Deal Breaker (Myron Bolitar Book 1)
£4.70
The truth can get you killed… A stunning thriller from the SUNDAY TIMES bestselling author of SIX YEARS.
Investigator and 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.
Suddenly Myron is plunged into a baffling mystery of sex and blackmail. 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.
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Additional information
| Publisher | Orion (20 Aug. 2009) |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| File size | 1440 KB |
| Text-to-Speech | Enabled |
| Screen Reader | Supported |
| Enhanced typesetting | Enabled |
| X-Ray | Enabled |
| Word Wise | Enabled |
| Sticky notes | On Kindle Scribe |
| Print length | 402 pages |
by Susan C.
Good book . Keeps you reading wondering what will happen next. Some great funny lines in it too. Next one ……
by ky
Harlan Coben is a new discovery for me. Deal Breaker is my first of his books. I am not disappointed. His writing style is fresh and he keeps the story moving forward at a good canter. His sense of humor, expressed in observational thoughts, meshes with my own outlook on life. Sometimes you don’t get a writer or character. But Myron is on my wave length I get what he is thinking. In lock down it was like a conversation with someone who shares your outlook. Coben expressed emotion, and touched the love interest, with just enough emphasis to leave you wanting more, a great tease.
Overall a great example of the crime genre.
by Gary
Starts fairly slowly then roars along. Pretty clues along the way although one obvious miss – at least to me – spoiled it for me, hence the four stars.
by BCB & More
I have read one of Harlan Coben’s stand alone novels, albeit some time ago, and wanted to start at the beginning of his very popular series of books featuring Myron Bolitar. When I started this book, it didn’t take me more than a few chapters to fall head over heels for the character Myron. One of the reasons for this is the element of his character that is witty and sarcastic, always a winning combination for me.
In addition to Myron we meet his friend and sidekick Win Lockwood and his work colleague Esperenza. All of them seem to make an extraordinary yet very believable group of friends. Their relationships throughout the book had me smirking at some of the more sarcastic comments they make to each other.
With the added benefit of really gelling with the characters we see the story start to unfold with Myron’s star client Christian Steel. The story itself is quite complex and there are a lot of plot threads that we pick up along the way. What I loved was the endless possibilities this story threw up and that I was actually none the wiser towards the second half of the book.
The one element that I didn’t like and I don’t know why, was the one involving Myron’s ex Jessica. Maybe it was because I just didn’t like the character but I was irritated by how flawless and beautiful she was meant to be. Overall and by the end of the book I had warmed a little to her, although in all honesty not that much! I was pleased with the ending and thought it was all wrapped up nicely with enough intrigue for me to wonder what is next for Myron and Win. Will look forward to reading the next instalment! The fact that this book was first published in 1995 and there are now another 9 books to be read doesn’t put me off; it makes me wish I could read faster!
by Paul S
Having just finished reading Deal Breaker, I am amazed to discover that it was first published almost 25 years ago (in 1995). It has stood the test of time partly because the central character (sports agent Myron Bolitar) does not rely on the use of technology for solving the crimes in which he gets involved and also because I had not really noticed the references to some of the U.S. sports stars are mainly from that era.
What I particularly enjoy about this novel is the plot, characterisation and the author’s writing style. It is a very easy book to read even though it contains some U.S. (sports) jargon. The pacing of the story is very good in part due to the variation in chapter length. Shorter chapters tend to be more action focused and often end on a cliff hanger while longer chapters tend to focus on character development or background scene setting.
The plot is quite complex and contains quite a number of twists and turns as we follow the central characters’ investigations as they uncover a number of different criminal activities. However, all these different threads of the story are pulled together in a quite dramatic climax.
However, it is the characterisation that I found particularly interesting. Myron Bolitar has film star looks, an athletic build and a marvellously understated sense of humour which is often revealed through the depiction of what he is thinking … but, related to this, the writing shows its age through the number of women who seem to ‘swoon’ when in his presence. Other characters are also well depicted and seem quite interesting individuals, even if perhaps a little scary (e.g. Myron’s partners and friends Esperanza Diaz and Windsor Horne Lockwood III to name just two!).
So, if you enjoy crime mystery thrillers that have plenty of twists and turns in the plot and a really interesting cast of characters, then Deal Breaker is well worth a look / read. As for me, I will certainly be reading more stories in the Myron Bolitar series.
by P HUBBARD
After reading “Tell No One” I just had to read some more books by Harlan Coben. Deal Breaker is one of a series featuring Myron Bolitar, a rising basketball star whose sporting career is cut short by injury and who then turns to managing sportsmen and women. Dull material? No way! Bolitar’s job is merely the background to a detective novel with a difference.
Coben keeps up the pace of the action throughout, leading the reader through a series of adventures and including sufficient clues along the way to let those who wish try and unravel the mystery as they go.
This novel revolves around the disappearance of the younger sister of Bolitar’s ex-girlfriend. Is she dead? Alive and hiding? And why? Who kidnapped her (if she was kidnapped)? Where is she hiding (if not)? Rivetting stuff.
After reading three novels in the series, I am undecided as to whether Bolitar is a little bit of an anti-hero. One minute he is in the thick of the action, the next he is being rescued by his best friend, all round good egg and lethal martial arts expert, Windsor Lockwood. But whatever he is, I will be back for more…