A new Mickey Bolitar novel following on from Shelter and Seconds Away.
It’s been eight months since Mickey Bolitar witnessed the tragic death of his father.
Eight months of lies, dark secrets and unanswered questions.
As if that wasn’t bad enough, Mickey’s sophomore year of high school brings on a whole new set of troubles. Spoon is in hospital, Rachel won’t tell him where he stands, his basketball team-mates hate him . . . and then there’s Ema’s surprise announcement: she has an online boyfriend and he’s vanished.
Whilst searching for Ema’s missing boyfriend(who may not even exist!), Mickey gets roped into helping his nemesis, Troy Taylor, with a big problem.
All the while, Mickey and his friends are pulled deeper into the mysteries surrounding the Abeona Shelter – until the shocking climax, where Mickey finally comes face-to-face with the truth about his father.
Harlan 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.
I was thrilled but sad to find this one on audio. Thrilled as it meant I could get to it quickly, but sad to know it was the finale. Harlan Coben has humour in his words and it comes out whether he’s Myron, Mickey, Win, Spoon, Ema, Bid Cindy or Esmerelda. Oh – can’t forget Crimstein!
The reason I mention all characters and that I digress is that they all make an appearance across the different series. We read them over the years and get to know each and every one.
In this instalment, the kids again join forces to search for one of the annoying jocks that make Mickey’s life hell on the basketball team, and his school life in general. Spoon is in hospital, his parents rightly upset with Ema and Mickey for placing their quirky son’s life in danger. Nothing but trouble has occurred since Mickey arrived in town.
Mickey is the handsome boy, sporty. Ema the goth girl, a big girl who all assume isn’t involved romantically with anyone, and Spoon. Well Spoon is another prime example of a clever witty character of this author, just like Crimstein. A fun and whipsmart addition to the crazy crew. The kids are all very mature, they are smart with excellent banter for great entertainment value.
These kids always get themselves into hot water. This time they are helping the kids in the basketball team they usually despise; but there are some secrets and twists here.
I have not delved deeply into a recap here because I left it too long in between reading and reviewing, but as is often the case with me, the characters come first and I love them all.
A wholehearted five-star review from me – HC is my favourite author and I can’t wait for more.
I listened to this audiobook through Libby via my public library, with excellent narration by Eric Myers.
My favorite of the Mickey Bolitar trilogy! ... But is it really a trilogy? The ending felt a bit open... I really want/need another book with Mickey, his friends and his family!
5*: Sad to finish it, this book was amazing 4*: Really liked it! 3*: Liked it 2*: Fell asleep a couple of times during my reading... but not entirely boring! 1*: Why did I bother to finish it?!
The guilt Mickey Bolitar felt over the shocking injury his friend Spoon (real name Arthur) had received would not abate – in hospital and paralysed from the waist down, nevertheless the bedridden boy was cheerful enough. Though Spoon’s parents had forbidden the three friends to visit their son in hospital, when Mickey received the call telling him, Ema and Rachel to come he was surprised and not a little scared about what they might find out about their friend.
The four friends were close – just a few weeks previously they had encountered the Bat Lady from the Abeona Shelter – finding out more details had led to severe problems; not least Spoon’s injury and Mickey almost being killed. But now they had more concerns – Ema’s online boyfriend had vanished and Mickey’s basketball team from high school was in trouble. His team mates wouldn’t have anything to do with him – the new kid; they blamed him for everything that happened and continued to happen.
Mickey had been devastated at the death of his father in a car accident eight months previously – grieving still, he found himself continually wondering “what if…” But as the group of four dug into the disappearance of Ema’s online friend; Spoon from his hospital bed via his computer and directing the search; Mickey was drawn into another dilemma – one that he didn’t want to be involved in, but felt he had no option. What would happen to the four friends? Was there a truth to be found which would save them from the mysteries and difficulties of the past?
I thoroughly enjoyed Found by Harlan Coben, which is the third in the Mickey Bolitar series for young adults. Filled with suspense and mystery, I feel this series is an older version of the Famous Five and Secret Seven books I used to love as a child. Mickey is Myron Bolitar’s nephew and I really love Coben’s adult series as well. A quick, easy read that I have no hesitation in recommending highly. (But be sure you read Shelter and Seconds Away first!)
A very dramatic and unexpected conclusion. The final few chapters felt a bit rushed, but I have faith that once I've read 'Home' (which I plan to read next) I will receive the answers I need. Reading 'Win' did fill in some of the blanks, and I'm picking the last current book in the Myron Bolitar series will fill in the rest.
This book could have been a HUGE mistake. There was - most certainly - the potential for it to displease me on SO many levels (cos, you know... it's all about me and my discerning taste?!!).
It wasn't until this book popped up in my eReader that I realised: 1. It was a YA novel 2. It was the THIRD in a series. (And I hate arriving late to a party!)
However - I'm almost embarrassed to admit how much I enjoyed this book. Perhaps it's a throwback to my Famous Five, Trixie Belden and Nancy Drew days. Or maybe just a Veronica Mars thing, but I couldn't believe how quickly and easily I got into the characters in this book.
Found opens as Mickey and his uncle have returned to his father's grave as Mickey's been lead to believe he may be alive. The outcome of the exhumation isn't entirely conclusive but Mickey's soon sidetracked by - not one, but two cases.
The best way I would suggest to punish a person, is to make him/her read this book and snatch away the book before he reaches the climax. The suspense is literally nerve wrecking. I wish that I hadn't skipped the first book in the series. But nevertheless I had finished the second book and picked this up.
Mickey Bolitar is back! This time with new objectives, most importantly to discover the truth about his dad. Apart from the superb plot, the characters add more excellence to the book. Rachel, who stole the show in the last book, does not play a major role here. The trio - Mickey, Ema and Spoon were great as usual. But, Spoon was definitely the highlight. He was a welcome relief amidst the serious plot.
Almost all of Coben's books are fast paced and easy-reads. But, this book was an exceptionally quick-read. The shifting of the three sub-plots was beyond excellence and was heart-pounding. The twists are simply mind-boggling. No more words to say. Pick this book and get ready for a rip-roaring mystery novel.
Mickey dalej w tarapatach, ale przynajmniej w tej części wszystko w końcu się wyjaśni. Najpierw jednak będziemy szukać chłopaka Emy (tak, TEJ Emy), a w tle przewinie się afera dopingowa.
Ostatnia część trylogii o młodym Bolitarze to jest jakiś festiwal banałów przyprawiony toną lukru. Nie da się tego wyjaśnić bez sypania spoilerami (nawet jeżeli tytuł jest największym spoilerem ever), więc na tym zakończę mój komentarz.
Nie polecam tej serii osobom starszym niż główny bohater – czyli tak max liceum. Ja wynudziłam się okropnie. 5/10
I wouldn't recommend reading the Mickey Bolitar series. It was very unbelievable and unrealistic. It's hard to believe that Mickey would befriend two other teenagers on his first day of school and together they would be solving crimes that not even the police would figure out.
The ending I could see coming and wished that the author had explained what had happened to
Great third book in this trilogy. Keeps the door open for a fourth, but has a great conclusion that started in Shelter, continued in Seconds Away, and finally ends with this one. Probably the best one of the three.
Young Adult mystery series can be disappointing when you compare them to adult thrillers. However this one is a bit different, maybe because it is a spin-off from Harlan Coben's adult detective series about Myron. This series focuses on Myron's nephew Mickey and it's one of the very few YA thrillers that I'd recommend. If you are a fan of corkscrew twists, then this is one for you!
First Line of Found by Harlan Coben:
" Eight months ago, I watched my father's coffin being lowered into the ground. "
My Thoughts on Found by Harlan Coben:
First off I have already mentioned this is a spin-off series, you don't need to read the Myron books to follow what's happening here. But as a side note, I adore that series and if you like twisty thrillers then you should absolutely grab those! However you do need to read this series - the Mickey Bolitar series - in order. This is number 3, do NOT dive straight into this book. It will make no sense, you need to start with Shelter and Seconds Away.
I read both of these some time ago and even I felt disoriented at the beginning as there is a LOT of background that you need to know. Thankfully Harlan made life a bit easier by recapping previous events neatly for me. But it's just a recap and won't be sufficient for you to pick up all the previous events. So go forth and read those books first.
This series is super twisty with lots of curveballs and that is my favourite thing about them. The pace is relentless and pretty dramatic. I will say you do need to suspend reality and just go with the flow of the book as the events are pretty unrealistic. This part of probably my least favourite part of the book as it's a lot to have to swallow! However it all comes together really cleverly and whilst I had my doubts about what direction this series was heading in, when I got to the last page I was totally satisfied.
Mickey is a great main character. He is so strong and is coping with the death of his father and also his mothers downward spiral with drugs. This has obviously made him very independent and he doesn't tend to lean on his Uncle Myron much at all. Which as a Myron superfan makes me sad, I wish Mickey knew just how great his uncle is. However I also appreciate that this is Mickey's series and he is a mini Myron but also totally his own unique self.
His friends are quirky and a central part of the plot. And I love that as much as these books are a mystery collection, they also have a theme about fitting in, finding your gang but staying true to yourself. That part felt very relatable and all the teen voices felt authentic. I loved that Mickey is a basketball player like his Uncle and it's in the moments when you see him play and how much he wants to be part of a winning team that you see his vulnerability.
Overall I really enjoyed this one. Characters and pace are the highs and the plot is looney tunes but good fun! It's a rollercoaster ride and thankfully while the first two books ended in cliffhangers, it was worth the wait to see it all piece together here.
Who should read Found by Harlan Coben?
I'd recommend this to all fans of Harlan's Myron detective series. Ok, this one isn't as dark or as scary but it still has the twisty feel of those books. I'd also recommend this to those who like YA books and would like to try a thriller/mystery series as this is one of the best YA ones that I've found so far.
Thanks to NetGalley and Orion Publishing Group for giving me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.
Mickey Bolitar is a High School sophomore with a lot on his plate. Along with his school work, his best friend Ema wants Mickey to help her find out what happened to a boy she met online who suddenly stopped contacting her. Mickey is also trying out for the varsity basketball team, but Team Captain Troy Taylor is giving him a hard time. Things are looking up when Troy is kicked off of the team for steroid use and he appeals to Mickey to help him clear his name. On top of this, Mickey and his friends are still looking into the mysterious Abeona Shelter and trying to figure out how it ties into the death of Mickey's father.
This is the third book in the Mickey Bolitar trilogy and the best of the bunch. There is a lot going on in this book and I had a hard time putting it down. The mysteries are interesting and not easy to figure out. I highly recommend this book, but it is not a standalone book. You must read all three books in the series to enjoy the overall story arc. My rating: 5 Stars.
I loved this trilogy. This last book was a perfect ending and Coben did not disappoint. I listened to these on audible books with one of my favorite narrators, Nick Podehl. He did such a great job with them!
I only started this book this morning and I have already finished it. I have read the previous two books in this series this week aswell, I thought as I have them all I will read them all in one go and I am So glad I did. throughout the books a lot of questions were raised however In this final installment many were answered. the only issue was that near the end of the book I had even more questions that needed answering. I hope in the future we have more books including, Micky, Ema and spoon as I think there's still more to of them to shoe. I wish I could give it more than 5 stars because I defiantly would :-)
Je le recommande pour les funs des romans policiers. -------------------------------------- آرلن كوبن روائي أمريكي، له روايات بوليسية عديدة وقد صارت بعضها أفلاما، حسب علمي لم تترجم للعربية بعد. هذه ثاني رواية أقرءها له بعد "ne le dis à personne - Tell no one" والتي أذكر أن تلخيصها شدني في الثواني القليلة التي انصرفت فيها عن أمي وهي بين السوق المركزي. نعود لهاته الرواية "à toute épreuve" حاولت جاهدا مع بداية الأحداث أن أتوقع نهاية القصة، لكن الجهد لم يؤتي أكله. ما أعجبني في الرواية أنك تستطيع وأنت تقرأها أن تتخيل المكان حيث تجري الأحداث، وهو ما يسهل الأمر على المخرج. لعشاق الروايات البوليسية؛ رواية تستحق القراءة.
The 3rd book in the Mickey Bolitar series by Harlan Coben. I am a big fan of this author and have mixed feelings about this series of books aimed at a younger audience. The book did improve and I was very close to giving it a 4 star rating by the end but not quite. I have read the two previous books a while a go and it took me a while to get back up to date with the plot and characters. I do think that the books individually would be difficult to follow if not read in order but there is enough promise for me to keep reading this series.
I definitely wasn't expecting to really love this book as much as I did. What a great ending. I'm not going to say that I hadn't guessed the end but I wasn't expecting it to happen as fast as it did considering that this is a continuing series. This is the third book in this YA series and truly the best one so far. Now if Harlan Coben would only hurry up and finish another adult novel.
Given that I am a half-century away from being a YA, I am really not a good judge of an entry in this genre. However, I am a fan of Harlan Coben and I find the Micky Bolitar series just as readable as the Myron Bolitar. There is a difference for sure (less ultra-violence for one!) but the stories rattle along and this one has a wicked twist in the tail, not wholly unexpected for sure.
The latest in the Mickey Bolitar series. Wow and more wow. I could barely put this down and lost some sleep the night I finished it. Just fantastic and of course the best yet. Lots happened with Mickey and his small gang of friends and some big questions answered. I can't wait to read the next instalment.
Yay a happy ending! I'm glad this book had some answers and closure. It felt a little unfinished still though. There are still a lot of questions and storylines to be solved. It makes me think the series isn't over.
For anyone familiar with this series, the entire plot of this novel can be described in its title.
After I finished reading it yesterday I googled the series in search of what was coming next, but found nothing.
Although I enjoyed the entire series, I dropped this one a whole star (or letter grade) because the author left a lot of holes in the story - big holes, very big holes - you could drop houses in these holes and never see them again - big houses, very big houses.
I can't explain these holes or lack of explanation without giving away the spoilers, but here's a very small one. A new character, Jared, is a basketball playing student (probably on a scholarship) at a very exclusive private boarding school in Connecticut. He loves playing basketball and we find out that his home is in a poor community that mainly services an exclusive country club. At the beginning of basketball season he leaves the school and moves home without telling any of his friends or giving any reason for doing so.
That's just small hole dealing with a relatively new and minor character. All the other holes, and there are a lot of them, are very big and deal with the major characters.
There are reverses and counter reverses.
I don't know if Mr. Coben got tired of the storyline, or of the characters, or of his readers.
I did, however, discover that the main character, Mickey Bolitar's Uncle Myron, is the main character in about a dozen earlier works. I'm several chapters into the first and am finding him a much deeper character than his nephew. Of course, the Mickey Bolitar series is for Young Adults, and the Myron Bolitar series is for, I guess you'd have to call us Old Adults.....
I know I'm in the minority here as most readers really loved this series. I did like it at the beginning and thought it had promise, but with each book the story got more and more preposterious. I mean seriously, new kid arrives at first day of high school, sits down to eat lunch with the overweight goth girl and the sort of weird nerdy kid who immediately become his best buds who jump right on board to solving the mystery he lays out for them. Oh, and they just happen to have special skills and connections that make it all soooo much easier to snoop and uncover clues. And did Micky have some Special Ops or Navy Seal training to become the scary high school martial arts ninja dude? Whatever. And the ending? Totally knew that was coming way back in book one, but the author never explained a single thing regarding how any of it came to be. How was the car crash set up ahead of time and where were the real police and EMTs? How was any of that pulled off? The cremation? The old woman whose house burned down? None of it was really ever explained. Everything was just tied it in a neat little happy ending leaving some very major plot holes in its wake.
I am slowly beginning to enjoy the Mickey Bolitar books as much as I enjoyed the Myron Bolitar series. His new series, featuring Myron's nephew Mickey, is another good addition to this second series. Mickey is a high school student who plays a fierce game of basketball much like his uncle. But life hasn't been fair to Mickey. He witnessed a car crash which left his father dead and hos mother, a former tennis pro is in a rehab hospital in California while Mickey lives in NJ, Added to this is the mystery at the center of these books. Who is Bat Lady? What does the Holocaust have to do with Mikey's story and why has one basketball team member left town suddenly and another is tossed off the team for sterouid use? To find out more about this book, you'll have to rad it. But one word of caution. Like all series I suggest you begin with the first book. I throughly enjoyed this book which was written for young adults and hope that Mickey solves some of these questions but not too many so he'll be around for a couple of years.
I just have to say that I absolutely adore this series.
Mickey Bolitar is seeking truth and justice. With the aide of his friends, Ema, Rachel and Spoon, they work to uncover the truth and to bring about justice.
What a satisfying end to this third installment in this series. I really wish that Coben would write a follow up to this book because the possibilities are endless and I'm sorry to see it end.
It was a splendidly crafted novel. The ending was quite unexpected and beautiful 😍 there are still some things needed to be clarified, like Ema's father is Win, Myron's best friend. Excited for the revelation!!!!