Long Lost

by: Harlan Coben

Published by: Dutton

Reviewed by Lauren Segelbaum

Set aside at most three days and then start reading Harlan Coben’s latest Myron Bolitar novel. You will not be able to put it down. I will write a brief synopsis because I don’t want to give away any plot lines. The less you know the more intriguing you will find this novel.

Myron Bolitar re-connects with Terese Collins, a women he was involved with ten years ago. He flies to Paris to come to her aid, enlists his best friend Win, finds out her ex-husband has been murdered, and she reveals the details of the fatal accident that killed her daughter. Throw in the Mossad, Homeland Security and the thrill of this book begins. Add a little blood sample, medical ethics and you have another best-selling novel. Don’t worry because there are some twists I simply can’t tell you.

Harlan Coben has the suspense part down pat. What readers also need to know is how funny and smart he is. Coben injects wonderful truths about suburban parenting in all his novels. On page 12 of Long Lost he writes, “I try not generalize but the mothers usually broke down into two groups: the Gabbers, who used the occasion to socialize, and the Harried, who lived and died each time their offspring touched the ball.” For more of the authors perceptive on parenting look up his October 2006 article in the New York Times on snacks at kid’s sporting events and his March 2008 Times article on monitoring your children’s computer use.

Harlan Coben’s novel, Tell No One, was made into a movie in France. It was terrific, subtitles and all. I hope his other novels are developed into movies; Long Lost would make for a terrific night at the movies.

Armchair Interviews says: Coben’s articles can be found on his web site.

Author’s Web site: http://www.HarlanCoben.com