Just One Look
by Harlan Coben
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Book Summary Information
Author: Harlan CobenEdition: Mass Market Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2005-04-26
ISBN: 0451213203
Number of pages: 528
Publisher: Signet
Product features:
- ISBN13: 9780451213204
- Condition: New
- Notes: BRAND NEW FROM PUBLISHER! 100% Satisfaction Guarantee. Tracking provided on most orders. Buy with Confidence! Millions of books sold!
Book Reviews of Just One Look
Book Review: Deja Vue
Summary: 5 Stars
THE SETUP
Nominally, the principal characters are Grace and Jack Lawson, a pair of boring suburbanites--both with disturbing pasts, which it turns out, are linked. The story begins when Grace finds an old photo of Jack with three other young people, in a stack of freshly developed photos. When she shows it to Jack, he drives off, without even a goodbye. Then, while being tailed by a part-time private detective (Rocky Conwell), Jack is kidnaped by a psychotic professional assassin (Eric Wu).
The background to the story begins 15 years earlier when Grace was nearly killed by a stampede at a rock concert, at which Johnny X was the lead singer. Wade LaRue was convicted for discharging a gun in the air at the concert. Mafioso chieftain Carl Vespa's son was one the the people killed by the stampede. Gordon McKinsey, a security guard at the concert, was hailed as a hero. Coincidentally, Jack and all of his friends other than Jeri Duncan went into hiding shortly after the concert. Shortly after discovering that she was pregnant, Jeri was killed in a fire. It was while in hiding (in France) that Jack met Grace.
The events of the novel are set in motion by three independent events: LaRue will shortly be released on parole. McKinsey (who has become a police captain) is dying of cancer. Monte Scanlan (a professional assassin) confesses to Scott Duncan (Jeri's brother) that he had set the fire to kill her. In the coarse of the novel, the young people in the photo are identified and located (dead or alive), with the exception of the mysterious Shane Alworth who has not been seen for 15 years. Without revealing any spoilers, the rest of the story is about Grace's metamorphosis into a detective who (with the assistance of her friend Cora Lindley) uncovers Jack's past, and of course, Jack's incarceration and ultimate escape.
COMMENTS
This is a pure mystery novel, featuring multiple mysteries. In addition to perhaps a dozen essential characters (few of which are fleshed-out), the novel features about two dozen "accessory characters", some well developed, some not. Virtually all of these "accessory characters" could be deleted with no effect on the story whatsoever. The development of these accessory characters may seem to the reader to be a waste of time--and a waste of the reader's time. Actually, these accessory characters are subtle "red herrings". That is, the reader has no way to know which of these characters will (or will not) emerge as significant characters. The extent that a character is developed is NOT an indication of his/her ultimate importance in the story. Indeed, new significant characters ARE introduced late in the novel. Each of the numerous characters provides additional opportunities for misdirection, and indeed, shadows of suspicion are cast on many of them.
Such a pure mystery novel requires red herrings and other misdirection. Coben has chosen to provide the red herrings and misdirection subtly, which is less annoying to than stories with just one or two major red herrings, or excessively strong misdirection. As a pure mystery novel, "Just one Look" it is very well crafted. It will keep you guessing until the very end. Mystery novels can be unsatisfying if the reader guesses wrong about the bad guy. No chance of that with "Just one Look".
CAVEATS
The novel begins with a sequence of three completely unrelated chapters, each with a completely new and different cast of characters Practically speaking, the story actually begins with the sixth chapter, by which time many readers may have decided to find something else to read. Such "front loading" of rip-rap is a common feature of mystery novels. Whether or not this is a successful strategy may depend on the reader's tastes. Caveat, the first three paragraph of this review can serve to provide the essential connections if you haven't read the novel yet.
This is not a book to be read casually--i.e., one or two chapters, every few days. It requires your full attention and concentration. Taking notes is probably a good idea. The novel is especially difficult for audiobook readers, who cannot easily "flip back" several chapters to refresh their memories , and who normally do not have access to a summary or an annotated cast of characters. But that is probably true of all mystery novels. Perhaps the real lesson is that mystery fans should stick to printed versions.
It may be a personal bias, but I found myself unable to relate to the main character (Grace), and therefore I had little sympathy for her plight. Jack is only a cut-out generic "victim" of little interest. Eric Wu, the psychotic killer, is just too much of a demonic monster. A number of other potentially fascinating accessory characters are introduced, leaving the reader frustrated wondering why such an interesting character was not developed. Many or most of these appearances are cameos from earlier Coben novels.
The very last twist is excessively contrived. Nominally, the photo was simply a generic photo of Jack and three friends. The twist turns on the assumption (for which no basis is given) that the photo was taken at the concert.
VERDICT
Given the significant caveats above, the story is fast paced and compelling, with interesting characters.
Summary of Just One Look
An ordinary snapshot causes a mother?s world to unravel in an instant. After picking up her two young children from school, Grace Lawson looks through a newly developed set of photographs. She finds an odd one in the pack: a mysterious picture from perhaps twenty years ago, showing four strangers she can?t identify. But there is one face she recognizes?that of her husband, from before she knew him.
When her husband sees the photo that night, he leaves their home and drives off without explanation. She doesn?t know where he?s going, or why he?s leaving. Or if he?s ever coming back. Nor does she realize how dangerous the search for him will be. Because there are others interested in both her husband?s past and that photo, including Eric Wu: a fierce, silent killer who will not be stopped from finding his quarry, no matter who or what stands in his way.
Her world turned upside down, filled with doubts about her herself and marriage, Grace must confront the dark corners of her own tragic past she struggles to learn the truth, find her husband, and save her family.
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