I like the Myron Bolitar series. The books read a bit like Lincoln Lawyer with a basketball twist. Here Myron's old rival and sort of modern friend died 3 years ago but suddenly his DNA shows up at a murder scene. Huh? It's a twisty turny story about a serial killer that plants DNA to give the police and easy path to a plausible killer. The ending is a surprise, one that I didn't see coming. I'm not sure I liked that ending but regardless, it's a pretty good book. Win gets weirder and weirder.

What?!

I love Win and Myron and Esperanza and Big Cindy and El Al. Coben brought a lot of previous characters into this book. I devoured so I could get to the end but now am sad because I have to wait for the next Harlan Coben book. A nice addition to the series.

Myron Bolitar gave the eulogy at his frenemy Greg's funeral 5 years ago so how did Greg's DNA end up at a recent murder scene?! Good guy, Myron, and his pal, Wen, must investigate to clear Greg's name! But, what will they find upon investigating? Did Greg really die? How are a string of murders around the country linked? Have serial killers found a way around the advances in technology and crime scene investigating?

Think Twice is told from multiple points of view including Myron and the killer. I'm usually a big fan of Coben but this one didn't capture me. The author's attempts at quirky characters fell short with the seriousness of the book and so much of the book was focused on their characteristics. I felt that we just kept circling back to character development that it pulled away from the story. I did enjoy the last 1/3 of the book more than the rest and found myself surprised by the ending. If you enjoy a little humor from your characters then this may be a good book for you but I tend to lean more toward serious characters for serious subjects.

Thank you Netgalley and Grand Central Publishing for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I didn't know this was in a series when I requested it but decided to give it a try anyway. It worked as a standalone, anything that was necessary to know for the story was explained. Good book, the first half definitely had me hooked.

I have read all of Harlen Coben's novels religiously. I found the first act of THINK TWICE a bit slow starting, but Coben always delivers a tight-paced thriller. Will be recommending!

Sadly this just didn’t click for me. I understand the desire to want to make this a standalone, but after so many Myron books, all the constant summarizing of side characters and the past took up so much space in the book it felt like there was little left for anything new and fresh. Myron himself feels not so much older as just more overall tired and flat. He doesn’t like Yoo-Hoo’s anymore? Heresy. Myron’s new marriage feels stilted and often quite forgotten, it doesn’t feel right for him and feels distracting.

Lastly, the mystery and wrap up itself just felt very bogged down. It was so entrenched in the past that again, the goal of making this a stand alone just never feels right because it always ties back to the beginning. And even then, because of that, it didn’t feel emotional to me, more so than just uninspired. It’s an old beaten down rivalry and storyline, just let it go already. The drama with Jeremy and Emily and Greg, it’s not exciting, it just feels spiteful and craggy.

Ultimately I’m not sure where the series goes from here, but I certainly hope we finally leave the past characters behind. It’s time to build on new relationships and characters and storylines, or even introduce fresh ones. And I’m particularly let down that we don’t see Win reunite with Joey the Toe in the end…..Win will not abide by those crimes and it’s an injustice we missed out on that delightfully violent reunion.

I adore the characters of this series and was so happy to dive back into their lives! The pacing was somewhat slow at times, but I truly love Harlan Coben’s writing so I didn’t mind the wait. I can’t wait to see what Myron and Win do next!

Think Twice by Harlan Coben. Pub Date: May 14, 2024. Rating: 4 stars. Harlan Coben has always been a go to author for me because he delivers some of the best mystery thrillers published in today's market. This book is the next installment in his Myron Bolitar series that has become so beloved by many, including myself. Reading this book was nostalgic for me because I remember starting this series when I was in high school. Harlan Coben has not lost his stride and he continues to deliver electrifying stories with his main man Myron at the helm. In this installment, a dead man is presumed to have committed murder and it's a race to see if the presumed dead man is really dead or if he is alive and has committed the crime. With Myron and Win racing to determine the whereabouts of this man and truly find out what has happened, the reader is met with grit, smarts, humor and intrigue. I really enjoyed this novel and think it is a great addition to this long running series. Thanks to #netgalley and #grandcentralpublishing for this e-arc in exchange for my honest review. #thinktwice

Love love love this book! It was such a good palette cleanser! Definitely loved the suspense I went it with low expectations bc it’s not my normal genre choice but ended up loving it!

2.5 stars rounded down

If you have read my reviews for awhile, you know that Harlan Coben is one of my go-to authors. I especially pick up his novels when I am having a difficult time getting interested in any books. Coben’s fast-paced plots usually draw me in immediately and urge me to finish the book in one sitting.

Think Twice is the first novel I have read from Harlan Coben’s Myron Bolitar series, which happens to be novel number 12. I was hoping that I could pick up this new release without needing to read the eleven prior books. After all, I have had a brief introduction to the two main characters in Win (2021).

Think Twice begins at a brisk pace with Myron approached by the FBI who demands he tell them where his former friend and client, Greg, is hiding. Greg’s DNA has been found at a high-profile murder scene. The only problem is Greg has been dead for 3 years. Myron and his bestie, Win, set off to get answers and stumble upon a serial killer.

Think Twice is the first Harlan Coben novel that I have been truly disappointed by. Perhaps if I read the entire series, I would have been more enamored with this new title. (It seems everyone on Goodreads is.) However, Think Twice lacked the elements that I love about Coben’s books: well-developed characters; a fast, steady pace; and solid writing that does not scream, “I am man.”

Although Think Twice has Coben’s signature twist and turns that keep you guessing, the plot itself is difficult to buy into and drags in the middle. Apparently, no one cares that it is wildly inappropriate for a sports agent and a trust funder to jet around the country trying to solve a murder. The FBI and local police departments just shrug off the serious interference and obstructions of justice. Instead, the odd pair – Bolitar and Win – solve a slew of serial murders complicated enough to require four chapters of explanation but without motivation.

Coben is one of the few male authors that I read. Often times, particularly in crime or thriller books, male authors write in a way that exudes testosterone and cluelessness about the other sex. This has never been a problem for me with Coben’s novels. However, Think Twice is led by Bolitar who speaks in a way I would call characteristically male and “boomer cringey.” (I promise that no one needs to read “bitching view” multiple times in the first few chapters.) For me, the writing is atypical of Coben and worse for it.

I realize that Think Twice is a an entry in a long-standing series; however, I think it is a reasonable expectation for writers to expect readers to pick up any novel as a standalone. Yet, it is taken for granted that readers know the characters. Or at least, there is little introduction to the characters, their backgrounds, and their personalities. In addition, the novel lacks the interactions between main characters that are a hallmark and strength of the series.

Overall, Think Twice is unevenly paced and far-fetched. From reading this novel alone, I would argue the Myron Bolitar series is past its prime and should be retired. I only recommend Think Twice to avid fans of the series who are devoted to its characters.

"Think Twice" by Harlan Coben is a thrilling read filled with unexpected twists and turns. The story keeps you on the edge of your seat, with engaging characters and a plot that unfolds in a gripping manner. Perfect for fans of suspense and mystery, this book is hard to put down once you start. Highly recommended for anyone who enjoys a good page-turner. All I can say is "Welcome back my old friends"!

Situations like this were always about missing stuff. Keep shaking the box and hope more pieces fall out. Only if your shaking the right box.


Prophetic words but oh so true. A combination of plot and relationship driven the balance between the two is what drove me to give this a 5 star rating. It's one of these reviews you don't want to give to much away so I will focus on the relationships. There is Myron who is the center. Likeable guy, into the details, and loyalty is center. His best friend Win, who does only loyal to Myron. He watches out for him and when morality is questioned, he has no qualms about the immoral of a situation. In some ways, he can be considered realist. Jeremy is the son that Myron just found out he had. Their relationship is strained because of the father that raised him. Myron is honest about this relationship because of all who is involved. He gives all the space and goes from there. Greg whom Myron has had a past with, who also is a client, and the man who raised his son.

It all comes to a head when the FBI contacts Myron on the whereabouts of Greg when his DNA shows up at murder scene. What is baffling is Greg was declared dead. Which leaves Myron on the hunt to find his friend and what is going on. This all leads to something more sinister - a serial killer. With more murder and a few connections, Myron must find who is behind this before he loses any one he loves.

This was an action packed and dot connecting thriller. I thought I had it figured out but was intentionally lead astray. No problem, it still was an exciting read.

A special thank you to Grand Central Publishing and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.

Harlan Coben is one of my favorite authors. This wasn’t my favorite of his books. It was good but not as engaging as I am used to.
I received this galley from Net Galley.

Myron Bolitar is stunned Greg Downing, a man he shares a complicated past, is alive and implicated in a murder. With the FBI breathing down his neck, Myron and Win travel around trying to piece together what really happened to Greg, while also coming into contact with his biological son.

Now married to Therese, Myron is trying to re-establish MB Reps after regretfully selling the business years prior. Best friend, the wealthy Win is back in his sociopathic glory, forever a fierce friend to Myron as only Win can be.

It's been years since we last had a Myron Bolitar book and appreciated that Coben allows his character to grow and age as Myron reflects on on aging, observing how things have slowed down for him and even Win.

As always I was glued from start to finish. Harlen Coben has not let me down. By the end I found myself feeling just as moved as Win. I can see that this might be the final book, but surely there's more adventures to be had. I, for one, will be crossing my fingers.

Thanks to Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC.

This is the 12th book in the Myron Bolitar series. What I liked about this one is that there were lots of characters from books past. Of course the relationship between Myron and Win trumps all and I love to read about these two! The mystery started a little slow for me and at times I was confused about what was going on. It seemed too complex. But as things started to solidify and the different threads were woven together, of course it was excellent! I had lots of ideas of what I thought was going on and every single one was wrong. Coben is the master of surprising me at the end. A great addition to the series.

Myron and Win are one of my favorite pairings in mysteries/thrillers! I was so happy to see them back with another book.

We have all the expected banter and dangerous antics here, as Myron gets himself in all sorts of trouble along the way.

This story has a lot of characters and various moving parts to keep track of, which I sometimes found a little hard to follow. This might have been my mood or the late-night reading with a sleepy brain. I just felt that the middle of the story got slightly muddled.

Still, I loved the way it all came together in the end, and I enjoyed every moment I spent with this pair.

(Though I’m still bitter that Win hasn’t yet gotten a second book in his own spinoff series!)

It's so strange to be back with Myron and Win, only they're getting older like real people. I loved the first books in this series and I was nervous about this new mystery that promised to bring up some of the beginning. Myron lost his chance at a sports career because of Greg, who is somehow affecting things from beyond the dead.
This was a mystery that appeared to be based on random events, which made the investigation more difficult. With persistence and by using a lot of resources, Myron and Win make their way around forcing facts out of the woodwork.
Loyalty is the biggest thing in Myron's world, and we get to see how it affects his past and present. I know Coben keeps writing lucrative standalones, but I really hope this isn't the end because I miss these people when I don't hear from them.
Thanks to NetGalley for letting me read this

Sports agent Myron Bolitar's client has been accused of a double murder. The catch? Greg died 3 years prior and Myron gave his eulogy. Myron and his friend Win dive into finding the truth spun in a web of murders and their maybe too perfectly wrapped up convictions. While I haven't read any of the Myron series, he's part of the Harlan Coben-verse cast of characters that pops up in each other's series, so I was familiar with him as I've read a number of the other books. Don't worry if you haven't read any of the others, enough backstory is provided throughout that this works as a stand alone.

I am so happy that Myron and Win are back. It has been a few years, and they have aged nicely. It is wonderful that the new book ties in old characters, yet you can read it as a stand-alone and not feel left out. Great mystery, family drama, and laughs along the way.

Three years ago, sports agent Myron Bolitar gave a eulogy at the funeral of his client, renowned basketball coach Greg Downing. Myron and Greg had history: initially as deeply personal rivals, and later as unexpected business associates. Myron made peace and moved on – until now, when twofederal agents walked into his office, demanding to know where Greg Downing is. According to the agents, Greg is still alive—and has been placed at the scene of a double homicide, making him their main suspect. Shocked, Myron needs answers.Myron and Win, longtime friends and colleagues, set out to find the truth, but the more they discover about Greg, the more dangerous their world becomes. Secrets, lies, and a murderous conspiracy that stretches back into the past churn at the heart of Harlan Coben's blistering new novel. Another great addition to the Bolitar series. I love everything Coben writes but would love to see more Myron in the future!