Customer Rating:      Summary: Could NOT stop reading this edge of seat thriller! Comment: I know that line, "I could not stop reading it" is an old one, but there's a reason it has become a cliche. If I could have stayed awake all night, I probably would have read it in one sitting. This book, like several of his others (Just One Look, Innocent) grabs you by the throat, takes several seemingly unrelated story lines and brings them together. This one explores the nature of what it means to help a friend (in MANY surprising and unanticipated ways!) and the issue of parental supervision (also in surprising, unique ways). Coben does an excellent job of maintaining the breathless pace. Bravo!! The world could use more books like this.
Customer Rating:      Summary: Should We Spy On Our Kids? Comment: In his latest mystery novel, "Hold Tight," Harlan Coben explores the dark side of parental oversight. The underlying question is this: What happens if we spy on a teenager's electronic communications and find something shocking, such as drug abuse, murder or a planned suicide? Can we take the appropriate action without destroying trust forever?
It's an interesting premise with frightening implications. (I have a 16-year-old son myself.)
PLOT SUMMARY: Mike and Tia Baye live in an upscale suburban community in northern New Jersey. Their teenage son, Adam, is distraught and withdrawn following the suicide of a close friend. Meanwhile, a psychopathic murderer and his accomplice are kidnapping, torturing and murdering grown women for some reason we don't understand. Mike and Tia install a monitoring program on their son's computer to find out what's happening to him. Adam, his parents and their entire community get drawn into a swirling maelstrom of suspicion and crime that nearly engulfs several families.
As the old saying goes: "The road to hell is paved with good intentions."
If you've read Harlan's other novels, you'll find this one particularly grisly and violent. I hope that's not a harbinger of things to come because we certainly have enough blood and mayhem in modern fiction today. On the other hand, you will enjoy the cameo appearances by Paul Copeland and Detective Muse from previous novels.
Generally speaking, I enjoyed this novel but found some of the characters a bit stiff, particularly the teenagers. Harlan has several younger kids of his own, so perhaps he'll improve the dialogue next time around as he gains more experience with this mystifying age group.
BOTTOM LINE: A fast summer read, but not for the faint of heart. Harlan gets a solid "B" from me.
Customer Rating:      Summary: Hold Tight Comment: A real page-turner. Harlan Coben brings you directly and intimately into the story. It made you think.
Customer Rating:      Summary: Another..... Comment: great read from Mr. Coben! I actually finished reading this book inside of one day as I just couldn't put it down....the refrain "how does all this come together" just kept going thru my brain and the only way to rid myself of it was to, well, just pick that big book up and finish it!!
I was not disappointed at all. Every thread was nicely tied and the suspense was perfect, as usual! I do think this book can only be truly appreciated by parents; however, as a suspense-filled story, I think anyone, parent or not, can simply enjoy it for the suspenseful tale it is.
Customer Rating:      Summary: Another winner Comment: Yep, he's done it again. Another winner for Coben, the best in the business. A great read.
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