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  • (Play) Dead Loss2

    Dan Cater Polished? Professional? Engaging? No, unfortunately not. More like Breathless. Amateurish. Predictable. OK, that's harsh, but having forked out good money for this offering, I feel a bit narked. Even Mr Coben himself apologizes in his author's note, (unfortunately, the warning came too late for me) but tells us he hasn't revised this re-release because he doesn't believe in authors re-writing their earlier books. I only wish someone had.

    From the start, the central premise is dubious and tests the reader's credulity. And if the many plot twists were landmines, there'd be little risk to the life or limb of any but the most inattentive reader. Even the tightly kept secret of the "surprise" conclusion is as predictable as it is unconvincing.

    The narrative is often archly dramatic, especially at section endings, much like the end of a scene in a TV soap. You know the kind of thing. The heroine is faced with some devastating revelation, such as "I'm sorry Dorothy, but your new husband is really your long lost lesbian sister. Gasp! Pause!" just before the commercial break.

    Alas, there is little salvation to be found in the stilted dialogue and the unsubtle characterization. When the action bounces back and forth between Australia and the States, the attempted Aussie colloquialisms and accent are just plain embarrasing and even some of the continuity needs an edit.

    Anything to recommend "Play Dead"? Well, the cover art is quite nice and the book is very well printed.

    Maybe Mr Coben's later work is better, after all he's certainly sold plenty of books. Unfortunately, I'll never know. I only finished this one out of stubbornness. I won't be risking any more of my time or money to find out. by Dan Cater

  • A Lovely Surprise5

    Eden Moss There is nothing like sitting down with a new book by a favorite author, but Harlan Coben cannot help himself with twists and turns, even his 'new' book is in fact the very first book he ever wrote, back in print and giving current readers a look at how he began his writing career. Harlan himself goes as far to add a note to new readers not to read this book unless they have read others of his, and seems perhaps a little tentative of what today's readers will think of his first born. Is it up to the standard he writes today ? No, there are some obvious faults, and you can tell its not a book by an established author, But, he had what he has now all those years ago, its just a little unpolished, and whatever that factor is that makes great writers so very good to read, shines through while reading Play Dead. I found myself struggling to part with it, thinking about the characters while not reading it, loving every single twist and turn, I never guessed the 'why' which makes up this novels mystery, and just thoroughly enjoyed it, so much I was sad when I turned the final page. Don't listen to Harlan, if you've never read him before, get your hands on this, and make sure you have nothing else to do before you start reading Play Dead. by Eden Moss

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