Hold Tight

By: Harlan Coben

Narrated by: Scott Brick

Length: 12 hrs

Publisher's summary

Mike held his son's hand and told him to "hold tight", and he could feel the little hand dig into his. But the crush got bigger, and the little hand slipped from his - and Mike felt that horrible panic, as if a wave hit them at the beach and it was washing his baby out with the tide.

The separation lasted only a few seconds, 10 at the most, but Mike would never forget the spike in his blood and the terror of those brief few moments.

Tia and Mike Baye never imagined they'd become the type of overprotective parents who spy on their kids. But their 16-year-old son, Adam, has been unusually distant lately, and after the suicide of his classmate, Spencer Hill - the latest in a string of issues at school - they can't help but worry. They install a sophisticated spy program on Adam's computer, and within days they are jolted by a message from an unknown correspondent addressed to their son: "Just stay quiet and all safe."

Meanwhile, browsing through an online memorial for Spencer put together by his classmates, Betsy Hill is struck by a photo that appears to have been taken on the night of her son's death...and he wasn't alone. She thinks it is Adam Baye standing just outside the camera's range, but when Adam goes missing, it soon becomes clear that something deep and sinister has infected their community.

For Tia and Mike Baye, the question they must answer is this: When it comes to your kids, is it possible to know too much?

©2008 Harlan Coban (P)2008 Brilliance Audio

Critic reviews

"Parents will find this compulsive page-turner from Edgar-winner Coben...particularly unnerving." ( Publishers Weekly)

Amazing

I am a commuter and listening to audio books keeps the road rage to non exsistent. I must say that this audio book was addictive. It kept me on the edge of my seat. I was actually getting angry, feeling torture and sorrow. Amazing writing. I highly recommend to anyone who loves suspense and mystery.

Didn't want to stop listening

I really liked the way the characters merged, much like "Crash".

hold tight

loved it! not as sarcastic as with his myron books....but i also needed a break from him. they were starting to be the same. as a parent...i could totally relate to this book. got a bit confusing as to what blame was to be placed on the little sister. kept me going...listening at work whenever i got a break.

Annoying sing-song reader

What didn’t you like about Scott Brick’s performance?

Scott's performance as usual is annoyiing with the way his voice is always so sing-song. Every sentence the tone goes up and then down - it sounds like a soap opera and is distracting from the story since it doesn't track with what is important in the text.

Parents' Nightmare . . . Couldn't Stop Listening

Overprotective Parent. Guilty. Sure as heck glad that I didn't read or listen to this book when we were raising our kids . . . BUT this is an excellent thriller, with twists and turns that were unexpected . . . truth is, I couldn't STOP listening. Narration was top notch. And it turns out things are never what they seem . . .Harlan Coben does it again . . . don't miss this one!

Not for --new to Coben-- readers

If you haven't read Coben before, don't know his quirky style for this genre, skip this cuz it might turn you off Coben and that would be sad.

Coben has a way with the mystery genre that is his own. His characters are hard to like, get comfy with..... but it is always worth sticking with the story line...and listening to the chargacters be fleshed out and looking for redeeming qualities in them. The way Coben turns the screws on the reader....in my case.....sometimes it ~IS~ noticeable on my face.

I know this by comments my husband will make when I am listening to one of HC's books.
Not uncommon to have my husband say
Hey..you okay?

Wow...you look like you are in pain!

Good lord why do you look like someone just punched you in the gut?

I am always reacting to something going on in the story line and I heard a lot of that while listening to this one!!



This story tho...too many characters too many plot lines and just way to busy.

I felt like I needed score cards to keep up. It all ties up at the end but wasn't thrilled with the ending, it felt like I had been pranked from the start.

I am a die hard Coben fan, don't regret investing the time in this book but if this had been the first Coben book I'd ever picked up, I doubt I would have ever picked another one.


Scott Brick...as always with Coben's story lines and characters......spot on.

What a Listen

I listened to this book all in one sitting. I stayed up all night and into the morning. I just couldn't stop.

Adam is a 16 year old teenager who is in high school. He and some of his other friend's begin to frequent a club that encourages kids who are too young to bring any prescription drugs that they can find at home. Adam's father is a transplant surgeon who has prescription pads in his study.

Spencer, a friend of Adam, commits suicide and is found on the roof of the high school. Pictures were taken while they were up on the roof. Someone, who is seen in the picture, is stopped by Spencer's mother as he leaves school.

Tia and Mike, Adam's parents don't understand what is going on with their son. He doesn't talk, he's losing weight and stays out late on any day of the week. His parent's talk heatedly about what they can do to help Adam. There is one solution, to have someone put a spy program on his computer. Adam's dad repeats over and over that spying is an invasion of his privacy. However, his mom convinces Mike there is no other solution.

There is a message left on the computer that disturbs Adam's parents. The message reads, there will be a party at a friend's house, who lives just a few houses down from them. Adam's parent's do not like the friend nor his father. What will Tia and Mike do? Maybe one of them will call the friend's house to speak with Adam or go to the friend's house to get Adam and bring him home.

The book is filled with action and suspense. Hold Tight, kept me on the edge of my seat throughout the book until the end. There were many character's and each with personalities that were well developed. Scott Brick, the narrator, did a great job. Brick did get a little carried away but I've listened to many of his narrations and I've heard this one before. I settled back and listened. I've read quite a few of Harlan Coben's book and this book was one of his best. Don't miss listening to this book because you'll be making a big mistake. There a many things happening but let me tell you, many of those things made me sit up in disbelief. Purchase this book!

Great Book!!

Couldn't stop listening to this book. Narrator was terrific! Looking forward to the next Harlam Coben book!

Great Storytelling

I really enjoyed this book. It had lots of nice twists and turns to keep the story moving and keep me engaged. I definitely recommend this one by Harlan Coben,

Narrator Ruined It

Too many characters. Multiple story lines... involving all the same characters....too complicated. Still confused about how cancer fit into the overall story. Not Harlan's best work.