Darkest Fear

Myron Bolitar #7

by Harlan Coben

An alternate cover edition and format of this edition can be found here:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5...

Myron Bolitar's father's recent heart attack brings Myron smack into a midlife encounter with issues of adulthood and mortality. And if that's not enough to turn his life upside down, the reappearance of his first serious girlfriend is. The basketball star turned sports agent, who does a little detecting when business is slow, is saddened by the news that Emily Downing's 13-year-old son is dying and desperately needs a bone marrow transplant; even if she did leave him for the man who destroyed his basketball career, he wouldn't wish tsuris like that on anyone. And he's not at all interested in getting involved with Emily again, not even to track down the one mysterious donor who may be able to save the boy. But when Myron learns that Jeremy Downing is his own son, conceived the night before Emily and Greg Downing married, he embarks on a search for someone who disappeared a lifetime ago. And what he finds leads him to a powerful family determined to keep an old secret, a disgraced reporter who may have plagiarized a novel to create a serial killer, a very interested FBI agent, and a missing child.

This is the seventh outing in a series that's been gaining in popularity since Bolitar's first appearance, in Harlan Coben's Deal Breaker. Myron's a bit of a baby, but he's not afraid to get rough when the situation calls for it, he's eminently likable, and his heart's in the right place. The fireworks are supplied by his friend and partner, Win, who really deserves a series of his own, and Esperanza, the lesbian wrestler-lawyer who has finally talked Myron into making her a partner in the business. Like Coben's other Bolitar novels, she's worth every penny. --Jane Adams

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Thriller, Crime, Suspense, Audiobook, Mystery Thriller

354 pages, ebook

First published January 1, 1999

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

[Suz · Rating 4 out of 5]

With every part of this series, I really love to hear more of Myron's story. I love how we seem to learn more about Myron in each subsequent volume of this series. I love his relationship with Win, also, this is such an entertaining facet of the series. It's always a moral dilemma, Win is more cut throat, and Myron more straight, but Myron has to go further this time to get the answers, and his moral compass is always spoken about between himself and Win that he doesn't get away with anything.

Myron is such a family man, and his relationship with his parents, particularly with his father, gains more coverage as well. There is always a focus of Myron's women from his life, whether from a current relationship, or past. This time we hear more about his first college girlfriend, and the ramifications of this that turn out to be life and death.

I like this sort of thing in Harlen Coben's ' books: Behind him, a well-built guy skidded to a stop and arrogantly flexed a bicep. Actually flexed. In public. Myron frowned. He didn't know which was worse: guys who shouldn't take their shirts off and do, or guys who should take of their shirts off and do.

Always funny amongst the tension and seriousness. Myron is hands down always my favourite fictional character.

[Phrynne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I do love a series which has consistent quality and this is one. Myron, Win and Esperanza keep giving, especially of their wit and sheer entertainment value. As well as the fun though this book includes a well developed mystery and I have to admit I did not guess the murderer until very late in the piece. As usual Myron has to work through various emotional issues and also as usual Win fails to acknowledge that emotion even exists. Lovely. I read it in one sitting.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Darkest Fear by Harlan Coben is a 2008 Dell publication. (Originally published in 1999)

Just when I think I have Coben’s style figured out, he switches gears in this seventh installment of the Myron Bolitar series.
If you have read the previous installments, you will remember Emily. (Not exactly my favorite person) Well, she’s back and has brought some shocking news to Myron, which causes him to launch a massive manhunt for a registered bone marrow donor.

The tone of this story was grim right from the start, and is taut with a ‘race against the clock’, life or death situation, while delving into some pretty deep emotional wells. The humor is still mingled into the story, but was a bit muted this time around, which was probably more fitting considering the circumstances.
I have to confess, this one was not my favorite of the series, but is still a very compelling thriller, and did close the door on some issues, while opening up other avenues, expanding the possibilities for this series.

Overall 3.5 rounded to 4

[Matthew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Darkest is in the title and darkest is right! Of all the Myron Bolitar books so far, this one is definitely the darkest. As you start in you can almost hear the skeletons rattling in the closed closets Myron is getting ready to open!

While dark and mysterious, the usual humor and somewhat wacky characters are still there: Win, Little Pocahontas, and Myron himself provide cynical, sarcastic, and sometime self-deprecating quips at machine gun speed. Often it is hard to tell if you are supposed to be biting your nails on the edge of your seat or rolling around on the floor laughing. Either way, it's an enjoyable experience.

Also, for Bolitar fans keeping track, this book contains a lot of plot tying to earlier books in the story. Not that you can't enjoy this one independently of the rest of the series, you will just get a whole lot more out of it if you have read the others first.

Mystery fans who are looking for a little slap stick with their gumshoe, you can't go wrong with Coben's Myron Bolitar series.

[Paul Weiss · Rating 4 out of 5]

And Myron Bolitar takes a dig at the FBI, …

“And by the way, how come you’re all called ‘special’ agent? Doesn’t that sound like something someone made up one day? Like a kid’s game to raise self-esteem. ‘We’re promoting you from agent to special agent, Barney.’ ”

When lovers of the detective, mystery, or the suspense thriller genres are asked to prepare a list of their favourite wise-cracking, sharp-tongued, quick witted heroes, names like Robert Crais’ Elvis Cole, Nero Wolfe’s Archie Goodwin, Nelson DeMille’s John Corey, Dashiell Hammett’s Nick and Nora Charles, and Jim Butcher’s Harry Dresden will often appear. But virtually nobody would prepare such a list without including Harlan Coben’s erstwhile comedian and resident smart-ass, Myron Bolitar. The quantity and quality of one-liners, quips, jokes, sarcasm and ribaldry that Coben puts into the mouth of his hero simply beggars the imagination.

And, lest I give the impression that the plot takes second place to late-night one-line comedy routines, be assured that DARKEST FEAR’s story line is a solid winner. Myron’s college girl friend Emily comes out of the woodwork with the disclosure that her thirteen year old son, Jeremy, is actually Myron’s son, the result of a clandestine and definitely sordid tryst between the sheets on the eve of her wedding to another man. As if that weren’t enough news for one day, Emily lets Myron know that Jeremy has an illness that will become quickly terminal unless Myron can help to find a bone marrow transplant donor who seems to have vanished without a trace. The hunt is on and it’s a high-speed chase that leads to kidnapping and a confrontation with the FBI! Definitely exciting and gripping stuff!

A taut, entertaining, enjoyable page-turner, DARKEST FEAR can stand proud and hold its head high on any list of today’s best suspense thrillers. Definitely recommended.

Paul Weiss

[Carolyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I always enjoy this series featuring sports rep Myron Bolitar. He’s whip smart, sharp and always ready with a witty one-liner. Especially when he’s working with his wealthy best friend and wingman, Win, who has somewhat less than a moral compass than Myron. However, Myron’s had some serious news, that even he finds sobering, from his ex-college girlfriend Emily. She tells him that not only is he the father of her 13 year son Jeremy (conceived the night before her wedding) but the boy is seriously ill and will die without a bone marrow donation.

Myron is already on the national bone marrow registry and is not a match for Jeremy. However, another match was found, but now the donor has disappeared. Radio appeals, the offer of a reward and several PIs have all failed to find him, so as a last resort Emily asks Myron to use his investigative skills to locate the donor.

This is the most personal story in the series so far, as Myron must race against the clock to find the missing donor and save his son. A complicating factor is that Emily’s husband (now ex-husband), was the man who brutally ended Myron’s promising professional basketball career, so there is definitely no love lost between him and Myron.

The search for the missing donor is not straight forward. There is a web of seemingly unrelated storylines, involving a damaged family, the FBI and a kidnapping all eventually leading to a very twisty but satisfying climax. Fast paced, thrilling and very enjoyable.

[Corey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Myron Bolitar returns for his darkest and most personal investigation yet. He gets a visit from and old flame, Emily Downing, who informs him that he's the father of her child, who is 13 years old, is dying, and in need of a bone marrow transplant. Myron sets out to find the missing donor, who also happens to be connected to a dark mystery from the past, involving a wealthy family, the FBI, and a kidnapping spree.

It started out wicked slow, and for a while it was very hard to follow, but after the first 50 pages it starts to pick up the pace, and that's when I got hooked!

[Jim C · Rating 5 out of 5]

Actual rating is 4.5 stars.

This is part of a series. This can be read as a stand alone but it does have connections to a previous book as characters and situations are referenced in this book. In this one, Myron's old flame Emily asks Myron for help. She needs him to find a bone marrow donor match as her son is dying and this match is the last chance for him to survive.

This was an excellent read and one of my favorites from this series. The author interweaves both Myron's personal connection to the story as well as the mystery. We also get the colorful side characters that have been developed throughout this series. Win is a personal favorite and I loved one quote from him when him and Myron were confronting the antagonist during the reveal scene. The quote was "You will give blood. One way or another." This is the epitome of Win and made me cheer out loud. I did think the mystery lacked a certain punch that didn't totally grab me and that is why I did not give this the full five stars. The part I loved about this book is how the author connected the theme of a father's role in a child's life throughout this novel. This theme was displayed throughout several family dynamics and I love it when an author does this.

This book held my interest throughout and was so much better than the last book in this series. The characters, the theme, and the personal story of the main character was terrific and I could not read fast enough to find out how it all came to the conclusion. This book is highly recommended.

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once again Myron Bolitar is surprised at the curve balls life throws him. He is dating a hot anchor woman and his first relationship visits him again and proceeds to inform him about a 13 year old son he has. And to make it worse he also learns that his "son" has a lethal illness that could end his life in the very near future unless he gets a bone marrow transplant.

An now for the next kicker, there is a suitable donor but he/she somehow cannot be found and is it possible for Myron to track him down and convince the person to save the life of a 13 year old boy.

And thus Myron starts his search for the kids possible chance at life. He finds himself opposed by a powerful family that will go far to protect its secrets and power. He has to solve the mystery of serial kidnapper/killer and how he fits in this mystery of the unknown donor.

Myron witty as always finds out that this might be his most personal case up to now. Win the ultimate collega boy is as lethal as ever and takes pleasure of Myrons outings and quite some personal enjoyment as well.

This time there is mystery with some nice false leads and surprises right up to the end. A well written and enjoyable outing for Bolitar and friends. This one is so far my favorite and it was a quite comfortable and easy read.

Well advised to read this book and series.

[Alisonbookreviewer · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 Stars

Myron Bolitar finds out he has a son. Only his son has leukemia. He's needs a bone marrow transplant, and Myron isn't a match.
The one man they think is a match could potentially be a serial killer.
Emily, his sons mother, is married to his rival Greg Downing.
Although there's some hard feelings Myron wants to help find a match for his son.
Excellent writing by HC.
The narrator for his audiobooks is also amazing.

[Mahoghani 23 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Secrets have a way of coming out no matter what or should we say some secrets? Never in a million years Myron Bolitar would find himself assisting another love from h8s past. There's a major catch to this story....Myron finds out that he's a father. Yes, a dad to a 13-year old son. The only reason he's told about him now is the fact his son is terminally ill and if he doesn't get the treatment he needs, it will be fatal.

This was one bizarre, funny, interesting and really emotional story. There's a recluse millionaire family involved, a serial killer, the FBI and the other regular characters. Once again, Harlan Coben has provided a great story with a lovely conclusion.

[Baba · Rating 3 out of 5]

Myron Bolitar, #7: Things get real, real quick for Myron after he's told that he's the father... of a dying thirteen-year-old boy? With paternity doubts, kidnappings, a missing donor and FBI involvement, Bolitar is kept real busy... oh, and their might be serial killer on the loose! Coben continues to shape the Bolitar series around the lead, and not his cases, which makes it stand out from the crowded detective fiction market. 6 out of 12.

[Eric_W · Rating 4 out of 5]

Myron Bolitar is one of my favorite characters. The series has a fine sense of humor laced with a good mystery. The beginning starts off well with Myron trying to be nice to his mother, a lawyer who never, ever cooks, but who has just turned out a pastry that Myron thinks tastes just like urinal cakes.

In this novel, Coben mixes the serious with levity. He is contacted by an ex-girlfriend who had ultimately married his arch rival on the basketball court and whom he blames for his career-destroying knee injury. It seems her son has a life-threatening disease that can only be cured with a bone marrow transplant and the one match in the registry has disappeared. She wants Myron to find the donor and save her son’s life. From there it gets really complicated mixing a serial killer with a discredited journalist whose being staked out by the FBI and a very rich family who has a secret they refuse to reveal.

Coben ties it together very nicely, but I sometimes wonder if the excellent narration by Jonathan Marosz doesn’t make the difference between 3 and 4 stars.

[Richard · Rating 4 out of 5]

7.5/10

Another solid entry into the Myron Bolitar series. You sort of know what you're getting with these books by this stage. Witty dialogue with some sort of mystery that needs to be solved by Myron and his sidekick, Win, and some female person who Myron falls for.

Whilst never excelling it is steady along and has a few good ideas with a relatively interesting if a little unbelievable plot. Myron gets some news regarding the paternity of a child from a former lover and quickly does the maths and realises it could be his child. The child needs saving so there are all sorts of heartstrings trying to be tugged by Coben including the relationship with Myron and his dead.

If you're into the series then you won't be disappointed but there isn't much that needs to be added to this review if you’ve read any you’ll know what to expect. Some may be bored with the repetitive nature of the series but I like to come to them after a bit of time for a change of pace and they’re easy quick reads.

I recommend the series but not really reading this as a stand alone.

If you like this try: "A Maiden's Grave" by Jeffery Deaver

[Cathy DuPont · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my very first, I'm quite sure, Harlan Coben. So how did I miss him? My GR friends read him ages ago but not me until now. I'm sure I was involved in something quite important when he was the "hot new writer."

To get the most out of Coben, I think his books should be read rather than listened to while driving. Don't want to sound preachy here but drivers need to concentrate on driving...I can't give my total attention to listening to a CD and drive carefully at the same time. To top it off, while listening to the book, I think I missed something important when the CD skipped!

So giving the book the benefit of the doubt, I'm bumping this up a star to four stars.

Well, I liked it enough to get another. And I really, really like Myron. He's PDF...pretty damned funny.

Now I want to begin number 1 in the series.

[Kurt Young · Rating 2 out of 5]

Picked this up off the shelf at work. Two day read for me, with a decent plot, and a cast of funky characters. First Coben book I've read. He's so bad that it actually became fun reading. The first paragraph, I'm sure, was actually written as an entry into the Bulwer-Lyton bad writing contest. As a bonus, Coben drops into a 2nd person voice, addressing the reader as an author. He's clearly a fan of Douglas Adams, but lacks his wit.

Not impossible to follow as a standalone novel, but probably one to avoid, unless you're a fan of the Bolitar series.

[Amanda McGill · Rating 3 out of 5]

Darkest Fear is the 7th novel in the Myron Bolitar series and it was unique and different than the previous novels. I did miss the sports aspect, where this novel focused more on Myron focusing on solving the identify of a mysterious donor.

Nevertheless, it was a great mystery that had me totally surprised by how all of the pieces fit in together.

Can't wait to keep reading the rest of the series.

[Marty Fried · Rating 5 out of 5]

It seems like this series gets better with each new book. In this one, we get more of the humor, more plot twists, and some backstory on Myron's basketball injury.

No need for a review. Just read the book.

[Savanna G. · Rating 1 out of 5]

God, this book took me forever and I have been DREADING writing this review, but then I see the book sitting there on my counter or something and it would remind me that I need to and then move on with reading for this year because I didn’t meet my goal last year and I’m a part time waitress and full time college student who is also trying to work in my reading hobby around the two and it’s been difficult.

I think the most difficult thing though was that I was reading a book that I genuinely didn’t enjoy. I have read Harlan Coben in the past and enjoyed his other books that I’ve read, but I just couldn’t with this one, and I don’t even remember finishing it so I don’t think I did. There was not one aspect of this book that I enjoyed, and as usual, I’m going to talk about why.

I tried with this book, I really really did. I tried hard. However, the biggest issue I found while reading it was that I had absolutely no idea what was happening the entire time. I understood the plot: these characters were on a mission to find a donor for the boy’s bone marrow transplant. So, I do know what was supposed to happen, but there was so much happening and cutting between conversations that I never had any idea about what was going on, which is disappointing because I was hoping to hold a higher standard than other readers for this book. This book was just messy and really that’s the only reason why I was confused and why none of it made any sense.

The only thing I remember about this book was the mess and disorganization. I literally am writing this review now and I really don’t even know or remember any of the characters names, which is how confusing it was. 🥴 send help. I’m not okay after attempting to read this.

[Bart Hopkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Harlan Coben is doing exactly what he was born to do.

Darkest Fear has a tight plot line, sharp humor, and flowing prose. Coben's ability to use metaphor, and his descriptions, are vivid, pertinent, and so spot on that I quite literally stopped reading for a moment ... and came to the realization that he isn't just very good ... he is one of the finest writers out there. He's just that good.

It's one of his Myron Bolivar series, so you get Win, Esperanza, and his parents as the regular cast, joining Myron as he tries to help this boy (who may or may not be his son) get the bone marrow transplant he needs.

Coben really captures people and makes them real, and a healthy dose of emotional appeal is included.

Well done, Mr. Coben!

[Paul Fulcher · Rating 1 out of 5]

Objectively the worst book I hope I have the misfortune to read this millennium.

In a way daring in its bravery. Take the Miss Marple type trope and invert it by having the hero be an impossibly handsome, physically perfect specimen with friends who specialise in computer hacking, throwing money at problems and, if needed, beating up suspects. The only interest in a Myron Bolitar novel is how they didn’t solve the crime sooner.

[Jim · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another excellent entry in the series. There's always a good mystery sprinkled liberally with funny characters & quips. If it tickles your funny bone, it's great. It does mine & so I can forgive some overused tropes like finding out about a kid, serial killers, & such. Still makes an engaging story, especially since I've read all the books in the series in order. That's important since there are recurring characters & a lot of back story. I haven't let too much time lapse between books, either.

Very well narrated. A relaxing read.

[Olivermagnus · Rating 4 out of 5]

Darkest Fear is the seventh book in the popular Myron Bolitar series. It opens with Myron visiting his parents home in New Jersey and reminiscing about his life. His father has recently had a health scare and his parents are selling the family home and moving to Florida. In the middle of this emotional upheaval he is contacted by his former college girlfriend, Emily Downing, now married to Myron's basketball nemesis. It turns out that Emily has a 13-year old son, Jeremy, who's in desperate need of a bone marrow transplant. They've found a match listed on the bone marrow registry list, but the donor has mysteriously disappeared. She begs Myron to find him, but Myron doesn't want to have anything to do with Emily or Greg. That is, until Emily tells Myron that he is actually the boy's biological father, the result of one last fling on the night before she got married. Is Myron a father? You'll have to read this book to find that out.

I really love this series but have to admit this wasn't my favorite. Although there is plenty of humor, the story seemed to be a little disjointed. Of course, you have to love a story that also includes Myron's best friends, Win and Esperanza. Win is an amoral, self-centered man with a heart of gold who is always ready to save Myron. Esperanza Diaz, former professional wrestler, is now his business partner and is her own version of the CIA. I would definitely recommend starting this series with an earlier book, but most fans will really enjoy this one. I look forward to the next book in this engaging series.

[Harry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beginning to exhaust my hunt for the loner, the hunter as a singular and main hero...a new trend seems to be emerging, the disassociation of the hunter and conscientious hero into two separate characters: the main character and his loner side-kick. Several authors embrace this genre motif: Robert Crais's Elvis Cole and his side-kick Joe Pike and of course Harlan Coben's Mylor Bolitar and his elitist side-kick Win.

Of this genre, Coben is probably the most adept at creating complex and winning characters. His portrayal of Myron (conscientious) and Win (borderline Sociopath) is second to none. Again, I devoured these books (in order, as with all series books) and in record time and found myself waking groggy from lack of sleep thanks to Mr. Coben.

P.S. Same review for all the Myron Bolitar novels, if you've read one of my reviews of Bolitar you've read them all. How can I say that? Well, Mr. Coben as with most series authors, is a master at being consistent from one book to another and delivering a sucker punch to his readers everytime.

[Jonetta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Myron gets some stunning news from an old girlfriend, Emily Downing. She is married to the man who is indirectly responsible for ending Myron's professional basketball career and he wants nothing to do with either of them. But, their son is dying of a rare form of cancer and the bone marrow donor who could save his life has vanished.

This was an interesting story on several levels. The search for the donor sometimes seemed to be a bizarre maze of unrelated events and people that converged at an unlikely point. It isn't easy to determine the good guys from the bad and everyone's a bit tarnished. At least this time I understood the necessity of Myron playing detective. I really enjoyed the story and can't wait to read the next one to see how Myron deals with the aftermath.

[Steph · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little convoluted and confusing, but still a good, solid mystery novel. I wish it had been a little easier to follow, but I was a bit distracted yesterday. Lots of characters, also helped with my confusion.
3 stars.

——————
2nd reading, 9-15-2020

Not anywhere near so convoluted or confusing, this time around. Still a very good, solid mystery novel, that may even make you tear up a little. I enjoyed this audiobook very much, this time around.
Jonathan Marosz is the narrator for this series of audiobooks, which includes this one. To me, he sounds like (and will always sound like) Myron Bolitar.

Rating changed to 4 stars, and highly recommend.

[Charles · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, what a very fine book. The best I've read in a while. This is a good example of a page turner. I was completely caught up in the story and the characters. I've only read one Coben before, The Woods, which I also highly recommend. This is the first one I've read in the Bolitar series but I'm off to pick up the rest of them now. A very talented author.

[Sheila · Rating 3 out of 5]

Myron is hired by his college girlfriend to hunt down an elusive bone marrow match for her dying son Jeremy.

Lots of twists and turns

[Carlo Hublet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Humoristique et caustique. Ecriture très simple, excellent rythme

[Maureen DeLuca · Rating 5 out of 5]

A solid 4 star read and I added one extra cause I just love Myron! A great series for sure !! xx