Dec 22, 2007 Posted by Nancy Williams on Dec 22, 2007 in Books read, Crime Fiction | 0 comments

Just One Look – Harlan Coben

Harlan Coben had been recommended to me, as he was apparently a master of page turning suspense with an ability to give a twist comparable to Robert Goddard. Therefore, I started Just One Look with high hopes and I am pleased to say, I wasn’t disappointed.

As I understand, this is one of Coben’s books which reads as a stand-alone story, rather than the continuation of one of his pivotal heros or heroines. That meant that as much effort needed to be given to character development as to the storyline, as the reader needed to feel empathy and familiarity with the character from the moment they were introduced. In this book, the suburbanite couple – Jack and Grace Lawson – become real pretty much from the first moment. And then when the story gets going and the questions start mounting, there is no doubt you become swept along with the plot as it picks up pace, reaching a massive and twisted climax in the last pages.

Why is the terrifying hitman, Eric Wu, out after Jack and Grace? Why does Jack disappear? Who put the strange photograph into the pack of photos at the shopping mall? What does this all have to do with Grace’s limp, a result of being a survivor of the Boston Massacre – a stampede at a rock concert which had left 18 people dead? Coben cleverly draws all of the threads together at just the right pace – never giving it all away, but always suggesting just enough to keep you guessing. I was really impressed by the style which was pacey but comprehensive. And although I had to sit for a few minutes and compile the solution in my head after I had shut the book, it all fitted so neatly together without a flaw.

I am glad I took up the recommendation. I will be reading more.

Rating: 8/10
ISBN: 0-75285-259-0
Publisher: Griffin Press
Year: 2004
Date finished: 21 December 2007