No Second Chance

Harlan Coben does it again. This book is full of suspense and twists and turns. I have quickly become a huge fan of Coben and No Second Chance does not disappoint.

Just listened to this one over the weekend during a long trip. Unlike a lot of the reviewers here I don't have any other Harlan Coben books to compare this one to, as I've never heard of him, so it's quite easy for me to give it five stars.This book keeps you guessing until nearly the end. Every time you think you have it all worked out you turn out to be completely wrong...THAT, in my opinion, is the sign of a well written mystery. The characters are so well developed that I'm not afraid to admit I had a tear forming in my eye on several occasions. I'm a softy when it comes to parents and their love for their children. This exploits those feelings to the nth degree...constantly. You've read enough reviews with analysis of the plot, the characters, their motivations, etc., that I don't need to add anything about the story itself. Suffice it to say that if you like a well written mystery that keeps you guessing until the end, you'll like this book. If you're a parent, you'll like this book. If you're a fan of action and suspense, you'll like this book.Read this book.

The latest mystery from Coben has several very familiar elements from his previous outings, particularly a husband/boyfriend whose wife/girlfriend has been murdered, running around trying to find the killer(s), while being under police suspicion by the as the guilty party. The main story plot is Dr. Seidman's attempt to find his missing baby daughter,and revolve the fatal shooting of his wife and near-fatal shooting of himself when the abduction took place. Along the way he is primarily assisted by his attorney friend, medical partner, an old girlfriend who just happens to be a forcibly retired FBI agent, and a gung ho ex-soldier who surprisingly helps Seidman instead of shooting him during an attempted break-in. As usual in a Coben story, Seidman has to fight against the bad guys/gals while evading representatives of the law (police, FBI). There is little humor in No Second Chance, and no wealthy, mysterious and dangerous sidekick assisting the hero protagonist, as there are in Coben's Myron Bolitar series. What we get is a very fast paced novel with a few expected and unexpected twists.

Harlan Coben (Gone for Good, Tell No One, the Myron Bolitar series) has written some fantastic thrillers, but his latest, No Second Chance, is far and away the best. I won't repeat the plot summaries above, let me simply say that this book was so engrossing I couldnt put it down. Make sure you start reading it early in the day, or like me you will be up to 4 am finishing it.I am also drawn to Coben's books by his richly drawn characters. There are no stock figures or stereotypes in this book-every character is multilayered, with levels of good and evil, and yet each real in his or her own way. Figuring out who's helping the book's lead character Marc Seidman and who is not drove me crazy, but in a good, absorbing way that I wish other whodunit readers would learn from. My favorite characters of Coben in the past included Win, Esperanza, Lou and Nina, but this book has given me a couple (I wont name them so I don't spoil your fun) to move to the top of the list.Great story, great characters, mesmerizing read. Dont miss this book!

I had heard alot about Harlan Coben, but No Second Chance was my first read, and now I feel foolish for waiting so long. I wish I could divulge some plot elements, for they are brilliant, but let me say simply that this book has a fantastically constructed serpentine plot. Reminds me of being on Space Mountain, a great roller coaster where you always think you know the next exciting twist and turn, never do, and then wonder of course why didnt I think of that. Dr. Marc Seidman, Coben's lead character, is a good guy with just enough hint of darkness to make him interesting. And the characters surrounding him all seem to be hiding some deep dark secret, though discerning which do and what they are is part of what makes this novel a great read. And I also like Coben's eye for detail and description-it is at the same time vivid yet well researched and accurate. One can actually painlessly learn something from a Harlan Coben book.This was the best money Ive spent in a long time, and now Im off to order the rest of Coben's book. Read it, you won't regret it. Yeah Harlan!!