Rating: 
Summary: I can stretch this to four stars...
Review: but just barely. Coben is a long-time favorite, but this book falls short of his prior two thrillers and even the Myron Bolitar series. It does hold your interest to the end, because of the plot's twists and turns.I think Marc Seidman, Coben's hero, is the main problem. Although he's given to some sarcastic humor (ala Myron Bolitar),
he's not very well-defined and its hard to see what his old friends (former girlfriend turned FBI agent and his attorney)
see in him to keep them so loyal. His job, as a reconstructive plastic surgeon who, with his partner, travels the world to aid
those in need, is a great touch. His wife, Monica, is killed at the start of the book, in a robbery that wounds Seidman severely, and winds up with his small daughter missing. His quest for his daughter rings true to his feelings about her, but is not enough to save the book. That he'd be married to Monica seems implausible. The cadre of villains here include an unbelievable duo of a woman who is a former child star turned mercenary, and her hulking partner, who is also her lover. Coben spends a lot of time interspersing chapters from their point of view, and they are not realistic. Like other reviewers, I'm a fan of bit-part character Verne (think Chris Cooper) a redneck gunowner with an Eastern European bride, who gets drawn into the action simply because he's drawn to Seidman's plight. I think Coben may have rushed this book to publication, and I hope he'll slow down and create a more plausible story with a better hero in the next round. (Or, he could bring Myron and Win back!) 3 1/2 stars!
Rating: 
Summary: Another winner!
Review: Coben is the first author to win the Edgar, Anthony, and Shamus awards, and it shows once again in NO SECOND CHANCE. He is truly a talented writer who knows how to grab the readers attention on the first page and hold it tight until the end. I have yet to be disappointed with his books. One of the things I like about his style of writing, he is not afraid to have bad things happen to good people.
This book was fast paced and never boring. Coben blends some humor, suspense and mystery in his stories, and his characters come alive on the pages.
Dr. Seidman has a past and it comes back to haunt him. The price he must pay for this past is those he loves most in this world. His wife is murdered, he is shot and left for dead and his daughter is kidnapped. Naturally the FBI believes he is somehow responsible and it is a race to the finish to find the killers/kidnappers and prove his innocence.
If you miss this one, you have missed a great book.
Rating:
Summary: Say it isnt so!!!!
Review: From the first sentence to the last, this book grabbed my attention and never let go. Finished it in two days with a night in between that I was begging to go fast so I could get to the rest of the book. I even read it waiting in the dentist's chair!!!
This book never lets go and I am exhausted!!!!! No second chance, just the phrase alone, strikes fear into one's heart. It did mine! Surely, there is hope for a second one!! This is the 2nd book I've read by Mr. Coben and it wont be the last. I just have to read a lot of sugar books in between in order to have the strength for another. It's a tough, tough subject.
The eventual solution is not perfect but life is not. Doing the wrong thing for the right reason or doing the right thing for the wrong reason - you will have to judge for yourself. I even wiped the perspiration off my forhead once - it was a gripping book!!!! Mr. Coben's characters are so well drawn that you waver between supporting the hero and slapping him upside the head!! Rachel, Lenny, Verne and Marc's father-in-law are so interesting. And man o man, you dont want to be questioned by the FBI!!! :D
Man, can this guy write a book!!! I am a fan now!!!!!
Rating:
Summary: ANOTHER COBEN WINNER-BEST SELLER FOR SURE
Review: 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!
Rating:
Summary: Hooked on Coben
Review: Having only recently discovered Harlan Coben, I feel so lucky that there are 9 other Harlan Coben novels that I've yet to read.
After reading Just One Look, I became a fan and now I'm completely hooked. In No Second Chance, the reader becomes caught up in Marc Seidman's living nightmare. His infant daughter, Tara, has been kidnapped and his wife, murdered. There's no time for Marc to mourn the death of his wife. The kidnappers want two million dollars in exchange for his child and they've warned him not to bring the police or there will be no second chance to see his daugter alive.
I found myself fighting sleep trying to find out "who dunnit" and only stopped reading when my eyes refused to continue focusing. Whew! What a thriller. The ending is surprising and I can't say I would have made the choice Seidman ultimately made regarding his daughter, but you'll have to read it to see if you agree.
Rating:
Summary: Gripping Page Turner-Why Did I wait so long
Review: 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!!
Rating:
Summary: Coben is the Man
Review: I have previously read 'Tell No One' and it rocked. Instant fan of Mr. Coben. Not wanting to be let down by Coben on my second, I looked at Amazon reviews for my next book from him. 'No Second Chance' seemed like the next candidate and damn was it good! It's incredible the way he just keeps coming up with new twists and turns. This is not a page turner, this is a chapter turner! You'll read this book really quick 'cause you won't want to put it down. I'm already looking for my next Coben adventure.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent, the only good new Coben book
Review: I have read all of Harlan Coben's books, including the now out-of-print "Miracle Cure," and so I can safely say that his new, non-Myron Bolitar novels have really been going downhill. "Tell No One" and his next book "Gone For Good" were really excruciating to read, but I was pleasantly surprised when I read this book, which actually has a good plot and interesting characters. If you are new to the Harlan Coben scene, I would advise you to read this book before you read "Tell No One", "Gone For Good", or his newest novel "Just One Look." This book, in my opinion, is far more exciting and has much better twists than any of the others. All in all, a very good read and well worth your time and money.
Rating:
Summary: Whew!!!
Review: I started reading this book about a month ago and wasn't able to finish it bcuz of numerous distractions. I decided to pick it up again yesterday and managed to finish it today. It was good.... it was almost like reading two stories in one book. With all the different sub-plots, I always would think, now how does this tie into the kidnapping of the baby? Mr. Coben did a great job of tying everything together. Just when you'd think you knew what happened, he throw in another twist. I'm glad I decided to pick this one up again. (I guess I gave it a 2nd chance! Ha!) I've read Tell No One and now I will read more by him.
Rating:
Summary: No 2nd Chance
Review: No one writes heart pounding; edge of your seat suspense like Harlan Coben and following the success of 'TELL NO ONE' and 'GONE FOR GOOD', 'NO SECOND CHANCE' is no exception. This novel takes off at an accelerated speed from the beginning and doesn't stop until the very last page! When Dr. Marc Seidman's home is broken into and he is nearly fatally shot, he wakes up days later to the news that his wife was killed and his baby daughter is missing. The search for his child begins when a completely unnerving ransom note is sent to Marc's very wealthy but distant father-in-law. Also, Marc soon finds himself to be the prime suspect in his wife's murder and has to prove his innocence while, at the same time, trying to find his daughter. There are so many twists and turns and off beat characters in this novel that once you start it you will not want to put it down. I have recommended this book to all of my friends and they have all enjoyed it, even better than 'GONE FOR GOOD', 'NO SECOND CHANCE' will not disappoint!
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