No Second Chance was everything that I expected it to be. It was fast paced, page turning action that constantly left me wondering what could possibly happen next. This is my third book by Coben and although it wasn't my favorite (that still remains as my first read Tell No One by Coben) it was a solid second. In this book Dr. Marc Seidman wakes up from a coma to realize that he has lost everything. His infant daughter has disappeared and his wife is dead. The worst part of all is that all of Marc's memories from that awful day seem to be unclear and slightly unreliable thanks in large part to the gunshot wounds that he sustained. But who would want Marc dead and his family destroyed? And the real question is what happened to his daughter? Things go from bad to worse as Marc finally hears from his daughter's kidnappers...can he get her back without getting himself killed in the process???This book had me almost on edge from the very beginning. A missing child?? That's a sensitive subject for me as a parent so I was unsure if I would enjoy the book or not if I'm being honest. But even though I was uneasy about the subject matter I soon found myself caught in the author's tangled web. I COULD NOT put this book down! The thing about Coben's books is that they are so easy to say one more chapter to. And that one chapter leads to another and then another....before you know it is 1:00 AM and you need to be up in less than five hours for work. Yep, I was that girl thanks to this book. My only slight complaint with this book was that I managed to guess the bad guy halfway through. It didn't matter because I wasn't for sure and this is an author that constantly keeps you guessing. But the ending was a slight let down because I realized that I had figured it out. Even though I really hadn't. If that makes any kind of sense to you :) What the author did do well with the ending was come up with a realistic solution for the way things were resolved. I'm always careful about spoilers but I will say that I was wondering how in the world he was going to be able to tie everything up. And he took something that would have been a horrific experience for any parent and ended it in a satisfying way. I'm not going to say any more than that so don't ask! (Unless you've read this book that is and then we can discuss!)Tense? Thrilling? Unputdownable? Yes, yes, and a resounding yes! This book practically had me biting my fingernails at times because of the suspense. I'm a huge fan of this author and I've only read three of his books. If you are a fan of thrillers and haven't read Coben before now then why not??? He is quite a talented author with a knack for keeping you guessing until the very end. I would definitely recommend this book to those readers who are fans of suspense. And don't let the touchy subject matter keep you from trying this one because it is definitely worth the read! Recommended!Bottom Line: A breathtaking read that caused me to lose sleep!Disclosure: This book was loaned to me from a kind coworker.
I have read a fair few of Harlan Coben's books, and they certainly keep me turning the pages. The trouble is, they're a bit like McDonalds burgers: you really fancy one, but after you've finished it you feel unsatisfied and a bit empty. Doesn't stop you fancying another one though.This book was a real HC by numbers, although thank God it didn't have that godawful Hester Crimstein in it. All the other usual plot lines were there though: the teenage love affair that cast a long shadow over all future romances. The psychopathic and totally unbelievable guns-for-hire (I mean, why did this one have to be a child star for heaven's sake? Wasn't just being a psychopath enough?). There was the usual missing person (lover/wife/husband/child: delete as applicable) that had been missing for a long time, long enough for the protagonist to move on but not really move on. All the cops and FBI agents had been recycled from previous novels which, unless New Jersey only has two cops, is taking character-familiarity a bit too far.At least we were spared the deus-ex-machina type characters this time (see Hester above, and Win from the Bolitar novels), although Verne was getting a bit close.Unfotunately, the characters were more two-dimensional than usual for a HC novel, and in fact all of his novels could do with a bit more fleshing out of the people in them. The trouble is, that the plotline is the be-all and end-all of his books, and in this book in particular, the ugly mechanics of the plot were poking out through the fabric of the story so that it felt like it had just all been bolted together.The reason I am being a bit scathing of this particular HC novel is that it stretched my credulity beyond its limit. Too many things just didn't make any sense, the characters starting doing unbelievable things, and so I stopped caring about them. When that happens, it's time to put down a book. I didn't though, because I wanted to see how it turned out, and therein lies HC's strength as an author.Big Mac anyone?
Marc,Monica,Stacey,Lydia,Dina, Verne, Katarina just to name a few, how do they all tie into the kidnapping of Dr. Marc Seidman's daughter? even after 18 months, why would they come back again? who is behind all of it, why kill his wife? sister, and attempt to kill him. After all he is only a doctor? who has the possibility of no second chance find out, i won't tell, neither would Harlan Coben you have to buy the book cuz i won't tell. there is no second chance.This book had me going to read it in 15 hours in 2 days, i had guessed right it was why? how was everyone involoved.Great page turner, one for a recommendation. yes that means you, you know who follows my recommendations.
—Melanie Chabrol-
This book took me completely by surprise. I rated it high because of its superior story notes on so many levels. First of all, if you have children, this story will tug at your heartstrings. Marc Seidman wakes up in a hospital to find out that 12 days earlier, his wife was killed and his 6 month old daughter has disappeared. You don't have to work too hard to put yourself in his shoes. So I got into this one right away. I remember what my babies were like at 6 months, and I was panicked just thinking about waking up in a hospital and finding out that they are missing.His wife, Monica's father Edgar is an abusive, very rich and controlling father in law who never liked Marc. Marc's best friend, Lenny, also barely tolerates him. Marc and Lenny's friendship, which was forged in childhood, is one of the beautiful moments in this book. Lenny is also conveniently an attorney. The police think that Marc is in on it, so he's looked immediately as a suspect. We also meet Marc's old flame from college, Rachel Mills, a former FBI agent. We also meet an interesting pair: Lydia, a former child star who is now a raging psychopath, and her counterpart, a killing machine named Heschy. Lydia would most accurately described as a sociopath, who can gain everyone's sympathy but has no empathy for anyone but herself and Heschy. She feels like she is entitled to whatever she wants, because she is no longer a star. A very interesting character, but not one I'd ever like to come across.There is a theme of loyalty, friendship, and "doing the right thing for the wrong reasons". If you read this book, you will find out what that means. There are so many twists and turns in this book. I would highly recommend this book to any Coben fan. It's fast-paced, and we really get to know the key players on many levels. I don't want to say too much because I don't like to put spoilers in my reviews, but I urge you to read this book. I finished it in 2 days, and I was blown away by the end of this book. I felt like Coben took me on an emotional roller coaster ride, and I was amazed to find my heart somewhat intact by the end of this book. This book does not have a dull moment. Go get this book now and read it. You won't be sorry.
—Lanie
Yeah, Coben's stories are a little formulaic and predictable, but I love them nonetheless. They are exciting and fast reads. I like the earlier ones better than the more recent, and No Second Chance is one of my favorites."He earned his money the old fashioned way: He inherited it. The more things were handed to you on a silver platter, the more you complain about welfare mothers and government handouts. He belongs to that unique class of the entitled who have deluded themselves into believing that they somehow earned their status through hard work. We all live with self-justification, and if you have never fended for yourself, if you live in luxury and have done nothing to deserve it, well, that is going to compound your insecurities. But it shouldn't make you such a prig, to boot."
—Jeanette "Astute Crabbist"
