Rating: 
Summary: Not a Friend of Coben
Review: I must be the only person to submit a review not a friend or cousin of the author. The book, truly, is awful. One of the most feckless, feeble efforts at a thriller I've endured in a long while. My best Coben immitation: "The book weighed like a rock. The plot moved like a panther. The characters jumped from the page like Carl Lewis." I saw him on "Today" and bought the book. What a mistake. I should have known. Don't waste your time or money.
Rating: 
Summary: Classic Page Turner
Review: I could not put this book down. As with all the other Harlan Coben novels- his stories are so far from everyday thinking that the reader really does not know where he is going, but as usual- the ending ties up everything. A definate must read
Rating:
Summary: Exceptional Thriller
Review: This one grabs you with the first sentence and doesn't let go until the last page. Dr. Marc Seidman wakes up in the hospital after being shot and almost killed, to learn that his wife was killed and his six month old daughter is missing. Coben weaves a fine tale of death, destruction and double-dealing over a period of eighteen months. As Marc searches for his daughter, the reader is taken on a wild non-stop ride. If you like Coben's two recent novels, Tell No One and Gone For Good, you are going to love this one. The characters are very well drawn. I loved the character, Verne, dearly. The action never lets up and the ending was very satisfying. Just one thing. The title, No Second Chance, is misleading. There is a second chance. Actually there are more than two and Dr. Marc Seidman handles each one with sometimes bumbling and sometimes brilliant action. An Exceptional thriller.
Rating: 
Summary: 4 1/2 stars
Review: The most popular comment on this book seems to be "hard to put down". There are thrillers out there that are harder to put down than this one. Though Coben has written a great mystery, I think his previous novels are just as well written and told. To me the beginning seemed a little drawn out.
The characters are great, the story will keep you guessing, and the plot is well rounded. This is still a solid mystery with a lot of twists.Recommended.
Rating: 
Summary: DallasKing
Review: I finished this book this morning and felt cheated. I've read all of Coben's other books and found this a huge disappointment. It was too far fetched, included characters who would better have been left out, and at times was downright boring! I would like to see more time lapse between books by Coben. Perhaps this would result in more cohesion and "readability".
Rating:
Summary: Did not make the grade for me.
Review: Harlan Coben is the only writer to win the Edgar, Shamus and Anthony for the same novel ("Fade Away"). I thought he should have won the Edgar last year for "Tell No One." And, believe "Gone for Good" was one of 2002's best novels. They were sophisticated, believable and filled with sheer psychological terror. However, I was completely underwhelmed by "No Second Chance." I found the protagonist too sanctimonious, disingenuous and self-serving to cheer for. His continual self-analysis bogged down the plot pace and I found it difficult to care for any of the main characters. Overall it seemed hurriedly thrown together. There was some snappy dialog and a few colorful secondary characters. The cops were well drawn...and Verne, the redneck gun nut with the mail order bride stole the show for me.
Rating:
Summary: fine roller-coaster ride of chills, thrills and action
Review: Renowned plastic surgeon Marc Seidman wakes up in the intensive care unit after being in a coma for twelve days to learn that his wife was murdered and his six year old daughter Tara is missing. The FBI and the local police are on the case but so far there are no ransom demands. On the day that he is to be released from the hospital, his father-in-law asks Marc to visit him. His father-in-law gives Marc a ransom note with instructions from the kidnapper that he must follow if he wants to see his daughter again. Marc gives two million-dollars in money supplied by his father-in-law to the kidnappers but they spot the police tail and escape. Eighteen months later, the kidnappers call his father-in-law again to repeat the process. Marc intends to handle the situation by himself, but ex-FBI agent Rachel Mills plans to help the man she loves get back his daughter. The two of them uncover a conspiracy much greater than a missing child scenario. NO SECOND CHANCE is a fascinating roller-coaster ride of chills, thrills and non-stop action, so much so that readers will want to read the book in one sitting so they can find out just exactly what is going on. Harlan Coben uses the art of misdirection perfectly so that after awhile hope and dread run together leaving the protagonist totally confused about what his next step should be. This superb multi-layered story uses the first person narrative so that readers know just how Marc helpless feels and their hearts go out to him as he faces every parent's worst nightmare. Harriet Klausner
Rating:
Summary: Well Worth Reading...But!
Review: If you're a regular reader of Coben's books, as I am, you know that once you start one of his books you won't be able to put it down. No Second Chance is no exception to the "Coben rule." With that said, Coben's latest book ranks a notch below his two other stand-alones, Gone For Good and Tell No One. However, it is still a book very much worth reading. While the first two-thirds of No Second Chance is very suspenseful, the last third, while also suspenseful, loses some of its credibility --especially when the character, Verne, is introduced. Further, I found that while Coben ties all of the pieces of his puzzle together well in the end, the ending is somewhat predictable and didn't leave me fully satisfied. These are not MAJOR criticisms and should NOT deter you from reading this book, especially if this is your first book by Coben. For me, these criticisms stem from the fact that I'm not used to any --even minor - -criticisms with Coben's books. He remains one of my favorite authors.
Rating:
Summary: no second chance
Review: Coben is as good a thriller writer is there is on the market today. TELL NO ONE kept me up all night. NO SECOND CHANCE did the same. In fact, have recommended it to friends that are not consummed with thrillers, or even reading, and they have forfeited "manic Mondays" at the office to finish. Can't wait until the next one!!!
Rating:
Summary: Great Read!!!
Review: My definition of a great book is one that you literally cannot put down, and NO SECOND CHANCE is definitely that! Once you start the book you will not want to stop, luckily I had the chance to read it all in one day. What a blast! Harlan Coben is a great thriller writer. He gives you interesting characters with interesting jobs and then makes wild things happen. I highly recommend this book! Mr. Coben is on his book tour now, see him if you can. He is warm, friendly, and deserves all the accolades he receives.
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