Deal Breaker / Drop Shot / Fade Away

Myron Bolitar #1-3

by Harlan Coben

*DEAL BREAKER* Investigator and sports agent Myron Bolitar is poised on the edge of the big-time. So is Christian Steele, a rookie quarterback and Myron's prized client. But when Christian gets a phone call from a former girlfriend, a woman who everyone, including the police, believes is dead, the deal starts to go sour. Suddenly Myron is up against the dark side of his business - where image and talent make you rich, but the truth can get you killed. *DROP SHOT* Valerie Simpson is a young female tennis star with a troubled past who's now on the verge of a comeback and wants Myron as her agent. Myron couldn't be happier - he's also got the hottest male tennis star, Duane Richwood, on his books. That is, until Valerie is murdered in broad daylight at the U.S. Open and Myron's number one client becomes the number one suspect. As Myron begins to investigate he uncovers hidden truths and soon realises that these secrets are not only dangerous, they're deadly. *FADE AWAY* Myron Bolitar once had a promising career as a sportsman, until an accident forced him to quit. After a spell in the FBI he now runs his own business. Then Myron is approached to find Greg Downing, a fellow sports star who has vanished, before news of his disappearance gets out. In Greg's house Myron finds blood in the basement. And when he discovers the body of a woman, he begins to unravel the strange, violent world of a national hero gone wrong, as he comes face-to-face with a past he can't re-live, and a present he may not survive.

Genres: Fiction, Crime, Murder Mystery, Thriller

726 pages, Paperback

First published December 21, 2001

About the author

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.

Reviews

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Three in a series and it is a good one for entertainment and easy reading.

[Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Myron and Win are great characters with a change USA humour great stories

[Nicki Markus · Rating 2 out of 5]

I won this book in a free giveaway and, though it's not my usual sort of read, decided to give it a try.

I ummed and ahhed for a while between 2 and 3 stars but settled on 2.

I didn't hate the story-lines, but I was put off by the characters a little as I found them unbelievable and over the top. Our 'hero' is an ex-sports star, turned lawyer, turned FBI external agent, turned sports agent. His love interest is the most gorgeous woman around apparently who is also a top author. His secretary is an attractive ex-female wrestler and his best friend/colleague is a yuppie who also happens to be a black belt in martial arts with a penchant for killing/maiming 'bad guys'. I found these figures somewhat surreal at times and therefore could not come to like them or identify with them or their struggles.

I read the books (there were 3 in the omnibus edition) to the end, but I am not inspired to buy any more by this author.

[Wayne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Harlan Coben may not be an author that spends as much time as other authors on character development, but this is one of the brilliant things about his books. He spends just enough time to make you feel like you know each and every one of his characters, but still manages to keep the pace moving quickly.

The three novels in this book are his first three that he wrote. They are all part of the Myron Bolitar series and are a must read for any crime fiction fans.

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the dialogue and the kookiness of the characters. I'm reading this series in sequence. Why is Myron living at home, what's going to happen with Jessica and does Win morf or stay steady? Looking forward to finding out.

[Tara · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is not one of my favourites when it comes to Harlan Coben, but I am also reading in very short installments which always makes a book harder to enjoy. This book was written in a very different format, it was very gritty and at times obscene.

[Janel Cox · Rating 3 out of 5]

Clever witty dialogue. Amusing 80s references, vocabulary places the author squarely in my demographic. Fast paced series of books chronicaling Myron Bolitar the basketball player turned sports agent turned private investigator who uses his skills to take care of his players.

[Retno · Rating 4 out of 5]

paling suka sama Deal Breaker, dari situ agak2 kecewa sama Fade Away

[Sandi]

Love this author

[Chris Bullock · Rating 1 out of 5]

Read first of the three novels, but not interested in the next two, mainly because it was very americanised and many references were meaningless.

[Becky Roeder mclear · Rating 4 out of 5]

These books are fun to read. I like reading these when my brain needs a rest and I just want to be entertained!

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

What took me so long to find Myron??? He is GREAT!

[Ceebee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Deal Breaker ****
Drop Shot ****
Fade Away ****

[Issi · Rating 2 out of 5]

They were all ok, but 3 in a row is a bit much ... same plot, just a different sport each time!