Drop Shot (Myron Bolitar)
by Harlan Coben
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Book Reviews of Drop Shot (Myron Bolitar)
Book Review: The deadly world of tennis
Summary: 4 Stars
A still-young, ex-phenom, female tennis player frantically tries to contact sports agent Myron Bolitar but is mysteriously shot in the food court at the U.S. Open before finding him. Then it turns out that she contacted the newest rising men's star, a youth who has clawed his way up from the ghetto, shortly before her death, and, furthermore, she had some involvement with the son of a powerful senator, who had been stabbed to death six years prior. It all makes for a page turning read as Myron Bolitar with his usual cast of characters - Win, the lethal Ivy leaguer, his exotic, ex-pro wrestler, female office manager, and his contacts in law enforcement and elsewhere - moves through the world of tennis coaching, exclusive country clubs, pro tennis, and the lurking presence of the crime world trying to sort through contradictions and fragments to find the murderer of the comeback tennis lady. Some of his interactions are just amusing. A lunch with his detective friend Jake at a local diner is classic.
While the book does stand on its own, there is just a little bit of the sense of its being cut from a cookie cutter mold with Deal Breaker being the first cookie. You will find repeated background descriptions, which may be necessary, but are repetitious for those who have been along for the Myron Bolitar ride from the beginning. Nonetheless, the book makes for a quick and entertaining read.
Book Review: Coben Delivers Again!
Summary: 5 Stars
Sports agent Myron Bolitar is thrilled with the signing of a new up an coming tennis superstar. Duane Richwood makes his U.S. Open debut, making a big splash as he cruises through his first round match. The match is suddenly interrupted by the sound of gunfire and Myron runs off to investigate. The body of Valerie Simpson, a former mega-tennis star, is found outside the stadium. Just days before Valerie had reached out to Myron for help and now he feels obligated to look into her murder. As he digs for the truth he finds a shocking connection to Duane Richwood and another murder that took place six years ago. Now Myron and Win must team together once again to protect their new client and find a ruthless killer.
After reading Harlan Coben's debut, Deal Breaker, I was instantly hooked on Myron Bolitar and his eccentric partner, Win. Coben once again delivers with taught storytelling laced with humor and suspense. Myron's relentless search for truth is what drives these stories, while Win's psychopathic tendencies bring a whole other intoxicating element that helps separate Coben from other mystery writers. If you haven't taken the time to discover Myron Bolitar and company than you are truly missing out on some of the best and most unique mystery writing in the genre. I can't wait to tackle Coben's next Bolitar novel, Fade Away.
Book Review: As original as a Xerox machine
Summary: 2 Stars
This is such an obvious rewrite of Robert Parker's Spenser books I wonder if Parker should either sue for plaigiarism or demand royalties.
You have the wisecracking smartass detective hero with the from-another-culture amoral sidekick and the oversexed professional woman girlfriend who isn't living with the hero (an essential loner) trio as the main characters, but the similarities go way deeper than that.
Some of Myron's lines, like the Jack Lord sequence and his phone jawing with the sheriff could have been lifted straight from Spenser, Win's ability to follow anyone without being noticed is a direct crib from Hawk, two buddies in a gym working out the bags is a blatant Spenser/Hawk ripoff, Jessica's such a copy of Susan Silverman as to be embarrassing, especially in her horniness with Myron, Coben even lifts actual dialogue ("There is that.") from Parker, Rolly the Cop's a stock Parker character, Myron works a case not because he's getting paid but because gosh darn it, it's the right thing to do is a favorite Parker motif, Win cares about very few people but those he does care about he'll do anything for is how one describes Hawk, etc. etc. etc. Too many other filchings to name.
Look, we've all read Robert Parker, if you haven't you need to be reading him instead of this knockoff.
Book Review: Enjoyable, if not completely original
Summary: 4 Stars
I just read this book, having never read anything by Harlan Coben before. I also read some of the negative reviews, and one struck me as interesting. He alleges that the whole story is cribbed from Robert B. Parker's Spenser series. I will grant you that there are similarities, but there are also differences. Coben's main character, Myron Bolitar, is a sports agent, for instance. He also lives with his mom!
In the current entry in the series, Bolitar's going to meet with a female tennis player who's trying a comeback after burning out at the age of 18. Instead, just before the meeting, she's mysteriously killed. Myron of course has to figure out why, even when various mob figures threaten him, his friend Win, and Myron's girlfriend Jessica. Various adventures ensue, and the plot moves along nicely.
I enjoyed this book. I will tell you that the idea of someone who just stumbles into mysteries regularly annoys me, and so that detracted somewhat from my enjoyment of the plot. If I have it right, there are 8 Myron Bolitar books. If the body count of this one is average, he's been around 40+ people who've died violently during his career. I wonder if being a sports agent is really that adventurous or dangerous. That aside, it's a pretty good book.
Book Review: DROP SHOT - STOPPED ME COLD!
Summary: 5 Stars
I am reading Harlen Coben's Myron Bolitar series from the beginning. This is the second in line and it is a doozy. The story revolves around the U. S. Open in Flushing Meadow, New York. I remember when the U. S. Open played in Forest Hills, NY and my Dad could never find a parking place. As a former New Yorker, I relish all the New York stuff!!!!! :d
The wit and sarcasm of Myron and the people he meets are so funny! I.E. the description of the Beaver Hunt topless bar had me rolling in the aisles! Win is again present. I love Win! Myron and Win are sort of Yin and Yang. Best friends; almost like Elvis Cole and Joe Pike.
This book was so interesting and fresh for me; I read every word. The procedural again was intense, well thought out and I didnt roll my eyes at the end. A great, great summer read. Fade Away is my next pursuit!