Rating: 
Summary: I loved it!
Review: It was a quick read, fast paced and very interesting. Plus, for those of us sports lovers out there, the added basketball tie in made it double the fun-- mystery and sports, in a well put together plot. :)
Rating: 
Summary: Fast paced witty and intriguing
Review: Marvin Bolitar current sports agent, ex FBI agent and ex basketball would be superstar (until injury robbed him of his big chance)is once again drawn into a murder mystery. Posing as a new member of the New Jersey Dragons Bolitar is asked to try find the team's missing superstar. As the book unfolds Marvin must face the demons of his old injury and the career that never was, mix it up with red brigade style terrorists and find out the truth about the absent star. Ably assisted by his psychotic sidekick Win the end result is never in any real doubt. The plot is interesting in a non taxing murder mystery way and holds it's own with that genre. The difference from the pack is the pace at which the story moves and the wit of the dialogue. I have become a big fan of the Marvin Bolitar series of books by Mr Corbin and find the mix of murder and wit intoxicating.
Rating:
Summary: Fast paced witty and intriguing
Review: Marvin Bolitar current sports agent, ex FBI agent and ex basketball would be superstar (until injury robbed him of his big chance)is once again drawn into a murder mystery. Posing as a new member of the New Jersey Dragons Bolitar is asked to try find the team's missing superstar. As the book unfolds Marvin must face the demons of his old injury and the career that never was, mix it up with red brigade style terrorists and find out the truth about the absent star. Ably assisted by his psychotic sidekick Win the end result is never in any real doubt. The plot is interesting in a non taxing murder mystery way and holds it's own with that genre. The difference from the pack is the pace at which the story moves and the wit of the dialogue. I have become a big fan of the Marvin Bolitar series of books by Mr Corbin and find the mix of murder and wit intoxicating.
Rating:
Summary: The basketball demons are finally exorcised
Review: Myron Bolitar, now sports agent and lawyer and ex-FBI sleuth, was on the verge of NBA superstardom when his knee was crushed in a vicious hit in his first pre-season game ten years ago. Like all great athletes, he could never accept his fate; there was always that what-could-have-been lurking around in his mind. Then seemingly out of the blue, the owner of the New Jersey Dragons, a top NBA team, wants Myron to join the team, to suit up. Myron cannot resist, the demons have got to be put to rest; and the owner was counting on that. But there is an ulterior motive; Myron's main task is to quietly and quickly find the team's current superstar, Greg Downing, who has disappeared, while maintaining the deception of an aging jock's comeback. In this third book of the Bolitar series, Coben probably does his best work in exploring a subculture, in this case, life in the NBA. Myron finds along side the opulent lifestyles, including trophy wives, and the immense talent, the doubts and the senses of fragility, which have a lot more to do with the substance of the book than is first suspected. Myron has to pick his way through any number of characters peripheral to the team who had some connection to the missing superstar. Myron's investigation starts simply enough; he and his fair-haired financial consultant and bad boy, Win, "let" themselves into the star's home. It's the phone message from a "Carla" wanting to meet in the back booth of a diner and blood in the playroom that sets Myron off on an involved race against time to find Greg before the playoffs begin. The case ratchets up several notches when someone is found bludgeoned to death. Rumors of gambling and large debts to the crime world surface, as do bizarre connections to the political underground. Throw in the complications of any number of liaisons within the team, involving wives and hangers-on, and Myron has a confusing and intricate case on his hands. The usual Bolitar cast of characters is present. Esperanza, former female pro-wrestler and now Myron's office manager, has a larger role than previously, while Win is less prominent. Cyndi, a large, spiked lady and also from the wrestling circuit, begins work at SB Sports. And Myron's antagonistic relationship with "Rolly," the NYPD detective is renewed. Like all Coben books, this one moves quickly; it easily holds one's attention. There could be an issue of plausibility in this installment. Twists and turns are what Coben books are all about, but this one takes a turn that may seem less than satisfying to some. Nonetheless, it is another good Coben book and does nothing to lessen the appetite for more.
Rating:
Summary: A witty and suspenseful thriller.
Review: Myron, Win, and the stable of characters make for such a great read. Chalk another one up for Harlen.The basketball scenario is outstanding and you ache for more. A definite must read.
Rating:
Summary: Buy now, before advice to read Coben books memory fades away
Review: Note - Read this novel before Coben's novel titled Darkest Fear, otherwise a lot of this book's plot is given away in that novel. This is another novel in the continuing Myron Bolitar and Win thriller crime series. I made the mistake of reading Darkest Fear first as I did not even know there was a Bolitar series as it was not mentioned on the cover of that book (or this one for that matter) which was my first Bolitar book. So be aware that my rating and comparison to other books in this series may be tainted because of that. Like all Coben books this is a great read. It isn't the best of Coben's novels that I have read or even the best Bolitar series book for that matter however I did enjoy it. You certainly don't need to have read any other books of his to enjoy this as a stand alone novel but there are other previous books in the series before this so you may get more out of this novel if you read them first. In this adventure Myron is asked by Clip, the manager of the NBA team, the New Jersey Dragons, to find out the whereabouts of his star player Greg Downing. Greg Downing is incidentally Myron's arch nemesis and former rival but the offer to play for the Dragons as well as a heap of money makes Myron overlook any hesitancies he may have had to take the job. The discovery of a murder victim puts the police spotlight on Greg as well so Myron must find out what the deal is as well as avoid those of an unscrupulous nature who also wish to find him.
Rating:
Summary: Buy now, before advice to read Coben books memory fades away
Review: Note - Read this novel before Coben's novel titled Darkest Fear, otherwise a lot of this book's plot is given away in that novel. This is another novel in the continuing Myron Bolitar and Win thriller crime series. I made the mistake of reading Darkest Fear first as I did not even know there was a Bolitar series as it was not mentioned on the cover of that book (or this one for that matter) which was my first Bolitar book. So be aware that my rating and comparison to other books in this series may be tainted because of that. Like all Coben books this is a great read. It isn't the best of Coben's novels that I have read or even the best Bolitar series book for that matter however I did enjoy it. You certainly don't need to have read any other books of his to enjoy this as a stand alone novel but there are other previous books in the series before this so you may get more out of this novel if you read them first. In this adventure Myron is asked by Clip, the manager of the NBA team, the New Jersey Dragons, to find out the whereabouts of his star player Greg Downing. Greg Downing is incidentally Myron's arch nemesis and former rival but the offer to play for the Dragons as well as a heap of money makes Myron overlook any hesitancies he may have had to take the job. The discovery of a murder victim puts the police spotlight on Greg as well so Myron must find out what the deal is as well as avoid those of an unscrupulous nature who also wish to find him.
Rating: 
Summary: Witty dialogue, but there's some story problems
Review: Ok. Don't get me wrong. I'm a MB fan and I thoroughly enjoy the freshness of Coben's writing. Fade Away does a very good job of bringing out the details of the series back story, especially with HC's deft use of dialogue. But, I thought there were some serious holes in the story. First, Greg was supposed to have this job driving taxis. It was an unnecessary storypoint--one that was summarily ignored during any of the investigations. I guess I should read the MB series as thrillers rather than mysteries. HC doesn't create a puzzle for you to solve. No clever clues to point you to the killer. As I progress through the series, I'm finding Win to be more and more of a superfiscial prop to the story--nothing more than a utility "black ops" mercenary. I think it's rather sad to have a crutch like the Win character to rely on for nearly anything having to do with lock picking, number tracing, or blowing off a bad guy's head.
Rating:
Summary: Fade Away never fades
Review: One of the most addicting audiobooks I have ever listened to. The reading is top notch and it has you wondering who dunnit the whole book. A total surprise ending with heart.
Rating:
Summary: Fade Away never fades
Review: One of the most addicting audiobooks I have ever listened to. The reading is top notch and it has you wondering who dunnit the whole book. A total surprise ending with heart.
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