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Original Essays | December 12, 2009

Alexander McCall Smith: IMG The Courage of Others



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    La's Orchestra Saves the World

    Alexander McCall Smith

Promise Me

by Harlan Coben

Promise Me Cover

Synopses & Reviews

Publisher Comments:

Whether you discovered him with his New York Times bestselling stand-alone novels or you fell in love with the award-winning books that preceded them — or you've never read him at all — anyone who loves a thriller will love international literary superstar Harlan Coben's latest, Promise Me.

It has been six years since entertainment agent Myron Bolitar last played superhero. In six years he hasn't thrown a punch. He hasn't held, much less fired, a gun. He hasn't threatened or been threatened. He hasn't called his friend Win, still the scariest man he knows, to back him up or get him out of trouble. In the past six years, none of his clients have been murdered — a real positive for his business.

But all that is about to change. Because of the simple urge to protect two neighborhood high-school girls from the all-too-dangerous and all-too-common mistake of getting in a car with a drunk driver, Myron has them make him a promise: If they are ever in a bind but are afraid to call their parents, they should call him rather than get in a car with someone who's been drinking. Several nights later, the call comes at 2:00 am, and true to his word, Myron picks up one of the girls in midtown Manhattan and drives her to a quiet cul-de-sac in New Jersey where she says her friend lives.

The next day, the girl's parents discover that their daughter is missing. And that Myron was the last person to see her. Now, in a desperate attempt to fulfill a well-intentioned promise gone nightmarishly wrong, Myron must become a hero again to save a young girl's life.

Review:

"Last seen in bestseller Coben's Darkest Fear (2000), Myron Bolitar, former basketball star (Boston Celtics) turned sports and entertainment agent and occasional knight in shining armor, is back in fighting form in his action-packed eighth thriller. For the past six years Myron has been leading a quiet life, much of it at his parents' old house in Livingston, N.J. A new girlfriend, Ali Wilder, a 9/11 widow, is helping to bring him out of his shell. Concerned that Ali's teenage daughter, Erin, and Erin's friend, Aimee Biel, might fall in with the wrong crowd, Myron gives them his contact information in case either of them feels she needs help. Aimee later calls him in the middle of the night for a lift to a friend's house, on condition that her request remain a secret. When Aimee turns up missing in circumstances mirroring those surrounding another vanished girl, Bolitar himself becomes a suspect in her disappearance and must use his wits and martial arts skills to uncover the truth. Coben fans will find much to enjoy in this well-crafted suspense novel, which has a startling final twist." Publishers Weekly (Copyright Reed Business Information, Inc.)

Review:

"[A] fascinating hybrid thriller....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." Booklist (Starred Review)

Review:

"As usual, Coben piles on the plot twists, false leads, violent set pieces and climactic surprises with the unfocused intensity that have made his thrillers such a hot ticket." Kirkus Reviews

Review:

"Coben hits the ground running with the compelling Promise Me....The author also delivers enough twists to keep Myron — and the reader — on their toes." South Florida Sun-Sentinel

Review:

"After finishing Promise Me, you realize that all the clues to the twist were evident, but you still didn't see it coming. It's fun to have Myron back..." Philadelphia Inquirer

Review:

"Coben can still write a fine wisecrack, and he can write a well-executed scene. But Promise Me feels a little phoned in....Promise Me has holes in its plot big enough to throw a dog through, and a lot of them." St. Petersburg Times

Review:

"Mr. Coben is in particularly good form this time....Promise Me shows off the best of Mr. Coben's plotting skills....This time he's got it just right: the story is tricky enough to be exciting but not tricky enough to cause whiplash." Janet Maslin, The New York Times

Synopsis:

In the past six years, none of entertainment agent Myron Bolitar's clients have been murdered--a real positive for his business. But all that is about to change when a well-intentioned promise goes nightmarishly wrong, and Bolitar must become a hero again to save a young girl's life in this follow-up to "Darkest Fear."

About the Author

Winner of the Edgar Award, the Shamus Award, and the Anthony Award, Harlan Coben is the author of twelve previous novels, including the New York Times bestsellers The Innocent, Just One Look, No Second Chance, Gone for Good, and Tell No One, as well as the popular Myron Bolitar novels. His books are published in more than thirty-three languages around the world.

What Our Readers Are Saying

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Average customer rating based on 1 comment:
CopyCat, September 7, 2007 (view all comments by CopyCat)
Coben weaves a true suspense thriller in "Promise Me". The main character finds himself an unwilling accomplice in the "kidnapping" of his friend's daughter. Throughout the headlong tumble of events, a challenging internal dialogue proceeds as to the value of personal integrity and a man's duty to fulfill his promises to others. Comparable to a fast paced basketball game, the author fakes to the left, passes around the opposition, fakes to the right, and then slam dunks. Don't give up on the ending too soon, though, or you'll miss the amazing three pointer at the very end that wins the "game".
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Product Details

ISBN:
9780451219244
Author:
Coben, Harlan
Publisher:
Signet Book
Subject:
Thrillers
Subject:
Mystery & Detective - General
Subject:
Suspense
Subject:
Teenage girls
Subject:
Missing children
Subject:
Mystery fiction
Subject:
Bolitar, myron (fictitious character)
Copyright:
Large Print:
Y
Publication Date:
March 2007
Binding:
Mass Market Paperbound
Grade Level:
General/trade
Language:
English
Pages:
504
Dimensions:
7.54x4.22x1.24 in. .65 lbs.

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