Tell No One: A Novel Mass Market Paperback – August 25, 2009

Very compelling read. He keeps you guessing until the end. I would read again. Shared with my family and friends.

This is my first novel I have read by Harlan Coben. Although it has been printed over 25 years ago, it just recently showed up on my books you may be interested list. This novel is fast piece, filled with mystery and suspense. The protagonist, David is a very likable young pediatric physician. In the very beginning of the book, we learn that David’s lifelong love, and Wife Elizabeth was murdered by a serial killer. Eight years later, in the present time, while working David receives a strange email with some information that only his late wife would know. This is the start of a roller coaster of emotions, leading him on a life changing week. After every strange piece of information he learns he seems to lean something even more perplexing. He questioned his sanity several times.I’m going to share some spoilers, lol but for others, I would highly recommend this to anyone who likes thrillers, suspense, mysteries, etc.SPOILER ALERT:David and Elizabeth have been nearly inseparable since they were seven years old. They had the kind of love that both their parents and friends always thought would not last, but yet it did. These two were clearly soulmates. My reason for knocking a star off the reading is simply because I feel things didn’t quite stay consistent throughout the book. For example, we learn later in the book that Elizabeth fled the country because she thinks her husband drowned, and the killers will seek her out in killer if she stays. Ok, that’s believable. However, at some point, she learns that her husband did not die, and eight years later, she decides to come back and send him cryptic messages to meet. Of course she has to do this believing the killers are monitoring her. my issue with this, is that when it appears it didn’t work and her husband, who has been grieving for the last eight years and never fully got over her, his life is now in utter ruins, as he’s facing a framed murder charge. He’s got killers chasing him and she’s willing to just leave to save herself? She even says those words. Self preservation. Those two people are not the same. A person that love someone that deeply does not act that way. Lastly, the very last page we learned that David is essentially the one that started the whole vendetta against the family by killing a man who rightly deserved to be killed. However, throughout the story, David can’t quite understand why these people are doing the things they are doing. Again, that doesn’t make sense. Maybe he wouldn’t know everything. But if you murdered a billionaire son. It shouldn’t take too much effort to think they may be after the person that did it.I realize the author probably wrote this way to add to the mystery, but it just doesn’t add up to me. All in all, it is still a good fast paced, and exciting read

A great read! So hard to put down! A good mystery that will make a great series too! Loved it!

In this mystery/thriller, Coben displays his storytelling talents as well as his character building skills. Is it a perfect novel? No. But it is certainly a great page turner with a strong romantic flavor.The reliable characters are not necessarily wearing cop uniforms. And one can sometimes count on bandits more than on cops; on family friends rather than on direct family.For Dr David Beck, who lost his wife eight years ago, it is impossible to start over. Perhaps because a sixth sense tells him something no one else wants to hear, that his wife may not be dead after all, that his obsession with her might not be ghastly or even ghostly. From then on, a new truth unravels and puts him in danger.This author is very agile with twists and turns, as well as with the handling of redemption when it comes to some characters with bendable ethics. Managed by less adroit writing, this could have easily become too heavy or religious, but Coben dodges most of this by using drama where drama is needed. This said, he might have handled one circumvolution too many in the end. The surprises that keep adding up at the very end, while deviant and exciting, make the plot a bit too baroque perhaps.His supporting characters are, in my view, stronger than the main ones. The lesbian couple—one member in particular—adds much spice to this novel. So does the sexist drug trafficker with a sick child who, ironically, is more helpful to the innocent than the police. The corrupt cop could inspire scorn, but he’s too powerful and complex a presence not to exhort pathos instead.There is much to say here about Cohen’s social and racial commentaries as well. But I’ll just add this: Cohen tells and he entertains, which is what a self-respecting novelist is supposed to do. Stimulate the reader’s brain, whether or not the reader is aware of it.This is my first Cohen experience, but I suspect it won’t be my last one.

This was a nice mystery/thriller with a steady pace that held my attention throughout. Dr. Beck, after losing his wife, and eight years later, receiving an email that could have only been sent by her, is on a mission to prove she's alive, and find out what happened eight years ago when she was murdered.