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The Final Detail (Myron Bolitar Mysteries (Hardcover))

The Final Detail (Myron Bolitar Mysteries (Hardcover))

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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Another 'Must Read' in an outstanding series!
Review: Harlan Coben did it again! This is a great book in a great series.

Myron returns from an extended disappearance to find Esperanza in big trouble. With the help of Big Cindy and Win, Myron is determined to help, even though Esperanza and her attorney are just as determined that he will not even try to help.

The story continues with more twists, turns, humorous, and serious situations.

I highly recommend reading all of the books in this series. The writing is excellent, the story lines absorbing, and the best is the relationships among the characters. Coben writes as if the characters could jump out of the book and carry on a conversation with you.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Myron Bolitar at his best
Review: Harlan Coben has penned another `Myron Bolitar' winner with THE FINAL DETAIL. Myron has slipped away from his world on a secluded vacation but Win, who's powers sometimes border on the mystic, interrupts. Myron must return, Esperanza - partner and best friend - is in trouble. She has been arrested for the murder of one of their clients. The dangerous and twisted tale that follows leads back twelve years to a good deed gone awry. If you haven't read a Coben novel, grab this one and you too will become a fan.
Beverly J Scott author of "Righteous Revenge" and "Ruth Fever." Reviewer for Intriguing Authors and Their Books at http://www.funeralassociates.com/authors.htm

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Myron gets jerked back to reality: Esperanza needs help
Review: Myron Bolitar, sports agent, sleuth, lawyer, and ex-jock, in this continuation of the series, knew that something was seriously amiss when his long-time friend, associate, and protector extraordinaire Win found him on a desolate Caribbean island, where Myron had disappeared to recuperate from an especially distressful period in his life (see Coben's Fadeaway). Further rejuvenation would have to wait as Win and Myron raced back to New York; the arraignment of Myron's friend and new partner in MB SportsReps, Esperanza, an exotic Latino ex-pro wrestler and now a lawyer, on charges of murder was imminent. The victim was Clu Haid, a newly acquired New York Yankee's pitcher, who was turning around a career in the doldrums, and a client of MB SportsReps.

But Esperanza would not talk to Myron and lots of evidence pointed her way. And Myron had gotten a bizarre computer disk in the mail that showed an image of a teen-age girl's face that slowly disintegrated before his eyes and then the disk was wiped clean. As is often the case in the Bolitar series, Myron finds himself entangled in the seedy world of the alternative bar scene and organized crime. In addition, Myron gets a strong feeling that he may be more a part of this entire situation than he can realize.

Some have complained that the Bolitar series has gotten stale. But despite perhaps a bit of a slow start, this book is typical Coben in its fast pace and unexpected turns of events. There is a certain amount of repetitious background information given in each book as they are meant to be standalone, but it is not excessive. Reading the books in order does add to the enjoyment of the Bolitar series, though. Coben adds dimensions to his characters with each book. In this book, Big Cyndi, a mammoth, spiked lady, shows a previously unrevealed side. And Myron's unsettled personal situation floats along the surface of this book.

Personally, I found this book to be an entertaining and quick read; it wasn't a disappointment. In fact, I plan to start on number seven in the series very soon.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: What a Cracking Fine Read
Review: Sports agent Myron Bolitar has lost both the women he loved and he is recuperating with a CNN reporter in the Caribbean. His vacation is cut short when his alter-ego Win comes to fetch him back to New York, where his client, a relief pitcher for the Yankees, has both failed a drug test and been found murdered. Worse, Myron's agency partner, Esperanza, has been arrested for the crime.

Myron investigates and discovers Esperanza may be more involved than he thinks she is. And as he learns the answers to this mystery's multiple questions, he realizes that the case hinges on revenge motives and actually points to him as the most likely suspect, which leaves him wondering whether or not he wouldn't be better off not knowing who did what to anybody.

Once again Mr. Coben puts in enough twist and turns to get your pulse pumping as you race through the book to get to the final detail. And as usual, Mr. Coben has peopled a story with unforgettable characters, like Myron's blue-blooded, aristocratic sociopath, best friend, Windsor (Win) Horne Lockwood III, gender-jumping musclemen, failed baseball players, team owners chasing disappearing children and a young gangster name Frank Ache Junior, who has turned agent and lusts after Myron's business, among others. What a cracking fine read!

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: A Modern Hammett
Review: 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.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: A Modern Hammett
Review: 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.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A Great Read!
Review: The Final Detail is the 6th book in a growing series. This is a wonderful book. It is a fast moving, funny but serious novel. In the beginning of the novel Myron returns from an extended vacaction to find one of his best friends Esperanza is in jail. She will not talk to anyone but her attorney. Myron and Win(the other best friend) want to help Espernaza out but she doesn't want the help. I definitly recommend this novel to anyone who is interested in fast moving novels.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: The Final Detail
Review: The final detail was a wonderful, fast moving book. This story really proved two friendships. The friendships of Win, Myron and Esperanza. Esperanza is in jail...but she won't talk to her two very best friends. I recommend all of the books in the series. The writing style is great and you won't be able to put the book down!

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: More, more marvellous Mryon
Review: There are worse things a guy can do when his life and business are falling apart around him. Alone in the Caribbean with a luscious brunette, sports promoter Myron Bolitar is however relieved to be dragged away from his island escapade and delivered back into the real world. His best buddy Win believes there's a lot of music Myron has to face - clients leaving in droves, upset family and friends, the usual array of thugs wanting to rearrange his pretty face and the news that his business partner and other best friend, Esperanza Diaz, has been charged with the murder. The deceased happens to be a client too, so hey, double bad news.

What Myron can't understand is why Esperanza is shutting him out. She's not allowing Myron or anyone connected with him to help find whoever it is that killed Clu Haid, recovering sports star and all round schmuck. Those who know Esperanza well - yes they know she's capable but know that she wouldn't have done it. One of MB Sportsrep's biggest clients had trusted Myron to take care of their newest recruit and said recruit winding up dead is not the best start to a business relationship. Adding to the murk and chaos that is Myron's life is one missing girl. Someone is anonymously pushing Myron to investigate, and it can't be a co-incidence that all roads are leading squarely back to number one, Mr Bolitar himself.

It just isn't possible to read a book of this series and not stock up on your witty one liners, coming away with the feeling that if you ever needed someone smart to hit the bars with, Harlan Coben and his snappy dialogue would be first choice. Every page is full of the delicious smart aleck lines that Myron and Win effortlessly deliver, and all secondary characters are pretty quick on the delivery too. "The Final Detail" is not the awesomely moving novel it has been described as, but it is a very good read in an excellent series. There is so much going on in Myron's life that you could isolate any sub plot and build a story around it; Coben manages to serve it all up at once. Myron Bolitar is a classic character no crime collection should be without, and if some of his arrested development begins to annoy, there are plenty of other unique characters in Bolitar world that will capture and hold your fascination.





Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Not as action packed as previous Myron novels
Review: This is not the usual can't put down, forget what's on TV, call in sick so you can finish it Myron Bolitar adventure. Most Myron adventures are full of action and although there is a small amount in this novel this book is a more of a get to know a bit more about the lives and past of supporting characters which haven't been explored in great detail in previous novels such as Myron's dad, Esperanza, Big Cyndi and even Myron. Although Win is in this novel, he is really mostly a conversationalist in this one seeing very little action at all. Myron even decides Yoo-Hoo is no longer his favourite drink in this book. It is almost as if fans have demanded another Myron Sequel and Coben has run out of ideas so has just decided to release more information on the other characters with a basic plot to tie it together. Don't get me wrong, I'm a huge fan of the Bolitar series and have immensely enjoyed them all but I don't think this one is up there in quality, suspense or the other aspects that made those great.

Whilst during the third quarter of the book you do experience the don't want to stop, can't put the book down experience, that does unfortunately die out and it certainly never was there before that part of the book. I hate to say it but in some parts there is so much uninteresting talking amongst characters that you are willing them to hurry up and get on to the next scene. I think Coben should concentrate on the independent masterpieces he is writing for the moment until he can come up with better adventures for Myron. It is a great series and like Patterson's Alex Cross series you don't want to read novels forced out to appease impatient fans and publishers which lessen the overall quality of the collection.

Anyway the basic plot for this novel is Myron has taken off for a lengthy period of time to a deserted island without telling clients or friends with anchor woman Terese Collins. Meanwhile one of his clients Clu Haid, is found with a bullet hole in head and his MB SportsReps partner and best friend, Esperanza is in custody awaiting trial for his murder. She also no longer wants to have anything to do with Myron.

This book I would only recommend to fans of the series. The Myron Bolitar books are sensational and you have to check out the seires. Definitely do not start either your Coben or Myron Bolitar experience with this novel. With the Bolitar books I would highly recommend starting at the first book Deal Breaker, as parts of the plots of earlier books are given away in novels which follow earlier ones in the series. Coben's indenpendant books are masterpieces, check them out as well.


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