(The Dakota, home of Win Lockwood)

It has been eight years since best selling author Harlen Coben released a new Myron Bolitar novel.  The series began in 1995 with DEAL BREAKER introducing a wonderful storyline that centered around a former basketball star forced into retirement due to injury who reinvented himself as a sports agent.  Over the years Coben has written eleven renditions of his Bolitar series that exhibited his humor, acerbic wit, and well thought out plots that have created millions of readers.  To my immense joy and excitement Coben has just released his newest version of the series, THINK TWICE, which possesses all the characteristics that have made his other books in the series such a success.

Coben is a remarkable storyteller who has won numerous awards for his Bolitar series.  In his current novel we are introduced to renowned basketball coach Greg Downing who has recently passed away. In fact, Bolitar had given the eulogy at his funeral. To Bolitar’s surprise two federal agents entered his office demanding to know Downing’s whereabouts, claiming he was alive since he was now a suspect in a double murder. Bolitar is stunned but soon realizes that his former adversary and client is alive.

Coben launches his plot by describing how a murder takes place and moves on to introduce a series of interesting characters which are the hallmark of Coben’s novels.  First, we revisit cast members of the previous books that dominate his latest. Obviously, Bolitar takes center stage as does his friend and business partner Win Lockwood.  Time has changed both men, Bolitar more so than Lockwood.  We learn that the former basketball star is now married for the third time and has a biological son who plays a significant role in the storyline.  Lockwood on the other hand, has aged but remains a wealthy snob who dominates any room he enters.  Esperanza Diaz no longer works for Bolitar and has joined the law firm of Fisher, Friedman, and Diaz.  Big Cyndi, Bolitar’s assistant in his sports/law agency, remains “Big Cydni.”

(Harlen Coben, author)

The story begins with a series of contradictions where murders keep occurring and most seem solved by the FBI.  However, those involving Downing morph into a plot line that leads to a brilliant serial killer who sets up a number of murderers by creating evidence against them to cover their own tracks.  A substantial portion of the novel revolves around how Bolitar, Lockwood, and others prove that Downing who went off the grid three years before for reasons Coben makes clear was not a killer, despite the FBI belief that he was.  Of course, the remainder of the story centers on finding the real serial killer.

In doing so Coben’s acerbic wit is paramount.  His character’s commentary is sarcastic, funny, are dead on.  Remark like; “Insecure enraged men are a growth industry,” Bolitar’s father’s remarks concerning the joys of edibles that have improved his sex life after decades of marriage, and his description of a basketball pickup game is priceless along with new characters he introduces.  We meet Joey the Toe, a mobster named Joseph Turant who has been convicted by the Feds for a crime he did not commit.  Turant is convicted because the Feds supposedly pressured a gay individual to testify against him.  Greg Downing plays one of the lead roles and is married to Bolitar’s ex-wife and raises Bolitar’s biological son named Jeremy who is introduced as a member of the US Army, but as the story evolves that is not his occupation.  Emily, Bolitar’s ex. and Downing’s spouse provides insights into her relationships with both her husbands.  Grace Konners, Greg Downing’s lover.  Ronald Prine, a dirty Philadelphia real estate mogul.  PT, a career FBI insider who helped Bolitar and Lockwood in the past, now guides them in their investigation.  Terese, a journalist and Bolitar’s latest spouse, and lastly, Sadie Fisher, a dynamic lawyer who represents Downing.  Then there are those who are accused of murder and are innocent, and of course the murder victims themselves.

The core of the novel are secrets, lies, and a murderous conspiracy that stretches back into the past.  In true Coben fashion the reader has no clue as to who the guilty party is.  The twists and turns can sometimes become confusing, but soon divergent scenes begin to make sense as Bolitar and Lockwood get closer and closer to solving the case, but as they do danger lurks in the background.

If you enjoyed Coben’s previous Bolitar yarns this one should measure up and meet your expectations, especially the ending.   A great summer read – enjoy.

(The photograph can be dated to about 1910 by the automobiles at the curb, and by the presence of the Langham Apartments
at 135 Central Park
 West between 73rd and 74th Streets, which was completed in 1906)