Harlan Coben

[Tracey]

I love Harlan Coben. I have read Promise Me and Tell No One. I enjoyed Tell No One more but they were both great novels.

[Dorie]

I love Coben as well. He has a series (Myron Bolitar) but has also written a number of standalone novels. I like both, but personally prefer the series. 'Gone For Good' is one of my favorites of the standalones, but that could be because it was the first one I read.

[[deleted user]]

I've read his stand alone novels, and thoroughly enjoyed them, I have the Bolitar books, unread as of yet. Tell No One was the first one I read, and only a few months ago saw the film. Excellent!

[Sandra]

Heather, I have read everything he's written and loved it all. I look forward to his next book. Funny, fun, great characters and great mysteries. You can't go wrong with him.

[JP]

Hey Dorie and Heather,
Tell No One is my favorite Harlan Coben book. But The Woods has one of his best opening lines ever: "I see my father with that shovel." Definitely an attention grabber. In fact, one of the characteristics of all of Coben's novels is a great opening line ... makes you want to read more.
JP O'Donnell

[Dorie]

JP, I'd forgotten about 'The Woods'. That was a great one!

[JP]

Dorie wrote: "JP, I'd forgotten about 'The Woods'. That was a great one!"
Yes, I have a whole stack of his books on my shelf ... a few of them signed. If you meet him, you'll see that he's not just a great writer but a lot of fun to be around.

[[deleted user]]

JP wrote:
Yes, I have a whole stack of his books on my shelf ... a few of them signed. If you meet him, you'll see that he's not j..."

I thought his sense of humor must be excellent, in the film of Tell No One, he does a cameo a la Alfred Hitchcock. Outstanding. :)

[Joeyjoejo]

It's been a month, hopefully you've managed to pick one up by now :)

If you haven't, I'd basically echo what others have said, Tell No One is a terrific starter and my favourite of the stand alone books.
If you move on to the Myron titles, I'd definitely recommend reading them in order, they're all great in their own right but if you read them in order, you definitely pick up on the characters (and the writing) maturing as they go.

Make sure you post your thoughts, it's always interesting to see other people's opinions.

:)

[Afsana]

Joeyjoejo wrote: "It's been a month, hopefully you've managed to pick one up by now :)

If you haven't, I'd basically echo what others have said, Tell No One is a terrific starter and my favourite of the stand alone..."

I agree here

Tell noone was the book I read first as i got it free and it had me hooked onto his books

Myron bolitar is good and would start from the first as I think you can see their lives evolving nd why though I think neare the last or so books you have to question the weirdness of his relationship with the other main characters

[Chris]

Coben is one of my favourite authors, the other being Christopher Brookmyre.

My mate at work raved about Tell No One and insisted I read it. I was not disappointed. As everyone has said that is one of his stand alones and is perhaps best to start there.

I have since read the Bolitar series and Gone for Good and I have not once been disappointed. Thoroughly recommend him!

[David]

Big fan of Harlan Coben. I've read Gone For Good, No Second Chance, and Just One Look.

I was a little bit let down by Just One Look, but only because the story was great up until the ending, which just seemed really rushed and forced.

Hoping to read Hold Tight at some point in 2010.

[Sandra]

Thank you, Chris, for the heads up on Christopher Brookmyre. Somehow, I've missed his books - I won't any more. Happy Holidays to you.

[David]

I am a HUGE fan of Harlan Coben! He is my favourite thriller writer and my biggest inspiration and influence on my own writing

I have read every one of his books except PLAY DEAD (which I have been unable to get hold of) and it is mainly because of Harlan Coben that I got back into print myself after ten years in the doldrums.

[Sandra]

David wrote: "I am a HUGE fan of Harlan Coben! He is my favourite thriller writer and my biggest inspiration and influence on my own writing

I have read every one of his books except PLAY DEAD (which I have be..."

David, Harlan Coben is one of my favorites, too. Amazon.com has "Play Dead" for a pretty hefty price. I haven't read that one either, but I'm still looking for an affordable copy.

[Jan C]

Sandra wrote: "David wrote: "I am a HUGE fan of Harlan Coben! He is my favourite thriller writer and my biggest inspiration and influence on my own writing

I have read every one of his books except PLAY DEAD ..."

I was never able to get into Harlen Coben. I tried one of his books. And then a friend was describing another one of his books and it sounded like the exact same book that I was trying to read.

He has struck me, since then, as one of those writers who is writing the same book over and over again.

Sorry if this lights any fires.

[Sandra]

Jan wrote: "Sandra wrote: "David wrote: "I am a HUGE fan of Harlan Coben! He is my favourite thriller writer and my biggest inspiration and influence on my own writing

I have read every one of his books ex..."

Jan, if a little criticism lit my fire, I'd be ablaze. Who do you like as a mystery writer? I adore Robert B. Parker (bless his soul), but my bff cannot read a paragraph by him, so ...... And she adores Nevada Barr's mysteries, and I can't read them. It takes all kinds of us to make the world. I can see what you mean about Harlan Coben's writing and maybe that's why I like him - the familiarity. Regardless, I would truly be interested to know who your faves are.

Sandy D.

[Jan C]

Sandra wrote: "Jan wrote: "Sandra wrote: "David wrote: "I am a HUGE fan of Harlan Coben! He is my favourite thriller writer and my biggest inspiration and influence on my own writing

I have read every one of ..."

I'm a big Robert Crais fan. Also like Michael Connelly. And I read Nevada Barr, Sue Grafton and Sara Paretsky (home town favorite).

I have read a few Robert Parker (sorry to lose him last week) but he was always someone I could take or leave, except there was one pretty good baseball story he wrote. I also read one romance he wrote. Who would Robert Parker would write any romance stories. I traded for that book; not really big on romance stories.

And maybe most of them do have similarities in their stories. But I just couldn't get over it when I thought my friend was describing the book I was trying to read rather than a totally different book.

Some people take comments about their favorites writers a little personally and I didn't want to tread on any toes.

[Sandra]

Jan wrote: "Sandra wrote: "Jan wrote: "Sandra wrote: "David wrote: "I am a HUGE fan of Harlan Coben! He is my favourite thriller writer and my biggest inspiration and influence on my own writing

I have rea..."

I'm with you on all except Nevada (as I've already mentioned). I adore Robert B. Parker and actually cried when I heard he was gone. I loved the baseball book, too, and he wrote a great book about three generations of a police family "All Our Yesterdays" which you would probably like very much. I'm reading a Robert Crais book right now - "Chasing Darkness." Excellent, as always, with his books. Michael Connelly makes my top ten, also. A hometown favorite of MINE, since I'm an L.A. lady. Don't worry. My toes are fine (need a pedicure, though).

[Jan C]

Sandra wrote: "Jan wrote: "Sandra wrote: "Jan wrote: "Sandra wrote: "David wrote: "I am a HUGE fan of Harlan Coben! He is my favourite thriller writer and my biggest inspiration and influence on my own writing
..."

I felt kind of let down by Chasing Darkness - not up to his usual standard. I am hoping for better from The First Rule which I just picked up yesterday.

[David]

I tried to get PLAY DEAD from Amazon, but after six weeks I got a message saying it couldn't be delivered and my order was cancelled. I ordered again and the same thing happened.

[David]

Message 20- Jan - there ARE recurrent themes in Coben's books.

I've noticed the same in Agatha Christie's books: every one of them involves some one being murdered and some one else (usually a private detective) investigating the murder from a fixed number of suspects and then catching the murderer. The motive is usually jealousy or greed. That is why I gave up on Agatha Christie after reading about 30 or so of her books.

[Jan C]

I gave up on Coben after a couple of disussions and about 50 pages. He wasn't worth wasting my time on.

I have read a number of Christie's books and they are nowhere the same in the way that Coben's are.

There is a theory that everyone (maybe not quite everyone) has a book in them. Coben's problem is, like a number of other writers, that he keeps writing the same book.

[David]

The real test of whether or not a writer is writing the same book is predictability. If you can predict the continuation and ending of one of their books (who, what, why, how, etc) after reading part of that book, based on your experience of previous books by the same author, then he is "writing the same book" - at least to you.

But if it is merely a case of, say, a person who disappeared in the past showing up again and guilty secrets coming out, then it is not really the same BOOK, but merely a recurrent THEME. I see no difference between that recurrent theme and:

Murder in a closed environment, detective investigates, everyone has guilty secrets, murderer is identified, motive was jealousy/anger/greed.

[Morgan]

I have, I've read Caught and it was amazing, I could not figure it out, it was an amazing twist-twist-twist ending.
I have Promise Me on my to read list. I hope it's as wonderful.

[Donna, Co-Moderator]

Don't forget the we have had 2 of his books as group read. Here's the link to the discussion of In The Woods http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/4...

and Tell No One http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/4...

[T]

I think I've read all the Cobens - the "Play Dead" is a re-issue of his first book and he notes that if you've read the other books, keep in mind that it was his first and not quite like his others.

He's also out on Facebook and Twitter, if you'd like to follow him along that way.

[Britney]

I am like Heather I have not read a book by Harlan Coben. He is one of my aunt's favorite author. I have been contiplating what book to start with but it seems that Tell No One is a great place to start.

[Linda]

I started at the same point - Tell No One,was my first Harlan Coben book, and I have not turned back since.

[Curlyhair]

Harlan Coben is one of my fav authors. I love Myron Bolitar and who wouldn't want Win as a friend/lover? I'm going to read the next book in the series for me of The Final Detail

[Linda]

I just finished , by Harlan Coben, if anyone has not read that one, and you love Harlan, I suggest you put it on your TBR list - It is a very good read.

[Ron]

If anyone reads my novel-http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Mora...

let me know what you think.

[Donna, Co-Moderator]

Hi Ron, Please post information about your own publications in the "Author's Corner" folder. People interested in looking at new author's work will be more likely to see it there.

[Dalene]

Finally was able to read The Woods by Harlan Coben. My first of this author and absolutely loved it. I've mooched (and waiting) for Tell No One and Hold Tight. Can't wait for them to come.

[Marie]

You will enjoy them I've read about 4 of his books and enjoyed every one.

[Pamela]

I love Harlan Coben, and have read many of his books. My favorite being Gone for Good. I love series books as well, and am reading the Bolitar series. Up to #4 or 5 :)

[Dalene]

Pamela wrote: "I love Harlan Coben, and have read many of his books. My favorite being Gone for Good. I love series books as well, and am reading the Bolitar series. Up to #4 or 5 :)"

Is the series as good as his stand alones?

[Elizabeth]

I just picked up Gone For Good yesterday. So glad to hear good words about it. Thanks

[Pamela]

Dalene wrote: "Pamela wrote: "I love Harlan Coben, and have read many of his books. My favorite being Gone for Good. I love series books as well, and am reading the Bolitar series. Up to #4 or 5 :..."

His series is different, good, but different. A lighter read. Likened to Janet Evanovich or Robert Parker.

[Chris]

My first Harlan Coben was Tell No One, which I enjoyed immensely. I've just started The Woods and once again, it looks like another fab read.

[Elizabeth]

I am "Caught"

[Donna, Co-Moderator]

Chris wrote: "My first Harlan Coben was Tell No One, which I enjoyed immensely. I've just started The Woods and once again, it looks like another fab read."

Hi Chris, Be sure to check out our discussion of these books as group reads. Here's the link to the discussion of In The Woods http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/4185...

and Tell No One http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/4713...

[Curlyhair]

Donna wrote: "Chris wrote: "My first Harlan Coben was Tell No One, which I enjoyed immensely. I've just started The Woods and once again, it looks like another fab read."

Hi Chris, ..."

Donna, I've tried those links, as I'm a curious person and a huge fan of Harlan Coben and I can't get into read them. Is this right?

Thanks, Amanda

[Donna, Co-Moderator]

Hi Amanda try these

http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/4...

http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/4...

[Joseph]

I've read Promise me, and Tell No One and found one of my favorite writers. The other writer I found to be good is Clive Cussler

[Curlyhair]

Donna wrote: "Hi Amanda try these

http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/4...

http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/4......"


Thanks Donna,

Amanda

[Max F]

I'm a big fan of Coben/Myron Bolitar, but I'd recommend NOT reading Long Gone...it was definitely a let-down from a mostly-fun series.

[Kris]

My first Coben was Caught. I actually checked out the audiobook from the library and I loved it. I spent much extra time in my car just listening!

[Janice]

I've read everything he has written and loved all of them. I also heard him speak recently. He is wonderfully witty. I can't wait for his next book.

[T]

Saw that the next one out is with Mickey Bolitar, Myron's nephew, geared towards the YA audience.

Ridley Pearson does the Kingdom Keepers series for YA and Kathy Reichs just started, too.