The Mystery, Crime, and Thriller Group discussion

Hello everyone! This is my first time leading a book discussion, so bear with me, lol.

I really like Harlan Coben's books. I first read Tell No One when I was about 13. I took the book from my mom without her knowing, and read it secretly. I had never read anything like that before, and I really enjoyed it. I'm definitely looking forward to reading this book.

Happy reading everyone!

Anddddd... done! (laughing) I truly enjoy the Myron Bolitar books, so picking this one up wasn't a chore at all, and wow! I listened to it off and on yesterday, and by this morning I couldn't stop listening to it. I figured out one element early on in the story, but the rest simply blew me out of the water! (laughing) A fabulous read, Laurin! Thanks for suggesting it! (hugs)

I started the first Myron book, but I set it down. I'm only about 16% through the book, but I'm enjoying it already. Coben's books never get slow.

I've read my way through most all of Harlan Coban's books, but 'Gone For Good' is special to me because it was the first one of his that I read. I remember loving it.

I haven't come up with any questions, hopefully that's ok with everyone.

I just finished reading 'Gone for Good' by Coben (only the second book I have read by Coben). I kept wanting to read the next page, then the next, and the next ... wondering how, or if, tragedies were connected. I liked the plot twists and surprises.

Laurin wrote: "I haven't come up with any questions, hopefully that's ok with everyone."
I have a question from the book - pimp Louis Castman was paralyzed from the neck down when he was shot. The hospital released Louis Castman to Tanya who became his caregiver. (Earlier, before Castman was paralyzed, Tanya was badly disfigured by Castman) It doesn't seem likely the hospital would release Castman to Tanya, does it? How was Tanya able to afford the costs of caring for Castman and herself?

Shell wrote: "Laurin wrote: "I haven't come up with any questions, hopefully that's ok with everyone."
I have a question from the book - pimp Louis Castman was paralyzed from the neck down when he was shot. Th..."

I've been wondering about that too. It seemed like they were living in a run-down building, but how did they afford the expensive medical equipment?

Medicaid/Medicare? Castman was making money hand over fist if he was getting his girls addicted to heroin, so they might be staying there because it is near their old neighborhood? Dunno. Food for thought.

There are so many plot twists. I can't wait until everyone has read it so we can discuss!

I'm looking forward to starting this, hopefully before the weekend. I haven't read anything by the author, and am stoked to read a stand-alone book and not get sucked into another series (at least until I get closer to finishing a few series I'm already into)...

I'm more than a third into the book. I've read a few of Coben's books (not the Myron Bolitar series) and I always enjoy them. They are easy and quick reads, but still full of plot twists that keep you reading.
I enjoy the voice of Coben's characters and their thoughts seem very human and believable to me.

Ok, with all the buzz surrounding “Gone for Good” by Harlan Coben, I have decided to go and search for the title. I hope that I will not be disappointed.

Michael wrote: "Ok, with all the buzz surrounding “Gone for Good” by Harlan Coben, I have decided to go and search for the title. I hope that I will not be disappointed."

You will not be disappointed. The plot twists are amazing. I pushed off doing homework for a day because I had to finish this book. I thought about it when I wasn't reading it, trying to figure it out.

Thank you Laurin. I will read the book.

I read The Woods by Coben and loved it. I finished this one last night. It was a very fast read. I guessed some of the ending twists, but was surprised by others.
I will give this book 4 stars. I will refrain from discussing specifics until everyone's done. I will definitely read Gone for Good. I have it but just hadn't gotten to it. It's moving to the top of my list!

Carol wrote: "I read The Woods by Coben and loved it. I finished this one last night. It was a very fast read. I guessed some of the ending twists, but was surprised by others.
I will give this book 4 stars. ..."

Hi Carol. We read The Woods as a group read back in 2010. You can check out - and even add to the discussion here http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/4...

I picked up the audio version from the library today, I will start next week, looking forward to it.

Donna wrote: "Carol wrote: "I read The Woods by Coben and loved it. I finished this one last night. It was a very fast read. I guessed some of the ending twists, but was surprised by others.
I will give this..."
I think that was the first book I read with this group! I forgot to add that!

I'm very excited to hear that so many people are going to read the book. For a while, I was worried that I was the only one...

I have read everything he's written, so am really looking forward to the discussion on this. I assume that takes place when the end date arrives?

Sorry, new to the group, so just feeling my way in.

I havent read anything by Coben even though many people recommend his book. Since this seems like a good book, I will pick it up and join this discussion.

I really enjoyed Gone for Good. The characters were well developed and there were plenty of twists and turns to maintain interest.

Barbara wrote: "I really enjoyed Gone for Good. The characters were well developed and there were plenty of twists and turns to maintain interest."

I completely agree.

Frances wrote: "I have read everything he's written, so am really looking forward to the discussion on this. I assume that takes place when the end date arrives?

Sorry, new to the group, so just feeling my way in."

Hi Frances. You can jump in with your thoughts on the book at any time, just be careful of spoilers or use the spoiler html code to hide it.

The group read threads never close so any discussions can continue on beyond the "official" end date.

I read this book last year and still is one of my favorites. With Harlan Coben's books you never know what is going on. There is no way to predict the end. That's why I love his books and always enjoy reading them.

I started this one today, so excited to be reading this with the group...

I'm on disc 8 and I totally did not see the twist this book has taken.....

I read about half the book yesterday on the flight Minneapolis to Anchorage. I woke up this morning reaching for my kindle, and will hopefully finish today. I'm at about 60% and can see that there are many different avenues the plot may head down. This is probably the best real mystery thriller that I've read in a while...

There are some authors I find myself thinking: this is what I'm aiming for as a thriller writer. Harlan Coben is one of them.

I love his books and this one, in particular, has even more twists and turns than usual to keep the reader guessing.

Harlan Coben is one of my favorite writers and although I love the Myron Bolitar series, I always found that the stand alone books have more depth. I read 'Gone for Good' a few years ago now, so I'm trying to recall the details of the plot :)

Finished reading his latest Stay Close recently, anyone read it yet?

@Jeanie, is the audiobook version well read? I was thinking about getting a few of Harlan Coben's books as audiobooks - I love listening to audiobooks whenever I can.

Happy reading everyone!

Tom wrote: "I read about half the book yesterday on the flight Minneapolis to Anchorage. I woke up this morning reaching for my kindle, and will hopefully finish today. I'm at about 60% and can see that ther..."

I feel the same way. I stayed up until 130 am one night reading, I just couldn't set it down.

NP wrote: "Harlan Coben is one of my favorite writers and although I love the Myron Bolitar series, I always found that the stand alone books have more depth. I read 'Gone for Good' a few years ago now, so I'..."

NP, I decided to listen to this one on audio, I own the book but could not put my hands on it so for me the audio was the next choice. At first I had a hard time with the narrator, but I have gotten used to him now and I love this book, I am on disc 9, and so want to talk about it - but I don't want to spoil anything for myself and others.....

I am definitely excited to discuss the book when everyone is done.

I have finished the book and rather than risk a spoiler, I'll just say that Coben understands what a hero is.

G wrote: "I have finished the book and rather than risk a spoiler, I'll just say that Coben understands what a hero is."

Doesn't he just! It is so hard to discuss his books without spoiling the ending for everyone else. Sheer brilliance.

He is one of the best thriller authors I've ever read. You never know where he's going to take the plot. I don't like reading thrillers where you can predict how it will end, but I don't have that problem with Coben.

I finished this one today - all I can say is wow!! I totally did not see this one coming. Waiting on pins and needles for everyone to finish so we can talk!!!

Jeanie wrote: "Anddddd... done! (laughing) I truly enjoy the Myron Bolitar books, so picking this one up wasn't a chore at all, and wow! I listened to it off and on yesterday, and by this morning I couldn't sto..."

I don't know how to do the spoiler thingy, but I totally want to know which part you figured out....

Linda wrote: "Jeanie wrote: "Anddddd... done! (laughing) I truly enjoy the Myron Bolitar books, so picking this one up wasn't a chore at all, and wow! I listened to it off and on yesterday, and by this morning..."

It's just like making text bold, except you put spolier between the tags instead of b.

I wanted to to say this about Coben in general and this book in particular: He writes in such a way that the surprises he brings into the plot are Myrons/Coben's as well. You almost think he is making it up as he goes along. The back story unfolds as it needs to, but not before. Sometimes that is frustrating (in a good way) because you want to get at the cause of some action. I have not yet been bored by any of his books.

I just finished reading "Gone for Good." Full of drama, twists and turns from page one to the very last page.
I don’t think it would come as any surprise that yes, Harlan Coben, is a great author and that his books have continued to garner huge accolades from media and fans alike. I enjoyed reading it.

G wrote: "I wanted to to say this about Coben in general and this book in particular: He writes in such a way that the surprises he brings into the plot are Myrons/Coben's as well. You almost think he is ma..."

He isn't the best at character development, but he makes up for it with how he weaves the plot.

I feel he does enough with characters to allow the readers to fill in the gaps.

Yes. I don't need the characters' entire life stories. I just want enough for everything to make sense.

I have to admit, I have become a Coben Groupie... I absolutely loved this book. Will not given anything away, but just when I thought I had it all figured out...wham!!! I love that about Coben..I also love the snide remarks. I agree, he is not much for character development, and a lot of his observations end up in many different books, but he is the master of surprise!

I got mad at points because I thought I knew what the ending was, then he would change the plot!

Trying to get a handle on which characters were "good" and which were "evil" was a real challenge in this novel.
In the case of (view spoiler)[ The Ghost and Ken, for example. I had a feeling about Ken from about the middle of the book, but I waffled. However, I was very surprised about The Ghost's reasons for his involvement and also about Mr. Klein's involvement in The Ghost's exposure to the evil that shaped his future. I didn't get that until the end. (hide spoiler)]
I enjoyed this book even more than Coben's The Woods and I will be reading more of his books.

Thank you Laurin for leading the discussion this month. The thread will remain open, but Laurin is now officially "off duty".

Harlan Coben is my favorite author. I read this one years ago. I love Myron, Win, & the others. I recently read Coben's new book, Stay Close, & loved it!
I read Shelter, the first in the Mickey Bolitar series, when it came out to get a glimpse of Myron. I really would like to know where Win is and what he's doing! I hope Mickey doesn't mean an end of Myron!