Stay Close

By: Harlan Coben

Narrated by: Scott Brick

Length: 11 hrs and 8 mins

Publisher's summary

Megan is a suburban soccer mom who, once upon a time, walked on the wild side. Now she’s got two kids, a perfect husband, a picket fence, and a growing sense of dissatisfaction. Ray used to be a talented documentary photographer, but at the age of 40 he finds himself in a dead-end job posing as a paparazzo, pandering to celebrity-obsessed rich kids. Broome is a detective who can’t let go of a cold case—a local husband and father who disappeared 17 years ago—and spends the anniversary every year visiting a house frozen in time, the missing man’s family still waiting, his slippers left by the recliner as if he might show up at any moment to step into them.

Three people living lives they never wanted, hiding secrets that even those closest to them would never suspect, will find that the past never truly fades away. Even as the terrible consequences of long-ago events crash together in the present and threaten to ruin lives, they will come to the startling realization that they may not want to forget the past at all. And as each confronts the dark side of the American dream—the boredom of a nice suburban life, the excitement of temptation, the desperation and hunger that can lurk behind even the prettiest façades—they will discover the hard truth that the line between one kind of life and another can be as whisper-thin as a heartbeat.

Master of domestic suspense Harlan Coben delivers his trademark combination of pause-resistant thrills and unrivaled insight into the dark shadows that creep into even the happiest communities.

©2012 Harlan Coben (P)2012 Brilliance Audio, Inc.

Wow, excellent "read!"

I didn't know how I would feel about this audio book. I listened mainly because I wasn't due for two new books for a couple more weeks. But, I listened to this story and from the very first chapter, I knew I would enjoy it. The three main characters are brought together again after a murder(?) 17 years ago and as the story unfolded, I must have guessed four different people who could have done the deed and didn't really guess correctly until close to the end of the book. It was simply great. Scott Brick did an excellent narration. I will definitely listen to more stories by this author and narrator.

A very good standalone Coben book

I am a fan of Harlan Coben's standalone books - I have never read a Bolitar novel. Unfortunately, his first three or four standalone books that I listened to were so good, they have spoiled me and everything of his has been downhill ever since. Stay Close falls into this category. Anyone who is a fan of Coben's novels knows that he has the ability to finish a book with the most mind-blowing of plot twists. Once, even though I had been conditioned to expect this twist and was looking for it and had even thought that novel was going to be a letdown, the twist blindsided me like a truck. Unfortunately, while a very good crime thriller, Stay Away did not blow me away in that sense. Because I am looking for a twist, I have come to look at and analyze just about every plausible character as being the key to a plot twist. When you do that, you can't help but figure out what the twist is and who it will involve. That being said, this novel is a well developed and engrossing story. I finished this audiobook in less than a week. I given it four stars because of the story - five stars for performance because it is read by my clear favorite narrator, Scott Brick - but, the lack of having my mind blown, won't let me rate it a five. His first few standalone novels shine too brightly for this book to receive that honor.

Harlan Coben never disappoints

Harlen Coben is a master of storytelling and this title is another perfect example of that. every twist and turn from chapter to chapter builds into an ending that will leave you speechless.

Scott Brick is a fantastic narrator and does an amazing job with every book he narrates.

I did not see that ending coming

It took all of 30 seconds for me to be hooked on this book. You can try to guess where the book will take you as you listen, but you will be wrong. Do yourself a favor and listen to this one.

Excellent book

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

Yes

What other book might you compare Stay Close to and why?

Which character – as performed by Scott Brick – was your favorite?

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

yes

Any additional comments?

Loved this book... I stayed up till 3 am to finish this book...

My first Harlan Coben and won't be my last

Have heard of the author but thought he would just be OK - really enjoyed the suspense. Will definitely look for more from him!

Great read!!

This was a really good read! The book kept me engaged the entire time. I didn’t want to put it down. Correction, I didn’t want to leave my car!

Secrets in Suburbia

Don't get me wrong, I love listening to Harlan Coben novels especially when Scott Brick narrates. They flow well and always end with a bit of a twist. That is kind of the problem if there is one. The Harlan novels follow a pretty standard formula. People are at a precipice where secrets from the past are about to catch up with them and either threaten or ruin their lives.

In this outing, we have muttiple characters from a police detective, to a down on his luck photographer, to a former stripper who has turned her life around interacting. As always, the flow is fine and the conclusion provides a bit of a twist. If you like Coben, you will like this one.

By the way, if you do enjoy the novels, don't bother with the video streaming versions. The way they slice and dice up the plots like they are better writers than Coben is ridiculous. I watched two episodes of "Stay Close" on Netflix and dumped it. What a waste of a pretty decent novel.

Don’t miss it.

An older work but full of the twists and turns, surprises and witty repartee I love from one of my favorite authors.

Best Coben Book Yet!

I have read many Harlan Coben books, but this one had more twists and turns, action and suspense than any of his other books.