Missing You

Product Information

SPOILER ALERT!!!** - I am the hugest fan of Harlen Coben. When I was approved for this title through Netgalley, I knew that I was in for a treat. Sure that suggests that I'm biased, but on the contrary. When Coben let's me down I let it be known!!! He can afford one bad review or two. Loyal fans like myself won't be shied away from a 2-star rating. Enough about me and my little disclaimer... I am so amazed at this book. I need to think it through. Don't even know where to begin, what to include and where to end. Have you marked your calendar yet? Don't forget! March 18, 2014.....it's going to be a very good day.... Meanwhile, Kat bursts into the prison hospital and confronts the man who confessed to killing her father, but the visit leaves her more confused than ever. Her superiors tell her to let it rest and stop torturing herself, but of course, she's not going to do that.

MISSING YOU | Kirkus Reviews MISSING YOU | Kirkus Reviews

I am a recent convert to audiobooks. And I've discovered that what makes a good written book doesn't necessarily work as an audiobook. Audiobooks need to be fast paced enough to keep your attention without bogging you down in detail. Harlan Coben succeeds with fun plot lines, wonderful turns of phrase and interesting characters. This one involves two initially disparate storylines. In fact, I found myself scratching my head trying to figure out how they were going to come together.I was expecting a mystery or thriller with this novel, and it was there, but only after suffering through two tedious secondary story lines. This was my first Harlan Coben novel, but it didn't leave me wanting more. Missing You is the latest thriller by Harlen Coben. He really cranks these things out. I feel as I just read one a year or two ago. Anyway, I'm cool with that. Coben seems to the master at presenting readers with the idea that we never quite know who stole our hearts. Whether it be an old flame, a wife of 20 years, or even a family member, he suggests that someone is always hiding something. This novel is no different. Only this time the connections are more broad and cautionary to all you Match.com people out there. Brendan’s mother has gone of for a holiday with a guy she met online. Brendan is convinced that she is in danger but the police tell him she’s a grown woman and he should not worry her.

Missing You by Harlan Coben - Publishers Weekly Missing You by Harlan Coben - Publishers Weekly

Kat had eighteen years of sorrow behind her. The day her police officer dad was murdered, was also the beginning of the end for Jeff and her. Eighteen years she tried to find her father's killer, despite the fact that a convicted killer confessed to her father's murder. Being obsessed with her quest to find the real killer, she lost the love of her life, Jeff, who walked away. A tasty, if not always tasteful, tale of supernatural mayhem that fans of King and Crichton alike will enjoy.

There’s even more to watch.

The plot sprints along, and I gobbled up half the book in one sitting. Three-fourths of the way through I texted my Coben-reading buddy and asked WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON?? But I should have known that everything comes together in the end. Wowser. The setup is irresistible, the twists generously piled on and the climax suitably pulse-pounding, even though best-selling Coben (Six Years, 2013, etc.) is hard-pressed to tie all those complications together or produce a payoff that rises to their deliciously suspenseful levels. Something doesn't seem quite right, and so Kat begins to investigate and stumbles onto an Internet dating scam where innocent victims are going of on dates with people they met online and are never heard from again. And--horror of horrors!--Kat's old boyfriend seems to be right in the middle of the scam. Coben επιθυμεί να ενημερώσει και να αφυπνίσει σχετικά με τους κινδύνους που ελλοχεύουν στους διαδικτυακούς ιστότοπους γνωριμιών, και καταφέρνει να πλάσει ένα μεταμοντέρνο αστυνομικό μυθιστόρημα 'νεονουάρ' με αρκετά έντονα στοιχεία ψυχολογικού θρίλερ και θρίλερ τρόμου. This startling information sets Kat off on a quest to discover the truth about her beloved dad's death.

Missing You by Harlan Coben | Goodreads Missing You by Harlan Coben | Goodreads

This is a solid 5 star read for me....It might not be the best book I read in 2014, but I wouldn't be surprised if it ends up being the most suspenseful and exciting read of the year! Y.Γ.: Ενώ, η μετάφραση έχει αρκετά καλή ροή, σε ορισμένα, ευτυχώς, όχι πολλά, σημεία δημιουργεί απορίες λόγω της χρήσης αδόκιμων/αταίριαστων λέξεων ή φράσεων. Επίσης, υπάρχουν μερικά σημεία με αρκετή λεκτική ωμότητα, η οποία μπορεί να αιφνιδιάσει κάποιους. But where he really shines is the romantic scenes. For my money, Coben is the best author when it comes to writing a scene that conveys characters’ spoken – and unspoken – feelings toward one another. His books always move me at some point, and Missing You did so on numerous occasions.

Success!

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: Harlan Coben is my favorite author. His novels are replete with well-developed characters, believable dialogue, great humor, and they have more twists and turns than a steep mountain road. Coben’s last thriller, Six Years, was my favorite of 2013 and I just finished his new book, due out this Tuesday, Missing You. So, how does it measure up to last year’s offering? Read on, my curious friend. Eighteen years after her fiance dumped her, a New York City police detective runs into him again online, with results that make her head spin and leave several people dead.

Missing You by Harlan Coben | Waterstones Missing You by Harlan Coben | Waterstones

I've yet to be disappointed by a Harlan Coben novel. Though I was prepared for a satisfying reading experience I wasn't expecting it to be quite this good. This was very enjoyable as I wait patiently for that next Myron Bolitar series installment (hint, hint). Coben's characters don't really matter to me because they are just pawns to me who move along one freaky instance to another. I don't read his books looking for the next, most in depth character who compares to Hamlet, or Scrooge, or even Heathcliff... So all you book snobs don't take away his points for that reason. His novels are meant to be fast-paced, engaging, thrilling, and suspenseful. Sorry this review is so light on details, but to give more would take all the fun out of it. If this is your first Coben, you're in for a wild ride. The reader (though not the cops) soon learns that Brandon's mother is indeed missing. She's being held by a group of murderous criminals who abduct wealthy people to force money out of them.

The book alternates between accounts of Kat's investigations and descriptions of the gang's activities, which are seriously stomach churning. Though mystery/thrillers often have story lines that are a little outlandish I think parts of this book strain credulity too much. Interesting characters in the story include Kat's bosses - who try to discourage her inquiries into her dad's death; Kat's yoga teacher - who was a brilliant student before his nervous breakdown; Kat's friend Stacy - who's gorgeous and adept at warding off unwanted advances; Kat's mom - an alcoholic with two loyal, but quirky, friends; Titus - the cold-blooded leader of the abduction gang; Bo - a Labrador who likes to chase balls; and others. My favorite part of Missing You is the inspiration for it’s title – the #1 1984 hit song “Missing You” by John Waite. Being a fan of all things ’80s, this brought a smile to my face and made me want to listen to John Waite, which, by the way, I’m doing right now as I write this review. Loving my fabulous book talk with my uber cool Goodreads friends of late. Along the way with my many updates of this read, someone I don’t know from a bar of soap asked if they should give Mr Coben a go. Of course they should! He’s undoutably a safe bet, I don’t always rate all his books 5 stars but I do enjoy them a bloody lot!