ABOUT THE BOOK:
Sports agent Myron Bolitar is poised on the edge of the big time. So is Christian Steele, a rookie quarterback and Myron's prized client. But when Christian gets a phone call from a former girlfriend, a woman who everyone, including the police, believes is dead, the deal starts to go sour. Trying to unravel the truth about a family's tragedy, a woman's secret, and a man's lies, Myron is up against the dark side of his business where image and talent make you rich, but the truth can get you killed.
In novels that crackle with wit and suspense, Edgar Award winner Harlan Coben has created one of the most fascinating and complex heroes in suspense fiction Myron Bolitar a hotheaded, tenderhearted sports agent who grows more and more engaging and unpredictable with each page-turning appearance.
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MY REVIEW:
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Deal breaker by Harlan Coben is a 2006 Delacorte Press publication.
I've been thinking about how long it’s been since I read a book in the Myron Bolitar series, since I've been sticking to Coben's stand alone novels for the time being.
I was pretty sure I had read the first few books in the series, but I see I didn’t get this first one reviewed, and frankly my memory needed a refresher course. So, I checked this one out of the library, and took the time to do a quick re-read.
Originally published back in 1995, this story introduces us to Myron Bolitar, a former basketball star whose career came to an abrupt halt, due to injury.
He is now a sports agent representing a superstar football player who is about to burst out onto the professional field.
But, there are a few hitches, one of which is that his client has a cloud of suspicion hanging over his head, due to the disappearance of his fiancé, with foul play suspected. Not only that, the fiancé in question is the sister of Myron's former girlfriend, Jessica, a woman he still carries a torch for. To put the cherry on the cake, new information has begun to circulate suggesting the missing girl might be alive. It’s in Myron’s best interest to clear his client’s name and try to bring peace to Jessica’s family.
But, he never anticipated the Pandora’s box he was about to open….
I love Myron’s comical quips, which is the reason I found this series so appealing and because of the colorful cast of characters that keeps things lively.
I don’t know if this was one of Coben’s very first efforts, or not, but it is a little rough around the edges, especially towards the end, because everything got slapped together in a pretty sloppy way. But, overall, this is still a solid crime story, plus it was fun going back to the very beginning of the series and seeing how everything has changed. It is a little dated, with references to VCR tapes and answering machines, for example, but that only gives the story a nostalgic feel.
If you start this series thinking it is something along the lines of ‘Tell No One’, be warned, this series doesn't have that level of intensity, nor does it have some of the darker tones of his other stand alone novels. However, these stories do delve into the underbelly of humanity, but is offset by the humor and emotional connections between the characters.
The series does improve over time as Coben’s writing tightened up and developed, although the first couple of installments were a bit rocky. I’ve skipped around in the series over the years, picking the books I had access to or was able to find in the library or used book store, and while it’s not one of those series I have tripped all over myself trying to keep up with, it is actually a little addictive. Now that I’ve got my appetite whetted, I think I’ll try to work some of the titles I missed into my reading schedule and get caught up with the series.
UPDATE:
I did manage to get all the Myron Bolitar books read, in order, no less, and have to say this series really did develop into a strong crime saga. I highly recommend reading this entire series! You'll be glad you did!!
GET YOUR COPY HERE:
https://www.amazon.com/Deal-Breaker-First-Myron-Bolitar/dp/0345535154/
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/deal-breaker-harlan-coben/1100618924
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: