No Second Chance

Rating:
Summary: Suspense on Every Page - Simply Exceptional
Review: Plastic Surgeon Marc Seidman is a good man. He travels to war torn, thrid world countries and treats those in need. He does his share, he doesn't deserve what happens to him, but then nobody deserves what happens to Marc. One morning he and his wife Monica are shot in their home. Monica dies, Marc wakes up in the hospital twelve days later only to learn that his six-month-old daughter Tara is missing.

There have been no ransom notes, no contact from the kidnappers, then the day Marc leaves the hospital his wealthy father-in-law Edgar gets a note. Marc is to deliver two million dollars in exchange for Tara. No police, the note says and it also says there will be no second chance. However Mark consults his friend and attorney who advises him to call the cops who botch everything up, the bad guys get the money, but Marc doesn't get Tara.

There is nothing Mark can do. He goes back to his life, tries to live as normally as possible, but he never gives up hope. Then his former girlfriend Rachael, who is now with the FBI comes back into his life and Edgar gets another ransom note. The kidnappers want another two million. Eighteen months have passed, can she still be alive. Yes, the kidnappers sent a lock of hair and Edgar DNA tested it. It's from a two year old, it's from Tara. But can he and Rachael get the money to the kidnappers and get Tara back without the authorities mucking everything up again.

Let me tell you, don't pick this book up on a Saturday morning if you have anything important at all to do on the weekend, because you won't get it done. Like everything Mr. Coben does, this story just oozes suspense. And just when you think you have it all figured out, Mr. Coben adds a twist or two. This book is simply exceptional.

Rating:
Summary: A Second Chance
Review: Plastic surgeon Marc Seidman is shot in his home. He comes to twelve days later in the hospital and learns that his wife has been killed and his infant daughter Tara is missing. There are no leads, there is no ransom note and the police suspect Marc, however after he's released from the hospital a ransom note is finally delivered. "No cops, two million dollars and no second chance if instructions are not followed," it says. But Marc does tells the cops, then delivers the money. His daughter is not returned.

A year and a half later a second ransom note arrives.

As usual Harlan Coben takes us on a walk down dark path of our deepest fears. We suffer along with Marc at the loss of his daughter, our heart quickens when we find out she may still be alive. Also, as usual, Coben slides between the first and second person point of view with such ease we hardly know he's done it. Coben spins words so well we don't even notice we're caught in the web till the story is finished.

Review submitted by Captain Katie Osborne

Rating:
Summary: Great Use of Symbolism
Review: Symbolism is defined as giving symbolic meaning or significance to an object or event. In many novels, authors implement the use of symbolism, helping to make their literature more complex and vivid. Harlan Coben's No Second Chance contains many symbols in which unfold a deeper meaning of Dr. Seidman's struggle to find his kidnapped daughter.
Symbolism brings complexity to Coben's novel. No Second Chance is an exciting novel to read-filled with heart-stopping action and edge of your seat suspense. Strong diction and in-debt analysis are not found in this novel, however. Harlan Coben wrote No Second Chance in a way in which most readers will have no problem reading. This thrilling novel is written in mostly dialogue, yet Coben still includes opportunities for symbolism. These symbols mostly reveal the feelings of Dr. Seidman in his struggle to find his kidnapped daughter. Probably the most influential symbol is Dr. Seidman's cell phone.
In the beginning chapters of No Second Chance, Dr. Seidman has been shot and comes to find out that his wife is dead and his new-born baby daughter Tara has been kidnapped. During the first ransom demand of the novel, Seidman is given an untraceable cell phone to receive a phone call with demands on how to find his daughter. When the kidnappers find out that Seidman has involved the police, after he was specifically ordered not to, the kidnappers disappear, giving him "no second chance" at finding his daughter. For eighteen months following the kidnapping and ruined ransom exchange, Seidman held on to the cell phone in which the kidnappers had given him. Even though the kidnappers stated that they would disappear and give him no second chance, Seidman still held onto the phone. The phone became a symbol of hope for Seidman as he desperately longed for his missing daughter. He even bought a charger to keep the cell running. Even though the odds of Tara's return were minimal, Seidman still had hope, still awaited a second chance.


Rating:
Summary: Couldn't Put It Down
Review: This book is a lot of fun. Coben weaves an incredible story through twists and turns that kept me turning pages. I bought this book at a hotel gift shop on vacation thinking it might be something to read while I fell asleep in the sun. No chance of that. I couldn't have fallen asleep reading this even if I had wanted to. It seems as if Coben throws in a new wrinkle on every other page and somehow they don't seem contrived. I flew through the last 100 pages of this book only to find myself disappointed that it was done. As much as I wanted to finish the book to catch my breath, I found myself terribly upset that the roller coaster ride was over. Great book!

Rating:
Summary: Never Know Who Your Friends Are.....
Review: This book is a real page turner. Just to wait up from a coma, only to find that you are the prime suspect of the murdered of your wife and possibly of you own child can be dramatic and tramatic. It takes a person that can stand the heat to try and get out of this. I really enjoyed this book. It had action and
drama.

I will be reading Just One Look very soon.
Love this book!!!!!!!

Rating:
Summary: Riveting Thriller
Review: This is a fast-paced murder mystery ~~ and riveting. I picked this book up at my hairdresser's and finished it in two days. I have never read Coben's books before and was not disappointed by this one ~~ it's engrossing.

Dr. Marc Seidman lies in a hospital bed after being shot twice by an unknown assailant. His wife is murdered and his six-months-old daughter is missing. This is just the beginning. The police suspects Marc as the guy behind the kidnapping and the murder of his wife. Desperate to find his daughter and to find the truth ~~ Marc didn't allow anyone to stop him from completing his quest.

As the mystery unravels ~~ so did Marc's suspicions. The truth lies closer to home than he ever realized.

It is a fun book ~~ perfect for a long dreary winter night. It is a definite fast-paced thriller. If you like murder mysteries, this is a good one. It's suspenseful enough to keep you on the edge of your seat.

1-10-05

Rating:
Summary: Another great book from Coben
Review: This is the second Coben book I read and I can't wait to read the rest! Coben's writing is smarter than most "thriller" writers and his plot turns and twists keep you interested until the very end. I finished this book on a plane ride and the only bad part was that it ended so soon.