Customer Reviews

Tell No One

5 star:		(247)
4 star:		(127)
3 star:		(42)
2 star:		(34)
1 star:		(20)

 

 

If you are a fan of his prior series' featuring the sports hero Myron Bolitar, you will probably like this book, but be a little wistful at some of the missing elements as he changes genre. Bolitar is the hero of 7 prior novels that fall in the "Comic Mystery Thriller" category populated by Lawrence Sanders, Lawrence Block and Janet Evanovich. Characterizations in the Bolitar books are so over the top that they make you giggle, even as you are consumed in a pace so fast that you finish the book without taking time to get a snack. Conversation is witty and cynical and you wonder if the author was a stand up comedian in a prior life. When looking for a beach book or just a great read to get over the rest of the stress, Coben is a hero to most.

So, "Tell No One" is a big departure, and only Shauna, Tyrese & Eric Wu, supporting characters in the story, will remind you that this is Coben. If you loved "Tell No One", be prepared that you may find Coben's earlier books too light for your taste, if you believe a thriller is a thriller and any comic touches are just wasted words.

Only 2 things hold "Tell No One" back from a five star rating. Coben's hero, his weaving of a tale of romance and familial loyalty, his pace and his ability to leave you guessing as his plot twists and turns are terrific! His cops are believable and admirable and his hero spins in every direction when discovering how easily he has been duped about the murder of his wife and how he has incredibly passed 8 years since her murder in absolute ignorance.

The 2 things: The final unveiling of the murderer was one twist too many...we could have left the tale much more enthusiastically without it. And, the dust jacket is horrific and looks as though a middle school child covered his English text in something his mom brought home. Small things. Tell No One might be the most exciting book you read this year!

Dr. David Beck lost the love of his life eight years ago. The story of her death is so gruesome he can't bear to think about it. Elizabeth was the love of his life; they were two halves of a whole. So how can he explain the e-mail that appears so mysteriously on their anniversary, mentioning things that only they would know?

This is only the beginning of a novel that reads like the twists and turns of a mountain highway. When I became ensconced comfortably in a plausible scenario, honestly believing I had finally figured things out, the author ripped the rug out from under my feet and hit me with the finale. I still shake my head at the outcome.

This books reads so fast you hardly have time to hold the pages as they breeze by. When I was away from it I couldn't wait to get back to it. I had been in a reading slump until I picked up this unexpected pleasure. Coben slams the story home with believable characters and a plot that speaks to everyone who enjoys a good thriller. An Excellent book. Kelsana 4/16/02

Harlan Coben, the author known for his series about the sports agent Myron Bolitar, has crafted a fine thriller in his book Tell No One. In this stand alone title, Coben takes his readers on the ride of a lifetime. From the first page till the last, my heart raced and I found myself staying up late at night to finish this book.

David Beck, once married to Elizabeth, has finally rebuilt his life since the kidnapping, disappearance and assumed death of his beloved wife several years before. Now, a respected doctor with a practice in New York City, David finds himself experiencing some very strange events which lead him to wonder if Elizabeth could still be alive. First, an e mail arrives with information known only to the two of them, then two bodies are found on property owned by the Beck family which may have been involved in the kidnapping, and finally an image appears on a web camsite which looks suprisingly just like Elizabeth. With fury and determination, Beck begins to investiage Elizabeth's kidnapping and what has happened in the intervening years. Along the way Becks efforts are thwarted by a billionaire who may or may not be involved, the father of one of his patients who uses his street smarts to help out and a cast of other characters who are quite memorable.

The pace is fast, the book becomes wet from holding it too hard with perspiring hands and you most liely will might find yourself holding your breath as the book moves along to a startling conclusion. But readers need to be warned to slow down a bit for the last 50 pages as the plot and action moves quickly fronm page to page with complicated and somewhat convoluted twists and turns.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and instead of Telling No One I tell everyone to read this book. This may have been my first Harlan Coben book but it certainly won't be the only book of his I plan on reading.

It has been eight horrible years that Dr. David Beck has had to live with the memory of what happened to his wife.

What was supposed to be a romantic anniversary getaway at a family vacation spot turns into a nightmare as David's wife Elizabeth disappears...only to be found later - DEAD, the victim of serial killer KillRoy.

As David struggles to get on with his life, he can't help but hope that his wife is still alive, even though KillRoy has confessed to the killing, and her body has been found and identified. But day after day he thinks of her, and hopes. Until one day he receives a email...one that uses a code only he and his wife knew about. Opening the email will plunge David into the heart of terror, as the message contains a strange link that features a video feed of his wife - present day - mouthing the words "I'm sorry"!

Sickened by what he just saw, David wants to dismiss this a nasty joke, but the email gives specific instructions about the future messages he will receive, and if he wants to see his wife again, he better TELL NO ONE.

Desperate to find out what is going on, especially if there is a chance of Elizabeth being alive, David enters into a deadly game where someone will kill to keep their secrets safe.

'Tell No One' is a slam bang page-turner that grabs hold on the first page and doesn't let go until the shocking climax. With it's well drawn characters, unbearable suspense, and stunning plot twists 'Tell No One' gives readers a night of non-stop action.

Harlan Coben has written many great novels, but none as good as this one. His new novel has surpassed all expectations, and pushes him to a new level, one that ranks with John Sandford, and James Patterson.

Destined to be a huge bestseller, and a must read beach book 'Tell No One' ranks as one of the better thrillers to come out in some time.

A MUST read!

Nick Gonnella

Just when you thoughts Harlan Coben couldn't get any better, he does. He continues his literary magic with this truly phenominal book.

Coben, the mastermind behind the excellent Myron Bolitar mystery series, puts forth an amazing effort in TELL NO ONE. Meet Dr. David Beck, a loyal, caring doctor who lost his wife whom he has loved since the second grade, but manages to carry on. Left for dead himself, his wife, Elizabeth, is positively identified for dead as another victim of a serial killer. Eight years later, he receives an anonymous e-mail on the anniversary of their first kiss, leading him to believe that she may somehow still be alive. The twists and turns are a plentiful, and the adventure is one of non-stop excitement.

Coben brings together a wonderful group of characters that all blend together incredibly nicely. From the drug-dealing yet good-hearted father, Tyrese, to special agent, Nick Carlson, this super cast of characters is so well-developed, you can't help but thoroughly enjoy this book. There are even a few familiar names from the Myron Bolitar series, but you'll have to read the book to find out.

Overall, this novel is nothing less than spectacular. Coben's unique, yet thorough writing style shines ever so brightly in TELL NO ONE. The cogent storyline is well-developed, and the nerve-shattering suspense is outstanding, keeping you guessing until the unbelievable, surprise ending. It will not let you down.

While some editorial reviews proclaim this book is not up to par with Coben's other literary works, I found it to be far superior to his previous books. With well-developed, realistic characters and lots of action, this book contains an element of similarity to the Alex Cross novels of James Patterson. Although "Tell No One" is perhaps not quite as spectatcular in comparison, it comes close and is certainly worth reading.

David Beck marries his childhood sweetheart, Elizabeth Parker. Elizabeth is believed to be kidnapped and killed by a serial murderer known as, "Kill Roy." But...is this really what happened? Beck starts receiving e-mails, supposedly from Elizabeth. Is Elizabeth really alive or is this the evil madness of a demented mind? The police attempt to pin the murder on Beck, himself, while a group with more sinister motives tries to frame Beck for the murder of Elizabeth. What really happened? The answers lie in the bold conclusiion. The chilling plot is full of twists and turns that holds the reader's attention from start to finish. While Coben lacks the pragmatic writing style of Patterson, the author's unique mode of psychological suspense makes the book a capricious thriller you will not want to put down until the final page has been read.

David Beck thought his wife was murdered eight years ago, the victim of a serial killer. Then an anonymous email arrives which suggests that, just possibly, she's still alive. To add to the intrigue, the murder case is reopened and Beck is now the FBI's main suspect. The action takes off when Beck becomes a fugitive and is not only pursued by the police, but also by a bunch of thugs intent on silencing him for good - and how on earth do those blokes come into it?. All the while, he tries to meet up with the mystery correspondent, not an easy task when it seems his every move is monitored.

I found this to be one of those books that seems a lot shorter than it actually is because the action is non-stop, you barely have time to get over one near miss when you're confronted with some other danger or a new piece of the puzzle is put into place. It's a compelling book thanks to the mystery surrounding the death of Elizabeth Back, wife of David Beck. This was one of the more enjoyable books I've read this year and rate it very highly purely on its ability to entertain.

When you find the love of your life, it's hard to let go, even after the loved one dies. David Beck, the protagonist of "Tell No One", has continued to carry a torch for his long lost wife, Elizabeth, who died eight years before. When he receives a mysterious e-mail that couldn't have come from anyone but her, Beck goes on what can only be described as a wild goose chase--only, there are people who don't want the truth to be discovered, and they'll kill to keep it buried.

This book is a refreshing change from the Anne Rices, John LeCarres and James Micheners of the contemporary literary world: the narration--when in first person--is simple, conversational and easy to understand, without being "dumbed down" or compromising the plot. The characters themselves are also realistic and believable--I love Beck's sister and her partner, as well as the thug with a heart of gold, Tyrese. The ending is a crisp slap in the face. "Tell No One" demands a second reading--reading it again allows you to see all the clues that clearly point to the outcome, even if you don't see them the first time around.

"Tell No One" isn't without a snag, however. The jumping from first to third person narration becomes annoying, and often breaks up the flow of the plot. Of course, this could be a tactic to further confound the reader and keep him/her off the trail; I found myself re-reading some chapters just so I could remember what was going on the last time Beck spoke.

Other than that, it's a book that's difficult to put down. Die hard fans of a good mystery will not be disappointed, and the plot twists will leave you scratching your head happily. I hope there's a sequel.

After reading "Gone for Good," I was certain Coben knew how to tell a riveting, tightly-twisting tale. Now, having gone backwards chronologically to read "Tell No One," I'm convinced...This guy's good!

"Tell No One" cranks up the adrenaline levels, but never forgets that it's dealing with real people. We follow Dr. David Beck's attempts to uncover the truth of his wife's murder eight years previous. Out of the blue, Beck is receiving emails that imply Elizabeth is actually alive. The more he tries to figure things out, the more deadly the game becomes, the more shady each character's actions seem. Coben's secret is that he makes us care about these characters. The resulting suspense is more than cheap Hollywood thrills; it's unabashed concern--gulp, even emotion--for this story of love and terror and redemption.

As usual, Coben doesn't let us relax too much. He not only keeps the humor and social insights coming, he twists us around with one plot twist after another. He may use larger than life villians to add a sense of danger, but he uses very real, normal protagonists to drive the story--and these very real, normal people do very real, not so normal things. Almost everyone has a secret to hide, and the reader has the pleasure of watching the story unfold.

Once again, Harlan Coben shows his stuff. In the end, we are left with a deeply satisfying tale that ticks with the precision of a Swiss timepiece, yet continues to beat with the heart of its characters.

David and Elizabeth Beck are married just a few months, but have been in love since the second grade. The newlyweds revisit their old stomping grounds near Lake Charmaine, Pennsylvania. They go swimming at night together, but their joy turns to horror as Elizabeth begins screaming. David goes help his soul mate, but someone clubs him with a baseball bat. Later, the police find a corpse that Elizabeth's dad identifies the body as that of his daughter while David physically recovers in a hospital. Serial killer KillRoy left his trademark on the body.

Eight years later and now a pediatrician, David works at a Washington Heights clinic when he receives a strange e-mail with a hyperlink. He clicks on the link only to see Elizabeth appear on the monitor. However, before he can follow up, the FBI focuses on David as the killer of Elizabeth and two other men murdered on the property that day when his wife allegedly died. Someone else also observes David closely. A person with resources who wants vengeance on the individual who murdered his son. This billionaire knows the Becks are somehow involved.

Without any doubt, TELL NO ONE is Harlan Coben's best work to date. This breathtaking thriller starts at a rapid pace and accelerates even faster than the speed of light. The tale is loaded with numerous shocking twists and unreal turns that Mr. Coben makes believable. Thus, the audience feels compelled to keep on reading until the finale in order to learn what really happened back then and why.

Harriet Klausner