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Tell No One, Harlan Coben
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Tell No One: A Novel

Author: Harlan Coben
First Edition: 2000
Original language: English
Awards:
- Barry Award Nominee for Best Novel (2002),
- Macavity Award Nominee for Best Mystery Novel (2002),
- Anthony Award Nominee for Best Novel (2002),
- Abraham Lincoln Award Nominee (2008)
Summary:
Dr. David Beck is still suffering from the murder of his wife eight years earlier when he gets a cryptic email that seems to suggest that she is still alive. It warns him to tell no one while it taunts him with the possibility that she may need his help. He tells no one and embarks of a harrowing journey to learn the truth about what really happened to his wife. Beck suddenly finds himself hunted by a mysterious group as well as the police and FBI, but he will not back down until he finds what he is looking for- his wife.
Quotes:
“his smile just south of sane.”
“Memories, you see, hurt. The good ones most of all.”
“(few things, I assure you, will devastate like the might-have-beens).”
“Tragedy etches it into your soul. You might not be happier. But you will be better.”
“Grief can be inordinately selfish.”
“Some things we pack away, stick in the back of the closet, never expect to see again- but we can’t quite make ourselves discard them. Like dreams, I guess.”
Opinion:
I was very disappointed with this book. It was one of the recommendations on Goodreads from what I had rated before, it got a 4.1 rating; I thought I would love it. No luck. I couldn’t really connect with the characters and I thought that the story was predictable. I pretty much figured it out by the first third of the book. I guess I thought it was a forgettable “mystery,” and there was really nothing new or original to like. I didn’t really learn anything and the book didn’t touch me in any way. It didn’t even make me mad because it was not particularly bad. The writing was ok, but nothing special. All in all, pretty disappointing read.
Many people really seem to like Coben and this book. Am I not getting it somehow? Coben lovers: please explain! I’m open to other opinions, maybe I missed something…
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Thanks for an honest opinion. Maybe this is not one I’ll pick up after reading your critique! http://ohtheplaceswesee.com
If you want a quick mystery, I suggest GONE GIRL; if you like deeper mysteries try anything by Tana French. thanks for reading!
I’ve read Gone Girl — really loved that page turner! Thanks for the suggestions of books by Tana French!
I watched the movie on Netflix and found it fairly entertaining. However, don’t seem to remember much of it.