Rating: 
Summary: New Bolitar Mystery Keeps You Guessing
Review: Myron Bolitar, sports agent, and his multimillionaire sidekick Win, are caught up in another murder close to home. Coben's lively cast of characters look to solve the murder of an aging, almost has-been ballplayer for the NY Yankees, who has close ties to Bolitar and his junior partner (who is accused of the murder). The list of suspects grows every page, and no one can be eliminated until close to the end of the plot. Readers must carefully evaluate every clue that Coben throws out to decide which are McGuffins and which are real. Several unexpected plot twists keeps the reader on his/her toes.
Rating: 
Summary: Myron gets jerked back to reality: Esperanza needs help
Review: Myron Bolitar, sports agent, sleuth, lawyer, and ex-jock, in this continuation of the series, knew that something was seriously amiss when his long-time friend, associate, and protector extraordinaire Win found him on a desolate Caribbean island, where Myron had disappeared to recuperate from an especially distressful period in his life (see Coben's Fadeaway). Further rejuvenation would have to wait as Win and Myron raced back to New York; the arraignment of Myron's friend and new partner in MB SportsReps, Esperanza, an exotic Latino ex-pro wrestler and now a lawyer, on charges of murder was imminent. The victim was Clu Haid, a newly acquired New York Yankee's pitcher, who was turning around a career in the doldrums, and a client of MB SportsReps.But Esperanza would not talk to Myron and lots of evidence pointed her way. And Myron had gotten a bizarre computer disk in the mail that showed an image of a teen-age girl's face that slowly disintegrated before his eyes and then the disk was wiped clean. As is often the case in the Bolitar series, Myron finds himself entangled in the seedy world of the alternative bar scene and organized crime. In addition, Myron gets a strong feeling that he may be more a part of this entire situation than he can realize. Some have complained that the Bolitar series has gotten stale. But despite perhaps a bit of a slow start, this book is typical Coben in its fast pace and unexpected turns of events. There is a certain amount of repetitious background information given in each book as they are meant to be standalone, but it is not excessive. Reading the books in order does add to the enjoyment of the Bolitar series, though. Coben adds dimensions to his characters with each book. In this book, Big Cyndi, a mammoth, spiked lady, shows a previously unrevealed side. And Myron's unsettled personal situation floats along the surface of this book. Personally, I found this book to be an entertaining and quick read; it wasn't a disappointment. In fact, I plan to start on number seven in the series very soon.
Rating:
Summary: Don't go on vacation without this book.
Review: Myron has emerged from his darkest phase with a vengeance. Now his problems seem to be on a more personal level. What's next, Mr. Coben? Can't wait to read about MB SportsReps next adventure.
Rating:
Summary: What a Cracking Fine Read
Review: Sports agent Myron Bolitar has lost both the women he loved and he is recuperating with a CNN reporter in the Caribbean. His vacation is cut short when his alter-ego Win comes to fetch him back to New York, where his client, a relief pitcher for the Yankees, has both failed a drug test and been found murdered. Worse, Myron's agency partner, Esperanza, has been arrested for the crime. Myron investigates and discovers Esperanza may be more involved than he thinks she is. And as he learns the answers to this mystery's multiple questions, he realizes that the case hinges on revenge motives and actually points to him as the most likely suspect, which leaves him wondering whether or not he wouldn't be better off not knowing who did what to anybody. Once again Mr. Coben puts in enough twist and turns to get your pulse pumping as you race through the book to get to the final detail. And as usual, Mr. Coben has peopled a story with unforgettable characters, like Myron's blue-blooded, aristocratic sociopath, best friend, Windsor (Win) Horne Lockwood III, gender-jumping musclemen, failed baseball players, team owners chasing disappearing children and a young gangster name Frank Ache Junior, who has turned agent and lusts after Myron's business, among others. What a cracking fine read!
Rating:
Summary: A Modern Hammett
Review: The Final Detail is not just the first Myron Bolitar mystery I've read, but also the first Coben book. I haven't been this absorbed in a mystery since reading The Maltese Falcon as a kid. Coben has created unforgettable, quirky characters who engage us even more than the story does. Some other reviewers have suggested that The Final Detail was a bit stale. But, since it was my introduction to the series, it seemed fresh and new to me. The novel did stand pretty well on its own, but there were a few out-of-the-blue references to characters like Brenda Slaughter, who appeared in earlier stories, that were not put into context. On the other hand, these tantalizing unexplained references increased my desire to read the rest of the series. This time, I'll do it in sequence of publication. There are some electrifying characters in this series, particularly Win, the semi-psychotic playboy/money manager/intellectual. And Big Cyndi is both a hilarious and edgy creation. I would have given the book 5 stars had it not been for a couple of points. I thought the character of Thrill (Nancy) was completely unecessary, unless she's simply being introduced as a central character for a future installment. I felt that there too many women throwing themselves at Bolitar and that Bolitar's affection toward his parents got mawkish at times. I also felt that Esperanza is a convenient conglomeration of political correctness (Lesbian, Latina, professional woman, brainy beauty, assertive, etc. etc.) rather than a real flesh-and-blood character, at least in this installment. Overall, I feel this was a terrific mystery and that Coben is right up there with the greats of the genre.
Rating:
Summary: A Modern Hammett
Review: The Final Detail is not just the first Myron Bolitar mystery I've read, but also the first Coben book. I haven't been this absorbed in a mystery since reading The Maltese Falcon as a kid. Coben has created unforgettable, quirky characters who engage us even more than the story does. Some other reviewers have suggested that The Final Detail was a bit stale. But, since it was my introduction to the series, it seemed fresh and new to me. The novel did stand pretty well on its own, but there were a few out-of-the-blue references to characters like Brenda Slaughter, who appeared in earlier stories, that were not put into context. On the other hand, these tantalizing unexplained references increased my desire to read the rest of the series. This time, I'll do it in sequence of publication. There are some electrifying characters in this series, particularly Win, the semi-psychotic playboy/money manager/intellectual. And Big Cyndi is both a hilarious and edgy creation. I would have given the book 5 stars had it not been for a couple of points. I thought the character of Thrill (Nancy) was completely unecessary, unless she's simply being introduced as a central character for a future installment. I felt that there too many women throwing themselves at Bolitar and that Bolitar's affection toward his parents got mawkish at times. I also felt that Esperanza is a convenient conglomeration of political correctness (Lesbian, Latina, professional woman, brainy beauty, assertive, etc. etc.) rather than a real flesh-and-blood character, at least in this installment. Overall, I feel this was a terrific mystery and that Coben is right up there with the greats of the genre.
Rating:
Summary: A Great Read!
Review: The Final Detail is the 6th book in a growing series. This is a wonderful book. It is a fast moving, funny but serious novel. In the beginning of the novel Myron returns from an extended vacaction to find one of his best friends Esperanza is in jail. She will not talk to anyone but her attorney. Myron and Win(the other best friend) want to help Espernaza out but she doesn't want the help. I definitly recommend this novel to anyone who is interested in fast moving novels.
Rating:
Summary: A Great Read!
Review: The Final Detail is the 6th book in a growing series. This is a wonderful book. It is a fast moving, funny but serious novel. In the beginning of the novel Myron returns from an extended vacaction to find one of his best friends Esperanza is in jail. She will not talk to anyone but her attorney. Myron and Win(the other best friend) want to help Espernaza out but she doesn't want the help. I definitly recommend this novel to anyone who is interested in fast moving novels.
Rating:
Summary: The Final Detail
Review: The final detail was a wonderful, fast moving book. This story really proved two friendships. The friendships of Win, Myron and Esperanza. Esperanza is in jail...but she won't talk to her two very best friends. I recommend all of the books in the series. The writing style is great and you won't be able to put the book down!
Rating:
Summary: The Final Detail
Review: The final detail was a wonderful, fast moving book. This story really proved two friendships. The friendships of Win, Myron and Esperanza. Esperanza is in jail...but she won't talk to her two very best friends. I recommend all of the books in the series. The writing style is great and you won't be able to put the book down!
|
