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Just One Look
Harlan Coben, author of the coast-to-coast bestseller No Second Chance, delivers an emotionally powerful thrill-ride of a novel that asks the question: How far would you go to protect your family?
An ordinary snapshot causes a mother’s world to unravel in an instant. After picking up her two young children from school, Grace Lawson looks through a newly developed set of photographs. She finds an odd one in the pack: a mysterious picture from perhaps twenty years ago, showing four strangers she can’t identify. But there is one face she recognizes—that of her husband, from before she knew him.
When her husband sees the photo that night, he leaves their home and drives off without explanation. She doesn’t know where he’s going, or why he’s leaving. Or if he’s ever coming back. Nor does she realize how dangerous the search for him will be. Because there are others interested in both her husband’s past and that photo, including Eric Wu: a fierce, silent killer who will not be stopped from finding his quarry, no matter who or what stands in his way.
Her world turned upside-down, filled with doubts about her herself and marriage, Grace must confront the dark corners of her own tragic past she struggles to learn the truth, find her husband, and save her family.
An ordinary snapshot causes a mother’s world to unravel in an instant. After picking up her two young children from school, Grace Lawson looks through a newly developed set of photographs. She finds an odd one in the pack: a mysterious picture from perhaps twenty years ago, showing four strangers she can’t identify. But there is one face she recognizes—that of her husband, from before she knew him.
When her husband sees the photo that night, he leaves their home and drives off without explanation. She doesn’t know where he’s going, or why he’s leaving. Or if he’s ever coming back. Nor does she realize how dangerous the search for him will be. Because there are others interested in both her husband’s past and that photo, including Eric Wu: a fierce, silent killer who will not be stopped from finding his quarry, no matter who or what stands in his way.
Her world turned upside-down, filled with doubts about her herself and marriage, Grace must confront the dark corners of her own tragic past she struggles to learn the truth, find her husband, and save her family.
370 pages, Hardcover
Published May 1, 2004
3426 people are currently reading
17291 people want to read
About the author
Harlan Coben
194 books44.7k followersHarlan Coben is a #1 New York Times bestselling author and one of the world's leading storytellers. His suspense novels are published in forty-five languages and have been number one bestsellers in more than a dozen countries with seventy-five million books in print worldwide.
His books have earned the Edgar, Shamus, and Anthony Awards, and many have been developed into Netflix Original Drama series, including his adaptations of The Stranger, The Innocent, Gone for Good and The Woods. His most recent adaptation for Netflix, Stay Close, premiered on December 31, 2021 and stars Cush Jumbo, James Nesbitt, and Richard Armitage.
His books have earned the Edgar, Shamus, and Anthony Awards, and many have been developed into Netflix Original Drama series, including his adaptations of The Stranger, The Innocent, Gone for Good and The Woods. His most recent adaptation for Netflix, Stay Close, premiered on December 31, 2021 and stars Cush Jumbo, James Nesbitt, and Richard Armitage.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,946 reviews
May 15, 2020
Here's the thing. This is a very gripping thriller. But it's too slick. It lacks character. I enjoyed reading it thoroughly. Despite that, I'm not in love with the book.
I'm struggling to come up with a review that doesn't have spoilers. But if you put yourself in the shoes of the main female character, you'd come up with meaningful questions. Why did he have to die? Who is this someone sharing my bed?
Identity, the past, and greed play a fantastic part in the book. In many ways, the first chapter was the best one. It's hard to describe my feelings. I was entertained, but not satiated. This 2nd Harlan Coben is far better than this more modern book of his that I read, Run Away. I think I'll be fine if I stick to the author's old books.
I'm struggling to come up with a review that doesn't have spoilers. But if you put yourself in the shoes of the main female character, you'd come up with meaningful questions. Why did he have to die? Who is this someone sharing my bed?
Identity, the past, and greed play a fantastic part in the book. In many ways, the first chapter was the best one. It's hard to describe my feelings. I was entertained, but not satiated. This 2nd Harlan Coben is far better than this more modern book of his that I read, Run Away. I think I'll be fine if I stick to the author's old books.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 30, 2023
Grace Lawson picks up some family snapshots at the local Photomat. While glancing through them, she notices a picture that does not belong. It appears to be a photo taken twenty years ago, and she doesn’t know anyone in the photo. But on closer inspection, she wonders if one man in the photo is her husband, Jack. When Grace gets home, she shows the photo to Jack. Later, Jack leaves the house, and Grace hasn’t seen him since. While trying to find out where her husband went, and what the photo means, she starts to search for answers. Eventually, she and her children are threatened, and she discovers other people in the photo went missing too. Will Grace ever see Jack again?
This was a fast-paced, entertaining read, and the cast of characters were interesting. I really liked Charlaine, a concerned neighbor, who ended up being quite helpful. The villains were evil, especially Eric Wu. Cram was a bad guy, who was at times likable too. The book remained engrossing throughout the conclusion, with a lot of secret revelations at the end.
Another fine story by Harlan Coben.
This was a fast-paced, entertaining read, and the cast of characters were interesting. I really liked Charlaine, a concerned neighbor, who ended up being quite helpful. The villains were evil, especially Eric Wu. Cram was a bad guy, who was at times likable too. The book remained engrossing throughout the conclusion, with a lot of secret revelations at the end.
Another fine story by Harlan Coben.
July 20, 2007
Although it was still a decent read much like his other novels, it could be time for Coben to change a little of his formulaic writing. The plot in this novel is so confusing that the last two to three chapters were devoted to explaining it all. It almost felt like the rest of the novel were just fillers.
January 15, 2018
Four stars from me for being a totally gripping and enjoyable read. One of those books I didn't want to have to put down when real life invaded my reading time.
There were a few snags though. Coben switched frequently around a number of points of view and storylines. It was clever and effective in furthering the plot but I felt it often slowed the build up of tension overall. Just as we got to a critical point for one character we would be carried away to find out what was happening to another one. And the tension would be broken. I also felt his plot was a little weak. So many violent deaths for such a small reason.
On the other hand, if you suspend belief for a while, you will be rewarded with a very exciting and entertaining story, some really interesting characters and a mystery which ravels and unravels itself endlessly until it finally concludes with a major surprise. Well worth reading:)
There were a few snags though. Coben switched frequently around a number of points of view and storylines. It was clever and effective in furthering the plot but I felt it often slowed the build up of tension overall. Just as we got to a critical point for one character we would be carried away to find out what was happening to another one. And the tension would be broken. I also felt his plot was a little weak. So many violent deaths for such a small reason.
On the other hand, if you suspend belief for a while, you will be rewarded with a very exciting and entertaining story, some really interesting characters and a mystery which ravels and unravels itself endlessly until it finally concludes with a major surprise. Well worth reading:)
November 14, 2007
Why is it when people hear you enjoy reading that they automatically assume that you read the same books they do? A neighbor reccomended this one. I don't think the friendship will survive. I may have to move.
October 24, 2025
„Само един поглед“ се оказа чудесен трилър, който надхвърли очакванията ми и страшно силно ме впечатли! Харлан Коубън умело е изградил напрегнати сюжетни линии, както и описал вълнуващи обрати. Грейс започва да търси своя съпруг Джак, който неочаквано си тръгва след появата на загадъчна стара снимка. Издирването въвлича героинята в големи опасности и води до разкриване на мрачни тайни от миналото...
„Винаги се бе отнасяла пренебрежително към баналността, че артистът трябва да изстрадва своето изкуство, че му е нужна трагедия, за да има творчески тласък. Преди това твърдение ѝ бе звучало кухо, но сега тя знаеше, че в него се съдържа немалко истина.
Така в творчеството ѝ проникна нещо призрачно, без тя напълно да загърби съзнателното. В него се появиха повече емоции, повече живот, повече… вихреност.“
„Винаги се бе отнасяла пренебрежително към баналността, че артистът трябва да изстрадва своето изкуство, че му е нужна трагедия, за да има творчески тласък. Преди това твърдение ѝ бе звучало кухо, но сега тя знаеше, че в него се съдържа немалко истина.
Така в творчеството ѝ проникна нещо призрачно, без тя напълно да загърби съзнателното. В него се появиха повече емоции, повече живот, повече… вихреност.“
December 3, 2019
This was a great mystery... the first Coben book I picked up and I've read several others since then. I love a book that keeps me guessing.
May 18, 2018
Quick Summary
It was an ordinary day like any other but from the moment when Grace Lawson picks up her pictures from the photomart, her life was never the same.
But I'm getting ahead of myself. The story actually begins with a surprising admission from a prisoner serving a life sentence for murder. That sets off a chain of events that reaches back 15 years to the present.
The mystery
Since it is a mystery, I can't tell you much more. What I can say is I was off balance for most of the book. There were several storylines in play that I knew had to be connected but couldn't figure out how. And, with one exception, I was never sure who the bad guys were. But that one exception was a doozie. This guy was SERIOUSLY scary...I mean bone-chilling frightening.
The bottom line
I figured out some of this by the end of the book but not a whole lot. It was a little complicated but I didn't have any issues keeping up. Of course, those curveballs at the end were truly out of left field! And the ending still has me pondering. But isn't that typical with a Coben story? I loved this book.
It was an ordinary day like any other but from the moment when Grace Lawson picks up her pictures from the photomart, her life was never the same.
But I'm getting ahead of myself. The story actually begins with a surprising admission from a prisoner serving a life sentence for murder. That sets off a chain of events that reaches back 15 years to the present.
The mystery
Since it is a mystery, I can't tell you much more. What I can say is I was off balance for most of the book. There were several storylines in play that I knew had to be connected but couldn't figure out how. And, with one exception, I was never sure who the bad guys were. But that one exception was a doozie. This guy was SERIOUSLY scary...I mean bone-chilling frightening.
The bottom line
I figured out some of this by the end of the book but not a whole lot. It was a little complicated but I didn't have any issues keeping up. Of course, those curveballs at the end were truly out of left field! And the ending still has me pondering. But isn't that typical with a Coben story? I loved this book.
August 6, 2019
Just One Look by Harlan Coben is a masterpiece of spellbinding, nerve wracking edginess, and heart pounding exhilaration that will leave you weak in the knees!
Warning! You will not want to put this one down!!
Just one look is all it takes sometimes to set your world tilting into the unknown.
"there are those moments when your life simply unravels. A loose thread pulled. A seam gives way. The change is slow at first, nearly imperceptible.
For Grace Lawson, the unraveling began at the Photomat."
Grace's husband, Jack, is the photographer in the family, always snapping away, as if it was his duty as a father. Grace picked up the photos that day, like many times before, always with a happy anticipation of what she will find. They had taken a trip to Chester for apple picking. The first photo is of her eight year old daughter, Emma, and six year old son, Max, their cheeks red from the wind and cold, on a hayride. Grace is always a bit surprised at the primitive and evolutionary maternal warmth that the images of her children create.
"That was the thing about kids. It was the little things that got you."
As she sorts through the remaining pictures, she comes across one that has obviously been mixed up with hers by mistake. Or so she thinks at first. When she looks closer she notices that the photo is a bit blurred and is lacking the vibrant colors of the others. It looks old somehow, Grace thinks, maybe fifteen or twenty years old. There are two men and three women who look like college students perhaps, their outfits, hair, makeup all look dated, too. As Grace stares at the image she suddenly feels a small ping in her chest. She thinks one of them is her husband. How can that be? She doesn't recognize any of the others in the photo.
Grace decides to show it to Jack when he gets home. As soon as Jack looks at it he seems to tense, just for a second. He just stares at it. Then he tries to brush it off by saying nonchalantly that he doesn't know who any of the people are, including the one Grace thinks is him.
He says it's not.
While everyone is ready for bed, Jack suddenly dresses and drives away into the night without so much as a word or glance in Grace's direction. Jack is gone all night and into the next day. He hasn't called and Grace is unable to reach him. This is not Jack. He would not do this on his own, with no word to her or the kids. No way. Deep in her gut she knows that Jack is in danger. Something is very, very wrong.
Without much help from the police,
Grace begins digging. Who are these people in the photo? She is now certain that Jack is one of the young men. But why did Jack deny it? And who are the others?
The deeper Grace digs, the more questions she has. What she will soon find out is that she isn't the only one who's interested in the photo. Some very dangerous people want that photo, too. Among them is Eric Wu, a sadistic assassin, who has a great interest in the old photo and will stop at nothing to keep the secrets it holds buried. He's only concerned about his own survival. Kill or be Killed. But he thinks all is under control until he receives a call that will change everything.
"We have a problem."
Wu waited.
"When you picked him up, he had a copy of that photograph, right? "
"Yes."
"And he said there were no other copies? "
"Yes."
"He was wrong... His wife has a picture of the picture. She's flashing it everywhere."
Wu waits, then....
The voice on the phone says
"We'll use Martin. He has information on her children" "We'll take care of it."
Do I have your attention yet?
This is one scary, riveting novel of secrets, lies, revenge, self-preservation, and pure evil.
The complex characters and intricate details, endless questions in need of answers had me flipping through the pages and tripping over the words as I was in such a rush to learn where and how it all would end.
The truth seemed to be somewhere among the many pieces, people, and events surrounding the photo. All twisted, then separated, like a kaleidoscope of images so fleeting and blended in a way that you can't quite make out an image of truth long enough for your brain to make sense of what your eyes are seeing.
Harlan Coben has an innate ability to ensnare you into a very complex web without losing the readers ability to keep pace and understand of all the elements at play! His readers end up caught in a web of a very big spider! Yet, you can not look away! It takes Just one look.
Warning! You will not want to put this one down!!
Just one look is all it takes sometimes to set your world tilting into the unknown.
"there are those moments when your life simply unravels. A loose thread pulled. A seam gives way. The change is slow at first, nearly imperceptible.
For Grace Lawson, the unraveling began at the Photomat."
Grace's husband, Jack, is the photographer in the family, always snapping away, as if it was his duty as a father. Grace picked up the photos that day, like many times before, always with a happy anticipation of what she will find. They had taken a trip to Chester for apple picking. The first photo is of her eight year old daughter, Emma, and six year old son, Max, their cheeks red from the wind and cold, on a hayride. Grace is always a bit surprised at the primitive and evolutionary maternal warmth that the images of her children create.
"That was the thing about kids. It was the little things that got you."
As she sorts through the remaining pictures, she comes across one that has obviously been mixed up with hers by mistake. Or so she thinks at first. When she looks closer she notices that the photo is a bit blurred and is lacking the vibrant colors of the others. It looks old somehow, Grace thinks, maybe fifteen or twenty years old. There are two men and three women who look like college students perhaps, their outfits, hair, makeup all look dated, too. As Grace stares at the image she suddenly feels a small ping in her chest. She thinks one of them is her husband. How can that be? She doesn't recognize any of the others in the photo.
Grace decides to show it to Jack when he gets home. As soon as Jack looks at it he seems to tense, just for a second. He just stares at it. Then he tries to brush it off by saying nonchalantly that he doesn't know who any of the people are, including the one Grace thinks is him.
He says it's not.
While everyone is ready for bed, Jack suddenly dresses and drives away into the night without so much as a word or glance in Grace's direction. Jack is gone all night and into the next day. He hasn't called and Grace is unable to reach him. This is not Jack. He would not do this on his own, with no word to her or the kids. No way. Deep in her gut she knows that Jack is in danger. Something is very, very wrong.
Without much help from the police,
Grace begins digging. Who are these people in the photo? She is now certain that Jack is one of the young men. But why did Jack deny it? And who are the others?
The deeper Grace digs, the more questions she has. What she will soon find out is that she isn't the only one who's interested in the photo. Some very dangerous people want that photo, too. Among them is Eric Wu, a sadistic assassin, who has a great interest in the old photo and will stop at nothing to keep the secrets it holds buried. He's only concerned about his own survival. Kill or be Killed. But he thinks all is under control until he receives a call that will change everything.
"We have a problem."
Wu waited.
"When you picked him up, he had a copy of that photograph, right? "
"Yes."
"And he said there were no other copies? "
"Yes."
"He was wrong... His wife has a picture of the picture. She's flashing it everywhere."
Wu waits, then....
The voice on the phone says
"We'll use Martin. He has information on her children" "We'll take care of it."
Do I have your attention yet?
This is one scary, riveting novel of secrets, lies, revenge, self-preservation, and pure evil.
The complex characters and intricate details, endless questions in need of answers had me flipping through the pages and tripping over the words as I was in such a rush to learn where and how it all would end.
The truth seemed to be somewhere among the many pieces, people, and events surrounding the photo. All twisted, then separated, like a kaleidoscope of images so fleeting and blended in a way that you can't quite make out an image of truth long enough for your brain to make sense of what your eyes are seeing.
Harlan Coben has an innate ability to ensnare you into a very complex web without losing the readers ability to keep pace and understand of all the elements at play! His readers end up caught in a web of a very big spider! Yet, you can not look away! It takes Just one look.
April 24, 2015
This book was slow for me at first but
Man oh man towards the middle I couldn't put it down! All of the connections with the characters and then the twist at the very end made me feel like I was right there with the family. Great book! Coben never fails!
Man oh man towards the middle I couldn't put it down! All of the connections with the characters and then the twist at the very end made me feel like I was right there with the family. Great book! Coben never fails!
November 19, 2020
Primer libro que leo del autor y no será el último :-)).
Libro de lectura rápida, con una trama adictiva que te atrapa desde el principio, varios giros, alguna sorpresa y un final a la altura del resto.
Varios elementos se incorporan en este libro para garantizar su éxito cuando están bien manejados: una desaparicion, una protagonista "coraje" que no se conforma con quedarse de brazos cruzados, varios frentes abiertos que mantienen expectantes al lector haciendo suposiciones hasta su resolución, vidas cruzadas, falsas apariencias, algún secreto de familia y un halo de duda/sospecha/tensión con alguno de los personajes que aparecen.
Los personajes, están lo suficientemente perfilados, pero no hay ninguno que vayas a recordar con el tiempo.
Un thriller "para todos los públicos", con un buen desarrollo de la trama, que cumple con creces la función de entretener y pasar un buen rato con su lectura.
Valoración: 8,75/10
Lectura: noviembre 2020
Libro de lectura rápida, con una trama adictiva que te atrapa desde el principio, varios giros, alguna sorpresa y un final a la altura del resto.
Varios elementos se incorporan en este libro para garantizar su éxito cuando están bien manejados: una desaparicion, una protagonista "coraje" que no se conforma con quedarse de brazos cruzados, varios frentes abiertos que mantienen expectantes al lector haciendo suposiciones hasta su resolución, vidas cruzadas, falsas apariencias, algún secreto de familia y un halo de duda/sospecha/tensión con alguno de los personajes que aparecen.
Los personajes, están lo suficientemente perfilados, pero no hay ninguno que vayas a recordar con el tiempo.
Un thriller "para todos los públicos", con un buen desarrollo de la trama, que cumple con creces la función de entretener y pasar un buen rato con su lectura.
Valoración: 8,75/10
Lectura: noviembre 2020
November 10, 2025
A complex thriller that needs a little concentration!
Grace Lawson has the stereotypical North American dream life ... a good husband, a happy marriage, two well adjusted children, a lovely home and a successful career as an admired artist that actually generates enough income for her to consider herself prosperous. Her world, metaphorically traveling at a comfortable pace down Main Street, suddenly accelerated into a curve and took a high speed turn on two wheels into a threatening narrow dark alley on the day she found a twenty year old photograph mysteriously tucked into a package of newly developed shots she had just picked up at the camera shop. The old photo portrays a group of young friends, one of whom appears to be her husband as a much younger man. When she asks him about it, he hotly denies it, clearly covering up something. He leaves the house and promptly disappears without a trace.
In JUST ONE LOOK Harlan Coben takes his readers on a roller-coaster ride through a Byzantine complex plot as Grace searches for her missing husband. His writing is breathlessly urgent. The tension is palpable and the compulsion to turn the pages is quite unavoidable. But somehow, after all was said and done, the novel failed to completely satisfy.
Psychedelic drugs and stampedes at a crowded 1960s rock concert, a ruthless near invincible Ninja style hit man, a Mafia Don with a soft spot in his heart for Grace's predicament, police who don't believe that her husband has disappeared at all, plagiarism and theft of song royalties - it's difficult to imagine what else beside the kitchen sink that Coben could have tossed into this plot! Another reviewer suggested that Coben told an intriguing story that was as "complex as a 1000-piece jigsaw puzzle, but never confusing". Frankly, I disagree. The plot was convoluted and I felt it took considerable concentration to hold the threads together and to keep the entire story intact.
I enjoyed the novel but, personally, I like my thrillers to be just a little less effort and a little more brainless enjoyment. Here's the suggestion - if you're looking for PURE brain candy, this isn't your book! If you're looking for mental stimulation and you like a great suspense thriller as well, this is probably a cup of tea that will warm your heart.
Recommended.
Paul Weiss
Grace Lawson has the stereotypical North American dream life ... a good husband, a happy marriage, two well adjusted children, a lovely home and a successful career as an admired artist that actually generates enough income for her to consider herself prosperous. Her world, metaphorically traveling at a comfortable pace down Main Street, suddenly accelerated into a curve and took a high speed turn on two wheels into a threatening narrow dark alley on the day she found a twenty year old photograph mysteriously tucked into a package of newly developed shots she had just picked up at the camera shop. The old photo portrays a group of young friends, one of whom appears to be her husband as a much younger man. When she asks him about it, he hotly denies it, clearly covering up something. He leaves the house and promptly disappears without a trace.
In JUST ONE LOOK Harlan Coben takes his readers on a roller-coaster ride through a Byzantine complex plot as Grace searches for her missing husband. His writing is breathlessly urgent. The tension is palpable and the compulsion to turn the pages is quite unavoidable. But somehow, after all was said and done, the novel failed to completely satisfy.
Psychedelic drugs and stampedes at a crowded 1960s rock concert, a ruthless near invincible Ninja style hit man, a Mafia Don with a soft spot in his heart for Grace's predicament, police who don't believe that her husband has disappeared at all, plagiarism and theft of song royalties - it's difficult to imagine what else beside the kitchen sink that Coben could have tossed into this plot! Another reviewer suggested that Coben told an intriguing story that was as "complex as a 1000-piece jigsaw puzzle, but never confusing". Frankly, I disagree. The plot was convoluted and I felt it took considerable concentration to hold the threads together and to keep the entire story intact.
I enjoyed the novel but, personally, I like my thrillers to be just a little less effort and a little more brainless enjoyment. Here's the suggestion - if you're looking for PURE brain candy, this isn't your book! If you're looking for mental stimulation and you like a great suspense thriller as well, this is probably a cup of tea that will warm your heart.
Recommended.
Paul Weiss
December 8, 2020
A truly twisty mystery
This is the tenth book in my #atozchallenge! I'm challenging myself to read a book from my shelves that starts with each letter of the alphabet. Let's clear those shelves and delve into that backlist!
When Grace Lawson picks up a set of photos from the store, she finds a strange photo in the envelope. It shows a group of four people she doesn't know. But one, she does: her husband, long before she knew him. When she shows him that evening, he leaves their home mysteriously. Soon a crazy series of events kicks off, and while Grace doesn't realize it, there are people who would do anything--even kill--to keep that photo from seeing the light of day.
This was my first Harlan Coben read--I have a bunch of Coben books I've collected sitting on my shelves, so it seemed like a great choice for my challenge. This was the supreme page turner. I had no idea where this book was going most of the time! It's filled with twists and turns, and it kept me guessing! There are a few real "coincidences," but they didn't diminish my enjoyment of the story at all. This was one of those plain 'ol good mysteries. I hadn't realized it was set in the mid-1990s (the development of film should have been a dead giveaway, ha), but it stood the test of time. There are creepy bad guys who fight the good guys. Sometimes you just need a tale of good versus evil with lots of twists to take your mind off of things.
Overall, an enjoyable and puzzling read. 3.5 stars. I'll definitely need to read more of the Coben books on my shelves.
Blog ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Instagram ~ PaperBackSwap ~ Smashbomb
You can read more about the #atozchallenge here.
This is the tenth book in my #atozchallenge! I'm challenging myself to read a book from my shelves that starts with each letter of the alphabet. Let's clear those shelves and delve into that backlist!
When Grace Lawson picks up a set of photos from the store, she finds a strange photo in the envelope. It shows a group of four people she doesn't know. But one, she does: her husband, long before she knew him. When she shows him that evening, he leaves their home mysteriously. Soon a crazy series of events kicks off, and while Grace doesn't realize it, there are people who would do anything--even kill--to keep that photo from seeing the light of day.
This was my first Harlan Coben read--I have a bunch of Coben books I've collected sitting on my shelves, so it seemed like a great choice for my challenge. This was the supreme page turner. I had no idea where this book was going most of the time! It's filled with twists and turns, and it kept me guessing! There are a few real "coincidences," but they didn't diminish my enjoyment of the story at all. This was one of those plain 'ol good mysteries. I hadn't realized it was set in the mid-1990s (the development of film should have been a dead giveaway, ha), but it stood the test of time. There are creepy bad guys who fight the good guys. Sometimes you just need a tale of good versus evil with lots of twists to take your mind off of things.
Overall, an enjoyable and puzzling read. 3.5 stars. I'll definitely need to read more of the Coben books on my shelves.
Blog ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Instagram ~ PaperBackSwap ~ Smashbomb
You can read more about the #atozchallenge here.
April 20, 2025
Nice to read a standalone book by this author.
Coben is fast becoming an auto buy for me, the way he writes and builds up the suspense is awesome.
Four stars!
Coben is fast becoming an auto buy for me, the way he writes and builds up the suspense is awesome.
Four stars!
March 28, 2013
Just read this and it's such a mess in my head right now that I can't even properly review this.
The end is incomprehensible, seems like the final twist/explanation was thought of in a rush, badly explained, I totally didn't catch all of it. I appreciate the lack of happy ending (sorry for the spoiler) where it was totally expected, in fact I didn't even predict it should end like this?
so, the end was a big fat disappointment.
SPOILERS
I was looking forward to Cora being the fifth person in the photo and planting it in the envelope with other photos, I was thinking the explanation would be something ingenious, not this load of crap, band, song, 21yr olds, security guard, wtf???
and kids kids kids in every Coben book and descriptions of their mother hens, its really annoying from book to book, it makes children go on my nerves even more!
this had potential despite discrepancies and many unrealistic details but the end was such a major fail that I have to think seriously about wanting to read Coben ever again.
The end is incomprehensible, seems like the final twist/explanation was thought of in a rush, badly explained, I totally didn't catch all of it. I appreciate the lack of happy ending (sorry for the spoiler) where it was totally expected, in fact I didn't even predict it should end like this?
so, the end was a big fat disappointment.
SPOILERS
I was looking forward to Cora being the fifth person in the photo and planting it in the envelope with other photos, I was thinking the explanation would be something ingenious, not this load of crap, band, song, 21yr olds, security guard, wtf???
and kids kids kids in every Coben book and descriptions of their mother hens, its really annoying from book to book, it makes children go on my nerves even more!
this had potential despite discrepancies and many unrealistic details but the end was such a major fail that I have to think seriously about wanting to read Coben ever again.
May 15, 2025
গ্রেস লা'সন, একজন চিত্রশিল্পী ও গৃহিণী, স্বামী জ্যাক লা'সন আর দুই সন্তান এমা আর ম্যাক্সকে নিয়ে তার সুখের সংসার। ছুটির দিন পরিবারসহ ঘোরার সময় কিছুটা পুরনো আমলের ক্যামেরায় তোলা ছবিগুলো যখন সে ডেভেলপ করে সংগ্রহ করে, সেসব ছবির সাথে খুঁজে পাই বহু বছর আগে তোলা একটা ছবি। সেই ছবিতে একদল তরুণ-তরুণী ছবি তোলার জন্য অপ্রস্তুত অবস্থায় দাঁড়িয়ে রয়েছে। একজন তরুণীর মুখের উপর লাল কালি দিয়ে ক্রস চিহ্ন দেওয়া। অবাক করার মতো ব্যাপার হলো, ছবির একজনকে দেখতে গ্রেসের স্বামী জ্যাকের মতো।
সেদিন রাতে জ্যাক সেই ছবিটা দেখে উদ্বিগ্ন হয়ে পড়ে, যদিও সে ছবিতে তার থাকার ব্যাপারটা অস্বীকার করে পুরোপুরি। পরবর্তীতে সে চিন্তিত হয়ে বাড়ি থেকে বেরিয়ে যায়, কিন্তু আর ফিরে আসে না। গ্রেস বিষয়টা নিয়ে চিন্তিত হয়ে উঠে, এই ছবির সূত্র ধরে সে এগোতে গেলে উন্মোচিত হয় এক জটিল রহস্য। সেইসাথে তার অতীত জীবনের দুঃস্বপ্নও আবার ফিরে আসে। ১৫ বছর আগে বোস্টনে রকস্টার জিমি এক্সের কনসার্টে ঘটে যাওয়া বিশৃঙ্খলার মধ্যে ওয়েড লারু এলোপাতাড়ি গুলি চালিয়ে ভয়াবহ এক ম্যাসাকারের জন্ম দেয়। ওই ঘটনায় নিহত হয় ১৮ জন মানুষ, আর মারাত্মক আহত হয় গ্রেস। খুব শীঘ্রই প্যারোলে মুক্তি পেতে চলেছে ওয়েড।
কার্ল ভেসপা, একজন ভয়ংকর মাফিয়া ডন, পনেরো বছর আগে বোস্টন ম্যাসাকারে তার একমাত্র সন্তান রায়ানকে হারিয়েছিল। তারপর থেকেই তার জীবনটা শূণ্য হয়ে উঠে। ওয়েড লারুর মুক্তির খবর শুনে উত্তেজিত হয়ে পড়ে সে, প্রতিশোধের অঙ্গারে জ্বলে উঠে। সেইসাথে সেই ম্যাসাকার থেকে বেঁচে ফিরে আসা গ্রেস, যার প্রতি কার্লের সৃষ্টি হয়েছিল অন্যরকম মমত্ববোধ, কার্লের কাছে তার স্বামীকে খুঁজে পেতে সাহায্য চাই। স্কট ডানক্যান, একজন সহকারী ইউ.এস. অ্যাটর্নি। সদ্য ধরা পড়া এক কন্ট্রাক্ট কিলার মন্টে স্ক্যানলন জোর করে তার কাছে স্বীকারোক্তি দেয়। স্কট জানতে পারে বহু বছর আগে তার বোন জেরি কোনো দূর্ঘটনায় মারা যায় নি, বরং কন্ট্রাক্ট দিয়ে তাকে খুন করানো হয়েছিল।
এরিক-উ, উত্তর কোরিয়ায় বড় হওয়া ভয়ানক এক খুনী। মানব শরীরের সংবেদনশীল অস্থি ও স্নায়ুর অবস্থানের ব্যবহারিক বিদ্যা আর সে অনুযায়ী যেকোনো মানুষকে খালি হাতে পরাস্ত করা তার নখদর্পনে। কোনো কারণে সে লেগে পড়ে গ্রেসের পিছনে। কিন্তু কেন? সবকিছু যেন ধীরে ধীরে এক অদৃশ্য জালের মতো জড়িয়ে ধরছে গ্রেসকে। কেন হঠাৎ জ্যাক উধাও হয়ে গেল? ছবিটির পেছনের রহস্য কী? কে এই এরিক উ, আর কে পাঠিয়েছে তাকে? ১৫ বছর আগের বোস্টন ম্যাসাকারের সঙ্গে আজকের ঘটনাগুলোর কী সম্পর্ক? স্কট ডানক্যানের বোন জেরিকে কে খুন করিয়েছিল, তার সাথে এই ঘটনার কী সম্পৃক্ততা? স্কট, কার্ল, গ্রেস, পুলিশ অফিসার পার্লমাটার—সবাই যেন ছুটছে কোনো অদৃশ্য সত্যের পেছনে। গ্রেস কি পারবে তার পরিবারকে রক্ষা করতে এবং অতীতের সব অন্ধকারকে চিরে সত্যটা খুঁজে বের করতে? এই সব প্রশ্নের উত্তর পেতে হলে পড়তে হবে জনপ্রিয় থ্রিলার লেখক হারলান কোবেনের লেখা চমকপ্রদ উপন্যাস ‘জাস্ট ওয়ান লুক’।
বিশ্ববিখ্যাত থ্রিলার লেখক হারলান কোবেনের সাথে আমার পরিচয় তার সবচেয়ে জনপ্রিয় বই 'টেল নো ওয়ান' দিয়ে। প্রায় চার বছর আগে পড়েছিলাম সেই বইটা। থ্রিলার হিসেবে বইটা ��ড়তে ভালোই লেগেছিল। যদিও পরবর্তীতে লেখকের বই নিয়ে যেভাবে ‘টুইস্ট মাস্টার’ বলে প্রশংসা দেখেছি এবং অতি হাইপ তৈরি হয়েছে, ব্যক্তিগতভাবে 'টেল নো ওয়ান' পড়ার অভিজ্ঞতা তেমন অসাধারণ কিছু মনে হয়নি। এমনকি লেখকের লেখা ‘দ্য ইনোসেন্ট’ অবলম্বনে বিখ্যাত স্প্যানিশ ডিরেক্টর ওরিয়েল পাওলো নির্মিত একই নামের নেটফ্লিক্স সিরিজটিও দেখে একই রকম অনুভূতি হয়েছে আমার। সিরিজটা উপভোগ্য ছিল, লেখক সাধারণ গল্পকে অনেক জটিল করে তোলেন বহু চরিত্র, তাদের গোপন অতীতের রহস্য, এবং চমৎকার সাসপেন্স বিল্ডআপের মাধ্যমে। তবে শেষ পর্যন্ত নানা ব্যাখ্যা ও (কিছু কিছু ক্ষেত্রে কাকতালীয়) মোড় ঘুরিয়ে জট ছাড়ালেও, পুরো কাহিনিতে আমি তেমন কিছু পাই নাই যা তাকে সত্যিকার অর্থেই 'টুইস্ট মাস্টার' বলার মতো কিছু বানিয়েছে। আর 'টেল নো ওয়ান' এর গল্পের সাথে সেটার অনেক সাদৃশ্যতা আর দুটো গল্পেই অনেকগুলো দূর্বলতাও চোখে পড়েছিল।
তাই হারলান কোবেনের বই আর তেমন পড়ার ইচ্ছা ছিল না। বিশেষ করে তার বেশিরভাগ বইয়ের গল্প যখন একইরকমের, আর তার লেখার উপর ভিত্তি করে অনেকগুলো ভালো সিরিজ আছে যেহেতু। চাইলে সিরিজগুলো দেখা যায়। তবে অনেকদিন ধরে বাতিঘরে গ্রন্থরাজ্য থেকে প্রকাশিত 'জাস্ট ওয়ান লুক'এর অনুবাদ বইটা পরে থাকতে দেখি। একদিন কিনেই ফেললাম আর পড়া শুরু করে দিলাম। 'জাস্ট ওয়ান লুক' এর গল্পটা খারাপ না। টিপিক্যাল হারলান কোবেন স্টাইলে সাজানো— একদম সাধারণ এক প্রোটাগনিস্ট, যার সাদামাটা জীবন হঠাৎ করেই ওলটপালট হয়ে যায়; কাছের কেউ জড়িয়ে পড়ে বিপদে, অতীতের রহস্যময় গোপন সত্য ফিরে আসে; আর সেই সঙ্গে গল্পে ঢুকে পড়ে আরও অনেক চরিত্র, যাদের প্রত্যেকের আছে আলাদা উদ্দেশ্য—সব মিলিয়ে একটা ঘটনাই যেন কেঁচো খুঁড়তে কেউটে বেরিয়ে আসার মতো বিস্তৃত ও জটিল হয়ে ওঠে। লেখক শুরু থেকে ধীরে ধীরে রহস্য আর সাসপেন্সের দক্ষ পরিবেশনের মাধ্যমে গল্পটাকে আগ্রহোদ্দীপকভাবে গড়ে তুলেছেন।
যদিও গল্পটা এগিয়েছে একটু ধীরগতিতে। তারপরও এটা পাঠকদের আগ্রহ ধরে রাখতে সক্ষম। কারণ লেখক অনেকগুলো আলাদা চরিত্রের মাধ্যমে, নানান দিকে ছড়িয়ে পড়া গল্পের আকর্ষণীয় রহস্যটাকে সুন্দর করে বিস্তৃত করেছেন। সেইসাথে প্রত্যেকটা চরিত্রের সুন্দর বিল্ডআপ, সবার নিজস্ব দৃষ্টিভঙ্গির সুন্দর উপস্থাপনার জন্য চরিত্রগুলো স্টিরিওটাইপের হলেও চমৎকার হয়ে ওঠে। কিছু কিছু চরিত্রের দৃষ্টিভঙ্গি থেকে লেখক যেভাবে তাদের জীবনযাত্রা আর সমাজের ব্যপারে দর্শন ফুটিয়ে তুলেছেন, সেটা বেশ ভালো ছিল। একারণে থ্রিলার হলেও 'জাস্ট ওয়ান লুক' এর গল্পটাকে কখনো অনেক বাস্তবসম্মত মনে হতে পারে। রহস্যের পাশাপাশি চরিত্রগুলোর তদন্তপ্রক্রিয়াও লেখক দক্ষতার সঙ্গে উপস্থাপন করেছেন। যদিও তদন্তকার্য অনেকটাই সাধারণ, এবং লেখক গল্পের বড় একটা অংশ জুড়ে পাঠকের কাছ থেকে প্রায় সবকিছুই আড়াল করে রেখেছেন, তবুও তিনি হালকা-পাতলা কিছু রিভিলেশন ও ঘনঘটা তৈরি করে রহস্যকে আরও জটিল করে তুলেন। এসবের মাধ্যমে লেখক চেষ্টা করেছেন কাহিনিকে গতিশীল রাখার।
বইয়ের শেষ দেড়শো পৃষ্ঠা অনেক থ্রিলিং ছিল। ঘটনার ঘনঘটা, সাসপেন্স আর থ্রিলিং অ্যাকশন দৃশ্যের প্রি-ক্লাইম্যাক্সটা অনেক উপভোগ্য ছিল। আর শেষ ৫০ পৃষ্ঠা জুড়ে লেখক রহস্যের জট ছাড়িয়েছেন; এসেছে একটার পর একটা রিভিলেশন, একটা সত্যের ভেতর থেকে আরেকটা ভয়ংকর সত্যি, এরমাঝে কিছু টুইস্ট আসলেই ভালো হয়েছে। আর কোবেনের থ্রিলার লেখার হাত বেশ ভালো, বিস্তারিত বর্ণনার সাথে সবকিছু ফুটিয়ে তুলেন তিনি। তাই সবমিলিয়ে বইটা আমার বেশ ভালোই লেগেছে। তবে বেশ কিছু বিষয় আমার তেমন ভালো লাগে নি, বরং খারাপ-ই লেগেছে বলা যায়। সে ব্যাপারে আসছি।
আগেই বলেছি, এর আগে আরও দুটো হারলান কোবেনের গল্পের সাথে পরিচয় হয়েছে আমার, আর অবাক করার মতো ব্যপার হলো— 'জাস্ট ওয়ান লুক' এর গল্পটাকে অনেক জায়গায় আমার জাস্ট সেগুলোরই কিছুটা পরিবর্তিত রূপ মনে হয়েছে। 'টেল নো ওয়ান', 'দ্য ইনোসেন্ট' আর এটার গল্পের ধরণ, হুক, চরিত্রগুলোর আর্ক একদম একইরকমের। সেটা কিছুক্ষেত্রে বিরক্তি সৃষ্টি করেছে। আর আগের গল্পগুলো টুইস্ট বাদেও অনেক বেশি গতিশীল ছিল, কারণটা সেগুলোতে ছিল আরও অনেক থ্রিলিং ফ্যাক্টর। কিন্তু এই বইটাতে সেগুলো একটু কম। দুয়েকটা জায়গা বাদে, সাড়ে তিনশো পৃষ্ঠার বইখানার প্রথম প্রায় ২০০ পৃষ্ঠায় কাহিনী অনেক ধীরগতিতে এগিয়েছে। চরিত্রগুলোর প্রাথমিক গঠন ভালো হলেও ডেভেলপমেন্ট সেরকম ভালো হয় নাই, সেকারণে একটা পর্যায়ে চরিত্রগুলোকে অনেক ফ্ল্যাট আর বিরক্তিকর মনে হয়েছে৷
আর লেখক বইয়ের শেষ পঞ্চাশ পৃষ্ঠায় তার উরাধুরা সব টুইস্ট বর্ষণ করার জন্য প্রথম তিনশো পৃষ্ঠায় পাঠকদের কাছ থেকে প্রায় সব প্রয়োজনীয় তথ্যই লুকিয়ে রেখেছিলেন। তাই সবকিছু শেষদিকে রিভিল করতে, ব্যাখ্যা করতে গিয়ে তিনি গল্পের শেষাংশটা অতিরিক্ত রাশড বানিয়ে ফেলেছেন৷ অনেকগুলো গুরুত্বপূর্ণ টুইস্ট একারণে খুব বেশি প্রভাব ফেলতে পারে নাই৷ যেমন মূল অপরাধীর মোটিভের ব্যাপারটা, মনে হবে যেন সেটা উড়ে এসে জুড়ে বসেছে। এতো রাশড একটা অংশে এতো তাড়াতাড়ি প্রোটাগনিস্টের সব বুঝে ফেলাটা যে কিছু ক্ষেত্রে অসঙ্গতিপূর্ণ লেগেছে, তা বলাই বাহুল্য। আর কোবেনের গতানুগতিক কাহিনির সাথে অনেকগুলো গতানুগতিক টুইস্টও রয়েছে এই বইয়ে, যেটা অনেক বিরক্তি সৃষ্টি করেছে।
সবমিলিয়ে 'জাস্ট ওয়ান লুক' বইটা আমার বেশ ভালো লেগেছে। কারণ বইটা থেকে আমার এক্সপেক্টেশন কম-ই ছিল। আর শেষের দিকের কয়েকটা টুইস্ট আসলেই ভালো লেগেছে আমার। সবমিলিয়ে থ্রিলার হিসেবে বইটা উপভোগ্য। বইটা অনুবাদ করেছে কাজী আফসানা। সত্যি বলতে, বর্তমান সময়ের থ্রিলার জনরার বইগুলোর অনুবাদ বিবেচনায় তার কাজ দূর্বল বলতেই হয়। এটা পুরোপুরি বাজে অনুবাদ, একদম পড়া যায় না, তা নয়। তবে অনুবাদকের শব্দচয়ন অনেক দূর্বল, একেবারে আক্ষরিক অর্থ বসিয়ে দিয়েছেন তিনি। আর বইয়ের গতিশীল অ্যাকশন দৃশ্যের বর্ণনাগুলোর অনুবাদ একেবারেই যুতসই হয় নি। তবে সংলাপ আর চরিত্রগুলোর ভাবনার অংশের অনুবাদ মোটামুটি ভালো ছিল। আর বইটা সেরকম বর্ণনা নির্ভর হওয়ায় এই অনুবাদটা কোনোরকমে পড়া গিয়েছে। তবে মূল বইয়ে লেখক ভাষার প্রবাহের মাধ্যমে যেই থ্রিলিং ন্যারেটিভটা তৈরি করেছেন, অনুবাদক সেই টোনটা একেবারে ধরতে পারে নি৷ এ কারণে অনুবাদ বইটা বেশি স্লো আর বোরিং হয়ে গিয়েছে।
📚 বইয়ের নাম : জাস্ট ওয়ান লুক
📚 লেখক : হারলান কোবেন
📚 অনুবাদ : কাজী আফসানা
📚 বইয়ের ধরণ : ক্রাইম থ্রিলার, সাসপেন্স থ্রিলার, মিস্ট্রি থ্রিলার
📚 ব্যক্তিগত রেটিং : ৪/৫
সেদিন রাতে জ্যাক সেই ছবিটা দেখে উদ্বিগ্ন হয়ে পড়ে, যদিও সে ছবিতে তার থাকার ব্যাপারটা অস্বীকার করে পুরোপুরি। পরবর্তীতে সে চিন্তিত হয়ে বাড়ি থেকে বেরিয়ে যায়, কিন্তু আর ফিরে আসে না। গ্রেস বিষয়টা নিয়ে চিন্তিত হয়ে উঠে, এই ছবির সূত্র ধরে সে এগোতে গেলে উন্মোচিত হয় এক জটিল রহস্য। সেইসাথে তার অতীত জীবনের দুঃস্বপ্নও আবার ফিরে আসে। ১৫ বছর আগে বোস্টনে রকস্টার জিমি এক্সের কনসার্টে ঘটে যাওয়া বিশৃঙ্খলার মধ্যে ওয়েড লারু এলোপাতাড়ি গুলি চালিয়ে ভয়াবহ এক ম্যাসাকারের জন্ম দেয়। ওই ঘটনায় নিহত হয় ১৮ জন মানুষ, আর মারাত্মক আহত হয় গ্রেস। খুব শীঘ্রই প্যারোলে মুক্তি পেতে চলেছে ওয়েড।
কার্ল ভেসপা, একজন ভয়ংকর মাফিয়া ডন, পনেরো বছর আগে বোস্টন ম্যাসাকারে তার একমাত্র সন্তান রায়ানকে হারিয়েছিল। তারপর থেকেই তার জীবনটা শূণ্য হয়ে উঠে। ওয়েড লারুর মুক্তির খবর শুনে উত্তেজিত হয়ে পড়ে সে, প্রতিশোধের অঙ্গারে জ্বলে উঠে। সেইসাথে সেই ম্যাসাকার থেকে বেঁচে ফিরে আসা গ্রেস, যার প্রতি কার্লের সৃষ্টি হয়েছিল অন্যরকম মমত্ববোধ, কার্লের কাছে তার স্বামীকে খুঁজে পেতে সাহায্য চাই। স্কট ডানক্যান, একজন সহকারী ইউ.এস. অ্যাটর্নি। সদ্য ধরা পড়া এক কন্ট্রাক্ট কিলার মন্টে স্ক্যানলন জোর করে তার কাছে স্বীকারোক্তি দেয়। স্কট জানতে পারে বহু বছর আগে তার বোন জেরি কোনো দূর্ঘটনায় মারা যায় নি, বরং কন্ট্রাক্ট দিয়ে তাকে খুন করানো হয়েছিল।
এরিক-উ, উত্তর কোরিয়ায় বড় হওয়া ভয়ানক এক খুনী। মানব শরীরের সংবেদনশীল অস্থি ও স্নায়ুর অবস্থানের ব্যবহারিক বিদ্যা আর সে অনুযায়ী যেকোনো মানুষকে খালি হাতে পরাস্ত করা তার নখদর্পনে। কোনো কারণে সে লেগে পড়ে গ্রেসের পিছনে। কিন্তু কেন? সবকিছু যেন ধীরে ধীরে এক অদৃশ্য জালের মতো জড়িয়ে ধরছে গ্রেসকে। কেন হঠাৎ জ্যাক উধাও হয়ে গেল? ছবিটির পেছনের রহস্য কী? কে এই এরিক উ, আর কে পাঠিয়েছে তাকে? ১৫ বছর আগের বোস্টন ম্যাসাকারের সঙ্গে আজকের ঘটনাগুলোর কী সম্পর্ক? স্কট ডানক্যানের বোন জেরিকে কে খুন করিয়েছিল, তার সাথে এই ঘটনার কী সম্পৃক্ততা? স্কট, কার্ল, গ্রেস, পুলিশ অফিসার পার্লমাটার—সবাই যেন ছুটছে কোনো অদৃশ্য সত্যের পেছনে। গ্রেস কি পারবে তার পরিবারকে রক্ষা করতে এবং অতীতের সব অন্ধকারকে চিরে সত্যটা খুঁজে বের করতে? এই সব প্রশ্নের উত্তর পেতে হলে পড়তে হবে জনপ্রিয় থ্রিলার লেখক হারলান কোবেনের লেখা চমকপ্রদ উপন্যাস ‘জাস্ট ওয়ান লুক’।
বিশ্ববিখ্যাত থ্রিলার লেখক হারলান কোবেনের সাথে আমার পরিচয় তার সবচেয়ে জনপ্রিয় বই 'টেল নো ওয়ান' দিয়ে। প্রায় চার বছর আগে পড়েছিলাম সেই বইটা। থ্রিলার হিসেবে বইটা ��ড়তে ভালোই লেগেছিল। যদিও পরবর্তীতে লেখকের বই নিয়ে যেভাবে ‘টুইস্ট মাস্টার’ বলে প্রশংসা দেখেছি এবং অতি হাইপ তৈরি হয়েছে, ব্যক্তিগতভাবে 'টেল নো ওয়ান' পড়ার অভিজ্ঞতা তেমন অসাধারণ কিছু মনে হয়নি। এমনকি লেখকের লেখা ‘দ্য ইনোসেন্ট’ অবলম্বনে বিখ্যাত স্প্যানিশ ডিরেক্টর ওরিয়েল পাওলো নির্মিত একই নামের নেটফ্লিক্স সিরিজটিও দেখে একই রকম অনুভূতি হয়েছে আমার। সিরিজটা উপভোগ্য ছিল, লেখক সাধারণ গল্পকে অনেক জটিল করে তোলেন বহু চরিত্র, তাদের গোপন অতীতের রহস্য, এবং চমৎকার সাসপেন্স বিল্ডআপের মাধ্যমে। তবে শেষ পর্যন্ত নানা ব্যাখ্যা ও (কিছু কিছু ক্ষেত্রে কাকতালীয়) মোড় ঘুরিয়ে জট ছাড়ালেও, পুরো কাহিনিতে আমি তেমন কিছু পাই নাই যা তাকে সত্যিকার অর্থেই 'টুইস্ট মাস্টার' বলার মতো কিছু বানিয়েছে। আর 'টেল নো ওয়ান' এর গল্পের সাথে সেটার অনেক সাদৃশ্যতা আর দুটো গল্পেই অনেকগুলো দূর্বলতাও চোখে পড়েছিল।
তাই হারলান কোবেনের বই আর তেমন পড়ার ইচ্ছা ছিল না। বিশেষ করে তার বেশিরভাগ বইয়ের গল্প যখন একইরকমের, আর তার লেখার উপর ভিত্তি করে অনেকগুলো ভালো সিরিজ আছে যেহেতু। চাইলে সিরিজগুলো দেখা যায়। তবে অনেকদিন ধরে বাতিঘরে গ্রন্থরাজ্য থেকে প্রকাশিত 'জাস্ট ওয়ান লুক'এর অনুবাদ বইটা পরে থাকতে দেখি। একদিন কিনেই ফেললাম আর পড়া শুরু করে দিলাম। 'জাস্ট ওয়ান লুক' এর গল্পটা খারাপ না। টিপিক্যাল হারলান কোবেন স্টাইলে সাজানো— একদম সাধারণ এক প্রোটাগনিস্ট, যার সাদামাটা জীবন হঠাৎ করেই ওলটপালট হয়ে যায়; কাছের কেউ জড়িয়ে পড়ে বিপদে, অতীতের রহস্যময় গোপন সত্য ফিরে আসে; আর সেই সঙ্গে গল্পে ঢুকে পড়ে আরও অনেক চরিত্র, যাদের প্রত্যেকের আছে আলাদা উদ্দেশ্য—সব মিলিয়ে একটা ঘটনাই যেন কেঁচো খুঁড়তে কেউটে বেরিয়ে আসার মতো বিস্তৃত ও জটিল হয়ে ওঠে। লেখক শুরু থেকে ধীরে ধীরে রহস্য আর সাসপেন্সের দক্ষ পরিবেশনের মাধ্যমে গল্পটাকে আগ্রহোদ্দীপকভাবে গড়ে তুলেছেন।
যদিও গল্পটা এগিয়েছে একটু ধীরগতিতে। তারপরও এটা পাঠকদের আগ্রহ ধরে রাখতে সক্ষম। কারণ লেখক অনেকগুলো আলাদা চরিত্রের মাধ্যমে, নানান দিকে ছড়িয়ে পড়া গল্পের আকর্ষণীয় রহস্যটাকে সুন্দর করে বিস্তৃত করেছেন। সেইসাথে প্রত্যেকটা চরিত্রের সুন্দর বিল্ডআপ, সবার নিজস্ব দৃষ্টিভঙ্গির সুন্দর উপস্থাপনার জন্য চরিত্রগুলো স্টিরিওটাইপের হলেও চমৎকার হয়ে ওঠে। কিছু কিছু চরিত্রের দৃষ্টিভঙ্গি থেকে লেখক যেভাবে তাদের জীবনযাত্রা আর সমাজের ব্যপারে দর্শন ফুটিয়ে তুলেছেন, সেটা বেশ ভালো ছিল। একারণে থ্রিলার হলেও 'জাস্ট ওয়ান লুক' এর গল্পটাকে কখনো অনেক বাস্তবসম্মত মনে হতে পারে। রহস্যের পাশাপাশি চরিত্রগুলোর তদন্তপ্রক্রিয়াও লেখক দক্ষতার সঙ্গে উপস্থাপন করেছেন। যদিও তদন্তকার্য অনেকটাই সাধারণ, এবং লেখক গল্পের বড় একটা অংশ জুড়ে পাঠকের কাছ থেকে প্রায় সবকিছুই আড়াল করে রেখেছেন, তবুও তিনি হালকা-পাতলা কিছু রিভিলেশন ও ঘনঘটা তৈরি করে রহস্যকে আরও জটিল করে তুলেন। এসবের মাধ্যমে লেখক চেষ্টা করেছেন কাহিনিকে গতিশীল রাখার।
বইয়ের শেষ দেড়শো পৃষ্ঠা অনেক থ্রিলিং ছিল। ঘটনার ঘনঘটা, সাসপেন্স আর থ্রিলিং অ্যাকশন দৃশ্যের প্রি-ক্লাইম্যাক্সটা অনেক উপভোগ্য ছিল। আর শেষ ৫০ পৃষ্ঠা জুড়ে লেখক রহস্যের জট ছাড়িয়েছেন; এসেছে একটার পর একটা রিভিলেশন, একটা সত্যের ভেতর থেকে আরেকটা ভয়ংকর সত্যি, এরমাঝে কিছু টুইস্ট আসলেই ভালো হয়েছে। আর কোবেনের থ্রিলার লেখার হাত বেশ ভালো, বিস্তারিত বর্ণনার সাথে সবকিছু ফুটিয়ে তুলেন তিনি। তাই সবমিলিয়ে বইটা আমার বেশ ভালোই লেগেছে। তবে বেশ কিছু বিষয় আমার তেমন ভালো লাগে নি, বরং খারাপ-ই লেগেছে বলা যায়। সে ব্যাপারে আসছি।
আগেই বলেছি, এর আগে আরও দুটো হারলান কোবেনের গল্পের সাথে পরিচয় হয়েছে আমার, আর অবাক করার মতো ব্যপার হলো— 'জাস্ট ওয়ান লুক' এর গল্পটাকে অনেক জায়গায় আমার জাস্ট সেগুলোরই কিছুটা পরিবর্তিত রূপ মনে হয়েছে। 'টেল নো ওয়ান', 'দ্য ইনোসেন্ট' আর এটার গল্পের ধরণ, হুক, চরিত্রগুলোর আর্ক একদম একইরকমের। সেটা কিছুক্ষেত্রে বিরক্তি সৃষ্টি করেছে। আর আগের গল্পগুলো টুইস্ট বাদেও অনেক বেশি গতিশীল ছিল, কারণটা সেগুলোতে ছিল আরও অনেক থ্রিলিং ফ্যাক্টর। কিন্তু এই বইটাতে সেগুলো একটু কম। দুয়েকটা জায়গা বাদে, সাড়ে তিনশো পৃষ্ঠার বইখানার প্রথম প্রায় ২০০ পৃষ্ঠায় কাহিনী অনেক ধীরগতিতে এগিয়েছে। চরিত্রগুলোর প্রাথমিক গঠন ভালো হলেও ডেভেলপমেন্ট সেরকম ভালো হয় নাই, সেকারণে একটা পর্যায়ে চরিত্রগুলোকে অনেক ফ্ল্যাট আর বিরক্তিকর মনে হয়েছে৷
আর লেখক বইয়ের শেষ পঞ্চাশ পৃষ্ঠায় তার উরাধুরা সব টুইস্ট বর্ষণ করার জন্য প্রথম তিনশো পৃষ্ঠায় পাঠকদের কাছ থেকে প্রায় সব প্রয়োজনীয় তথ্যই লুকিয়ে রেখেছিলেন। তাই সবকিছু শেষদিকে রিভিল করতে, ব্যাখ্যা করতে গিয়ে তিনি গল্পের শেষাংশটা অতিরিক্ত রাশড বানিয়ে ফেলেছেন৷ অনেকগুলো গুরুত্বপূর্ণ টুইস্ট একারণে খুব বেশি প্রভাব ফেলতে পারে নাই৷ যেমন মূল অপরাধীর মোটিভের ব্যাপারটা, মনে হবে যেন সেটা উড়ে এসে জুড়ে বসেছে। এতো রাশড একটা অংশে এতো তাড়াতাড়ি প্রোটাগনিস্টের সব বুঝে ফেলাটা যে কিছু ক্ষেত্রে অসঙ্গতিপূর্ণ লেগেছে, তা বলাই বাহুল্য। আর কোবেনের গতানুগতিক কাহিনির সাথে অনেকগুলো গতানুগতিক টুইস্টও রয়েছে এই বইয়ে, যেটা অনেক বিরক্তি সৃষ্টি করেছে।
সবমিলিয়ে 'জাস্ট ওয়ান লুক' বইটা আমার বেশ ভালো লেগেছে। কারণ বইটা থেকে আমার এক্সপেক্টেশন কম-ই ছিল। আর শেষের দিকের কয়েকটা টুইস্ট আসলেই ভালো লেগেছে আমার। সবমিলিয়ে থ্রিলার হিসেবে বইটা উপভোগ্য। বইটা অনুবাদ করেছে কাজী আফসানা। সত্যি বলতে, বর্তমান সময়ের থ্রিলার জনরার বইগুলোর অনুবাদ বিবেচনায় তার কাজ দূর্বল বলতেই হয়। এটা পুরোপুরি বাজে অনুবাদ, একদম পড়া যায় না, তা নয়। তবে অনুবাদকের শব্দচয়ন অনেক দূর্বল, একেবারে আক্ষরিক অর্থ বসিয়ে দিয়েছেন তিনি। আর বইয়ের গতিশীল অ্যাকশন দৃশ্যের বর্ণনাগুলোর অনুবাদ একেবারেই যুতসই হয় নি। তবে সংলাপ আর চরিত্রগুলোর ভাবনার অংশের অনুবাদ মোটামুটি ভালো ছিল। আর বইটা সেরকম বর্ণনা নির্ভর হওয়ায় এই অনুবাদটা কোনোরকমে পড়া গিয়েছে। তবে মূল বইয়ে লেখক ভাষার প্রবাহের মাধ্যমে যেই থ্রিলিং ন্যারেটিভটা তৈরি করেছেন, অনুবাদক সেই টোনটা একেবারে ধরতে পারে নি৷ এ কারণে অনুবাদ বইটা বেশি স্লো আর বোরিং হয়ে গিয়েছে।
📚 বইয়ের নাম : জাস্ট ওয়ান লুক
📚 লেখক : হারলান কোবেন
📚 অনুবাদ : কাজী আফসানা
📚 বইয়ের ধরণ : ক্রাইম থ্রিলার, সাসপেন্স থ্রিলার, মিস্ট্রি থ্রিলার
📚 ব্যক্তিগত রেটিং : ৪/৫
November 12, 2020
Este es un thriller con mucha intriga que el autor sabe mantenerla perfectamente hasta el final, yo creo que he sospechado de todo el mundo, antes de acercarme a la verdad.
Me han gustado mucho los personajes de esta novela y como están perfilados, y con algunos de ellos, me ha sorprendido gratamente su personalidad.
El final me ha sorprendido mucho, no me esperaba esa vuelta de tuerca.
Me han gustado mucho los personajes de esta novela y como están perfilados, y con algunos de ellos, me ha sorprendido gratamente su personalidad.
El final me ha sorprendido mucho, no me esperaba esa vuelta de tuerca.
November 11, 2020
Me ha gustado mucho el libro, cómo va tejiendo la historia, va presentando los personajes. Y el final te deja aúuuuuuu
April 20, 2025
Харлан Коубън се оказа майстор в жанра на криминалната интрига без наличие на задължителния (и понякога леко досаден) детектив, който удобно да свърже всички нишки и да се разстеле лениво из някоя безконечна поредица. Животът е хаос от събития, които имат неочаквани допирни точки, и в него рядко има място за Поаро и Шерлок Холмс.
От хаоса например изскача непонятна стара фотография, която праща един съпруг в нощта без нито дума, насочва жесток наемен убиец към жертвите му, за миг разнообразява ежедневието на отчаяна домакиня, причинява главоболия на полицай, разравя стари болки у мафиот и кара една озадачена съпруга да рови из стари тайни.
Хареса ми намигвамето към капаните на ежедневието и уважението към психологическите профили на всички - а те хич не са малко - герои. И то без бързане, но и без бавене. Криминална полифоничност, така да се каже - донякъде сходна с източноазиатския поглед към дълбините на човешката природа и силата на съдбата и на случайните обстоятелства, но и на съзнателния избор. Краят беше чудесно изпипан, без типичния за жанра опит за главоломна изненада, който често прелива в излишен напън. Тук нишката тече леко и плавно. Коубън явно е моята чаша чай поне в това заглавие.
4,5⭐️
От хаоса например изскача непонятна стара фотография, която праща един съпруг в нощта без нито дума, насочва жесток наемен убиец към жертвите му, за миг разнообразява ежедневието на отчаяна домакиня, причинява главоболия на полицай, разравя стари болки у мафиот и кара една озадачена съпруга да рови из стари тайни.
Хареса ми намигвамето към капаните на ежедневието и уважението към психологическите профили на всички - а те хич не са малко - герои. И то без бързане, но и без бавене. Криминална полифоничност, така да се каже - донякъде сходна с източноазиатския поглед към дълбините на човешката природа и силата на съдбата и на случайните обстоятелства, но и на съзнателния избор. Краят беше чудесно изпипан, без типичния за жанра опит за главоломна изненада, който често прелива в излишен напън. Тук нишката тече леко и плавно. Коубън явно е моята чаша чай поне в това заглавие.
4,5⭐️
April 18, 2011
I really enjoyed this book, felt the suspense and action made it a page turner. However, I HATED the reason for all the secrecy, seriously lame, I wanted a big conspiracy and got, they were drunk, he stole my song and we didn't want to lose the trust fund. Blah, unsatisfying.
"The stages of grief: Supposedly the first is denial. That was wrong. The first is just the opposite: Total acceptance. You hear the bad news and you understand exactly what is being said to you. You understand that your loved one-your spouse, your parent, your child-will never come home, that they are gone for good, that their life is over and that you will never, ever, see them again. You understand that in a flash. Your legs buckle. Your heart gives out.
That was the first step-not just acceptance, not just understanding, but total truth. Human beings are not built to withstand that kind of hurt. That then is when the denial begins. Denial floods in quickly, salving the wounds or at least covering them. But there is still that moment, mercifully quick, the real Stage One, when you hear the news and stare into the abyss, and horrible as it is you understand everything."
"The stages of grief: Supposedly the first is denial. That was wrong. The first is just the opposite: Total acceptance. You hear the bad news and you understand exactly what is being said to you. You understand that your loved one-your spouse, your parent, your child-will never come home, that they are gone for good, that their life is over and that you will never, ever, see them again. You understand that in a flash. Your legs buckle. Your heart gives out.
That was the first step-not just acceptance, not just understanding, but total truth. Human beings are not built to withstand that kind of hurt. That then is when the denial begins. Denial floods in quickly, salving the wounds or at least covering them. But there is still that moment, mercifully quick, the real Stage One, when you hear the news and stare into the abyss, and horrible as it is you understand everything."
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 3, 2023
3.5 stars
I don’t know if I’m the only one who finds Harlan Coben funny but I’m always very entertained every time I read his books despite his plots being a bit formulaic. It’s why he became an auto-buy author for me. I’ve grown to love his style, his writing, his humor, and yes even his cliches. Lol.
“Scanlon leaned forward. “What I’m about to tell you, he said, ‘will change your entire life.’
Part of Scott wanted to wiggle his fingers in Scanlon’s face and say, “Ooooo.” Lol!
This is my second book by the author where the hitman is a North Korean version of Bruce Lee-slash-Jacky Chan on steroids. Lol. There are plenty of characters actually but somehow it's easy to keep track of them because the author makes their lives matter despite their little role in the story. Even the bad guys matter. Consequently it's also the reason the story is longer than I would have preferred but Mr. Coben does know how to entertain readers with his writing, so I guess I've got nothing much to complain about.
“Being a mother, Grace thought, was a lot like being an artist- you are always insecure, you always feel like a phony, you know that everybody else is better at it than you. The mothers who doted obsessively on their offspring, the ones who performed their numbing tasks with that Stepford-ready smile and supernatural patience-you know, those mothers who always, always have the right supplies for the ideal after school craft...Grace suspected that these women were profoundly disturbed.” Lol!
Here the twists in the plot are complexly tangled and just a tad bit overwhelming. I did get the answers I was looking for although some of them I feel just a little bit underwhelming and it’s saddening that this certain character had to die. But I should’ve known better. Coben tends to kill a major character in the end. *le sigh*
Still, the book managed to get across an important message to the reader, the idea that we can never really know everything about a person no matter how close our relationship may be.
I don’t know if I’m the only one who finds Harlan Coben funny but I’m always very entertained every time I read his books despite his plots being a bit formulaic. It’s why he became an auto-buy author for me. I’ve grown to love his style, his writing, his humor, and yes even his cliches. Lol.
“Scanlon leaned forward. “What I’m about to tell you, he said, ‘will change your entire life.’
Part of Scott wanted to wiggle his fingers in Scanlon’s face and say, “Ooooo.” Lol!
This is my second book by the author where the hitman is a North Korean version of Bruce Lee-slash-Jacky Chan on steroids. Lol. There are plenty of characters actually but somehow it's easy to keep track of them because the author makes their lives matter despite their little role in the story. Even the bad guys matter. Consequently it's also the reason the story is longer than I would have preferred but Mr. Coben does know how to entertain readers with his writing, so I guess I've got nothing much to complain about.
“Being a mother, Grace thought, was a lot like being an artist- you are always insecure, you always feel like a phony, you know that everybody else is better at it than you. The mothers who doted obsessively on their offspring, the ones who performed their numbing tasks with that Stepford-ready smile and supernatural patience-you know, those mothers who always, always have the right supplies for the ideal after school craft...Grace suspected that these women were profoundly disturbed.” Lol!
Here the twists in the plot are complexly tangled and just a tad bit overwhelming. I did get the answers I was looking for although some of them I feel just a little bit underwhelming and it’s saddening that this certain character had to die. But I should’ve known better. Coben tends to kill a major character in the end. *le sigh*
Still, the book managed to get across an important message to the reader, the idea that we can never really know everything about a person no matter how close our relationship may be.
September 8, 2018
l look at the big pile of Coban books on my shelf. do i have really something to say about them? do i remmber any? well. yes one of his first novels which called in the woods or similar. it was brilliant. all his other good read but so so. means averge.
December 8, 2015
I decided on this book so I could use it for my A-Z challenge since I love Harlan Coben and I have not yet been disappointed by anything that he wrote. I really enjoyed this book just as much as other ones. I love the writing style and all the mystery. He is just a pleasure to read.
Synopsis
An ordinary snapshot causes a mother’s world to unravel in an instant. After picking up her two young children from school, Grace Lawson looks through a newly developed set of photographs. She finds an odd one in the pack: a mysterious picture from perhaps twenty years ago, showing four strangers she can’t identify. But there is one face she recognizes—that of her husband, from before she knew him. When her husband sees the photo that night, he leaves their home and drives off without explanation. She doesn’t know where he’s going, or why he’s leaving. Or if he’s ever coming back. Nor does she realize how dangerous the search for him will be. Because there are others interested in both her husband’s past and that photo, including Eric Wu: a fierce, silent killer who will not be stopped from finding his quarry, no matter who or what stands in his way. Her world turned upside down, filled with doubts about her herself and marriage, Grace must confront the dark corners of her own tragic past she struggles to learn the truth, find her husband, and save her family.
I loved the plotline of this story. I found it to be very interesting and the more I read, the more intriguing it got. This one did seem a bit more complex than other Coben books with all the characters to remember and the separate plotlines as well, but it still flowed pretty well. I only really had one complaint and that is that it seemed just a little unfinished when I reached the end because it ended on questions, questions I had no answers to. Other than that, I loved the story. Lots of great twists in this one too and I loved that.
I found a lot of the characters to be very intriguing. They were each developed very well. I also liked how some of them were rather mysterious and remained that way throughout the entire story. They were both relatable and realistic. Grace was probably my favorite character, and she one of the smarter ones. She used her head before making choices. I was on the fence about Carl Vespa who plays a large role in this story and I am still not too sure what to think about him.
Overall this was a great story by a very gifted author. I would recommend this one to anyone who likes mystery or anyone who enjoys Coben's writing style. This one is a real treat!
Synopsis
An ordinary snapshot causes a mother’s world to unravel in an instant. After picking up her two young children from school, Grace Lawson looks through a newly developed set of photographs. She finds an odd one in the pack: a mysterious picture from perhaps twenty years ago, showing four strangers she can’t identify. But there is one face she recognizes—that of her husband, from before she knew him. When her husband sees the photo that night, he leaves their home and drives off without explanation. She doesn’t know where he’s going, or why he’s leaving. Or if he’s ever coming back. Nor does she realize how dangerous the search for him will be. Because there are others interested in both her husband’s past and that photo, including Eric Wu: a fierce, silent killer who will not be stopped from finding his quarry, no matter who or what stands in his way. Her world turned upside down, filled with doubts about her herself and marriage, Grace must confront the dark corners of her own tragic past she struggles to learn the truth, find her husband, and save her family.
I loved the plotline of this story. I found it to be very interesting and the more I read, the more intriguing it got. This one did seem a bit more complex than other Coben books with all the characters to remember and the separate plotlines as well, but it still flowed pretty well. I only really had one complaint and that is that it seemed just a little unfinished when I reached the end because it ended on questions, questions I had no answers to. Other than that, I loved the story. Lots of great twists in this one too and I loved that.
I found a lot of the characters to be very intriguing. They were each developed very well. I also liked how some of them were rather mysterious and remained that way throughout the entire story. They were both relatable and realistic. Grace was probably my favorite character, and she one of the smarter ones. She used her head before making choices. I was on the fence about Carl Vespa who plays a large role in this story and I am still not too sure what to think about him.
Overall this was a great story by a very gifted author. I would recommend this one to anyone who likes mystery or anyone who enjoys Coben's writing style. This one is a real treat!
June 29, 2016
Despite the rather convoluted plot I enjoyed this read immensely. It’s Harlan Coben’s talent for portraying compelling and likable characters that drew me in. I sympathized with Claire and Jack Lawson. There’s no doubt in my mind that the man, the Jack, that Claire knew all this time, as her husband, was a truly loving husband and a cherished father to their two kids, Emma and Max. No doubt at all.
I enjoyed the juxtaposition between suburban life and the popping up of questionable characters like Vespa and Cram. I liked Cram, with the crooked teeth, despite his profession, he was so good with the kids.
As I mentioned, the plot was a bit far-fetched, and there were many characters that played a role in covering up one bad act, with another, then another. At one point, it served me well to pay attention. If this story proves one thing, is that it goes to show that secrets from the past will always, ALWAYS, catch up with you.
I enjoyed the juxtaposition between suburban life and the popping up of questionable characters like Vespa and Cram. I liked Cram, with the crooked teeth, despite his profession, he was so good with the kids.
As I mentioned, the plot was a bit far-fetched, and there were many characters that played a role in covering up one bad act, with another, then another. At one point, it served me well to pay attention. If this story proves one thing, is that it goes to show that secrets from the past will always, ALWAYS, catch up with you.
December 1, 2015
An ordinary snapshot causes a mother’s world to unravel in an instant. After picking up her two young children from school, Grace Lawson looks through a newly developed set of photographs. She finds an odd one in the pack: a mysterious picture from perhaps twenty years ago, showing four strangers she can’t identify. But there is one face she recognizes—that of her husband, from before she knew him. When her husband sees the photo that night, he leaves their home and drives off without explanation. She doesn’t know where he’s going, or why he’s leaving. Or if he’s ever coming back. Nor does she realize how dangerous the search for him will be. Because there are others interested in both her husband’s past and that photo, including Eric Wu: a fierce, silent killer who will not be stopped from finding his quarry, no matter who or what stands in his way.
Harlan Coben is like Taco Bell, you know his books will never disappoint and always so good.
Harlan Coben is like Taco Bell, you know his books will never disappoint and always so good.
October 24, 2015
I see mixed reviews on this book, but I am of the opinion that it was exceptional. I have come to love this author. His characters are always so unique. The mysteries are so complex, it makes me wonder how he comes up with all this stuff??
Ok, so I quit giving book reports a long time ago, and you can read the synopsis yourself right here on Goodreads so I will forego all of that. What I will say is that typically of Coben, you never see the end coming. Usually all the questions are answered and tied up in a neat little bow. There are some of his book that are the exception, and I'm not saying if this is one of them or not. You'll just have to read to find out!
It was a quick and easy read. I found it very entertaining. He did not disappoint me based on the quality of work I have read by him in the past. Love this man!
Ok, so I quit giving book reports a long time ago, and you can read the synopsis yourself right here on Goodreads so I will forego all of that. What I will say is that typically of Coben, you never see the end coming. Usually all the questions are answered and tied up in a neat little bow. There are some of his book that are the exception, and I'm not saying if this is one of them or not. You'll just have to read to find out!
It was a quick and easy read. I found it very entertaining. He did not disappoint me based on the quality of work I have read by him in the past. Love this man!
June 15, 2016
Wow! Where has Mr. Coben been all my life? This is my second book to read of his and they have both been heart-pounding and can't-stop-reading!! I will be steadily working my way through his offerings.
This thriller starts out with a housewife picking up some photos from a local shop. Little does she know her life will soon explode into chaos. The ramifications of a 'wrong' photo placed in her pack are far-reaching and criss-cross all over the place. You are kept on the edge of your seat as the mystery unravels and then kinks back on itself. Just a great book all around.
Recommended to any who enjoy fast-paced suspense with plenty of twists.
**POSSIBLY SPOILERISH--Some reviewers have complained about info dump towards the end, but personally I saw the breadcrumbs he sprinkled throughout the book. Discerning readers will and won't be offended! I thought the ending was great!!
This thriller starts out with a housewife picking up some photos from a local shop. Little does she know her life will soon explode into chaos. The ramifications of a 'wrong' photo placed in her pack are far-reaching and criss-cross all over the place. You are kept on the edge of your seat as the mystery unravels and then kinks back on itself. Just a great book all around.
Recommended to any who enjoy fast-paced suspense with plenty of twists.
**POSSIBLY SPOILERISH--Some reviewers have complained about info dump towards the end, but personally I saw the breadcrumbs he sprinkled throughout the book. Discerning readers will and won't be offended! I thought the ending was great!!
January 23, 2022
Me ha encantado Charlaine, esa mujer que ante un peligro se pone a pensar qué haría la tonta heroína de cualquier película de intriga para hacer exactamente lo contrario.
Intriga y malos a tutiplén, una mujer que no se rinde para saber la verdad y un final que no vi venir pero muy bien resuelto. Por ponerle una pega diré que había demasiada gente al retortero y me perdía un poco.
Intriga y malos a tutiplén, una mujer que no se rinde para saber la verdad y un final que no vi venir pero muy bien resuelto. Por ponerle una pega diré que había demasiada gente al retortero y me perdía un poco.
November 2, 2023
"Gyvenime pasitaiko ašarų, gilių žaizdų, lyg peiliu perrėžus kūną. Būna ir staigių lūžių: gyvenimas teka įprasta vaga ir netikėtai subyra. Išyra lyg siūlė trūktelėjus laisvą siūlo galą. Tik iš pradžių permainos mažos, beveik nepastebimos.
Paprasta fotografija per vieną akimirką apvers vienos moters gyvenimą.
Penki žmonės nuotraukoje. Viena - nužudyta, apie kitus du - nieko negirdėti metų metus. Ketvirtas pabėgo ir dingo. Ir lieka paskutinioji - neaišku, kas tokia.
Kas nutiko prieš kelis dešimtmečius? Teisybės paieškos atskleis siaubingus vienos nakties įvykius, bus daug melo,mirčių, paslapčių, keršto ir teisingumo. O pabaiga bus labai šokiruojanti ir netikėta.
Niekada negalime visko žinoti apie tuos, kuriuos mylime. Ir galbūt, geriau pagalvojus, visko nežinome net apie save".
Paprasta fotografija per vieną akimirką apvers vienos moters gyvenimą.
Penki žmonės nuotraukoje. Viena - nužudyta, apie kitus du - nieko negirdėti metų metus. Ketvirtas pabėgo ir dingo. Ir lieka paskutinioji - neaišku, kas tokia.
Kas nutiko prieš kelis dešimtmečius? Teisybės paieškos atskleis siaubingus vienos nakties įvykius, bus daug melo,mirčių, paslapčių, keršto ir teisingumo. O pabaiga bus labai šokiruojanti ir netikėta.
Niekada negalime visko žinoti apie tuos, kuriuos mylime. Ir galbūt, geriau pagalvojus, visko nežinome net apie save".
November 4, 2014
I first discovered Harlan Coben about 18 months ago. I read one of books, "Caught,", I believe, and loved it. I read a second book, loved it. Mr. Coben jumped into my Top 5 favorite authors. Another novel by Coben cemented his spot. I read a fourth, a fifth, and then it dawned on me. The reason I like his books is because...well, they're all the same.
I don't mean his writing style, his characters. I mean the plot. In each and every novel of his I've read, the storylines are almost identical. New title, new character names, same plot.
I've read 8 books by Mr. Coben--some with Myron Bolitar, about 5 of the 8 not. And each one is not just similar but almost identical. You always get the following. Always:
1) A person grieving over the loss of a loved one (ex husband, ex wife, old girlfriend, old boyfriend)
2) The death of said loved one occurred 15 years ago, sometimes 20 years
3) The loved one who died "mysteriously" or was killed 15 or 20 years ago now may not be dead after all.
4) His stories always -always--take place in the suburbs of New Jersey.
5) There is always a big bad scary mafia guy in the mix
6) There is always a big bad bruiser who is the sidekick of the big bad mafia guy
7) It always--ALWAYS--goes back to something that happened in college. Once or twice, high school but pretty much always college.
While many others have written negatively about his `style,' I actually love his writing style. It's very casual, informal, almost conversational. He doesn't try to impress you with big multi-syllabic words. His conversations/dialogues are very realistic. He doesn't spend 3 pages describing a living room (Dean Koontz anyone?) His books are enjoyable and yes, are page turners. However, they are pretty much always the same---exact---story.
For example, I've read numerous novels by Vince Flynn, Brad Thor, David Baldacci, Michael Connelly, Archer Mayor, Nelson DeMille, Stuart Margolin, John Saul. I've read fewer novels but more than one by authors I wouldn't consider myself a fan of--James Patterson, John Sandford, Dean Koontz, JA Jance. Now, you give me a title by any of these authors and I'll be able to tell you what the book was about. No, not every little minute detail but I'll be able to remember what the story was. I've read 8 books by Mr. Coben (6 Years, Caught, One False Move, Just one Look, The Woods, Deal Breaker, Gone for Good and Miracle Cure.) With the exception of Miracle Cure--his 1st novel and Just One Look, since I just finished it yesterday--I cant tell you a thing about all the others. Why? Because they were all the same, all identical.
Honestly, I find it disappointing. I think Mr. Coben is a terrific storyteller with believable characters I like and `feel for' and identify with. He goes to great lengths--and succeeds--in making his characters come to life (unlike, say Stuart Woods.) However, since he keeps telling and retelling the same story over and over, I think it's a waste of a great talent.
As for `Just One Look,' a novel I just finished yesterday, I really was a bit apprehensive starting it. Based on his track record, I figured I knew what I was getting. This book, however, started out well and grabbed me. It seemed like Mr. Coben just may move back into My Top 5. However, in the middle it became a bit too much. And the ending? The last 30 pages left me so confused, so mixed up and left me with my head spinning, I closed the book and said, "HUH?"
**********(SPOILER ALERT)This character had a different name, that character had changed their identity, another one had assumed the identity of another character who was murdered, one woman was married to someone 15 years...only to find out he wasn't who he said he was.
***end spoiler****
I love a good book with a clever ending, a book with unexpected twists and turns. And Coben provides plenty. However, they have to be believable. They have to make sense. To have a big twist toward the end simply for the sake of having a twist is ridiculous. It's Pam Ewing seeing Bobby in the shower all over again: "Oh, Bobby, I had a dream you were killed."
I want a book to entertain me, excite me, knock me for a loop, pull me in and yes, pass some time. Unfortunately, sadly and regrettably, Mr Coben's novels fall into the last category only: They pass the time.
I'm not a big fan of James Patterson, for example. I read his books because they're easy reads and fast moving. I now view Coben in that same light--and nothing more. Will I read more Coben novels? Yes, I probably will...if I have nothing else to read and cause I prefer to read that watch TV. It's sad that just a year ago he was one of my favorite authors and now, after reading 8 of his books, he's been reduced to nothing more than a time killer.
For someone who has never read a Coben novel, pick up one of his books. Any one of his books. Read it. You'll love it. You;ll enjoy it. And then never read another one. Once you've read one Coben book, you've read them all.
I'm rating this 2 stars. I only give a 1 star rating to books that, to me, are so bad they are unreadable and that I don't finish. Books I finish--that are bad--get 2 stars
I don't mean his writing style, his characters. I mean the plot. In each and every novel of his I've read, the storylines are almost identical. New title, new character names, same plot.
I've read 8 books by Mr. Coben--some with Myron Bolitar, about 5 of the 8 not. And each one is not just similar but almost identical. You always get the following. Always:
1) A person grieving over the loss of a loved one (ex husband, ex wife, old girlfriend, old boyfriend)
2) The death of said loved one occurred 15 years ago, sometimes 20 years
3) The loved one who died "mysteriously" or was killed 15 or 20 years ago now may not be dead after all.
4) His stories always -always--take place in the suburbs of New Jersey.
5) There is always a big bad scary mafia guy in the mix
6) There is always a big bad bruiser who is the sidekick of the big bad mafia guy
7) It always--ALWAYS--goes back to something that happened in college. Once or twice, high school but pretty much always college.
While many others have written negatively about his `style,' I actually love his writing style. It's very casual, informal, almost conversational. He doesn't try to impress you with big multi-syllabic words. His conversations/dialogues are very realistic. He doesn't spend 3 pages describing a living room (Dean Koontz anyone?) His books are enjoyable and yes, are page turners. However, they are pretty much always the same---exact---story.
For example, I've read numerous novels by Vince Flynn, Brad Thor, David Baldacci, Michael Connelly, Archer Mayor, Nelson DeMille, Stuart Margolin, John Saul. I've read fewer novels but more than one by authors I wouldn't consider myself a fan of--James Patterson, John Sandford, Dean Koontz, JA Jance. Now, you give me a title by any of these authors and I'll be able to tell you what the book was about. No, not every little minute detail but I'll be able to remember what the story was. I've read 8 books by Mr. Coben (6 Years, Caught, One False Move, Just one Look, The Woods, Deal Breaker, Gone for Good and Miracle Cure.) With the exception of Miracle Cure--his 1st novel and Just One Look, since I just finished it yesterday--I cant tell you a thing about all the others. Why? Because they were all the same, all identical.
Honestly, I find it disappointing. I think Mr. Coben is a terrific storyteller with believable characters I like and `feel for' and identify with. He goes to great lengths--and succeeds--in making his characters come to life (unlike, say Stuart Woods.) However, since he keeps telling and retelling the same story over and over, I think it's a waste of a great talent.
As for `Just One Look,' a novel I just finished yesterday, I really was a bit apprehensive starting it. Based on his track record, I figured I knew what I was getting. This book, however, started out well and grabbed me. It seemed like Mr. Coben just may move back into My Top 5. However, in the middle it became a bit too much. And the ending? The last 30 pages left me so confused, so mixed up and left me with my head spinning, I closed the book and said, "HUH?"
**********(SPOILER ALERT)This character had a different name, that character had changed their identity, another one had assumed the identity of another character who was murdered, one woman was married to someone 15 years...only to find out he wasn't who he said he was.
***end spoiler****
I love a good book with a clever ending, a book with unexpected twists and turns. And Coben provides plenty. However, they have to be believable. They have to make sense. To have a big twist toward the end simply for the sake of having a twist is ridiculous. It's Pam Ewing seeing Bobby in the shower all over again: "Oh, Bobby, I had a dream you were killed."
I want a book to entertain me, excite me, knock me for a loop, pull me in and yes, pass some time. Unfortunately, sadly and regrettably, Mr Coben's novels fall into the last category only: They pass the time.
I'm not a big fan of James Patterson, for example. I read his books because they're easy reads and fast moving. I now view Coben in that same light--and nothing more. Will I read more Coben novels? Yes, I probably will...if I have nothing else to read and cause I prefer to read that watch TV. It's sad that just a year ago he was one of my favorite authors and now, after reading 8 of his books, he's been reduced to nothing more than a time killer.
For someone who has never read a Coben novel, pick up one of his books. Any one of his books. Read it. You'll love it. You;ll enjoy it. And then never read another one. Once you've read one Coben book, you've read them all.
I'm rating this 2 stars. I only give a 1 star rating to books that, to me, are so bad they are unreadable and that I don't finish. Books I finish--that are bad--get 2 stars
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