Call number
MYST COB
Collection
Genres
Series
Publication
Delacorte Press (2007), 320 pages
Description
In the second Myron Bolitar novel from Edgar Award-winner Harlan Coben, a young woman's tragic death spirals into a shattering drama of menace, secrets, and rage. Suddenly Myron is in over his head--and playing the most dangerous game of all. "Engaging . . . hilarious."--Los Angeles Times Book Review Once, Valerie Simpson's tennis career skyrocketed; now, the headlines belong to a player from the wrong side of the tracks. But when Valerie is shot dead in cold blood and dropped outside the stadium at the U.S. Open, sports agent Myron Bolitar investigates the killing and uncovers a connection between the two players and a six-year-old murder at an exclusive mainline club. As Myron is drawn into the case--along with a dirty U.S. senator, a jealous mother, and the mob--he finds himself caught between a killer and the truth. "Harlan Coben is the modern master of the hook-and-twist."--Dan Brown… (more)
Subjects
User reviews
LibraryThing member msf59
Tough, funny crime thriller, with vivid memorable characters. This is the 2nd in the Myron Bolitar series and it's another winner!
LibraryThing member edwardsgt
A Myron Bolitar novel, written with Coben's usual mix of strong characterisation and plot with irrepressible humour.
LibraryThing member porchsitter55
What a great book! Harlan Coben is one of my favorite writers, and Drop Shot is all I expected it to be, and more. The main character, Myron Bolitar, is a sports agent and has a quick wit and sarcastic tongue. His best pal, Win, is a slightly psychotic, totally loyal guy who watches Myron's back as
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they find themselves trying to solve a murder. This book is one in a series of Myron Bolitar novels. I would highly recommend any of them. Show Less
LibraryThing member Joycepa
#2 in the Myron Bolitar series. Not as crack-up funny as Deal Breaker, there is still plenty of humor. Good plot set against pro tennis this time, with Myron and hiis sports agency representing a hot young tennis start who is somehow involved in one and possibly two murders. Believable characters.
A very enjoyable series. Highly recommended.
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There are those from the first book:, Jessica, Myron's lover;Win, his partner, who is just as psychotic as ever; Esperanza the ex wrestler turned secretary/associate, Myron's utterly out-of-it parents; Jake Coulter, a sheriff; and some mobsters who will not be making return appearances in later books.A very enjoyable series. Highly recommended.
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LibraryThing member she_climber
This was entertaining. Story takes place surrounding the US Open Tennis Championships. This one I had the ending pretty much figured out early on, but I still enjoyed the story and finding out exactly the details of the ending. Already waiting for the next in the series to come in for me from the
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library. I just can't get enough sarcasm nor enough Win. Show Less
LibraryThing member miyurose
Myron Bolitar is a pretty interesting guy — a sarcastic ex-athlete-law-school-grad-turned-sports-agent who used to work with the government, has a sociopathic best friend (who I always picture as the young James Spader playing Steff in Pretty in Pink), and now lives in his parents’ basement and
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plays basketball with the neighborhood kids (when his on-again/off-again girlfriend is out of town). Who comes up with this stuff? Apparently, Harlan Coben does. This series has a lighter edge that his stand-alone novels do not, and Coben does his usual great job of weaving an interesting tale. I did have a key piece of the mystery figured out about 3/4 of the way through, but the final whodunnit was definitely a surprise. This is a series I’ll stick with. Show Less
LibraryThing member riverwillow
I enjoyed this as much as I enjoyed reading 'Deal Breaker'. Myron is still living with his parents, although in this book he is spending more time with Jessica, much to Esperanza's disapproval. In this book he gets caught up in the investigation of the murder of the fallen tennis star, Valerie
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Simpson, who is killed at the US Open. And we discover something quite significant, I think, about Win. This is some of the best character led crime writing I have read. Show Less
LibraryThing member dspoon
Valerie Simpson is a young female tennis star with a troubled past who's now on the verge of a comeback and wants Myron as her agent. Myron, who's also got the hottest young male tennis star, Duane Richwood, primed to take his first grand slam tournament, couldn't be happier. That is, until Valerie
Clearing Duane's name should be easy enough. Duane was playing in a match at the time of Valerie's death. But why is his phone number in Valerie's black book when he claims only to have known her in passing? Why was she calling him from a phone booth on the street? The police stop caring once they pin the murder on a man known for having stalked Valerie and seen talking to her moments before the murder. But Myron isn't satisfied. It seems too clean for him.
Myron pries a bit and finds himself prying open the past where six years before, Valerie's fiancee, the son of a senator, was brutally murdered by a juvenile delinquent and a straight-A student was subsequently gunned down on the street in retaliation, his death squandered in bureaucratic files. And everyone from the Senator to the mob want Myron to stop digging.
The truth beneath the truth is not only dangerous, it's deadly. And Myron may be the next victim.
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is murdered in broad daylight at the U.S. Open and Myron's number one client becomes the number one suspect.Clearing Duane's name should be easy enough. Duane was playing in a match at the time of Valerie's death. But why is his phone number in Valerie's black book when he claims only to have known her in passing? Why was she calling him from a phone booth on the street? The police stop caring once they pin the murder on a man known for having stalked Valerie and seen talking to her moments before the murder. But Myron isn't satisfied. It seems too clean for him.
Myron pries a bit and finds himself prying open the past where six years before, Valerie's fiancee, the son of a senator, was brutally murdered by a juvenile delinquent and a straight-A student was subsequently gunned down on the street in retaliation, his death squandered in bureaucratic files. And everyone from the Senator to the mob want Myron to stop digging.
The truth beneath the truth is not only dangerous, it's deadly. And Myron may be the next victim.
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LibraryThing member kd9
Fluffy.
I was considering a one word review, but I decided I really had more to say about this mess of a book. This is the guy's equivalent of a chick flick -- sports, beautiful women, sex, fast cars, fine restaurants, and casual violence. That might be good enough for a quick read, but for one
I was considering a one word review, but I decided I really had more to say about this mess of a book. This is the guy's equivalent of a chick flick -- sports, beautiful women, sex, fast cars, fine restaurants, and casual violence. That might be good enough for a quick read, but for one
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small problem. The ending makes no sense whatsoever. Yes, the protagonist has solved two murders (that the reader solved in the first third of the book), but now what? He certainly isn't going to report these solutions to the police. Will other innocent people be blamed? Will the police (shown mostly as bumbling fools) find the killers anyway? Did the author expect his readers to be satisfied with this ending? This is the only Coben book I have read and likely to be the only one I will ever read. Show Less
LibraryThing member dyarington
Great tennis thriller
LibraryThing member justicefortibet
Myron Bolitar is an ex-Pro Basketball Player, Ex-FBI man, Ex-lawyer Harvard grad and a current Sports Players' Agent. If he'd stick to making deals between his clients & Nike or Ray-Ban he'd live a much safer life. Instead, he & his upper crust sidekick Windsor Horne Lockwood III find themselves
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messing with the Mob, a US Congressman and a mother who will kill to protect her child. Just another day in the wide world of sports. Show Less
LibraryThing member irinka87
2nd book was even better than the first! Has all the old characters and introduces you to new ones! Myron never lets you down with his detective "sleuth" skills! A MUST read!
LibraryThing member crazybatcow
It is a fast and fluffy detective-ish novel set in the world of big-buck sports. It is not particulary memorable or particularly unique, but it was a pleasant enough read.
Had I figured out the mystery before the end? Actually, yes, but only because the author hinted at the solution early in the
Won't stop me from reading the next in the series though. They're fast and simple enough to follow with just enough violence to provide the reader with a sense that justice was being served.
Had I figured out the mystery before the end? Actually, yes, but only because the author hinted at the solution early in the
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novel, then tossed this solution away like a dead herring to make you think it wasn't the solution... when it actually was. There were lots of stereotypes as motivation: black ghetto vs white privilege, mob vs money, child exploitation... you name it. In fact, I'm not sure there was a 20th century stereotypical American social issue that was not touched on.Won't stop me from reading the next in the series though. They're fast and simple enough to follow with just enough violence to provide the reader with a sense that justice was being served.
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LibraryThing member Jarratt
Right off the bat, I get a little irritated when a character seems to be doing something ridiculously out of place, and being successful at moreso than the authorities.
In "Drop Shot," sports agent Myron Bolitar looks into the shooting death of former rising tennis star Valerie Simpson. This is in
He immediately butts heads with the cops, then proceeds to interview folks related to the murder of Valerie's boyfriend six years ago (who happened to be the son of a powerful US Senator). These interviews help him along the way far more than it did the cops originally. Granted, author Harlan Coben does a pretty good job explaining why but again, it takes a sports agent to figure all this out?
And while the dialogue between Bolitar and other characters is often witty, it's often misplaced too. He's in a rather sticky situation and keeps being a wiseass. Quite similar to Nelson DeMille's John Corey, but since I like Corey much better, I give him more of a pass than I do Bolitar.
I've enjoyed the other Coben books I've read ("Gone for Good" and "Caught") better; and since this was Coben's second book, I'll give him a bit more of a pass.
In "Drop Shot," sports agent Myron Bolitar looks into the shooting death of former rising tennis star Valerie Simpson. This is in
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part because she tried desperately to meet with him just prior to her death, and also because his newest tennis star is somehow involved.He immediately butts heads with the cops, then proceeds to interview folks related to the murder of Valerie's boyfriend six years ago (who happened to be the son of a powerful US Senator). These interviews help him along the way far more than it did the cops originally. Granted, author Harlan Coben does a pretty good job explaining why but again, it takes a sports agent to figure all this out?
And while the dialogue between Bolitar and other characters is often witty, it's often misplaced too. He's in a rather sticky situation and keeps being a wiseass. Quite similar to Nelson DeMille's John Corey, but since I like Corey much better, I give him more of a pass than I do Bolitar.
I've enjoyed the other Coben books I've read ("Gone for Good" and "Caught") better; and since this was Coben's second book, I'll give him a bit more of a pass.
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LibraryThing member brucemmoyer
Witty and fun dialog between the two main characters reminded me of the old TV show I SPY and the ongoing banter between Robert Kulp and Bill Cosby from that show of a half century ago. That was the enjoyable part. The ending, which you will not see coming, was not so enjoyable. It is as if the
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author was having a lot of fun for over 300 pages, then lost interest and decided to end the book. I thoroughly enjoyed the book up until the last half dozen pages where the improbable ending made me think somebody else wrote them, dropped the rating from a 5 to a 3 Show Less
LibraryThing member Fantasma
A great book, as usual, definitly I'm a big fan of Harlan Coben.
This was the first one I read in the Myron Bolitar series and it was very good and soooo funny sometimes, the writing style keeps us going and going.
Even though I figured out one of the great mysteries of the story by the middle of the
I want to know more about Myron and Win!
This was the first one I read in the Myron Bolitar series and it was very good and soooo funny sometimes, the writing style keeps us going and going.
Even though I figured out one of the great mysteries of the story by the middle of the
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book, I had to get to the end to check if I was right ;)I want to know more about Myron and Win!
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LibraryThing member jguidry
I enjoyed this second story with sarcastic Myron and psychopathic Win. I found Win less hard-to-take in this novel. He seemed to have better motives than just the pure desire to kill. I still loved Myron's banter and his desire to see a wrong made right. I must admit I saw the twist coming before
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the end, but the murderer was a surprise. Show Less
LibraryThing member bookappeal
Wow, this book already feels so dated! One of the characters is watching a VHS tape, for goodness sake. Coben's second book featuring sports agent Myron Bolitar pales in comparison to his more recent standalones but his writing potential is obvious. This one has a few too many characters and not
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enough suspense but the resolution is unexpected and Myron's sarcastic sense of humor and ambiguous sense of justice are on full display. Show Less
LibraryThing member Olivermagnus
Drop Shot is the second book by Harlan Coben featuring Myron Bolitar, a former basketball phenom, now working as a sports agent. Drop Shot opens with Myron watching his client, tennis star Duane Richwood, make it to the finals of the U. S. Open. Former tennis legend, Valerie Simpson, has been
The police want to question Duane as a possible suspect because Valerie's phone records show she called his house several times. His alibi seems to be airtight since he was playing tennis in front of millions at the time she was shot. Myron feels some guilt about Valerie's death because she was on her way to see him, so he and his best friend, Windsor “Win” Horne Lockwood III, decide to investigate the murder.
Myron's banter is quick and funny, and the secondary characters are very well developed. Myron is quirky and a real master of the one liner, especially during times of stress. Win is one of the most interesting characters I've ever encountered, as is Esperanza Diaz, Myron's associate and a former wrestler with the Fabulous Ladies of Wrestling. I'm becoming a huge Myron Bolitar fan and plan to read the rest of the series throughout the year.
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trying to get in touch with Myron all day but he's been unable to return her calls. During the match, a gunshot is heard and Myron finds out that Valerie has been shot dead in the Food Court.The police want to question Duane as a possible suspect because Valerie's phone records show she called his house several times. His alibi seems to be airtight since he was playing tennis in front of millions at the time she was shot. Myron feels some guilt about Valerie's death because she was on her way to see him, so he and his best friend, Windsor “Win” Horne Lockwood III, decide to investigate the murder.
Myron's banter is quick and funny, and the secondary characters are very well developed. Myron is quirky and a real master of the one liner, especially during times of stress. Win is one of the most interesting characters I've ever encountered, as is Esperanza Diaz, Myron's associate and a former wrestler with the Fabulous Ladies of Wrestling. I'm becoming a huge Myron Bolitar fan and plan to read the rest of the series throughout the year.
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LibraryThing member shannon.dolgos
Myron is drawn into another murder investigation, when a would-be client is murdered at a tennis match. As he delves into her past, things heat up. He is threatened by the mob, and told to leave it alone by everyone, including Valerie's mother. It seems that Myron is the only one wanting to know
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who murdered Valerie. Caught up in trying to figure out "who dunnit and why," Myron also has to be available to his client Duane, who is somehow connected to Valerie, and perhaps her murder... Show Less
LibraryThing member DrApple
Book two in the Myron Bolitar series finds Myron trying to solve the murder of a young tennis has been who was trying to make a comeback. It is not as engaging as most of the Myron Bolitar series, but it is a fun mystery.
LibraryThing member almin
Enjoyed and will probably go back and read the first book in the series. Myron is a wiseass, which is what I like about him. He says things I wish I could think of spur of the moment. His sidekick Win is a a character I am not sure I like, he is so different from Myron kind of hard to understand
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the friendship, but maybe they balance each other and that makes it work. Then there is the girlfriend, Jessica, that his secretary, Esperanza, is not fond of, considering she calls her the 'bitch'. I would like to find out more about these characters, so I will be reading more of the series...I have read Harlan Coben's standalone books, which I love, so I can't imagine not liking this series. Show Less
LibraryThing member ThoughtsofJoyLibrary
Myron Bolitar, sports agent/lawyer, has signed on a new, desired male tennis player named Duane. A past female tennis star, Valerie, is trying to make a comeback and wants to hire Myron as her agent as well. Unfortunately, during Duane's tournament, she is murdered and Myron's new star is being
While I didn't enjoy this one as much as the first, it was still a good read. The mystery had some solid components and a few twists - nothing astounding, but good. Myron's wit and sarcasm are by far what kept me interested. This time around, I found Win to be a bit too kill happy; it was disturbing, not funny. However, Myron is aware of this, so hopefully he'll keep him in check during the third book in this series titled Fade Away. (3.5/5)
Originally posted on: "Thoughts of Joy..."
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accused. Seems like a no-brainer, Duane was playing tennis at the time of her murder, so couldn't be him. Many people including the Senator all the way down to the Mob are involved - in one way or another. Myron is determined to find the murderer.While I didn't enjoy this one as much as the first, it was still a good read. The mystery had some solid components and a few twists - nothing astounding, but good. Myron's wit and sarcasm are by far what kept me interested. This time around, I found Win to be a bit too kill happy; it was disturbing, not funny. However, Myron is aware of this, so hopefully he'll keep him in check during the third book in this series titled Fade Away. (3.5/5)
Originally posted on: "Thoughts of Joy..."
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LibraryThing member stephanie_M
This novel was a bit better than the first one. It's a solid series, with interesting characters, and a driven plot line. I had no idea who the killer was, until the end. Which was different from the Big Secret. I had thought I had the Big Secret figured out in the first quarter of the novel, and
What happened to one slightly more important female character at the end was really a sorry thing to go through, and I wish it could have turned out differently. Also, the very ending, where it leaves the friendship between Win and Myron is a little convoluted right now, because of Win's actions (which he didn't think we're a problem, but Myron did). This may cause a major rift in the future of the series, and should be interesting itself. I wonder if this will cause issues in their friendship in the next novel in the series, but not enough to go running off to find the next novel right away.
All in all, a good, solid series. I'm not as emotionally invested in the characters as I'd like to be, and this series might just be a fall-back for when I don't have anything else lined up to read right away. (Which might be helpful, because certain explanations and descriptions of characters and relationships in both of the two first books are already seeming redundantly repeated. Already.). If you need something easy to read that won't stress your brain or leave you in a puddle of tears, then this book may be the one for you. 4 stars.
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had seen it coming a mile away. But then the big twist got even twisty-er, and out twisted me....darn good one, too. What happened to one slightly more important female character at the end was really a sorry thing to go through, and I wish it could have turned out differently. Also, the very ending, where it leaves the friendship between Win and Myron is a little convoluted right now, because of Win's actions (which he didn't think we're a problem, but Myron did). This may cause a major rift in the future of the series, and should be interesting itself. I wonder if this will cause issues in their friendship in the next novel in the series, but not enough to go running off to find the next novel right away.
All in all, a good, solid series. I'm not as emotionally invested in the characters as I'd like to be, and this series might just be a fall-back for when I don't have anything else lined up to read right away. (Which might be helpful, because certain explanations and descriptions of characters and relationships in both of the two first books are already seeming redundantly repeated. Already.). If you need something easy to read that won't stress your brain or leave you in a puddle of tears, then this book may be the one for you. 4 stars.
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LibraryThing member addunn3
Myron, a sports agent, works to solve a murder to protect his tennis client.
Pages
320
ISBN
0385342101 / 9780385342100