Status
Available
Call number
Series
Genres
Collection
Publication
Signet (2007), Paperback, 512 pages
Description
Fiction. Suspense. Thriller. HTML:The bestselling author and creator of the hit Netflix drama The Stranger reveals the deadly consequences that can be born of the best intentions. As the school year winds down, Myron Bolitar is determined to help keep his friends�?? children safe from the dangers of drinking and driving. So he makes two neighborhood girls promise him that if they are ever in a bind but are afraid to call their parents, they must call him. Several nights later, the call comes at two a.m. The next day, a girl is missing and Myron is the last person who saw her. Racing to find her before she�??s gone forever, Myron must outrun his own troubled past and decide once and for all who he is and what he will stand up
User reviews
LibraryThing member Joycepa
8th in the Myron Bolitar series.
If life were fair (it isn’t, never has been, and never will be), good deeds backed by noble intentions would always be rewarded. Problem: most of the time, they never are, and too many times, they get us into trouble.
All of us are concerned about the danger to
Myron, concerned that Aimee Biel, the 18 year old daughter of friends may be endangering her life by drinking and driving, asks her to promise him to call him, no matter what the hour, if she is in need of a ride home; his only concern is her safety, not informing her parents. Shortly thereafter, Myron receives a phone call at two a.m. from Aimee, tearfully begging him to pick her up in Manhattan. Reminding him of his promise, Aimee not only doesn’t want her parents to know but asks Myron to drop her off, not at her home, but at a friend’s house.
Then Aimee disappears. And guess who is the last to have seen her?
As Myron, just as worried for Aimee’s safety as he is in clearing his name, investigates, the case turns ever more complicated. Strains of this magnitude put nearly unbearable pressure on the parents; any cracks in the marriage are certain to widen and even break the structure entirely.
While Promise Me is a very good “mystery”, even more, it’s an excellent examination of the emotions and questions of responsibility of all concerned in this type of situation. While the plot is resolved, left hanging are those questions—and, in reality, there may be no good answers. Whom among us can say that we absolutely never would have done as Myron—not me. So kudos to Coben, who is writing ever more serious books under cover of the mystery genre. Highly recommended.
If life were fair (it isn’t, never has been, and never will be), good deeds backed by noble intentions would always be rewarded. Problem: most of the time, they never are, and too many times, they get us into trouble.
All of us are concerned about the danger to
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young people; many of us complain bitterly that there doesn’t seem to be a sense of responsibility for the safety of others, particularly young people. And then someone does feel that responsibility, does take it upon himself to do what he can to protect a young woman—and as a reward, becomes the chief suspect in a kidnapping/potential murder case.Myron, concerned that Aimee Biel, the 18 year old daughter of friends may be endangering her life by drinking and driving, asks her to promise him to call him, no matter what the hour, if she is in need of a ride home; his only concern is her safety, not informing her parents. Shortly thereafter, Myron receives a phone call at two a.m. from Aimee, tearfully begging him to pick her up in Manhattan. Reminding him of his promise, Aimee not only doesn’t want her parents to know but asks Myron to drop her off, not at her home, but at a friend’s house.
Then Aimee disappears. And guess who is the last to have seen her?
As Myron, just as worried for Aimee’s safety as he is in clearing his name, investigates, the case turns ever more complicated. Strains of this magnitude put nearly unbearable pressure on the parents; any cracks in the marriage are certain to widen and even break the structure entirely.
While Promise Me is a very good “mystery”, even more, it’s an excellent examination of the emotions and questions of responsibility of all concerned in this type of situation. While the plot is resolved, left hanging are those questions—and, in reality, there may be no good answers. Whom among us can say that we absolutely never would have done as Myron—not me. So kudos to Coben, who is writing ever more serious books under cover of the mystery genre. Highly recommended.
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LibraryThing member she_climber
I was very tempted to give this one two stars, but I think it had more to do with the narrator than the story. With this book I've completed the Myron Bolitar series, which I have loved and devoured, at least until next Spring with I've just learned that a new one is being released. Rather than
But in conclusion I want to say: Promise Me, Harlan Coben, that you'll stick to your strengths of writing and leave the narrating of the story to the actors. Thank you.
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read this series I listened to it all in audio, I've loved the actor that's read all of the previous books, with his range of voices, inflection of tone, comedic timing and I love his preppy accent for Win. Despite this the story wasn't as good as the others in the series, seemed to meander a bit too much - Jessica's out, she's in, she's out; Win all but disappears half way through the book - apparently his part was done; El-Al are in Florida and only have a cameo appearance; and for me personally - the Brenda fascination has gone on far too long, especially for a girl that he knew all of a maybe a week. But in conclusion I want to say: Promise Me, Harlan Coben, that you'll stick to your strengths of writing and leave the narrating of the story to the actors. Thank you.
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LibraryThing member edwardsgt
Another cracker from the master. We all missed Myron but he's back with a vengeance, along with sidekick Win, with another fast-paced thriller looking for a missing teenage girl. Lots of cracking dialogue and plot twists and turns as we've come to expect. Hopefully there is more Myron to come after
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his extended lay-off. Show Less
LibraryThing member reading_fox
The seventh of the Mylon Bolivar agency novels. Set 6 years after the previous ones, mirroring the author's delay as he wrote other books.
Mylon in a rash moment makes two teenage girls promise never to drive home with a drunk at the wheel, he will any time any place come and chauffeur them no
Much is made of the honour and morality of various positions in the novel, parent to a child, victim to a criminal etc. Some of which are a bit contrived, and one which contains the clue to the ending .... did you spot it? Neither did I. However they don't really make the reading any better, providing interludes in violence Wim deals out to various deserving parties. A character who is thin at best, and a convenient get out for all the messy details often overlooked by other authors. To be honest I think I prefer the overlooking approach. Wim is annoying and unbelivale.
Mylon in a rash moment makes two teenage girls promise never to drive home with a drunk at the wheel, he will any time any place come and chauffeur them no
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questions asked. When mere days later he is taken up on his offer, he asks questions and she runs. Mylon feel honour bound to the parents to help look for her, butis soon teh chief suspect of the police. Other parents at the school and teachers become involved as the plot twists and winds its way to the surprising denouncement. Much is made of the honour and morality of various positions in the novel, parent to a child, victim to a criminal etc. Some of which are a bit contrived, and one which contains the clue to the ending .... did you spot it? Neither did I. However they don't really make the reading any better, providing interludes in violence Wim deals out to various deserving parties. A character who is thin at best, and a convenient get out for all the messy details often overlooked by other authors. To be honest I think I prefer the overlooking approach. Wim is annoying and unbelivale.
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LibraryThing member kattepusen
Mindless treadmill thrill!
"Promise Me" is a quick read with a decent amount of suspence. This is the first book I have read of Harlan Coben (and thus my first Myron Bolitar encounter), and I am not in a rush to read another. It is not all that bad, just bland and frankly a bit too predictable. The
The story revovles around a case of two seemingly unconnected missing teenage girls, Aimee Biel and Katie Rochester. Myron knows the first one with whom he once made a promise (hence the title of the book). If she ever needed a safe ride, she was to call Myron and he would take her wherever she needed to go - no questions asked, all for the sake of preventing drunk driving. Of course, the call comes. Late at night. A semi-drunk Myron answers - and eventually provides the ride to a mystery location. Aimee disappears... About the same time, Katie disappears; however, Dr Skylar - a geneticist (who conveniently "studies faces") sees her in a crowd whereupon the girl begs her not to tell anyone that she has seen her.
So, the remainder of the novel focuses on Myron's quest to find the connections between the girls interspersed with his romantic interludes with a 9/11 widow. There are, of course, sprinklings of sadistic violence and visits to the seedier parts of town as well as high school politics and athletic metaphors (yes, really).
The language is simple and cliche-ridden. Emotional descriptions such as "he felt yucky" abound, and of course there are the many humorous attempts such as this one: "He wanted to ask the pay phone who had dialed his number and called him a bastard and said that he'd pay for what he'd done. But the phone wouldn't talk to him. It had been that kind of day." But even so, it is refreshingly unpretensious, and the story develops with the right pace.
The expected twists and turns along the way leads to a somewhat predictable conclusion, a bit similar to Hercule Poirot giving a concluding speech of how he solved it all, although more in a Matlock style.
All in all, a decent read for the lazy summer days at the beach, or as was my case: expect to extend your time on the treadmill to "just read one more chapter"...
"Promise Me" is a quick read with a decent amount of suspence. This is the first book I have read of Harlan Coben (and thus my first Myron Bolitar encounter), and I am not in a rush to read another. It is not all that bad, just bland and frankly a bit too predictable. The
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characters are mostly one-dimensional or completely unbelievable - such as pretty-boy Win, the sidekick provider of "justified" gratuitous violence.The story revovles around a case of two seemingly unconnected missing teenage girls, Aimee Biel and Katie Rochester. Myron knows the first one with whom he once made a promise (hence the title of the book). If she ever needed a safe ride, she was to call Myron and he would take her wherever she needed to go - no questions asked, all for the sake of preventing drunk driving. Of course, the call comes. Late at night. A semi-drunk Myron answers - and eventually provides the ride to a mystery location. Aimee disappears... About the same time, Katie disappears; however, Dr Skylar - a geneticist (who conveniently "studies faces") sees her in a crowd whereupon the girl begs her not to tell anyone that she has seen her.
So, the remainder of the novel focuses on Myron's quest to find the connections between the girls interspersed with his romantic interludes with a 9/11 widow. There are, of course, sprinklings of sadistic violence and visits to the seedier parts of town as well as high school politics and athletic metaphors (yes, really).
The language is simple and cliche-ridden. Emotional descriptions such as "he felt yucky" abound, and of course there are the many humorous attempts such as this one: "He wanted to ask the pay phone who had dialed his number and called him a bastard and said that he'd pay for what he'd done. But the phone wouldn't talk to him. It had been that kind of day." But even so, it is refreshingly unpretensious, and the story develops with the right pace.
The expected twists and turns along the way leads to a somewhat predictable conclusion, a bit similar to Hercule Poirot giving a concluding speech of how he solved it all, although more in a Matlock style.
All in all, a decent read for the lazy summer days at the beach, or as was my case: expect to extend your time on the treadmill to "just read one more chapter"...
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LibraryThing member jandm
Good plot, with some interesting exploration of teenage parenting and masculinity, but some unbelievable characters.
LibraryThing member mirlyarley
Myron Bolitar, ex-star basketball player attempts to find the daughter of friends after she disappears; she may have been kidnapped or a runaway. The character and his friend, Win, remind me a bit of the Parker stories. good twists.
LibraryThing member Djupstrom
This is my first foray into the works of Harlan Coben, and I have to say I am pleasantly surprised. Don't get me wrong, this is not profound literature, but his writing is enjoyable and interesting. Promise Me hooked me in from the fist few pages and kept my attention throughout the entire book.
LibraryThing member pabarrett
Always pushing the edge of complexity and believability, Coben always brings it back together. This story is taut and edgy, but not as much as some of his previous books.
LibraryThing member wiccked
Another enjoyable book with the same lead characters as the one I just read. Now I find myself searching them out on sale tables at our local shops! I don't know that this would be my favourite series of books, but I certainly enjoy them, and as long as Gayle has more to lend me I'm very happy to
This was quite a clever story too. I think I changed my mind about what the end would be quite a few times before we got there and it wasn't any of what I'd thought
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go on reading them!This was quite a clever story too. I think I changed my mind about what the end would be quite a few times before we got there and it wasn't any of what I'd thought
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LibraryThing member KarriesKorner
It's a simple promise that Myron Bolitar gives to his friend. That promise leads him down a dangerous path, and he finds himself smack dab in the middle of mystery that he has to solve.
LibraryThing member IsaacFry
Myron has a friend's teenage daughter promise him that if she ever gets out with someone who is drunk or if she is drunk herself that she will call him for a ride. He in turn promises that he will ask no questions and won't tell her parents. One night, she calls him and has him drop her off at a
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friend's house. She goes missing and it's up to Myron to find out what has happened to her. Show Less
LibraryThing member riverwillow
I read this in one sitting as I couldn't put it down as I was desperate to find out what had happened to Aimee. Coben's trade mark twists in the tale are all there and I especially enjoyed the various twists as Aimee's fate is explained. Wonderful.
LibraryThing member afyfe
I really liked this thriller and I was totally drawn in and couldn't put it down at times. This was my first Coben book and I will be reading more, however I'm worried they might all get repetitive. I liked all the twists in this book and the way it was all resolved. Some of it was a little too
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violent to be beleivable so I wish that was different, but besides taht it was a good read. I'd recommend it to anyone looking for a good thriller! Show Less
LibraryThing member Brandie
Such a great read!! Picked it up at the library on a whim and I am so glad I did! The plot was fabulous, fast paced and exactly what I expect from this genre. I didn't want to put it down because I was on the edge of my seat to see what happened next.
The ending, fabulous! A twist I didn't see
I will definitely be reading more books by Coben in the future!
The ending, fabulous! A twist I didn't see
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coming at all - and just made the book that much more great I think!I will definitely be reading more books by Coben in the future!
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LibraryThing member BobAvey
In Harlan Coben's, Promise Me, agent slash avenger, Myron Bolitar, inherits more than he bargained for when he asks a couple of teenage girls to promise and call him if they are ever in trouble. Coben delivers a plot full of action and misdirection that's sure to please mystery and suspense fans in
I liked the book, though I found the love scenes between Myron and his new girlfriend, Ali, to be a bit too cute. I also felt Myron's sidekick, Win, was an over-the-top hero. No matter what Myron needed or when he needed it, his buddy Win was there to deliver.
That being said, Promise Me has that hard to define Make-you-want-to-read-it quality going in full force.
Bob Avey, Author of Beneath a Buried House
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this tale of suburban desperation. I liked the book, though I found the love scenes between Myron and his new girlfriend, Ali, to be a bit too cute. I also felt Myron's sidekick, Win, was an over-the-top hero. No matter what Myron needed or when he needed it, his buddy Win was there to deliver.
That being said, Promise Me has that hard to define Make-you-want-to-read-it quality going in full force.
Bob Avey, Author of Beneath a Buried House
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LibraryThing member agatatera
I was hesitating before if I should read any of books of Harlan Coben – you know, sometimes books of these very popular and “breedy” authors are not really worth of reading. But then I’ve got a chance to get it on the Polish version of BookMooch in the frame of special action – the books
The Polish translation and proofreading is not the masterpiece in this case. But still the book is worth of reading. It’s a story of Myron, guy trying to forget about his past and live his live as a co-owner of the PR company. During a small party at his home he promises to two teenagers (members of his friends’ families) that he will always pick them up in any case if they would be suppose to be driven home by a drunk driver or in similar case. Some days later one of the girls is calling him in the middle of the night and ask for the lift. He drives her to the house which she is telling is belonging to the family of her friend. The day later is still not back at home. She disappeared. And then the story began…
There are much more threads in this book than this single one and it’s keeping the attention (at least of me) until the end. And the end was surprising for me – it did finish in another way I thought it will be and also with other suspects than I thought. What is pretty good in my opinion. Or maybe I was not enough smart to find the answers out by myself ;)
It’s an interesting book, which is good to read if you want to don’t think about something else or just have some time and want to relax (if you may relax during reading such stories ;))
I already ordered 3 other books of Coben on the site of this action :)
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are suppose to come back to this web portal the latest in 30 days after receiving them, so it’s kind of queue for books :) I took this challenge. And for sure I’m not sorry about it. The Polish translation and proofreading is not the masterpiece in this case. But still the book is worth of reading. It’s a story of Myron, guy trying to forget about his past and live his live as a co-owner of the PR company. During a small party at his home he promises to two teenagers (members of his friends’ families) that he will always pick them up in any case if they would be suppose to be driven home by a drunk driver or in similar case. Some days later one of the girls is calling him in the middle of the night and ask for the lift. He drives her to the house which she is telling is belonging to the family of her friend. The day later is still not back at home. She disappeared. And then the story began…
There are much more threads in this book than this single one and it’s keeping the attention (at least of me) until the end. And the end was surprising for me – it did finish in another way I thought it will be and also with other suspects than I thought. What is pretty good in my opinion. Or maybe I was not enough smart to find the answers out by myself ;)
It’s an interesting book, which is good to read if you want to don’t think about something else or just have some time and want to relax (if you may relax during reading such stories ;))
I already ordered 3 other books of Coben on the site of this action :)
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LibraryThing member phyllis.shepherd
Retired basketball player Myron Bolitar, now a sports and celebrity agent, promises two teenage girls that he will pick them up anywhere, any time, if they need a safe ride. When they call on him soon after, young Aimee, the daughter of a close friend, goes missing, and he is a prime suspect. He
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investigates, not only to clear his name, but also because the police consider her just a runaway. Show Less
LibraryThing member norinrad10
What a great character, what a great tale. Lots of twist and very riveting. Coben is always a treat, as he is a very skilled writer.
LibraryThing member shannon.dolgos
Harlan Coben didn't disappoint. I think this is one of my favorite Myron thrillers...lots of twists, turns, and is she or isn't she.
When a friend's daughter disappears after Myron drops her off a friend's house, only to later learn that the location wasn't her friend's house...Myron sets to make
When a friend's daughter disappears after Myron drops her off a friend's house, only to later learn that the location wasn't her friend's house...Myron sets to make
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things right, and find her before it's too late... Show Less
LibraryThing member Floratina
READ IN DUTCH
This was the first book I read written by Harlan Coben and the cover text promised it to be a very thrilling book. That fact and the very reasonable price (about 3 euros) made me decide to start reading Harlan Coben. I'm glad I did.
Meet Myron Bolitar. At a party he lets the daughter
I liked this book. The story is not very complicated and you can read it very fast. There aren't to many useless details. It is a good book to read when you are searching for a book that doesn't request lots of thinking. Nice to read during vacation or weekends though. It made me decide to read more books written by Harlan Coben.
This was the first book I read written by Harlan Coben and the cover text promised it to be a very thrilling book. That fact and the very reasonable price (about 3 euros) made me decide to start reading Harlan Coben. I'm glad I did.
Meet Myron Bolitar. At a party he lets the daughter
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of a friend promise him to never ever drink and drive. He says to her he will always come and drive her home if she wouldn't get home safily otherwise. Just a few weeks later she calls him and Myron gets out of bed to bring her home. The next day, she is missing and Myron is the last person to see her alive. He starts his own investigation. I liked this book. The story is not very complicated and you can read it very fast. There aren't to many useless details. It is a good book to read when you are searching for a book that doesn't request lots of thinking. Nice to read during vacation or weekends though. It made me decide to read more books written by Harlan Coben.
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LibraryThing member gypsysmom
I listened to this book as an electronic download from my library. I had never read any books by this author and I see him mentioned quite a lot so I thought this would be a good introduction. Is it just me or is Myron Bolitar like a male version of Stephanie Plum without the quirky behaviour?
The
I don't think I'll be rushing out to get any more Myron Bolitar books.
The
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daughter of a high school friend of Myron's disappears just after Myron dropped her off. Earlier another girl of the same age who went to the same school also disappeared. Both girls withdrew money from the same ATM in Manhattan just before their disappearances. That's about all that links them but Myron promises to track down his daughter's friend which means finding out what happened to the other girl.I don't think I'll be rushing out to get any more Myron Bolitar books.
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LibraryThing member joannalongbourne
Not the strongest book in the series, but I love the series regulars Myron, Esperanza and Win
LibraryThing member nicola26
Promise Me didn't live up to my expectations, but it wasn't a complete let down either. The plot was interesting enough to make me want to read more, but that's about it. It had far too many main characters (many of them very unlikable), too many suspects and too many conclusions. I really liked
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how it ended though- the ending definitely saved the whole book. Overall, I did like it, but it was very muddled and lacked structure. I'll be interested to read more from Coben, though. Show Less
LibraryThing member DavidMKelly
Full of implausible characters/situations and not much happens. I almost never stop reading a book before the end but I felt like it at several points while reading it.
Subjects
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
2006
Physical description
512 p.; 7.54 inches
ISBN
0451219244 / 9780451219244
Local notes
Myron Bolitar, No. 8