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 | Hold Tight
Author: Harlan Coben
Publisher: Dutton Adult
Binding: Hardcover
Released: 2008-04-15
Sales Rank: 445
ISBN: 0525950605
Edition: 1
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 2008-07-25 - Coben's Follow Up To THE WOODS
Though HOLD TIGHT is not a sequel to THE WOODS is does feature the same setting (suburban New Jersey) with Cope, Lucy and a few other characters who were major players in THE WOODS appearing on the periphery of this novel. HOLD TIGHT follows the same general formula Coben has found success with in his stand alone thrillers. There are a couple of inexplicable tragedies/ mysteries happening and these stories are told by Coben in breathless page turning fashion often with a cliffhanger at the end of a chapter. The subplots and characters all fit together in a preposterous way by the end but I have to admit Coben leaves no loose ends in his plotting. There is a general theme in this year's novel of parents protecting their children and internet and cell phone use and the privacy issues connected with them play major roles. Coben's books are great to read when you need some diversion but are not in the mood to concentrate or think much. I read the first half of this one while getting highlights put in my hair.
 2008-07-24 - Never disappointed
Mr. Coben is my favorite writer and I am never disappointed by him. A lot of writers seem to lose "their touch" after time and I can honestly say that I don't see that with him. Each book is fast-paced and you don't want to put them down. In my opinion, the same is true with this book. There are more characters in this one than usual, but it was not hard to follow and he always brings them together in the end. He can't write them fast enough for me. I have read all of his books and, while I am a bit partial to the Myron Bolitar series, his other books keep me on the edge of my seat too. (I only wish he would expound a bit on the character of Win, we know so little about him). While I read Grisham, and both Jonathan and Faye Kellerman, I am always anxious in April for the "new Coben book." The only very slight drawback to this book is that it deals alot with kids and, being a mom myself, you kind of worry a bit about the kind of world this is becoming for kids. Even though the book is fiction, I think Mr. Coben, also a parent, knows what he is talking about.
2008-07-24 - Hold tight - the ride is fast and bumpy (3.25 *s)
In this quickly moving, easy-to-read book, the author juggles many characters and two main plot lines that are only vaguely connected. Principally, we have a psychotic killer of women and a situation of a teenage suicide and a wayward son. Eventually there are explanations and resolutions, somewhat hinging on rather precocious eleven year olds.
In this book, the author disappointingly demonstrates little interest in personal and family issues and situations outside of the main line of action. The author does touch on the issues of parents' surveillance of their teenagers and the awkward situation where a parent is unknowingly not a biological parent, yet a donor kidney is needed. However, the development of all such topics is minimal, at best.
I'm not sure that the author has ever really recaptured the pace and tone of his earlier Simon Bolivar series, though that is a fairly high standard.
2008-07-24 - Good, not great
I am a huge Harlan Coben fan, however, I hate to say I was slightly disappointed in "Hold Tight". I'd like to start by saying that this was a good book, and worth the read. It was slightly dragged out and it wasn't up to par with Harlan's other books. It did touch on some terrific parenting issues and as a parent of 2 teenagers, I did closely relate... definitely worth reading, but don't expect too much.
2008-07-22 - Hold on Tight!
Harlan Coben is amazing at feeding his readers many sub plots that seemingly have no connection and by the end they are all wrapped together in a pretty package. All the while, you are grabbed by each page and cannot wait to get to the next one. This newest novel is no excpetion. In fact, I consider it one of his best. It takes a look at the internet and how powerless parents seem to be in knowing exactly what their teens are up to these days. In a sense, it makes one wish for a less complicated, slower paced time when family values were a higher priority.
Aside from this commentary, the book moves at a rapid pace, never revealing what one can expect next. This is a wild and enjoyable ride. The title says it all!!
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