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43 of 49 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A Modern Hammett, April 22, 2004
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.
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16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Best Mystery Writer Around...Case Closed, June 11, 2001
Harlan Coben is the most gifted mystery writer to enter the literary world in quite some time. In this sixth book of the Myron Bolitar series, Coben is, again, nothing less than sensational. Bolitar, owner of MB SportsReps, has taken a vacation in the Carribbean, without telling anyone. While relaxing on the tropical beach for three weeks, his company goes to pieces, and his partner, Esperanza, is arrested for the murder of Myron's first ever client, major league relief pitcher, Clu Haid. Myron is rushed back into the limelight, as a potential suspect as well as an accessory. He is forced to scramble to keep his agency afloat, clear his best friend's name, and deal with his competition, which is run by the mafia. To make matters worse, Esperanza wants him to back off, something that Myron just can't do. All of the loveable characters are back, and fans of Big Cindi will really get to know her a lot better in this novel. A few new interesting characters are introduced as Myron travels through New York's sexual underground for answers. There are so many wicked plot twists, the book becomes a wild page-turner instantly. Coben's gifted writing talents shine through remarkably, and the character dialogue is perfectly snappy. The storyline is impressively complete and well-defined. This is simply another super effort by Coben, and one entertaining read.
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26 of 31 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Never Saw it Coming ..., April 11, 2005
After reading most of his more recent works, I have become a BIG Harlan Coben fan. Gone For Good, Tell No One, Just One Look are three of the best books I have read in a long time. Hungry for more Coben, I went back to read some of his earlier work, picking up The Final Detail. While I found the book enjoyable to read, it is not as satisfying as his more recent books. The protagonist, sports agent Myron Bolitar, is a well-developed, sypmathetic character, and it is fun to follow him on his rather improbable adventures. But I found many of the other characters in the book to be more cartoonish and less believable. The biggest disappointment for me was the conclusion which smacked a bit of pulling a rabbit out of a hat. While it was a tidy conclusion, it was unsatisfying because the reader had no hints of what the outcome would be. Rather than "Oh my! Of course that's what happened! Why didn't I see it!" the reader is left scratching his head and wondering why Coben wrote a conclusion that did not flow logically from what had gone before. I am eagerly looking forward to reading Coben's next book (The Innocent), but doubt that I'll be reading any more of the Myron Bolitar books.
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