Linzie (suspenseisthrillingme)'s Reviews > Think Twice

Three years ago, sports agent Myron Bolitar gave a eulogy at the funeral of his client, renowned basketball coach Greg Downing. Myron and Greg had history: initially as deeply personal rivals, and later as unexpected business associates. Myron made peace and moved on—until now, when two federal agents walked into his office, demanding to know where Greg Downing is.

According to the agents, Greg is still alive—and has been placed at the scene of a double homicide, making him their main suspect. Shocked, Myron needs answers.

Myron and Win, longtime friends and colleagues, set out to find the truth, but the more they discover about Greg, the more dangerous their world becomes. Will they be able to parse the secrets and lies? What really happened to Greg? And can they uncover the truth before it’s too late? Or have they already been dealt a losing hand?

Edge of your seat action. A vivid, adrenaline-pumping climax. Giggle-worthy dialogue. All of the above describes Think Twice to a T. Book twelve in the Myron Bolitar series, I don’t know what I was thinking having never visited with these characters before. Realistic, openly flawed, and just the right amount of comical and witty, I fell in love with each and every one right from the start. So much so, in fact, that I didn’t even have a single guess about who was the monster in disguise. Trust me when I say that this was most definitely for the best.

Just as with all of Coben’s books, though, the plot was the star of the show. Told primarily from Myron’s POV, the pace was fast and the suspense was constantly building. What took this to another realm was the intermittent chapters from the killer’s perspective. Was it wrong that I enjoyed them just a little bit too much? As for the case, it was complex and deftly layered. So much so, in fact, that there seriously wasn’t a chance in h*** of me figuring it out before the final timely reveal.

The only minor fly in the ointment, though, had to do with that complexity in the plot. Perhaps it was just me, but there were moments where I felt a bit lost. After all, there are a ton of subplots, red herrings, characters, and potential theories to the case. Part of my perplexity may have been down to the fact that I jumped into this series late in the game so all of the returning characters were brand new to me, but there were just so many details to grasp.

By the time I reached the final chapter, however, I couldn’t give a toss about any sporadic confusion. With a dynamite climax that had me flying through the pages and a conclusion that felt wholly true-to-life and authentic, I was left completely in awe. It’s no surprise that so many of Mr. Coben’s novels have been adapted for TV. They just seem to come alive right before your eyes. And then there’s was the laugh-out-loud humor. Between Myron’s conversations with his wife, partner, and parents, I dare you to try and remain silent without a single snicker escaping your lips. So all in all, this maestro of the written word has clearly done it yet again. Thank you, dear sir, for giving me the ride of my life. Rating of 4.5 stars.

Thank you to Harlan Coben and Grand Central Publishing for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.

PUB DATE: May 14, 2024

Trigger warning: a shooting in public, kidnapping, getting framed for a crime