wrapped up.). My main purpose for the review though is to say that Jonathon Marosz is the ONLY narrator for this series, IMO. He voices the characters perfectly, conveying the characters' personalities perfectly.

Great book

It’s a great book fast easy and a funny and fun read only complaint nit could have been longer

Warning! Addictive!!!!

Not only are Coben's stories full and rich but the reader transports you effortlessly between one character and the next. From laugh out loud to quiet breath holding, Myron will do it for you. Like to lose yourself in a great story? Of course you do! You belong to audible. No, his publishers not paying me - but once you get one of the Coben stories you'll want the rest. Get the ones that don't have Myron too .... quality stuff for your ears.