Book Reviews of Promise Me

Wow -- Thought I had the plot all figured out and WHAM!! Harlan Coben slams another plot twist into you. Love this author!

*Starred Review* Coben, the reigning master of clockwork suspense, and winner of the trifecta of mystery-writing honors--the Edgar, the Agatha, and the Shamus--produces a fascinating hybrid thriller here. Coben began his career writing detective novels starring Myron Bolitar, an ex-Celtics basketball player turned entertainment agent. For the past six years, he has concentrated on stand-alone thrillers. Coben's novels are noted for their use of technology, both as weapons used against the innocent and as ways for victims to escape their tormentors, usually with a clock ticking ominously in the background. In Promise Me, Coben skillfully grafts this deadline suspense onto the career of his series hero, Bolitar. As in his stand-alones, the novel starts with a purely domestic situation--at a party in his home, attended by friends and their offspring, Bolitar overhears two teen girls talking about driving home drunk from parties. Stung by his own memory of a high-school friend who died in a car crash, Bolitar makes the girls promise to contact him if they ever need a lift or are in trouble. The call does come a few nights later. Myron drives the caller to a friend's house, but she ends up disappearing, and guilt-ridden Myron must use all his resources to try to find what happened. Coben's resurrection of Bolitar works superbly: the melding of high suspense and high technology with a somewhat battered, very canny, questing hero is sure to produce another major hit for the way-hot Coben.

Once again, Harlan Coban out does himself. This book was excelant from the beginning. Myron Bolitar is one of the great fiction charectors of our time.

First time I've read one of his books, and I was NOT disappointed! Intrigue, suspense, and good twists. Apparently there are a series of books involving the main character, Myron Bolitar. Can't wait to order more.

This is the first book I've read from this author and I'm thoroughly hooked. It is very difficult for an author to keep me interested enough to continue reading.

I thought the book was easy to read and was difficult to put down.

Generally I've kept to my usual authors (J. Kellerman, J. Evanovich and others) but I just might have found my new favorite.

A hard-edged plot with yet more strands of suburban desperation....After finishing Promis Me, you realize that all the clues to the twist were evident, but you still didn't see it coming.

Not my favorite by this author, but I do love his writing. It's fast paced, and seems to draw you in. I finished it in two sittings.

Starts off very slow, but after setting up the charcters he gts into the real plot and it becomes a true Coben - More twists and turns than a corkscrew and a hard to put down great read. Kept me up late while I was reading "just one more page."

After a six year hiatus, Myron Bolitar is back. When his friend's daughter turns up missing, he becomes the main suspect in her disappearance as he was the last person to see her alive. great suspenseful novel, with a surprise ending. I hope Coben brings Bolitar back.

Anothergreat Coben novel. The plot changes and twists will keep you guessing until the last page. Highly recommend it.

great book with a twist you wont beleave

The best Bolitar book I've read. I generally like Coben's non-Bolitar books better (Win is just a little fictiony for me), but this one was very good.

Another Myron Bolitar adventure by Harlen Coben. Interesting, very different plot.

Twists and turns galore -- it's not over until
it's over!! Great thriller!

ANOTHER GREAT STORY FROM MR. COBEN

Not quite as good as his others, maybe because there aren't a lot of bodies flying all over the place, and almost no blood.

I'm surprised this isn't on someone's best seller list. Lots of twists and turns and surprising ending.

The premise: How far will we go to protect our own? An exceptional novel with a surprise ending. A must-read book that you will not be able to put down! "An addictive page-turner"

Moderately interesting book though with the now usual complement of bizarre characters thrown in. An example is a 300 Israeli female impersonator, etc. The ending is pretty good though.

a very good new Myron Bolitar novel - surprise ending.

This is the newest Myron Bolitar book. "An addictive page-turner."-Forbes.

Having read all Coben's stand alones, I then tried the first two books of his series. While they were good, they weren't must-reads for me, the way the stand-alones are. Then Promise Me ended up in my grubby little paws and I've decided to go back and fill in the Myron Bolton books I've missed.

I love the way Coben doesn't reinvent the wheel. If he needs a kick-ass lawyer, he brings back the one you met in a previous book, so characters from his stand-alones are bleeding into the series. That alone would compel me to read these, but I think Coben's just become a better writer than he was when he started, something I don't think happens with most published authors.

Absolutely fantastic book!!

After missing in action for five years, sports agent Myron Bolitar once again sets things right. I missed Myron and it's great he's back!

I've grown to love Harlen Coben's books. Promise Me is a fast-paced, good mystery that kept me on the edge of my seat. I think I read it in two days. I'm sold on him. I loved the gentleness and sincere care that Myron expressed to watch out for these two kids, and in the end he really meant it. Very good book.

I almost didn't read this book -- what a mistake that would have been. It's one of the best books I've ever read!

I found Harlan Coben just last year and have read every single book he has on the market. I love his writing and the way he builds his characters. It is an absolute pleasure to read his books in order and see their progression.

If you're looking for a quick, good, fun read, this is the book for you.

Everything this guy puts out is riveting! Promise me is no exception.

This was an awesome book. Coban once again keeps the reader engaged and in suspense not being able to figure it out.

I still can't believe the twist on the end, not to mention the kooky characters strewn throughout. It was a surprisingly good read for a small buy at a yard sale!

There are many plot twists and an ending that is believable but quite surprising. It is also great to have Bolitar and Win back in a book. Great reading.

Great read, keeps your attention to the end. I just discovered this author and like everything I've read so far.

He will keep me as a reader until I've read them all.

Loved this book Myron Bolitar & Win are my new heroes! Great read I couldn't put it down.

After six years, Myron Bolitar is back - and he is just as good as ever! Coben continues to provide an excellent blend of suspense and humor in this book and this series.

Harlan Coben does it again. Fans of his character, Myron Bolitar, will love Promise Me.

As always, Coben is excellent. Strange plot -- a little hard to follow at the end.

a really terrific read

Not as good as The Innocent, but still very good. Suspenseful.

I really enjoyed this book. It had a lot of different unexpected twists and turns.

This is a very good book and not a lot of murders, just a good mystery.

Six years.......That's how long it's been since entertainment agent Myron Bolitar last palyed superhero. In six years he hasn't thrown a punch. He hasn't held, much less fired a gun. But all that is about to chnage........because of a promise. The school year is almost over. in these last pressure cooker months of high school, some kids will make the all to common and all too dangerous mistake of drinking and driving. But Myron is determined to help keep his friends' children safe and so he make two neighborrhood girls promise him that if they are ever in a bind but afraid to call their parents, they must call him. Several nights later, the call comes at two o'clock a.m. The next day, a girl is missing and Myron is the last person who saw her. Desperate to fulfill a well-intentioned promise turned nightmarishly wrong. Myron races to find her before she's gone forever. But his past will not be buried so easily-for trouble has always stalked him, and his loved ones often suffer. Now Myron must decide once and for all who he is and what he will stand up for if he is to have any hope of saving a young girl's life.

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