Customer Reviews

One False Move (Myron Bolitar Mysteries)

5 star:		(60)
4 star:		(18)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is the fifth book in the Myron Bolitar series. While having read only three of the other six to this point, it is not possible to say with certainty that this one is the best of all seven. But "One False Move" has more in-depth personal interactions than the others that I have read, drawing the reader a little closer to Myron than is sometimes the case. For those unfamiliar with Bolitar, he runs MB SportsRep. But his circuitous journey to this point, after his budding basketball career was abruptly ended due to a serious on-court injury, gives Myron a dimension far beyond the typical sports agent.

The book is, as usual with Coben, fast-paced with Myron and Win, his quirky, lethal, and blue-blood partner, encountering all manner of sleaze-balls and people with something to hide. Brenda Slaughter, the girl that the new WPBA basketball league is featuring, should be on top of the world. But her father has gone missing after she filed assault charges against him, not to mention the fact that her long-lost mother of twenty years has been on her mind all of that time. Enter Myron; the league needs its investment protected. But the assignment gets more complicated and riskier by the day.

Some reviewers find the Coben books humorous. And they are. But the dialogue is more edgy than funny. Of course, the new office worker Cyndi, the spikey ex-pro female wrestler, is captivating and hilarious.

There are some good twists in this book. I missed the one at the end - well actually I missed all of them. See if you can get it (them). Meanwhile I'm starting another Myron Bolitar book.

I had not read a Harlan Coben novel before, and when I was told it included a lot of American Basketball references, I was sceptical. I was, however, pleasantly surprised. This novel appeals to a wide audience, not just sports fans, and I enjoyed it thoroughly. It showed great wit, especially in the repartees between Myron and his partner Win, and I found myself laughing out loud, (which was highly embarassing). The storyline was fast moving and thrilling, and the ending was satisfying and well done. I found myself really connecting with the main characters and feeling for them. I definitly plan to read more of Coben's books, especially the Bolitar series. I definitly recommend it, particularly if you like a bit of humour in your thrillers.

The Myron Bolitar series by Harlan Coben has been a joy and a thril to read. Until now I haven't found a writer who could keep me guessing until the very end, turning pages late into the night, yet also making me laugh out loud at Myron's wonderful jokes and self-deprecating humor. Myron is such a unique character -- you can't help but love him. He wears his heart on his sleeve, he makes no apologies for loving his parents and acutally enjoying spending time with them, and he has the most eccentric and loyal two best friends ever created in fiction. This combined with the suspense and humor makes for a must read!

Started reading Mr Coben's books from the first one. This one was so intense, the ending took my breath away.

What a powerful read! A page turner from the very beginning. Myron agrees to look after an upcoming woman basketball player. Of course, he gets in depths beyond his swimming capacity but still will not give in or give up. Thank heaven, he has Win who sometimes is his voice of reason. I too would like to see more intense punishment for the bad guys. Myron holds Win on a tight leash, yet depends on Win's saving his butt at the cruicial moment. Again, the characters are vivid. Myron was a pushover for his client, Brenda the gorgeous Amazon. Myron and Esperanza reach a crossroad. Win is so wonderful; the man is a psycho dream!!! Thank heaven, he sees Myron as a true friend. He is Myron's guardian angel!

Mr. Coben's books are wonderful reads. This one was not as witty and funny but the sarcasm was still there. The ending is breathtaking! On to the next.

Harlan Coben is the best mystery writer in the business. Enough said. This fifth book, as well as the other incredible novels, in the Myron Bolitar series is simply sensational.

Myron Bolitar, the college basketball stud-turned fed-turned sports' agent (not to mention the latest star in the upcomming Yoo-Hoo commercial), is back again for another wild adventure. ONE FALSE MOVE is Myron's "darkest" tale to date. On the brink of starting a Women's Professional Basketball League, Brenda Slaughter, the hottest star has been getting threatening phone calls. In being called in to provide protection, Myron becomes her agent, but the adventure is just beginning. Her mother has been missing for twenty years, and her father turns up dead, only to have her as the prime suspect. Throw in the mafia Ache brothers, crooked politicians, and a new leader of Myron's biggest competition, and you have yourself one amazing novel.

All of the standard characters are back, including the ever-popular psycho-yuppie Win, the sizzling Esperanza Diaz, who is slowly but surely gaining her voice in the series, the sensational girlfriend Jessica Culver, Myron's parents, "El-Al" Bolitar, and "Big Chief Mama" herself, Big Cyndi. Let's never forget to use the "Big!"

As in all of Coben's books, the witty dialogue makes the novel that is already so cohesively complete with an excellent storyline and a wonderfully detailed, yet unique writing style, that much better. There are always a multitude of plot twists, and the suspense of the whodunnit mystery is apparent to the very last chapter of the book. ONE FALSE MOVE keeps you guessing throughout, making for one entertaining and exciting read. This book is a winner. Case closed!

Harlen Coben books - particularly the ones featuring Myron Bolitar - are dangerous things. You shouldn't pick them up unless you have the necessary time to read a good chunk of it. Coben is not one to be read in small bits; his novels are too hard to put down. And for a writer, what higher compliment can there be?

In One False Move, Coben's principal series character, Myron Bolitar, is recruited to look after an aspiring female basketball player, Brenda Slaughter. Brenda is young, beautiful, intelligent (she's pursuing a medical degree) and the best player in her game. She is also receiving threatening phone calls that may or may not be linked to her estranged father. Myron, who often winds up fighting crime in addition to representing athletes, is asked to help her by the owner of her team.

Myron's efforts to assist open up all sorts of problems and invite the interest of a number of shady parties, most notably the Ache brothers (a pair of especially vicious criminals who run a rival sports agency) and the Bradford family, New Jersey's answer to the Kennedys. Arthur Bradford is running for governor and resents Myron's digging. It turns out that twenty years early, Brenda's mother was entangled in the "accidental" death of Arthur's wife; a few months later, she disappeared.

Before Myron can piece everything together, there will be more dead bodies and it will require a lot of effort for Myron to not be one of them. In addition, he is having problems with his long-time girlfriend Jessica and his secretary Esperanza is giving him an ultimatum to become his business partner. At least Myron's best friend Win, a sociopath who loves to act violently against those who deserve it (and is an expert at it), is in his corner.

I've read enough Coben books to know he rarely (actually never) disappoints, and this book is typical in that respect. The only "weakness" in the novel is that it is better enjoyed by those who've read the other volumes in the series; but, even if you pick this up first, it stands alone well. So if you have a couple hours you can set aside, this is an excellent way to fill that time.

I truly enjoyed my first Harlan Coben book, No Second Chance, so I looked forward to reading One False Move. Unfortunately, this second book while enjoyable is not of the same caliber as No Second Chance.

One False Move is one of Coben's Myron Bolitar series. Bolitar is a former basketball star and now works as a professional sports agent. Brenda Slaughter is a professional basketball player who is in need of an agent and some protection. She has been receiving threatening phone calls from unknown sources. Her father (and former manager) has disappeared. A group with mob ties is trying to start-up a rival women's basketball league, and they claim that Horace Slaughter has committed his daughter to the new league. In trying to discover what is happening in the present, Bolitar finds lots of ties to the past. Brenda's mother disappeared 20 years ago and has never been found. Her disappearance seems to be related to the mysterious death of prominent socialite, Elizabeth Bradford. Bradford's husband Arthur is running for NJ governor, and the Bradford money paid for an effective cover-up. The Bradford's are doing everything in their power to keep the past hidden.

There are a number of things I did not like about One False Move. Coben's writing is writing and some of it is quite good. "Some people held grudges; Esperanza clutched them and tied them around her waist and used cement and Krazy glue to hold them steady." But Bolitar tries to be just a little too cute. His dialogue with his buddy Win is much too juvenile, and it seems as if Coben is trying to mimic Spenser and Hawk from Robert Parker's series. I also thought the plot wasn't as tight as in No Second Chance. The subplot about the second league was never well developed. Also, some of the characters were just a little too much of a stretch (including the Bradford thugs and Chance Bradford).

Despite these issues, One False Move is still a page-turner and I was floored by the ending. I will definitely read more of Harlan Coben, but I am not compelled to read them as quickly as I read Michael Connelly or James Lee Burke

Harlan Coben continues to prove that he is one of the best thriller writers around at the moment. A page turner is a much used phrase but in this case it is really appropriate. The author's books are always so well structured and his character's well rounded. He is obviously comfortable with his style and ability and this transmits itself to the reader making the reading of his books sheer pleasure from start to finish. Coben has now got a string of best selling crime novels behind him and all I can say is that I hope he continues to write for many years to come. The author lives in New Jersey with his wife and four children.

It's been a while since an accident ended Myron Bolitar's sporting career, but he is now making quite a success of being a sports agent.. He has plenty of contacts and it keeps him around many of the sports stars he competed against. Life is good and he is doing just fine, that is until he meets Brenda Slaughter, one of the hottest female sports stars around. She is one hell of a looker, funny and single and as luck would have it seems to have mislaid her agent.

But when her father disappears and Mob start to lean on her, it soon becomes apparent that potent forces are at work and Myron is soon plunged into a world of deceit and death. Hopefully it won't be his own.

Spoilers!

This is one of my favorite books in the Myron Bolitar series, because our wise-cracking hero is finally starting to move forward with his life. Dropping Jessica as a crutch, coming to terms with his relationship to Win, making Esperanza a partner in his business...and oh yeah, there is a pretty compelling murder mystery in the book too, with a plot twist that will blow you away.

Coben's dialogue is top-notch, and though I doubt too many people have the relationship that Win and Myron share in real life, their character interaction is always compelling. Brenda is an interesting new character to add to the series, and I found myself truly shocked in the end, when I realized her appearance would be brief.

This story makes you realize that the 'bad guy' is not always some nefarious serial-killer, rogue assassin, or other cliche evil-doer. Evil comes in all sizes and packages, and we are disillusioned right along with Myron when he discovers the depths that 'normal' people can sink to.

I have not yet read all of the Myron Bolitar books, but I've read several handfulls and this is the best of a very strong set. The characters are engaging, the plot complex but transparent and easily followed. This is the most craftsmanlike of the Bolitar novels, a finely-polished piece of fiction that would make any mystery writer proud. Read it anywhere; it will hold your attention and help you shut out the white noise.

My only criticism is that when justice is meted out to the baddies it happens too quickly and too painlessly. Coben has introduced and developed these characters at length and instilled in the reader a white hot desire for justice. It comes, but its manner is not commensurate with the desire he has carefully built. Mickey Spillane (RIP, Mickey, who just left us) would have hit them until they bubbled and then kicked them until they stopped. And we would have been cheering all the while.