Saturday, 7 July 2018

Harlan Coben - Home


Rating: 4/5

Review:
Enjoyable nonsense


I enjoyed Home.  It is the first of Harlan Coben's books I have read and the latest in a major series involving Myron Bolitar, but works fine as a stand-alone novel.

Home begins very arrestingly, as Myron's friend Win sees a missing boy in London for whom he has been looking for ten years.  There is a very tense and violent scene and the hunt is then on for the boy and his friend who disappeared at the same time.  A twisty plot follows as Myron and Win investigate, the original kidnapping and the boys' families come under scrutiny and the identity of one of the boys is questioned.

It's nonsense, but it's very enjoyable nonsense.  There are plenty of fantastical elements in Home: Win's almost limitless wealth and influence, his near-superhuman deadliness, the appalling, Bond-villainesque criminal mastermind…you name it.  Nonetheless, Coben writes very well and the dialogue in particular is great, so I found Home very pleasantly addictive.  I could have done without the knowing asides addressed to the reader, but they certainly didn't spoil my enjoyment.

Home is superior, if slightly silly, entertainment with flashes of humour and which doesn't take itself too seriously.  I'll certainly look out for more.

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