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Stay Close [Hardcover]

Harlan Coben
3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (295 customer reviews)

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Book Description

March 20, 2012

Harlan Coben follows four consecutive #1 New York Times bestsellers with a stand-alone thriller in the vein of his beloved breakout novels Caught and Hold Tight.

Megan is a suburban soccer mom who once upon a time walked on the wild side. Now she's got two kids, a perfect husband, a picket fence, and a growing sense of dissatisfaction. Ray used to be a talented documentary photographer, but at age forty he finds himself in a dead- end job posing as a paparazzo pandering to celebrity-obsessed rich kids. Jack is a detective who can't let go of a cold case-a local husband and father disappeared seventeen years ago, and Jack spends the anniversary every year visiting a house frozen in time, the missing man's family still waiting, his slippers left by the recliner as if he might show up any moment to step into them.

Three people living lives they never wanted, hiding secrets that even those closest to them would never suspect, will find that the past doesn't recede. Even as the terrible consequences of long-ago events crash together in the present and threaten to ruin lives, they will come to the startling realization that they may not want to forget the past at all. And as each confronts the dark side of the American Dream- the boredom of a nice suburban life, the excitement of temptation, the desperation and hunger that can lurk behind even the prettiest facades- they will discover the hard truth that the line between one kind of life and another can be as whisper-thin as a heartbeat.

With his trademark combination of page-turning thrills and unrivaled insight into the dark shadows that creep into even the happiest communities, Harlan Coben delivers a thriller that cements his status as the master of domestic suspense.


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Editorial Reviews

Review

"[A] masterful stand-alone…. Coben writes with wit and irony"Publishers Weekly (starred review)


"[A] tour-de-force stand-alone…. [with] some of the most shocking action scenes in current crime fiction."
Booklist, starred review


"[Coben] engages readers from the first page." -Library Journal


"A solid mystery from a powerful writer." -San Jose Mercury News


"A superb stand-along thriller."-Mystery Tribune


"Harlan Coben has long been one of today’s top thriller writers, for his gripping, thought-provoking standalones as well as his Myron Bolitar novels. In Stay Close, he masterfully portrays the violent intersection of several lives, overshadowed by past events….Don’t missSTAY CLOSE, a stupendous read."
--Bookloons.com



“When you read a Coben novel you are absorbed by it. His writing draws you into the world he has created and you get to know the characters totally…. [Stay Close] is intense, the characters are interesting, and the writing is magnificent. Coben's talent is in high gear as he takes his readers to the magical world of Atlantic City, a place where dreams either come true or die."

-Jackie K. Cooper, The Huffington Post


“The narration hums and dances and sings like nothing [Coben] has done before, and his characters are so real this time around that they almost seem to rise off the printed page.”

-Bookreporter.com

About the Author

Harlan Coben is an international No. 1 bestselling thriller author. He is the winner of the EDGAR, SHAMUS and ANTHONY AWARDS - the first writer to receive all three. His books are published in 40 languages, with over 47 million copies in print worldwide. www.harlancoben.com. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Details

  • Hardcover: 400 pages
  • Publisher: Dutton Adult; First Edition edition (March 20, 2012)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 9780525952275
  • ISBN-13: 978-0525952275
  • ASIN: 0525952276
  • Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.3 x 1.3 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (295 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #49,921 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Harlan Coben is the bestselling author of sixteen previous novels, including the #1 New York Times bestsellers "Long Lost" and "Hold Tight." Winner of the Edgar Award, the Shamus Award, and the Anthony Award, Coben lives in New Jersey with his family.







Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews
96 of 107 people found the following review helpful
3.0 out of 5 stars Just wasn't compelling... March 22, 2012
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
I usually love Coben - the Myron Bolitar books are must reading for me. His stand alone novels have always been winners as well. This book just didn't have that 'can't put this down' feeling.

The story is a simple one - two people affected by an event in the past are on a collision course with the truth. Ray is a down and out photographer who can't get the images of one night seventeen years ago out of his mind. Megan is a soccer mom with a secret past.

When an Atlantic City man goes missing the pattern is just too familiar. The police link the current case to a man who went missing seventeen years before. Following the clues brings together a group of people who share a shady lifestyle and personal secrets.

There were some cliche characters and the writing lacked the snappy, crisp dialogue I have come to expect from Coben. I thought the story bogged down at times.

Just ok.
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110 of 131 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Best Coben Book I've Read So Far March 20, 2012
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
I had pre-ordered this for my Kindle several months ago, and I had cleared the deck of my reading material two days before the release as, after all, I didn't want to be in the middle of reading something when it was released.

It was more than well-worth the wait, and probably one of the better Harlan Coben books I have read.

Coben does his usual job with his non-Myron Bolitar series with twists and turns, several things going on at once, then weaving it all into one big plot line: just when you think you have it figured out he hits you with a baseball bat, takes a hard right turn, and brings in a new plot twist that you didn't see coming that leave you with an "a-ha" moment.

One thing that makes Coben stand out (to me at least) is how he can quickly get you into the head of not only the main character, but the supporting cast as well. I don't know how he does it, but you can personally relate to most of the characters as some type of vision of yourself, or extensions of the circle of friends and acquaintances you have in your life.

Kindle purists will probably slam this book for being priced more than $9.99, but believe me when I tell you that you will get more than $9.99 worth of value with this book - I certainly did. Coben has solidified his mastery of the mystery and thriller genre with this title, and I would absolutely love to see more of these standalone thrillers than a continuation of the Bolitar series!
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77 of 93 people found the following review helpful
1.0 out of 5 stars Big Disappointment March 28, 2012
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
As a long-time Harlan Coben fan, I eagerly awaited this book. Sadly it was a huge disappointment. His books have always hooked me right from page one and that didn't happen this time. I found the characters unlikable. Why would an ex-stripper who has pulled herself up out of that hard life find herself missing that? I could not bring myself to care about Megan or root for her in any way. A few times I swore I couldn't read any more but I struggled to stay with it - hoping it would pick up and he would give us some of the old Harlan. But finally I gave up - something I rarely do - especially after spending $15 for the Kindle edition. I just couldn't make myself read any more. I hope Mr. Coben tries again as he has always been my favorite author. Sadly this book just didn't measure up for me.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars Very good read!
Coben did it again. A great read with twist and turns and full of suspense. It was like watching a good movie and wanting to miss a second. Very hard to put down.
Published 1 day ago by cphillip
4.0 out of 5 stars Traditional Coben ending.....great read
Keep the reader interested. The usual surprise at the end which keeps you guessing. Harlam fans will love it. Read it in two sittings!
Published 1 day ago by Ramon Loureiro
4.0 out of 5 stars My first time
I have not read this author before though I know of his books. I passed on reading them in favor of others new at the time. Read more
Published 1 day ago by booklover
5.0 out of 5 stars Great Read
Haven"t ready Coban for a while, ever since Bolitar retired, but I' m back. Great story and worth the wait.
Published 4 days ago by Susan M. Weady
4.0 out of 5 stars Stay close
Started slow and did not like the main character at all. But I like they way the story progressed and not knowing the truth till the very end.
Published 4 days ago by Robert
3.0 out of 5 stars Even a so-so Harlan Coben is better than most other authors!
The book was good, but not one of his greatest. It was hard to follow at first, but then started coming together. Read more
Published 4 days ago by Sharon Ferguson
5.0 out of 5 stars Fast paced, surprise ending
I never tire of Harlan Coben's story telling and always look forward to his next book. He has never disappointed.
Published 5 days ago by Cindy R. Charlebois
4.0 out of 5 stars Stay Close
I like Harlan Cobens books. This one gets a little bogged down with trying to remember the names of the previous and current "victims". Read more
Published 6 days ago by Timi Fowler
3.0 out of 5 stars Not his best
I am a big fan of Harlan Coben's books. As many other reviews have said, this one was not great. It held my interst but was not a page turner.
Published 7 days ago by avidreader
5.0 out of 5 stars Good read.
Been reading Coben for several years. A lady on an airplane suggested him to me. I'd like to thank her...
Published 8 days ago by G. Mulligan
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