Hold Tight by Harlan Coben Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Hold Tight
Book Review: Danger and the White Picket Fence
Summary: 4 Stars
"Hold Tight" was my first Harlan Coben experience, but it won't be my last. Coben has a gift for keeping the story humming, while threading in compelling character development and, in this title at least, frightening and morally challenging social issues. The shadow world of the suburbs, a place parents often find out about too late, is not new territory for fiction, but Coben's exploration of the new dangers created by technology and the easy access to it that youth enjoy is as thought-provoking as it is chilling. "Hold Tight" spins the family drama, the murder mystery, and the technological thriller into one tight, exciting tale.
Bill Loehfelm, author of Fresh Kills
Book Review: Difficult Exam Questions
Summary: 5 Stars
I noted that the author has 4 children and I am sure he is spending a great deal of time thinking about the issues involved in raising them in suburbia. Although the book is a mystery it really reminded me of a difficult hypothetical question where the development of the fact makes the issues more difficult.
The first story involves Mike and Tia, both successful professionals who are trying to deal with their son Adam who has become more distant. They decide to use spy work on his computer and then the story unwinds. It is not easy to determine if they helped Adam or not.
The second story shows the impact of a bad mistake by a teacher on a young child. Again it was as if a stone was cast on the waters and the effect was unexpected and in many ways worse than the original event.
Third involved the moral issues involved is transplants. This in my view was the weakest subplot. The issue was interesting but it detracted from the flow of the narrative.
These plots and subplots unwind and rather than having a point of view Mr. Coban presents the all sides in a story that grabs your interest. In fact, in my case, it was only after I finished the book did I have time to think about the questions. While reading I only wanted to find out what happened next.
My only criticisms were some of the characters such as Mo and Anthony were interesting but they really were not relevant or developed. Maybe we will meet them in a later book. I hope so. Second as in many other Coban books that I have read the ending was forced. As with contemplating the questions above I only realized this after I was done. The rest of the time I was completely enthralled.
Book Review: Disappointed
Summary: 2 Stars
The synopsis for this book lured me in. I enjoyed the first 75% of the book. But I was disappointed in the end to see how all the events are actually related. It seemed really far-fetched. This is my first Harlan Coben book. I plan to give him one more chance. All of his other books sounded interesting as well.Book Review: Disappointed fan
Summary: 2 Stars
After first reading "Tell No One" 5-6 years I became a Harlan Coben fan and all his titles now sit on my bookcases. "Hold Tight" was pre-ordered and eagerly anticipated. Much to my surprise, it disappointed.
On the positive side, its premise does make you think, raising larger issues of privacy and child rearing in an age of advanced technology. And, yes, Mr. Coben's writing style still keeps you turning pages at a rapid rate. However, I found the connections among the related subplots contrived and simply unbelievable. The number of coincidences you're asked to accept here was too much for my taste. For some reason, perhaps insufficient character development, I found myself not really caring how this mystery would end.
Other reviewers have obviously praised this effort, but I'd have to rate it as Mr. Coben's most disappointing.
Book Review: Disappointed, Again
Summary: 3 Stars
I really looked forward to this as neither my wife nor I liked The Woods very much. The Woods was good but creepy in a weird way- especially the end.
This book is boring until about halfway through it, then it gets very interesting, then it gets extremely boring. Standard slasher schtick.
The first book I ever read by Coben was Promise Me and I fell in love with it. My favorite Coben book is Just One Look. Hopefully that puts my review a little bit in perspective.