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Myron Bolitar #10
Live Wire
ŷ Choice Award
Nominee for Readers' Favorite Mystery & Thriller (2011)#1 New York Times bestselling author Harlan Coben proves once again that "nobody writes them better" in a thriller that asks a provocative question: Is a pretty lie better than the ugly truth?
Harlan Coben published his first Myron Bolitar thriller, Deal Breaker, in 1995, introducing a hero that would captivate millions. Over the years we have watched Myron walk a tight rope between sports agent, friend, problem solver and private eye, his big heart quick to defend his client's interests so fiercely that he can't help but jump in to save them, no matter the cost.
When former tennis star Suzze T and her rock star husband, Lex, encounter an anonymous Facebook post questioning the paternity of their unborn child, Lex runs off, and Suzze - at eight months pregnant - asks Myron to save her marriage, and perhaps her husband's life. But when he finds Lex, he also finds someone he wasn't looking for: his sister-in-law, Kitty, who along with Myron's brother abandoned the Bolitar family long ago.
As Myron races to locate his missing brother while their father clings to life, he must face the lies that led to the estrangement - including the ones told by Myron himself.
Harlan Coben published his first Myron Bolitar thriller, Deal Breaker, in 1995, introducing a hero that would captivate millions. Over the years we have watched Myron walk a tight rope between sports agent, friend, problem solver and private eye, his big heart quick to defend his client's interests so fiercely that he can't help but jump in to save them, no matter the cost.
When former tennis star Suzze T and her rock star husband, Lex, encounter an anonymous Facebook post questioning the paternity of their unborn child, Lex runs off, and Suzze - at eight months pregnant - asks Myron to save her marriage, and perhaps her husband's life. But when he finds Lex, he also finds someone he wasn't looking for: his sister-in-law, Kitty, who along with Myron's brother abandoned the Bolitar family long ago.
As Myron races to locate his missing brother while their father clings to life, he must face the lies that led to the estrangement - including the ones told by Myron himself.
371 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2011
3,086 people are currently reading
15.6k people want to read
About the author
Harlan Coben
219books41.5kfollowersHarlan Coben is a #1 New York Times bestselling author and one of the world's leading storytellers. His suspense novels are published in forty-five languages and have been number one bestsellers in more than a dozen countries with seventy-five million books in print worldwide.
His books have earned the Edgar, Shamus, and Anthony Awards, and many have been developed into Netflix Original Drama series, including his adaptations of The Stranger, The Innocent, Gone for Good and The Woods. His most recent adaptation for Netflix, Stay Close, premiered on December 31, 2021 and stars Cush Jumbo, James Nesbitt, and Richard Armitage.
His books have earned the Edgar, Shamus, and Anthony Awards, and many have been developed into Netflix Original Drama series, including his adaptations of The Stranger, The Innocent, Gone for Good and The Woods. His most recent adaptation for Netflix, Stay Close, premiered on December 31, 2021 and stars Cush Jumbo, James Nesbitt, and Richard Armitage.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,277 reviews
November 7, 2022
Myron is back. But not for long. I am nearing the end of this series, and it hit me hard. I finished this audiobook (didn’t love the narrator, I seem to be comparing to the reader of Jack Reacher who is unbeatable). On completion, I sat there quiety, having a moment. I am connected with this series, and will re read them.
This book is a great segue to have Mickey introduced to readers, Myron’s nephew. I loooove the meaning behind Mickey’s name � but I will not spoil that for fans of this series.
One of my amazing GR friends, Jonetta, gave me the heads up (more than once because I couldn’t find my correspondence) on the series order; so on to the Mickey Bolitar series I go. I have found 2 out of 3 on audio, which is great, as it means I fly through them more quickly.
We get some good background on Brad’s family, his wife who is troubled and their son who shares Myron’s uncanny basketball prowess. Mickey does not warm to Myron, as family secrets unfold. He is sullen, angry and hard to crack, but Myron will persist � he loves his nephew enormously.
Win, Esperanza, and Big Cindy all play quite important parts in this offering, it is nearing the end and each of these show a little more of their person, and I was sad to see the outcome for Esperanza, but happy for Cindy. It seems, after all, Myron Bolitar may in fact be fallible.
There was a surprising revelation between the ever so tight Myron and his best friend, Win, as they fight to solve the mystery death of client and dear friend, Suzze T. Married to a rock star, and about to give birth, she is killed right after asking Myron to be the Godfather. Through Suzze we see that time and time again, Myron is one heck of an agent, he is loyal and smart, and kind and dedicated. So many reasons to love Myron. He honestly is my favourite literary character.
This story has all the usual elements of its predecessors, Myron’s softness and goofiness, his sarcasm, and his lack of fear in the face of danger, and his principled ways. The violence of Win and his usual way hit us a little harder this time, and we also see Myron’s parents ageing very noticeably. This book has a lot going on.
Myron is so likeable for all the above reasons, and although he’s a bit of a superhero with his capabilities, with a little help from his friends, I just love him for Myron.
Oh � and Suzze is pronounced the same as me, I LOVE that book coincidence. Next book, please!
This book is a great segue to have Mickey introduced to readers, Myron’s nephew. I loooove the meaning behind Mickey’s name � but I will not spoil that for fans of this series.
One of my amazing GR friends, Jonetta, gave me the heads up (more than once because I couldn’t find my correspondence) on the series order; so on to the Mickey Bolitar series I go. I have found 2 out of 3 on audio, which is great, as it means I fly through them more quickly.
We get some good background on Brad’s family, his wife who is troubled and their son who shares Myron’s uncanny basketball prowess. Mickey does not warm to Myron, as family secrets unfold. He is sullen, angry and hard to crack, but Myron will persist � he loves his nephew enormously.
Win, Esperanza, and Big Cindy all play quite important parts in this offering, it is nearing the end and each of these show a little more of their person, and I was sad to see the outcome for Esperanza, but happy for Cindy. It seems, after all, Myron Bolitar may in fact be fallible.
There was a surprising revelation between the ever so tight Myron and his best friend, Win, as they fight to solve the mystery death of client and dear friend, Suzze T. Married to a rock star, and about to give birth, she is killed right after asking Myron to be the Godfather. Through Suzze we see that time and time again, Myron is one heck of an agent, he is loyal and smart, and kind and dedicated. So many reasons to love Myron. He honestly is my favourite literary character.
This story has all the usual elements of its predecessors, Myron’s softness and goofiness, his sarcasm, and his lack of fear in the face of danger, and his principled ways. The violence of Win and his usual way hit us a little harder this time, and we also see Myron’s parents ageing very noticeably. This book has a lot going on.
Myron is so likeable for all the above reasons, and although he’s a bit of a superhero with his capabilities, with a little help from his friends, I just love him for Myron.
Oh � and Suzze is pronounced the same as me, I LOVE that book coincidence. Next book, please!
April 2, 2011
Harlan Coben is one of my favorite authors. I like his prose, I like his characters and the way he brings them to life and he always says something I like to think about and save. This is one of his Myron Bolitar books. I think they should make a movie and cast Alexander Skarsgard as Winn. The plot keeps you guessing to the end. A couple of things he said that I want to save:
Myron is thinking about his brother and says, ""Their estrangement worked a bit like grief. We are often told during times of bereavement that time heals all wounds. That's crap. In truth, you are devastated, you mourn, you cry to the point where you think you'll never stop-and then you reach a stage where the survival instinct takes over, You stop. You simply won't or can't let yourself "go there" anymore because the pain was too great. You block. You deny. But you don't really heal."
"Win looked up, tapped his chin with his index finger. "How to explain this?" He stopped, thought, nodded. "We have a tendency to believe good things will last forever. It is in our nature. The Beatles, for example. Oh, they'll be around forever. .....Good things are rare. They are to be cherished because they always leave us too soon." Win rose, started for the door. Before he left the room, he looked back.
"Doing this stuff with you," Win said, "is one of those good things."
If you've read any of the Myron Bolitar books you know that Win doesn't usually admit to feelings too often but needless to say, it's a profound pronouncement about life. We should treasure the most wonderful times of our life and we should tell people that they were that moment to us for the moment doesn't last forever and life doesn't last forever.
Myron is thinking about his brother and says, ""Their estrangement worked a bit like grief. We are often told during times of bereavement that time heals all wounds. That's crap. In truth, you are devastated, you mourn, you cry to the point where you think you'll never stop-and then you reach a stage where the survival instinct takes over, You stop. You simply won't or can't let yourself "go there" anymore because the pain was too great. You block. You deny. But you don't really heal."
"Win looked up, tapped his chin with his index finger. "How to explain this?" He stopped, thought, nodded. "We have a tendency to believe good things will last forever. It is in our nature. The Beatles, for example. Oh, they'll be around forever. .....Good things are rare. They are to be cherished because they always leave us too soon." Win rose, started for the door. Before he left the room, he looked back.
"Doing this stuff with you," Win said, "is one of those good things."
If you've read any of the Myron Bolitar books you know that Win doesn't usually admit to feelings too often but needless to say, it's a profound pronouncement about life. We should treasure the most wonderful times of our life and we should tell people that they were that moment to us for the moment doesn't last forever and life doesn't last forever.
July 4, 2016
Number 10 in the series and the last for a while until the new one comes out. At least I know there is another one coming:)
This instalment was easily as good as all the earlier ones although it started off a little slowly. Then it steadily became more and more unputdownable and galloped to a very satisfying conclusion. Win is the real hero in this book especially towards the end when he takes charge and solves all the problems in his usual inimicable manner.
I guess this must also be the start of the YA Mickey Bolitar series which I have yet to explore. I am not sure how that will work out for me but I am willing to give it a try. Especially while I am in Myron/Win withdrawal waiting for September.
This instalment was easily as good as all the earlier ones although it started off a little slowly. Then it steadily became more and more unputdownable and galloped to a very satisfying conclusion. Win is the real hero in this book especially towards the end when he takes charge and solves all the problems in his usual inimicable manner.
I guess this must also be the start of the YA Mickey Bolitar series which I have yet to explore. I am not sure how that will work out for me but I am willing to give it a try. Especially while I am in Myron/Win withdrawal waiting for September.
June 13, 2019
“Live Wire� is my first Harlan Coben novel. He is an author that has been recommended as being solid and always enjoyable. I did like this one, although it started a bit slow for me. It certainly didn’t end slowly.
Myron Bolitar and Windsor (Win) Horne Lockwood are the muscle behind MB Reps, a firm that represents artists and athletes. Myron and Esperanza Diaz are the business partners of MB Reps. Esperanza is the computer hack who can attain background information at lightening speed. One more employee, Big Cyndi, a 300+ lb female employee who likes to dress to be noticed, rounds out the character list. The employees work well together in the novel and as characters as well.
In this story, Myron is asked to help the wife of a rock star find her husband and also the person who seems to be embarrassing her on social media. It’s a tangled web that includes Myron’s estranged brother and sister-in-law as well as the mafia.
It’s fast paced and easily read. I enjoyed it and felt it was worth my time. I’ll look for more Coben novels to read in the future!
Myron Bolitar and Windsor (Win) Horne Lockwood are the muscle behind MB Reps, a firm that represents artists and athletes. Myron and Esperanza Diaz are the business partners of MB Reps. Esperanza is the computer hack who can attain background information at lightening speed. One more employee, Big Cyndi, a 300+ lb female employee who likes to dress to be noticed, rounds out the character list. The employees work well together in the novel and as characters as well.
In this story, Myron is asked to help the wife of a rock star find her husband and also the person who seems to be embarrassing her on social media. It’s a tangled web that includes Myron’s estranged brother and sister-in-law as well as the mafia.
It’s fast paced and easily read. I enjoyed it and felt it was worth my time. I’ll look for more Coben novels to read in the future!
November 29, 2021
2.5 stars
In this 10th book in the 'Myron Bolitar' series the former basketball star, and current proprietor of MB Reps, is enlisted to help a retired tennis player. The book can be read as a standalone, but knowing the characters is a big plus.
Myron Bolitar was set to be a professional basketball player when a knee injury scuttled his career. So Myron went to law school and became a sports agent.
Myron is currently the co-owner of MB Reps, a New York agency that represents sports figures, actors, and musicians.
Myron is aided in this endeavor by his partner Esperanza; his office manager Big Cyndi; and his financial advisor Windsor Horne Lockwood III (Win)....all of whom are VERY colorful characters.
In addition to getting his clients jobs and negotiating their contracts, Myron fixes his clients' problems. So it's no surprise when retired tennis player Suzze T comes to him for help. Suzze T is married to rock legend Lex Ryder, expecting a baby, and happily posting updates on Facebook.
Suzze T is mortified when someone writes 'NOT HIS' (meaning not Lex's) under her baby news, and wants Myron to discover who posted this malicious lie. Myron is also tasked with smoothing things over with Lex.....who's gone incommunicado.
Myron tracks Lex to a nightclub, and after speaking to the rocker, happens to spot his sister-in-law Kitty, which is a shock. Kitty skedaddles before Myron can speak to her, though he tries to give chase.
Myron's brother Brad married Kitty sixteen years ago - over Myron's vociferous objections - and the couple ran off and didn't come back. As it happens, Kitty had been a tennis star before she absconded, but was dethroned by the underhanded machinations of Suzze T.
Myron puts two and two together and concludes that Kitty wrote 'NOT HIS' on Suzze T's Facebook page.....for revenge.
The story gets complicated from this point as Myron tries to reunite Suzze T and Lex; make amends with Kitty and Brad; and deal with gangsters who have their fingers in the drug trade and music world. On top of that Myron's feisty 74-year-old father has a heart attack - leaving his loved ones in dread of the outcome.
This book isn't one of Harlen Coben's best efforts (IMO). The story is padded with excessive violence, overwritten scenes, and annoying characters. I especially disliked entitled twin teenage boys who are walking thesauruses of naughty/degrading language. I wanted to stuff their mouths with rags.
On the upside, there are some fun scenes, like the evening Esperanza - a bombshell who once wrestled under the moniker 'Little Pocahontas' - has to get dowdy Myron into a nightclub;
And the time Big Cyndi runs around New York City in a Batgirl costume, or wears enough rouge to paint a van....and no one even raises an eyebrow.
Win also plays does his part, doling out violence in his usual uppity patrician manner.
Still, unless you're a big Myron Bolitar fan, you won't miss much if you skip this book.
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October 27, 2016
I've loved everything about the Myron Bolitar series and I really, really do not want it to end. I know there is at least one more: HOME came out just last month, but I'm not going to read it any time soon.
Instead, I'm finally ready to dive into Mr. Coben's YA series featuring Mickey Bolitar. I'm expecting those to be fabulous books to share with the High School students, and Mr. Coben has not let me down yet....
Special note to Students: You've heard me encourage you to read the acknowledgements, if you do that for only one author, please pick this one...you'll see why :)
Of course I'll continue to plow through his stand-alone novels and absolutely anything else he writes.)
Instead, I'm finally ready to dive into Mr. Coben's YA series featuring Mickey Bolitar. I'm expecting those to be fabulous books to share with the High School students, and Mr. Coben has not let me down yet....
Special note to Students: You've heard me encourage you to read the acknowledgements, if you do that for only one author, please pick this one...you'll see why :)
Of course I'll continue to plow through his stand-alone novels and absolutely anything else he writes.)
March 26, 2017
When Myron Bolitar’s professional basketball career crashed almost before it began, he turned himself into a sports agent. Myron provides a special brand of personal service that has won him many clients for whom he will do almost anything.
By this book, #10, Myron has expanded his clientele to include entertainment as well as athletic clients. Because he truly cares about his clients, he is on call 24/7. He now has a group of associates to help him. He has become a problem solver and, sometimes an investigator.
All of these aspects will be called upon to resolve the client issues (and family issues) in Live Wire.
The action begins with an old client asking Myron to track down her husband. She is about to give birth and her husband’s absence may be due to a recent post on her Facebook page questioning the paternity of her child to be. She wants to know who raised that issue. Her hubby, Rex, is also a client of Myron and a member of a two-person rock group that has been highly successful. The other member is, Gabriel Wire, to whom the title obliquely refers.
Full disclosure: Live Wire is my first, Myron Bolitar. I guess I was lucky in my choice, because Coben includes enough information about how Myron got where he is that I did not, at any point, feel disoriented.
This is an action/suspense novel more than just detective fiction. There is death and mayhem in various forms; there is organized crime; there is a fair amount of information about what a sports agent can do for the clients. However, it is also a novel that includes a large component of family life that involves Myron’s new love, his old loves; his mother and father; his estranged brother, and his brother’s family. You may find yourself inclined to muse while reading on the nature of friendship, or celebrity, or the cognitive structure of fandom�.or not.
All these elements are pulled together by Coben’s strong narrative skills. For those who are following Myron there is plenty about his family in this story. And, even for one such as I who has not been there for books #1-#9, that did not overly distract from the well-paced plot.
By this book, #10, Myron has expanded his clientele to include entertainment as well as athletic clients. Because he truly cares about his clients, he is on call 24/7. He now has a group of associates to help him. He has become a problem solver and, sometimes an investigator.
All of these aspects will be called upon to resolve the client issues (and family issues) in Live Wire.
The action begins with an old client asking Myron to track down her husband. She is about to give birth and her husband’s absence may be due to a recent post on her Facebook page questioning the paternity of her child to be. She wants to know who raised that issue. Her hubby, Rex, is also a client of Myron and a member of a two-person rock group that has been highly successful. The other member is, Gabriel Wire, to whom the title obliquely refers.
Full disclosure: Live Wire is my first, Myron Bolitar. I guess I was lucky in my choice, because Coben includes enough information about how Myron got where he is that I did not, at any point, feel disoriented.
This is an action/suspense novel more than just detective fiction. There is death and mayhem in various forms; there is organized crime; there is a fair amount of information about what a sports agent can do for the clients. However, it is also a novel that includes a large component of family life that involves Myron’s new love, his old loves; his mother and father; his estranged brother, and his brother’s family. You may find yourself inclined to muse while reading on the nature of friendship, or celebrity, or the cognitive structure of fandom�.or not.
All these elements are pulled together by Coben’s strong narrative skills. For those who are following Myron there is plenty about his family in this story. And, even for one such as I who has not been there for books #1-#9, that did not overly distract from the well-paced plot.
August 5, 2012
Myron Bolitar returns here in his tenth outing. Formerly a struggling sports agent, Myron has blossomed over a period of seventeen years into a super agent who represents not only sports figures but a wide variety of entertainment stars as well. As is usually the case in a Harlan Coben novel, families take a major role, and in this case Myron's family is center stage--both his regular family and his extended family which consists of his best friend Win and Esperanza and Big Cyndi, the two women who constitute the rest of Myron's agency.
The book opens with Myron's beloved father lying at death's door but then quickly flashes back to a point six days earlier when one of Myron's long-time clients, former tennis star Suzze Tervantio, arrives in his office. Suzze is now retired and married to a rock star named Lex Ryder who is also one of Myron's clients. She is pregnant and about to deliver their first child. But someone has posted a malicious message on her Facebook page, claiming that Lex is not the father of her child and in the wake of the posting, Lex has disappeared. Suzze is distraught and wants Myron to discover who posted the message. She also wants him to track down her husband.
Myron has always had a propensity to involve himself in the personal as well as the professional lives of his clients and so he accepts the assignment. He tracks Lex down in a nightclub and in doing so gets a major shock when he sees his estranged sister-in-law, Kitty Bolitar, across the crowded room. Myron and his only brother, Brad, had a falling out years earlier that centered on Kitty and the two brothers have not seen or spoken to each other for over fifteen years.
Myron chases after Kitty but is unable to catch her. Knowing that she, and probably his brother, are now back in the country after being nomadic wanderers for years, Myron is determined to find his brother and repair their relationship. Before long, Myron realizes that his two investigations are linked and as he pursues them, he antagonizes some very dangerous people. He must also wrestle with some very hard questions about the obligations we owe to those we love, and all of this will ultimately circle back to his father's hospital bedside.
I enjoyed this book, but I confess that I prefer the earlier Myron Bolitar novels. As the series has gone on, the books have gotten longer without necessarily getting better. Myron now spends a lot more time ruminating about life in general and much of this seems overdone. Some of the banter between Myron and his sidekick, Win, seems a bit infantile and unnecessary. Finally, while these books have always required a bit more than the usual suspension of disbelief, this one really stretches it. There are some coincidences that are just a bit too amazing and some scenes that are just a bit too far over the top to be taken even remotely seriously. This is a compelling book that quickly catches the reader up in the story. But once you've finished it and begin to reflect upon some of the developments that moved the story forward, it doesn't really hang together as well as it might.
The book opens with Myron's beloved father lying at death's door but then quickly flashes back to a point six days earlier when one of Myron's long-time clients, former tennis star Suzze Tervantio, arrives in his office. Suzze is now retired and married to a rock star named Lex Ryder who is also one of Myron's clients. She is pregnant and about to deliver their first child. But someone has posted a malicious message on her Facebook page, claiming that Lex is not the father of her child and in the wake of the posting, Lex has disappeared. Suzze is distraught and wants Myron to discover who posted the message. She also wants him to track down her husband.
Myron has always had a propensity to involve himself in the personal as well as the professional lives of his clients and so he accepts the assignment. He tracks Lex down in a nightclub and in doing so gets a major shock when he sees his estranged sister-in-law, Kitty Bolitar, across the crowded room. Myron and his only brother, Brad, had a falling out years earlier that centered on Kitty and the two brothers have not seen or spoken to each other for over fifteen years.
Myron chases after Kitty but is unable to catch her. Knowing that she, and probably his brother, are now back in the country after being nomadic wanderers for years, Myron is determined to find his brother and repair their relationship. Before long, Myron realizes that his two investigations are linked and as he pursues them, he antagonizes some very dangerous people. He must also wrestle with some very hard questions about the obligations we owe to those we love, and all of this will ultimately circle back to his father's hospital bedside.
I enjoyed this book, but I confess that I prefer the earlier Myron Bolitar novels. As the series has gone on, the books have gotten longer without necessarily getting better. Myron now spends a lot more time ruminating about life in general and much of this seems overdone. Some of the banter between Myron and his sidekick, Win, seems a bit infantile and unnecessary. Finally, while these books have always required a bit more than the usual suspension of disbelief, this one really stretches it. There are some coincidences that are just a bit too amazing and some scenes that are just a bit too far over the top to be taken even remotely seriously. This is a compelling book that quickly catches the reader up in the story. But once you've finished it and begin to reflect upon some of the developments that moved the story forward, it doesn't really hang together as well as it might.
April 6, 2025
Book ten in the Myron Bolitar and I love this series so much.
As always Coben writes a good book to keep you hooked throughout. Was nice to see more of the Bolitar family.
Five stars.
As always Coben writes a good book to keep you hooked throughout. Was nice to see more of the Bolitar family.
Five stars.
December 16, 2015
5/10
The completionist in me required that I read this novel, the final outing in the Myron Bolitar series. Having read the previous 9 I needed to tie things off, it makes sense, however I was less than thrilled about picking this up. Harlan Coben used to be one of my favourite authors about 10 years ago and I’m unsure whether it’s my tastes that have changed or his quality has dropped. Whichever it is, Coben is no longer in my top ten authors after a number of disappointing reads over the last few years with the last book in this series, Long Lost, possibly being the worst I have read by him by a country mile and the worst book I read in 2015.
Fortunately this one isn’t as bad as “Long Lost�, but by no means is this a good book. The jokes are re-hashed from the previous 9 books reminding you of the same things over and over again, Win (Myron’s sidekick) is basically Batman with his vigilante attitude and billionaire status, the plot is flimsy and is quite obvious in parts making the tension drip away. The real thing that I noticed in this one, and I’m not sure if this is new in the last few books or is just really starting to irk me, is the schmaltzy attitude towards his family and friends. The number of times Myron’s “eyes well up� at the thought of his dad, son, friends, enemies. Get a grip man, go back to being fun like you were in the start of the series! Also, I don’t recall any mention of his brother in previous novels yet here he is playing a central part in book 10 of the series. It just seemed like lazy writing/plotting on Coben’s behalf.
The plot is average for this type of book, the well seems to be running dry and all his good ideas have been used up before. I felt like I’d been there and done that with these characters and the twists were signposted miles away. The series should have drawn to a close when the Sports Agency angle was removed. That was what made this series good and intriguing but now it feels like a copy of a number of other series and it doesn’t have enough about it to stand out in that crowd. The only saving grace for this book is that it was relatively short and pretty quick to get through. Not a great sign though when that is one of the few positives of a book.
I’ve gone off Coben now, this is me and him having a break for the foreseeable future as I don’t think there is anything new and interesting this author can offer me for now. I’d rather try some new series/authors instead than keep treading water here.
If you like this try: “A Drink Before the War� by Dennis Lehane
The completionist in me required that I read this novel, the final outing in the Myron Bolitar series. Having read the previous 9 I needed to tie things off, it makes sense, however I was less than thrilled about picking this up. Harlan Coben used to be one of my favourite authors about 10 years ago and I’m unsure whether it’s my tastes that have changed or his quality has dropped. Whichever it is, Coben is no longer in my top ten authors after a number of disappointing reads over the last few years with the last book in this series, Long Lost, possibly being the worst I have read by him by a country mile and the worst book I read in 2015.
Fortunately this one isn’t as bad as “Long Lost�, but by no means is this a good book. The jokes are re-hashed from the previous 9 books reminding you of the same things over and over again, Win (Myron’s sidekick) is basically Batman with his vigilante attitude and billionaire status, the plot is flimsy and is quite obvious in parts making the tension drip away. The real thing that I noticed in this one, and I’m not sure if this is new in the last few books or is just really starting to irk me, is the schmaltzy attitude towards his family and friends. The number of times Myron’s “eyes well up� at the thought of his dad, son, friends, enemies. Get a grip man, go back to being fun like you were in the start of the series! Also, I don’t recall any mention of his brother in previous novels yet here he is playing a central part in book 10 of the series. It just seemed like lazy writing/plotting on Coben’s behalf.
The plot is average for this type of book, the well seems to be running dry and all his good ideas have been used up before. I felt like I’d been there and done that with these characters and the twists were signposted miles away. The series should have drawn to a close when the Sports Agency angle was removed. That was what made this series good and intriguing but now it feels like a copy of a number of other series and it doesn’t have enough about it to stand out in that crowd. The only saving grace for this book is that it was relatively short and pretty quick to get through. Not a great sign though when that is one of the few positives of a book.
I’ve gone off Coben now, this is me and him having a break for the foreseeable future as I don’t think there is anything new and interesting this author can offer me for now. I’d rather try some new series/authors instead than keep treading water here.
If you like this try: “A Drink Before the War� by Dennis Lehane
July 8, 2012
After six or seven books in the Myron Bolitar series, Harlan Coben either ran out of ideas or got some new ideas beyond his station. Either way, his subsequent standalone thrillers have been largely disappointing. Compare and contrast with Dennis Lehane. Also Robert Crais.
So it was no big surprise that after three of them, he returned to Myron Bolitar and his more interesting friend Windsor Horne Lockwood III. AKA Win. Coben has alternated between the two styles of late but this, the most recent Myron Bolitar book, may have been the last.
Live Wire is what happens to a writer who loses the plot. In Long Lost, the previous Myron Bolitar, the plot became ludicrous and outlandish. In Live Wire, things go from bad to worse.
Coben returns to - and recycles - a brief anecdote about Myron's father (The Last Detail) to essentially invent an estranged brother and a whole new traumatic backstory for Myron before promptly killing the brother off again. Like Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, poor Brad Bolitar never makes it onto the stage - and I doubt Tom Stoppard is going to help him out.
At least, I suppose, Coben stops short of giving Myron an evil identical twin. But not far short. He regurgitates jokes and plot lines, and rushes to bring the series to an unbecoming end. And why? To set the stage for Bolitar rebooted - the YA adventures of Myron's teenage nephew Mickey (real name also Myron). Clearly the only reason for the cursory reinvention of brother Brad.
Let's not mince words. Live Wire is crap. But I still read it all - and preferred it to the recent Stay Close - because I have an emotional attachment to the characters and because even recycled familiar humour has its appeal. And when, as he surely will, Harlan Coben is desperate enough to bring Myron and Win back from the brink one more effing time, then I'll prolly read that too. But Coben isn't fooling me, as a novelist, on this evidence, he's shot.
So it was no big surprise that after three of them, he returned to Myron Bolitar and his more interesting friend Windsor Horne Lockwood III. AKA Win. Coben has alternated between the two styles of late but this, the most recent Myron Bolitar book, may have been the last.
Live Wire is what happens to a writer who loses the plot. In Long Lost, the previous Myron Bolitar, the plot became ludicrous and outlandish. In Live Wire, things go from bad to worse.
Coben returns to - and recycles - a brief anecdote about Myron's father (The Last Detail) to essentially invent an estranged brother and a whole new traumatic backstory for Myron before promptly killing the brother off again. Like Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, poor Brad Bolitar never makes it onto the stage - and I doubt Tom Stoppard is going to help him out.
At least, I suppose, Coben stops short of giving Myron an evil identical twin. But not far short. He regurgitates jokes and plot lines, and rushes to bring the series to an unbecoming end. And why? To set the stage for Bolitar rebooted - the YA adventures of Myron's teenage nephew Mickey (real name also Myron). Clearly the only reason for the cursory reinvention of brother Brad.
Let's not mince words. Live Wire is crap. But I still read it all - and preferred it to the recent Stay Close - because I have an emotional attachment to the characters and because even recycled familiar humour has its appeal. And when, as he surely will, Harlan Coben is desperate enough to bring Myron and Win back from the brink one more effing time, then I'll prolly read that too. But Coben isn't fooling me, as a novelist, on this evidence, he's shot.
April 27, 2020
সাবে� টেনি� তারকা। তা� স্বামী� নামকরা রকস্টার। টেনি� তারক� নিজে� গর্ভবতী অবস্থা� খব� ফেসবুক� স্ট্যাটা� দিলে একজন রহস্যময় আইডি কমেন্ট কর� ‘বাচ্চার বাবা � নয়’। আজকা� ফেকাইড� দিয়� এরকম কমেন্ট তো কে� করতে� পারে� কিন্তু কমেন্টের জে� ধর� সংসারে অশান্ত� নেমে এল� টেনি� তারকা। কমেন্টটা করেছ� কে সেটা খুঁজ� বে� করার দায়িত্ব দেয়� হল তা� এজেন্ট মায়রন বলিটারকে� ফেকাইড� ধারী খোঁজ� নেমে মায়রন ঢুকে গে� এক ষড়যন্ত্রে� মধ্যে। যেখানে জড়িয়� রয়েছে ওর পরিবারও। মায়রন পারব� রহস্যে� জট খুলত�?
হারলান কোবেনে� বিখ্যা� সিরি� হচ্ছ� মায়রন বলিটার সিরিজ। এগারোট� বই রয়েছে সিরিজের। লাইভ ওয়্যা� বইটা সিরিজে� নব� বই� মায়রন বলিটার সাবে� বাস্কেটব� তারকা। তব� ইনজুরি� কারণ� বর্তমানে একজন স্পোর্টস এজেন্ট� খেলোয়াড়দের ভালোমন্দ দেখভাল কর� সে�
লাইভ ওয়্যা� বইটা� প্রসঙ্গে ফেরা যাক। বইটা দুনিয়� ধ্বং� হয়ে যাওয়া� হা� থেকে বাঁচানোর কোনো উপন্যা� নয়। বর� কিছু মানুষে� ব্যক্তিগ� জীবনের টানাপোড়নে� ফিরিস্তি বল� যেতে পারে� খুবই সাধারণ একটা ঘটনা দিয়� বইটা� কাহিনী সূত্রপাত� বর্তমা� যুগে অহরহ ফেকাইড� দেখা পাওয়া যায়� প্রথমে� দিকে সে� কারণ� বইটা একটু স্লো মন� হবে। কিন্তু কাহিনী� যত ভেতর� ঢুকবেন ছোট্� ঘটনাটা� ডালপাল� গজিয়ে ভয়ানক রূ� ধারণ করবে ততক্ষণে। হারলান কোবেনে� লেখনী� এটাই একটা জাদু� বইটা হচ্ছ� স্লো বার্নার। ধীরে ধীরে উত্তেজনা� সৃষ্টি করে। শুরুতে স্লো মন� কর� রেখে দিলে� লস� মায়রন বলিটারের পাশাপাশি তা� সহযোগী উই� চরিত্রটা� দারু� উপভোগ্য। বইয়� জীবনবো� উঠ� এসেছ� কয়ে� জায়গায়�
এবার আস� টুইস্ট মাস্টা� হারলান কোবেনে� বিশেষত্বে। এই বইয়েও কমপক্ষ� চারট� ছোটবড় টুইস্ট রয়েছে� চারটায� মাথা ঘুরিয়� দিতে বাধ্য। একটা� আগ� থেকে ধারণ� কর� সম্ভ� নয়।
তব� বইটা� সমস্যা হল ডোমেস্টি� থ্রিলা� টাইপ বই হওয়ার কারণ� শুরুতে বে� স্লো� ধৈর্যচ্যুত� ঘটতে পারে� তব� ধৈর্য্� ধরলে শেষে রয়েছে চা� টুইস্ট এর মুগ্ধতা।
লাইভ ওয়্যা� (Live Wire)
হারলান কোবে�
পৃষ্টা: ৩৮�
হারলান কোবেনে� বিখ্যা� সিরি� হচ্ছ� মায়রন বলিটার সিরিজ। এগারোট� বই রয়েছে সিরিজের। লাইভ ওয়্যা� বইটা সিরিজে� নব� বই� মায়রন বলিটার সাবে� বাস্কেটব� তারকা। তব� ইনজুরি� কারণ� বর্তমানে একজন স্পোর্টস এজেন্ট� খেলোয়াড়দের ভালোমন্দ দেখভাল কর� সে�
লাইভ ওয়্যা� বইটা� প্রসঙ্গে ফেরা যাক। বইটা দুনিয়� ধ্বং� হয়ে যাওয়া� হা� থেকে বাঁচানোর কোনো উপন্যা� নয়। বর� কিছু মানুষে� ব্যক্তিগ� জীবনের টানাপোড়নে� ফিরিস্তি বল� যেতে পারে� খুবই সাধারণ একটা ঘটনা দিয়� বইটা� কাহিনী সূত্রপাত� বর্তমা� যুগে অহরহ ফেকাইড� দেখা পাওয়া যায়� প্রথমে� দিকে সে� কারণ� বইটা একটু স্লো মন� হবে। কিন্তু কাহিনী� যত ভেতর� ঢুকবেন ছোট্� ঘটনাটা� ডালপাল� গজিয়ে ভয়ানক রূ� ধারণ করবে ততক্ষণে। হারলান কোবেনে� লেখনী� এটাই একটা জাদু� বইটা হচ্ছ� স্লো বার্নার। ধীরে ধীরে উত্তেজনা� সৃষ্টি করে। শুরুতে স্লো মন� কর� রেখে দিলে� লস� মায়রন বলিটারের পাশাপাশি তা� সহযোগী উই� চরিত্রটা� দারু� উপভোগ্য। বইয়� জীবনবো� উঠ� এসেছ� কয়ে� জায়গায়�
এবার আস� টুইস্ট মাস্টা� হারলান কোবেনে� বিশেষত্বে। এই বইয়েও কমপক্ষ� চারট� ছোটবড় টুইস্ট রয়েছে� চারটায� মাথা ঘুরিয়� দিতে বাধ্য। একটা� আগ� থেকে ধারণ� কর� সম্ভ� নয়।
তব� বইটা� সমস্যা হল ডোমেস্টি� থ্রিলা� টাইপ বই হওয়ার কারণ� শুরুতে বে� স্লো� ধৈর্যচ্যুত� ঘটতে পারে� তব� ধৈর্য্� ধরলে শেষে রয়েছে চা� টুইস্ট এর মুগ্ধতা।
লাইভ ওয়্যা� (Live Wire)
হারলান কোবে�
পৃষ্টা: ৩৮�
September 18, 2024
Myron Bolitar returns for a tenth outing in Live Wire and the head of MB REPS is once again thrust into a sordid emergency involving a couple of his long-time clients. He remains the kind of guy who’ll absolutely go out of his way to help his clients and slip into the role of investigator when the stakes are inevitably raised. From a seemingly innocuous start, the stakes in this one are raised to an incredibly high level.
Like so many of Harlan Coben’s books, Live Wire is all about family. To be specific, it’s all about Myron Bolitar’s family, from his father’s health, to the fate of his younger brother - barely mentioned throughout the series until now - and the introduction of his nephew, Mickey Bolitar. But the whole show is kicked off when a very pregnant Suzze T, former tennis star and wife of rock star Lex Rider, comes into his office in an extremely agitated state.
Her distress has come from a comment made on her Facebook page suggesting Lex is not the father of her baby. After reading the comment Lex has disappeared and Suzze wants Myron to find out who made the comment and to find her husband for her.
Myron remains true to type and immediately drops everything in a bid to come to Suzze’s aid. This has been both his single greatest character strength and flaw and it’s this single-minded desire to come to the aid of others that repeatedly gets himself, Win, Esperanza and Big Cyndi into trouble.
We get a little taste of this character trait early on in the piece when Myron and Esperanza are in line waiting to enter a nightclub. One of the bouncers at the door refuses entry to a young woman stating she was “too chunky�. The young woman leaves in tears but Myron makes it his duty to point out the wrongness of this comment to the bouncer, even taking it as far as making it physical with the guy. Typical Myron Bolitar. (Even more typical, Win later steps in to clean up the mess after things get a little out of hand).
Sister-in-law Kitty Bolitar suddenly appears back in his life, but she’s not doing well, strung out with a drug addiction. Myron’s brother Brad is not on the scene and even though he and Myron haven’t spoken for years, Myron’s still concerned about his absence. Naturally, he completely bungles the process of trying to help Kitty and, along the way, finds himself in a physical confrontation with 15-year-old nephew Mickey.
Although the usual humorous exchanges between Myron and Win are scattered through the book as well as self-deprecating comments to keep things light, Live Wire is a far darker, far more violent version of the Myron Bolitar series. Myron’s getting older and he’s become prone to long moments of introspection tinged with regret and sorrow. Win, well, we know Win is a dangerous gad-about type of fellow but even his ruthlessness is ramped up to another level.
A slight disappointment for me was the ending which tipped too far over into the unbelievable realm, choosing to go for shock value rather than a more considered approach. It felt as though things were wrapped up way too quickly and ridiculously neatly with just about no fallout despite the violence that took place.
I had the feeling that this was intended to be the finale of the Myron Bolitar series. Certainly, there was a sense of wrapping everything up during the book’s epilogue. But at the time of writing this review there have been a further 2 books added to the series. The gaps between each of these books could be a sign that there was a change of heart. Be that as it may, I’m glad he’s been resurrected and I’ll be hitting the next in the series shortly.
Like so many of Harlan Coben’s books, Live Wire is all about family. To be specific, it’s all about Myron Bolitar’s family, from his father’s health, to the fate of his younger brother - barely mentioned throughout the series until now - and the introduction of his nephew, Mickey Bolitar. But the whole show is kicked off when a very pregnant Suzze T, former tennis star and wife of rock star Lex Rider, comes into his office in an extremely agitated state.
Her distress has come from a comment made on her Facebook page suggesting Lex is not the father of her baby. After reading the comment Lex has disappeared and Suzze wants Myron to find out who made the comment and to find her husband for her.
Myron remains true to type and immediately drops everything in a bid to come to Suzze’s aid. This has been both his single greatest character strength and flaw and it’s this single-minded desire to come to the aid of others that repeatedly gets himself, Win, Esperanza and Big Cyndi into trouble.
We get a little taste of this character trait early on in the piece when Myron and Esperanza are in line waiting to enter a nightclub. One of the bouncers at the door refuses entry to a young woman stating she was “too chunky�. The young woman leaves in tears but Myron makes it his duty to point out the wrongness of this comment to the bouncer, even taking it as far as making it physical with the guy. Typical Myron Bolitar. (Even more typical, Win later steps in to clean up the mess after things get a little out of hand).
Sister-in-law Kitty Bolitar suddenly appears back in his life, but she’s not doing well, strung out with a drug addiction. Myron’s brother Brad is not on the scene and even though he and Myron haven’t spoken for years, Myron’s still concerned about his absence. Naturally, he completely bungles the process of trying to help Kitty and, along the way, finds himself in a physical confrontation with 15-year-old nephew Mickey.
Although the usual humorous exchanges between Myron and Win are scattered through the book as well as self-deprecating comments to keep things light, Live Wire is a far darker, far more violent version of the Myron Bolitar series. Myron’s getting older and he’s become prone to long moments of introspection tinged with regret and sorrow. Win, well, we know Win is a dangerous gad-about type of fellow but even his ruthlessness is ramped up to another level.
A slight disappointment for me was the ending which tipped too far over into the unbelievable realm, choosing to go for shock value rather than a more considered approach. It felt as though things were wrapped up way too quickly and ridiculously neatly with just about no fallout despite the violence that took place.
I had the feeling that this was intended to be the finale of the Myron Bolitar series. Certainly, there was a sense of wrapping everything up during the book’s epilogue. But at the time of writing this review there have been a further 2 books added to the series. The gaps between each of these books could be a sign that there was a change of heart. Be that as it may, I’m glad he’s been resurrected and I’ll be hitting the next in the series shortly.
September 1, 2022
Another book I've neglected for years that turned out to be pretty decent!
I've not read any of this series so I was really glad to find I could jump in here at #10 and not be lost at all. I loved the characters and was able to understand all the relationship dynamics quite well.
This story involves rock stars and a pregnant tennis star who is heckled online. I was drawn into the mystery so easily and it made this quite a compulsive read.
My favourite part of this entire book though were the fight scenes - Myron knew what he was doing and I can tell the author obviously has some martial arts training himself because the detail is insane and so accurate. I really enjoyed that.
There's plenty going on and several threads to follow, but it never becomes overwhelming or too confusing. The realism of Myron still working on other jobs and talking to clients not relevant to this major case was a fantastic addition, because it really does round everything out nicely. There's no awkwardly obvious coincidences so everything flows very neatly.
A very well written book and now I am looking forward to reading the next one I have, , which I believe moves on to follow Myron's nephew, Mickey. Keen!
I've not read any of this series so I was really glad to find I could jump in here at #10 and not be lost at all. I loved the characters and was able to understand all the relationship dynamics quite well.
This story involves rock stars and a pregnant tennis star who is heckled online. I was drawn into the mystery so easily and it made this quite a compulsive read.
My favourite part of this entire book though were the fight scenes - Myron knew what he was doing and I can tell the author obviously has some martial arts training himself because the detail is insane and so accurate. I really enjoyed that.
There's plenty going on and several threads to follow, but it never becomes overwhelming or too confusing. The realism of Myron still working on other jobs and talking to clients not relevant to this major case was a fantastic addition, because it really does round everything out nicely. There's no awkwardly obvious coincidences so everything flows very neatly.
A very well written book and now I am looking forward to reading the next one I have, , which I believe moves on to follow Myron's nephew, Mickey. Keen!
June 5, 2021
I have not read a Harlan Coben book that I didn't like. This book was very hard to put down. So many twists and turns. It kept me turning page after page. I love when I can't figure out what's going to happen. So this book is about a brother in search of the brother he let leave his life. They haven't seen each other in 16 years when his wife turns up without his brother. Where is his brother and why is his brother wife in danger?
February 14, 2022
I began reading the Myron Bolitar books late in the game but I'm glad I finally did. If this was the last in the series, "Live Wire" was a good ending.
April 18, 2015
Well, giving this book the benefit of the doubt because it was an audio that I listened to in the car, I'll bump it up from two stars to three.
I like Myron but this wasn't his best story. And besides Myron (and Dad) there wasn't anyone to like. I like to like characters.
I like Myron but this wasn't his best story. And besides Myron (and Dad) there wasn't anyone to like. I like to like characters.
April 9, 2025
Normally reading a book in a day is not significant for me, but for some completely unknown to me reason 2025 has been rough on my reading goals. I have a harder than normal time focusing and I just am not getting the same kind of pleasure from it. So while this may not be the most literarily good book I’ve ever read it was instantly a 5 star for me since it captured my attention and I devoured it today. I liked the mystery for the most part, but what I really loved were the characters as I always do. I love the mystery entwined with the humor so much. I hope there are many more books about Myron and Win to be had. Myron can’t help but get involved when one of his clients come to him with a facebook post and a request for Myron to find who wrote it because now her husband is gone. The mystery gets very close to home when Myron sees his sister in law who he hadn’t seen in 15 years. This was a fun good, full of action, and it made me laugh. What more can any of us really ask for?
May 28, 2024
� � � � �
March 2, 2022
This is the third HC book that I've attempted to engage with but to no avail, sadly.
He is so highly rated on ŷ and I'm clearly missing something. Maybe it is the American dialect that I'm struggling with?
He is so highly rated on ŷ and I'm clearly missing something. Maybe it is the American dialect that I'm struggling with?
August 16, 2020
This was my first Myron Bolitar (my second Harlan Coben) and it was soporific. As soon as I discovered Bolitar was a sports agent my lids grew heavy, and they didn't get any lighter when it was revealed that two retired tennis stars featured in the plot, one of them being a junkie. If I'm going to be forced to read about junkies I need some literary merit to go with them. But I plowed on through what appeared to be the book's main storyline - a bromance between business partners Bolitar and his multimillionaire preppie sidekick Lock Thorne, or maybe his name was Win Horne, or Winlock Thornwood, or Lockehorne Winwood - as the two took turns beating up bouncers and security guards.
I've written often of the "steepled fingers" tic of Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child in the Pendergast series. Coben has it too, maybe they went to the same writing workshop:
"Win sat, steepled his fingers."
"Win steepled his hands."
"Win steepled his fingers."
But by far the worst writerly tic here was Bolitar's abuse of the verb "to do" which substituted for all the simple "yesses" that would have sufficed. No embellishment follows - all of these are from opening the book to random pages.
"You have a plan?"
"I do."
"Do you remember her?"
"I do."
"You have an alternate theory?"
"I do."
"Do you have a plan here?"
"I do."
"You know what I mean?"
"I do."
"Do you have a plan to get us onto Wire's property?"
"I do."
"I assume you have a very good reason for trying to find your brother after all these years?"
"I do."
"Do we believe her?"
"We do."
"See the brilliance?"
"Pretend I do."
"I assume you upset Herman Ache."
"I did."
"Didn't you find Mickey's passport?"
"I did."
"Do you remember Milli Vanilli?"
Myron did.
"You know what I mean?"
Myron did.
"You have to see that."
Myron did.
"You know why?"
He did.
"Wasn't the music the same?"
"It was."
Maybe Myron has a speech impediment and can't form the word yes?
I've written often of the "steepled fingers" tic of Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child in the Pendergast series. Coben has it too, maybe they went to the same writing workshop:
"Win sat, steepled his fingers."
"Win steepled his hands."
"Win steepled his fingers."
But by far the worst writerly tic here was Bolitar's abuse of the verb "to do" which substituted for all the simple "yesses" that would have sufficed. No embellishment follows - all of these are from opening the book to random pages.
"You have a plan?"
"I do."
"Do you remember her?"
"I do."
"You have an alternate theory?"
"I do."
"Do you have a plan here?"
"I do."
"You know what I mean?"
"I do."
"Do you have a plan to get us onto Wire's property?"
"I do."
"I assume you have a very good reason for trying to find your brother after all these years?"
"I do."
"Do we believe her?"
"We do."
"See the brilliance?"
"Pretend I do."
"I assume you upset Herman Ache."
"I did."
"Didn't you find Mickey's passport?"
"I did."
"Do you remember Milli Vanilli?"
Myron did.
"You know what I mean?"
Myron did.
"You have to see that."
Myron did.
"You know why?"
He did.
"Wasn't the music the same?"
"It was."
Maybe Myron has a speech impediment and can't form the word yes?
July 18, 2019
Poor Myron is so sad.
Maybe it's because the author has made up a brother we never knew about, given him a nephew who is himself as a kid, and then killed his brother off in a car accident.
Is there any more overused plot device in modern TV and films than killing off characters in a car crash when they are no longer required?
The whole tone of the book is sad. Frank Ache is sad. Win is sad. Everyone is sad. Even Myron's cheesy banter is missing.
Unfortunately if you write to a formula, after a while it becomes dull even to the author. This must be why he created the teen hero Mickey Bolitar, who is in fact a young Myron. I haven't read any Mickey B books yet, but I fear the worst.
Maybe it's because the author has made up a brother we never knew about, given him a nephew who is himself as a kid, and then killed his brother off in a car accident.
Is there any more overused plot device in modern TV and films than killing off characters in a car crash when they are no longer required?
The whole tone of the book is sad. Frank Ache is sad. Win is sad. Everyone is sad. Even Myron's cheesy banter is missing.
Unfortunately if you write to a formula, after a while it becomes dull even to the author. This must be why he created the teen hero Mickey Bolitar, who is in fact a young Myron. I haven't read any Mickey B books yet, but I fear the worst.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 1, 2017
Now that I have read Book #10, Book #11 makes much more sense.... A long time ago, Myron Bolitar almost made it in the NBA, until he blew out his knee in the first pre-season game of his career with the Celtics. He went to Harvard Law School, got a J.D. and became a sports rep, but that morphed into a career representing many different types, including rock stars. One of his stars, former tennis pro, Suzze T, who is eight months pregnant, shows up at his office asking Myron to find her rock star husband, Lex Ryder, one half of the ultra-famous rock band, HorsePower. Lex has disappeared after someone posted on Suzze's Facebook page that the baby might not be his. The implication is that Gabriel Wire, the other half of HorsePower, might be the father. And then things get really weird. Myron sees his estranged sister-in-law, Kitty, at a Manhattan night spot and discovers she is a heroin addict and he has a nephew that no one ever told him about. And, of course, Windsor Horne Lockwood III has to come along to help Myron in whatever manner he needs. To know Win is to fear him. Myron is torn between doing his duty to his family and figuring out how to help his friends and clients. Another great read.
August 6, 2012
LIVE WIRE was my fifth Harlan Coben read and my favorite so far.
Myron Bolitar really comes alive as a character as he struggles to find answers to what happened to his 15-yrs-gone brother, and inadvertanently stumbles across the answer to what happened to the elusive rockstar, Gabriel Wire. When one of his former client's is murdered, he quickly learns the answers he's seeking have become dynamite to everyone in his life, including himself.
What I liked best about the book is what most people like about Coben's stuff - the man has a great turn-of-phrase on almost every page. I enjoyed the structure and pacing of this one a lot also. I especially liked how he plays the two former tennis stars against each other--in the past and present. I also enjoyed how much he brought Myron's sidekick, Win, into play and how Coben makes Win the one with all the bucks, brilliance and savage no-holds-barred vengeful skills rather than Myron. It's an interesting twist on the protagonist / sidekick relationship that gives Coben's Myron Bolitar books extra juice.
I'm on the fence about the author-narrator's almost odd snippets of gossipy name-dropping references, many of which were non sequiturs. I put those down to a purposeful squeeze of 'writing style' and will say they neither added or subtracted, and the story/style didn't need them.
The ending is satisfying although not really surprising. To me, it's the 'middle' that makes this book sing, which is kind of ironic but it works.
***SPOILER ALERT***
What kept me from giving this story a full five stars were a few plausibility bugs:
The biggest glitch was the issue of Gabriel Wire becoming entrenched with the mafia due to a half-million dollar gambling debt (way back in the day), which is what leads to all the trouble down the road. The problem with that premise is Wire was a multi-millionaire rockstar - so how does a very rich man end up in debt to the mafia over a gambling debt? What happened to all that cheez in his bank???
The second glitch is during the climax of the story where Win and Myron go to see Herman Ache to resolve things. They're strip searched (and cavity searched), and made to put on different clothing before they go in to meet with the mafia head. As soon as they walk in, Win pulls out a gun and shoots Ache between the eyes. The author explains this inexplicable and way-too-convenient gun being in Win's possession due to one of Ache's henchman slipping it to him after he's changed clothes. Yeah, right. If I hadn't liked the story itself and Coben's writing so much, this point alone would have taken the story down to 2 stars for me. It was almost a 'throw the book across the room' moment for me.
I guess I'm more willing to 'suspend disbelief' for sci/techno thrillers that are working with 'out-there' plot premises to start with. Coben could have stretched himself a bit and found more plausible ways to work the story w/o going the routes on the two points above.
This book is an overall good read. It sucked me in from the first page, kept me turning them right up to the last bit, so don't let the 'plausibility' issues above keep you from reading it. It's got a different spin, in a couple ways, that is really refreshing compared to all the other quasi-detective-murder books out there. Coben's great writing style more than makes up for the small glitches.
Myron Bolitar really comes alive as a character as he struggles to find answers to what happened to his 15-yrs-gone brother, and inadvertanently stumbles across the answer to what happened to the elusive rockstar, Gabriel Wire. When one of his former client's is murdered, he quickly learns the answers he's seeking have become dynamite to everyone in his life, including himself.
What I liked best about the book is what most people like about Coben's stuff - the man has a great turn-of-phrase on almost every page. I enjoyed the structure and pacing of this one a lot also. I especially liked how he plays the two former tennis stars against each other--in the past and present. I also enjoyed how much he brought Myron's sidekick, Win, into play and how Coben makes Win the one with all the bucks, brilliance and savage no-holds-barred vengeful skills rather than Myron. It's an interesting twist on the protagonist / sidekick relationship that gives Coben's Myron Bolitar books extra juice.
I'm on the fence about the author-narrator's almost odd snippets of gossipy name-dropping references, many of which were non sequiturs. I put those down to a purposeful squeeze of 'writing style' and will say they neither added or subtracted, and the story/style didn't need them.
The ending is satisfying although not really surprising. To me, it's the 'middle' that makes this book sing, which is kind of ironic but it works.
***SPOILER ALERT***
What kept me from giving this story a full five stars were a few plausibility bugs:
The biggest glitch was the issue of Gabriel Wire becoming entrenched with the mafia due to a half-million dollar gambling debt (way back in the day), which is what leads to all the trouble down the road. The problem with that premise is Wire was a multi-millionaire rockstar - so how does a very rich man end up in debt to the mafia over a gambling debt? What happened to all that cheez in his bank???
The second glitch is during the climax of the story where Win and Myron go to see Herman Ache to resolve things. They're strip searched (and cavity searched), and made to put on different clothing before they go in to meet with the mafia head. As soon as they walk in, Win pulls out a gun and shoots Ache between the eyes. The author explains this inexplicable and way-too-convenient gun being in Win's possession due to one of Ache's henchman slipping it to him after he's changed clothes. Yeah, right. If I hadn't liked the story itself and Coben's writing so much, this point alone would have taken the story down to 2 stars for me. It was almost a 'throw the book across the room' moment for me.
I guess I'm more willing to 'suspend disbelief' for sci/techno thrillers that are working with 'out-there' plot premises to start with. Coben could have stretched himself a bit and found more plausible ways to work the story w/o going the routes on the two points above.
This book is an overall good read. It sucked me in from the first page, kept me turning them right up to the last bit, so don't let the 'plausibility' issues above keep you from reading it. It's got a different spin, in a couple ways, that is really refreshing compared to all the other quasi-detective-murder books out there. Coben's great writing style more than makes up for the small glitches.
May 4, 2011
First Sentence: The ugliest truth, a friend once told Myron, is still better than the prettiest of lies.
Sports and celebrity representative Myron Bolitar’s life has undergone changes. His business, MB Reps, now handles more than sports figures. A very pregnant ex-tennis-star client asks Myron to find her musician husband who left her after he sees a Facebook post saying “Not His.� The search leads Myron and his team into a search for missing members of Myron’s family and into the world of drugs and murder.
It has been awhile since the last Myron Bolitar book and I’d forgotten how enjoyable is Coben’s dry humor and the wonderfully colorful characters of Myron, his parents, former wrestler partners Big Cindy and Esparanza, and yes, even Win, a psychopath-with-a-code. What is also nice is that Coben doesn’t assume readers have been following the series. Perhaps because most of the secondary characters are less then empathic, they seem flat and stereotypical by comparison. At the same time, even for those characters which are unpleasant, Coben creates a sense of sympathy for most of them. While that sounds contradictory, it works.
Coben knows how to write; there are wonderful sentences and passages that made me stop and consider. Myron’s father’s observation about parenting was one such passage. There are layers to the story and observations about perception, truth, lies and families. There are stories behind stories that are remarkably impactful in spite of the book’s violence, yet even the scenes of violence are written with precision.
“Live Wire� is brutal, tragic and filled with twists that are very well executed. At the same time, it effectively touches one’s emotions as it deals with Myron’s family and past as well as its future. It is very much a transitional book for the characters and I’m both apprehensive and intrigued to see where the series goes from here.
LIVE WIRE (PI-Myron Bolitar-New York-Cont) � VG+
Coben, Harlan � 10th in series
Dutton, ©2011, ARC � Hardcover ISBN: 9780525952060
Sports and celebrity representative Myron Bolitar’s life has undergone changes. His business, MB Reps, now handles more than sports figures. A very pregnant ex-tennis-star client asks Myron to find her musician husband who left her after he sees a Facebook post saying “Not His.� The search leads Myron and his team into a search for missing members of Myron’s family and into the world of drugs and murder.
It has been awhile since the last Myron Bolitar book and I’d forgotten how enjoyable is Coben’s dry humor and the wonderfully colorful characters of Myron, his parents, former wrestler partners Big Cindy and Esparanza, and yes, even Win, a psychopath-with-a-code. What is also nice is that Coben doesn’t assume readers have been following the series. Perhaps because most of the secondary characters are less then empathic, they seem flat and stereotypical by comparison. At the same time, even for those characters which are unpleasant, Coben creates a sense of sympathy for most of them. While that sounds contradictory, it works.
Coben knows how to write; there are wonderful sentences and passages that made me stop and consider. Myron’s father’s observation about parenting was one such passage. There are layers to the story and observations about perception, truth, lies and families. There are stories behind stories that are remarkably impactful in spite of the book’s violence, yet even the scenes of violence are written with precision.
“Live Wire� is brutal, tragic and filled with twists that are very well executed. At the same time, it effectively touches one’s emotions as it deals with Myron’s family and past as well as its future. It is very much a transitional book for the characters and I’m both apprehensive and intrigued to see where the series goes from here.
LIVE WIRE (PI-Myron Bolitar-New York-Cont) � VG+
Coben, Harlan � 10th in series
Dutton, ©2011, ARC � Hardcover ISBN: 9780525952060
July 2, 2022
Definitely better than the last 2, one more to go.
April 16, 2024
3,5 / 5
March 31, 2011
I believe it was around this time last year I wrote about another Harlan Coben novel and it turned out that it was one of my top picks of the year. This, I think is going to be no different. Live Wire is just that, from the first paragraph to the very end. I am not going to go on and on about this novel; it would just sound like me smooching the man’s Gluteus Maximus way too much. Needless to say he makes the mundane amazing, the funny funnier and the viewpoint and characters are just too spot on to even consider saying a terse word. This is a novel that just sticks to the hands like glue till that last page is savored. Baby I like it, as Enrique Iglesias says. I agree; give me more now. This is going to be in the same place as last year, right at the top. PROBABLY ONE OF THE BEST NOVELS I HAVE READ, PERIOD. ‘Nuff said on this novel, 5 stars, grab it, enjoy the ride, have fun, I did. Here is the synopsis:
“Myron Bolitar has always dreamed about the voluptuous femme fatale walking into his office and asking for help. The woman standing in his doorway has killer curves, all right: She's eight months pregnant, which kind of ruins the fantasy. Former tennis star Suzze T and her rock star husband, Lex, are both clients, and over the years Myron has negotiated his share of contracts for the power pair. But now Lex has disappeared and a very pregnant Suzze is in tears, fearing the online rumors questioning the baby's paternity have driven away the man she swears is the child's father.
For Myron, questions of fatherhood couldn't hit closer to home, as his dad, Al, clings to life, and the brother who abandoned the family years ago resurfaces-with danger following close behind. Myron is soon forced to confront deep secrets in Suzze's past, his family's mortality-and before Live Wire is over, his own. �
What are you reading today? Have you checked out our new blogtalk radio show The G-ZONE? Check us out and become our friend on Shelfari, The Novel Spot &Twitter. Go to ŷ and become our friend there and suggest books for us to read and post on. Did you know you can shop directly on Amazon by clicking the Amazon Banner on our blog? Thanks for stopping by today; We will see you tomorrow. Have a great day.
“Myron Bolitar has always dreamed about the voluptuous femme fatale walking into his office and asking for help. The woman standing in his doorway has killer curves, all right: She's eight months pregnant, which kind of ruins the fantasy. Former tennis star Suzze T and her rock star husband, Lex, are both clients, and over the years Myron has negotiated his share of contracts for the power pair. But now Lex has disappeared and a very pregnant Suzze is in tears, fearing the online rumors questioning the baby's paternity have driven away the man she swears is the child's father.
For Myron, questions of fatherhood couldn't hit closer to home, as his dad, Al, clings to life, and the brother who abandoned the family years ago resurfaces-with danger following close behind. Myron is soon forced to confront deep secrets in Suzze's past, his family's mortality-and before Live Wire is over, his own. �
What are you reading today? Have you checked out our new blogtalk radio show The G-ZONE? Check us out and become our friend on Shelfari, The Novel Spot &Twitter. Go to ŷ and become our friend there and suggest books for us to read and post on. Did you know you can shop directly on Amazon by clicking the Amazon Banner on our blog? Thanks for stopping by today; We will see you tomorrow. Have a great day.
July 4, 2012
Beginning to exhaust my hunt for the loner, the hunter as a singular and main hero...a new trend seems to be emerging, the disassociation of the hunter and conscientious hero into two separate characters: the main character and his loner side-kick. Several authors embrace this genre motif: Robert Crais's Elvis Cole and his side-kick Joe Pike and of course Harlan Coben's Mylor Bolitar and his elitist side-kick Win.
Of this genre, Coben is probably the most adept at creating complex and winning characters. His portrayal of Myron (conscientious) and Win (borderline Sociopath) is second to none. Again, I devoured these books (in order, as with all series books) and in record time and found myself waking groggy from lack of sleep thanks to Mr. Coben.
P.S. Same review for all the Myron Bolitar novels, if you've read one of my reviews of Bolitar you've read them all. How can I say that? Well, Mr. Coben as with most series authors, is a master at being consistent from one book to another and delivering a sucker punch to his readers everytime.
Of this genre, Coben is probably the most adept at creating complex and winning characters. His portrayal of Myron (conscientious) and Win (borderline Sociopath) is second to none. Again, I devoured these books (in order, as with all series books) and in record time and found myself waking groggy from lack of sleep thanks to Mr. Coben.
P.S. Same review for all the Myron Bolitar novels, if you've read one of my reviews of Bolitar you've read them all. How can I say that? Well, Mr. Coben as with most series authors, is a master at being consistent from one book to another and delivering a sucker punch to his readers everytime.
March 30, 2011
The Bolitar series is always good and this time is no exception.
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