Tell No One Reviews

• Be careful with Harlan Coben...

  
  By A1TWTULVD6F22O on 2001-08-26
  If you are a fan of his prior series' featuring the sports hero Myron Bolitar, you will probably like this book, but be a little wistful at some of the missing elements as he changes genre. Bolitar is the hero of 7 prior novels that fall in the "Comic Mystery Thriller" category populated by Lawrence Sanders, Lawrence Block and Janet Evanovich. Characterizations in the Bolitar books are so over the top that they make you giggle, even as you are consumed in a pace so fast that you finish the book without taking time to get a snack. Conversation is witty and cynical and you wonder if the author was a stand up comedian in a prior life. When looking for a beach book or just a great read to get over the rest of the stress, Coben is a hero to most.

  So, "Tell No One" is a big departure, and only Shauna, Tyrese & Eric Wu, supporting characters in the story, will remind you that this is Coben. If you loved "Tell No One", be prepared that you may find Coben's earlier books too light for your taste, if you believe a thriller is a thriller and any comic touches are just wasted words.

  Only 2 things hold "Tell No One" back from a five star rating. Coben's hero, his weaving of a tale of romance and familial loyalty, his pace and his ability to leave you guessing as his plot twists and turns are terrific! His cops are believable and admirable and his hero spins in every direction when discovering how easily he has been duped about the murder of his wife and how he has incredibly passed 8 years since her murder in absolute ignorance.

  The 2 things: The final unveiling of the murderer was one twist too many...we could have left the tale much more enthusiastically without it. And, the dust jacket is horrific and looks as though a middle school child covered his English text in something his mom brought home. Small things. Tell No One might be the most exciting book you read this year!
  
  

• A psychological thriller that packs a punch.

  
  By A3HTKV1AW14EDB on 2002-04-16
  Dr. David Beck lost the love of his life eight years ago. The story of her death is so gruesome he can't bear to think about it. Elizabeth was the love of his life; they were two halves of a whole. So how can he explain the e-mail that appears so mysteriously on their anniversary, mentioning things that only they would know?

  This is only the beginning of a novel that reads like the twists and turns of a mountain highway. When I became ensconced comfortably in a plausible scenario, honestly believing I had finally figured things out, the author ripped the rug out from under my feet and hit me with the finale. I still shake my head at the outcome.
  
  This books reads so fast you hardly have time to hold the pages as they breeze by. When I was away from it I couldn't wait to get back to it. I had been in a reading slump until I picked up this unexpected pleasure. Coben slams the story home with believable characters and a plot that speaks to everyone who enjoys a good thriller. An Excellent book. Kelsana 4/16/02
  
  

• Tell Everyone...This Book Is Awesome

  
  By A1Q329PGKOGLDD on 2001-06-20
  Just when you thoughts Harlan Coben couldn't get any better, he does. He continues his literary magic with this truly phenominal book.

  Coben, the mastermind behind the excellent Myron Bolitar mystery series, puts forth an amazing effort in TELL NO ONE. Meet Dr. David Beck, a loyal, caring doctor who lost his wife whom he has loved since the second grade, but manages to carry on. Left for dead himself, his wife, Elizabeth, is positively identified for dead as another victim of a serial killer. Eight years later, he receives an anonymous e-mail on the anniversary of their first kiss, leading him to believe that she may somehow still be alive. The twists and turns are a plentiful, and the adventure is one of non-stop excitement.

  Coben brings together a wonderful group of characters that all blend together incredibly nicely. From the drug-dealing yet good-hearted father, Tyrese, to special agent, Nick Carlson, this super cast of characters is so well-developed, you can't help but thoroughly enjoy this book. There are even a few familiar names from the Myron Bolitar series, but you'll have to read the book to find out.

  Overall, this novel is nothing less than spectacular. Coben's unique, yet thorough writing style shines ever so brightly in TELL NO ONE. The cogent storyline is well-developed, and the nerve-shattering suspense is outstanding, keeping you guessing until the unbelievable, surprise ending. It will not let you down.
  
  

• Tell Everyone To Skip This Book

  
  By A283S79R52LU0I on 2002-03-31
  I'm sure I've read worse books than Harlan Coben's "Tell No One", but at the moment, I'm hard-pressed to think of one. James Patterson's "When the Wind Blows" is certainly in the running. "Tell No One" is about a thirty-ish New York pediatrician whose wife had ostensibly been murdered,eight years before, by a serial killer while the childhood sweethearts were frolicking at his grandfather's abandoned summer camp. Suddenly the good doctor begins receiving e-mails from his presumably dead wife containing information only the two of them could have known. So far, so good.Coben has us genuinely intrigued and engrossed in this "Diabolique"-like scenario. From this exposition the book goes downhill, as a convoluted, far-fetched plot shot through with holes confusingly weaves through enough layers of ruling class corruption, cover-ups, deceptions and "surprises" to suffice for a dozen potboilers of this ilk. Unfortunately, Coben's writing "style"-to use the word advisably- is all too well-suited to this at time laughably implausible yarn. Aside from his confusing switching from first to third person, to say Coben's prose is as spare as it is pedestrian is like observing that Al Roker could stand to lose a pound or two. Now, there's nothing wrong with bare-bones prose when utilized by a master such as Hemingway, for whom less was more. Sadly,in Coben's case less is even lesser. This third-rate prose style is further sabotaged by the author's relentless penchant for shopworn cliches and similes and metaphors so egregious that even the likes of Mickey Spillane wouldn't think twice about blue-penciling them.Thus, we are treated for lines like "His pounding heart was like a bird desperately trying to escape from a cage.", or "the shocking realization hit him like a falling piano." Plot contrivances abound, along with the de rigeur stock characters infesting this genre: the politically correct creation of characters such as the lesbian couple raising a child(the doctor's sister is gay), and our hero's tough, felonious, yet supportive and protective Afro-American drug dealer allies -really a patronizing, modern update on the "noble savage". As "Tell No One" tripped, stumbled and fell toward its predictable climax,I was already envisioning the mediocre, yet unreasonably profitable film that will no doubt ensue from this dismal fare. Don't fail to miss it!
  
  

• Entertainment Plus

  
  By AXW1O6Q92XF0Z on 2001-07-19
  David Beck thought his wife was murdered eight years ago, the victim of a serial killer. Then an anonymous email arrives which suggests that, just possibly, she's still alive. To add to the intrigue, the murder case is reopened and Beck is now the FBI's main suspect. The action takes off when Beck becomes a fugitive and is not only pursued by the police, but also by a bunch of thugs intent on silencing him for good - and how on earth do those blokes come into it?. All the while, he tries to meet up with the mystery correspondent, not an easy task when it seems his every move is monitored.

  I found this to be one of those books that seems a lot shorter than it actually is because the action is non-stop, you barely have time to get over one near miss when you're confronted with some other danger or a new piece of the puzzle is put into place. It's a compelling book thanks to the mystery surrounding the death of Elizabeth Back, wife of David Beck. This was one of the more enjoyable books I've read this year and rate it very highly purely on its ability to entertain.
  
  

• Harlan Coben's Fulfilling Stretch
  By A5HVPX1ETWWIV on 2001-07-01
  As a mystery writer with my first novel in its initial release, I have noticed that Harlan Coben has had a mighty high profile at every recent mystery convention I have participated in as an author. He has been guest honor, toastmaster, charity auctioneer, and participant on the most popular author panels. His recnt work, TELL NO ONE, perfectly illustrates the reason for this fine author's enormous popularity. TELL NO ONE, a stand-alone thriller, involves a man named David Beck who has rebuilt his life following the murder of his wife, who also happened to be his childhood sweetheart. As David continues to attempt to move on from his great personal tragedy, suggestions arise that unanswered questions involving his wife's death can still be answered. David sets out to answer those questions in this most fulfilling thriller. TELL NO ONE is a great book, and Harlan Coben proves his literary range stretches far beyond his popular series set-up. I recommend this book heartily.
  
  
• A SLAM BANG THRILLER
  By AW1D6P2T7TF4 on 2001-06-20
  It has been eight horrible years that Dr. David Beck has had to live with the memory of what happened to his wife.

  What was supposed to be a romantic anniversary getaway at a family vacation spot turns into a nightmare as David's wife Elizabeth disappears...only to be found later - DEAD, the victim of serial killer KillRoy.

  As David struggles to get on with his life, he can't help but hope that his wife is still alive, even though KillRoy has confessed to the killing, and her body has been found and identified. But day after day he thinks of her, and hopes. Until one day he receives a email...one that uses a code only he and his wife knew about. Opening the email will plunge David into the heart of terror, as the message contains a strange link that features a video feed of his wife - present day - mouthing the words "I'm sorry"!

  Sickened by what he just saw, David wants to dismiss this a nasty joke, but the email gives specific instructions about the future messages he will receive, and if he wants to see his wife again, he better TELL NO ONE.

  Desperate to find out what is going on, especially if there is a chance of Elizabeth being alive, David enters into a deadly game where someone will kill to keep their secrets safe.

  'Tell No One' is a slam bang page-turner that grabs hold on the first page and doesn't let go until the shocking climax. With it's well drawn characters, unbearable suspense, and stunning plot twists 'Tell No One' gives readers a night of non-stop action.

  Harlan Coben has written many great novels, but none as good as this one. His new novel has surpassed all expectations, and pushes him to a new level, one that ranks with John Sandford, and James Patterson.

  Destined to be a huge bestseller, and a must read beach book 'Tell No One' ranks as one of the better thrillers to come out in some time.

  A MUST read!

  Nick Gonnella
  
  

• A EDGE-OF-YOUR-SEAT SUSPENSE THRILLER!
  By A3SN9EF7GTNEU2 on 2001-06-20
  While some editorial reviews proclaim this book is not up to par with Coben's other literary works, I found it to be far superior to his previous books. With well-developed, realistic characters and lots of action, this book contains an element of similarity to the Alex Cross novels of James Patterson. Although "Tell No One" is perhaps not quite as spectatcular in comparison, it comes close and is certainly worth reading.

  David Beck marries his childhood sweetheart, Elizabeth Parker. Elizabeth is believed to be kidnapped and killed by a serial murderer known as, "Kill Roy." But...is this really what happened? Beck starts receiving e-mails, supposedly from Elizabeth. Is Elizabeth really alive or is this the evil madness of a demented mind? The police attempt to pin the murder on Beck, himself, while a group with more sinister motives tries to frame Beck for the murder of Elizabeth. What really happened? The answers lie in the bold conclusiion. The chilling plot is full of twists and turns that holds the reader's attention from start to finish. While Coben lacks the pragmatic writing style of Patterson, the author's unique mode of psychological suspense makes the book a capricious thriller you will not want to put down until the final page has been read.
  
  

• His best work yet-brilliant storyelling
  By AFVQZQ8PW0L on 2001-06-19
  David and Elizabeth Beck are married just a few months, but have been in love since the second grade. The newlyweds revisit their old stomping grounds near Lake Charmaine, Pennsylvania. They go swimming at night together, but their joy turns to horror as Elizabeth begins screaming. David goes help his soul mate, but someone clubs him with a baseball bat. Later, the police find a corpse that Elizabeth's dad identifies the body as that of his daughter while David physically recovers in a hospital. Serial killer KillRoy left his trademark on the body.

  Eight years later and now a pediatrician, David works at a Washington Heights clinic when he receives a strange e-mail with a hyperlink. He clicks on the link only to see Elizabeth appear on the monitor. However, before he can follow up, the FBI focuses on David as the killer of Elizabeth and two other men murdered on the property that day when his wife allegedly died. Someone else also observes David closely. A person with resources who wants vengeance on the individual who murdered his son. This billionaire knows the Becks are somehow involved.

  Without any doubt, TELL NO ONE is Harlan Coben's best work to date. This breathtaking thriller starts at a rapid pace and accelerates even faster than the speed of light. The tale is loaded with numerous shocking twists and unreal turns that Mr. Coben makes believable. Thus, the audience feels compelled to keep on reading until the finale in order to learn what really happened back then and why.

  Harriet Klausner
  
  

• TELL EVERYONE
  By A3DE9GQDO6O6D1 on 2001-12-02
  Harlan Coben, the author known for his series about the sports agent Myron Bolitar, has crafted a fine thriller in his book Tell No One. In this stand alone title, Coben takes his readers on the ride of a lifetime. From the first page till the last, my heart raced and I found myself staying up late at night to finish this book.

  David Beck, once married to Elizabeth, has finally rebuilt his life since the kidnapping, disappearance and assumed death of his beloved wife several years before. Now, a respected doctor with a practice in New York City, David finds himself experiencing some very strange events which lead him to wonder if Elizabeth could still be alive. First, an e mail arrives with information known only to the two of them, then two bodies are found on property owned by the Beck family which may have been involved in the kidnapping, and finally an image appears on a web camsite which looks suprisingly just like Elizabeth. With fury and determination, Beck begins to investiage Elizabeth's kidnapping and what has happened in the intervening years. Along the way Becks efforts are thwarted by a billionaire who may or may not be involved, the father of one of his patients who uses his street smarts to help out and a cast of other characters who are quite memorable.

  The pace is fast, the book becomes wet from holding it too hard with perspiring hands and you most liely will might find yourself holding your breath as the book moves along to a startling conclusion. But readers need to be warned to slow down a bit for the last 50 pages as the plot and action moves quickly fronm page to page with complicated and somewhat convoluted twists and turns.

  I thoroughly enjoyed this book and instead of Telling No One I tell everyone to read this book. This may have been my first Harlan Coben book but it certainly won't be the only book of his I plan on reading.
  
  

• This Guy's Good!
  By A1CHM200OEN65X on 2003-02-19
  After reading "Gone for Good," I was certain Coben knew how to tell a riveting, tightly-twisting tale. Now, having gone backwards chronologically to read "Tell No One," I'm convinced...This guy's good!

  "Tell No One" cranks up the adrenaline levels, but never forgets that it's dealing with real people. We follow Dr. David Beck's attempts to uncover the truth of his wife's murder eight years previous. Out of the blue, Beck is receiving emails that imply Elizabeth is actually alive. The more he tries to figure things out, the more deadly the game becomes, the more shady each character's actions seem. Coben's secret is that he makes us care about these characters. The resulting suspense is more than cheap Hollywood thrills; it's unabashed concern--gulp, even emotion--for this story of love and terror and redemption.

  As usual, Coben doesn't let us relax too much. He not only keeps the humor and social insights coming, he twists us around with one plot twist after another. He may use larger than life villians to add a sense of danger, but he uses very real, normal protagonists to drive the story--and these very real, normal people do very real, not so normal things. Almost everyone has a secret to hide, and the reader has the pleasure of watching the story unfold.

  Once again, Harlan Coben shows his stuff. In the end, we are left with a deeply satisfying tale that ticks with the precision of a Swiss timepiece, yet continues to beat with the heart of its characters.
  
  

• Want to read a brilliant fast-paced novel? Tell No One.
  By A6SJ7B5N8VQNP on 2002-06-17
  Dr. David Beck survived that horrible night eight years ago. The same night his wife was abducted and he was left for dead. The same night he looked upon the face of his beautiful wife for the last time. Everyone tells him to begin his life again in order to erase the heartbreaking memories of the past but for Dr.Beck this is an impossible task.
  A message appears on his computer with a phrase that only his dead wife would know. Is Elizabeth alive? Beck as been warned to tell no one. He flees from those he trusts and dives deeper and deeper into a pool filtered with a deadly secret.
  The author carries his reader along with the finesse of a circus clown dangling candy before a crowd of children. I could not turn the pages quickly enough while adhered to my seat. This story was well written and flowed like a river to the very last sentence. As soon as I read the final page, I closed the book, sighed with a smile, and then took my patient puppies out for a walk. I look forward with much anticipation to reading another acclaimed novel by Harlan Coben.
  
  
• My advice: read it twice!
  By A21EUSQ51A4PYP on 2001-07-24
  When you find the love of your life, it's hard to let go, even after the loved one dies. David Beck, the protagonist of "Tell No One", has continued to carry a torch for his long lost wife, Elizabeth, who died eight years before. When he receives a mysterious e-mail that couldn't have come from anyone but her, Beck goes on what can only be described as a wild goose chase--only, there are people who don't want the truth to be discovered, and they'll kill to keep it buried.

  This book is a refreshing change from the Anne Rices, John LeCarres and James Micheners of the contemporary literary world: the narration--when in first person--is simple, conversational and easy to understand, without being "dumbed down" or compromising the plot. The characters themselves are also realistic and believable--I love Beck's sister and her partner, as well as the thug with a heart of gold, Tyrese. The ending is a crisp slap in the face. "Tell No One" demands a second reading--reading it again allows you to see all the clues that clearly point to the outcome, even if you don't see them the first time around.

  "Tell No One" isn't without a snag, however. The jumping from first to third person narration becomes annoying, and often breaks up the flow of the plot. Of course, this could be a tactic to further confound the reader and keep him/her off the trail; I found myself re-reading some chapters just so I could remember what was going on the last time Beck spoke.

  Other than that, it's a book that's difficult to put down. Die hard fans of a good mystery will not be disappointed, and the plot twists will leave you scratching your head happily. I hope there's a sequel.
  
  

• Superb thriller and page turner
  By A109E01LB4H38F on 2001-06-25
  Mr. Coben outdid himself this time! This novel had more twists and turns than a mountain road. Before you even read the first page, you might as well resign yourself to the fact that you won't move until you finish it.

  I was somewhat disappointed to find that Mr. Coben's book was not about Myron Bolitar as I had become very fond of him. Tell No One, however, is Mr. Coben's best story yet. Halfway through this book, I was asking, "Myron Who?"

  Imagine having your wife be your best friend since the age of seven and after a few months of marriage, she is dead. Eight years later you are still mourning her death only to find that she might not really be dead. Everywhere you turn to discover the truth, you are met with roadblocks and dishonesty. Nothing is what is seems and no one is who you thought they were. Friends aren't necessarily and help comes from the oddest places. The plot is so interwoven that you really need to read it with little or no knowledge just so you can enjoy the ride, and it is quite a ride - right up to the last page. The character development is outstanding. This is a book where you really have feelings about all of the characters - maybe not all are favorable, but feelings, nonetheless.

  Anyone who enjoys a fast-paced mystery filled with intrigue and surprise must read Tell No One. If you haven't read any of Coben's other books, you might even want to spend the rest of the summer with them. You won't be disappointed and you certainly won't be bored. I will be waiting with great anticipation for his next book.
  
  

• Someone please help
  By A1PNN81AD5HX20 on 2004-08-18
  Someone please help me...has anyone read a good book in the past year? Like The Gold Coast or Charm School or even The Corrections or even The Firm? Where are all the storytellers? Where are the pageturners?
  
  This is what we're left with, Harlan Coben? An author so bad the publisher has to resort to using bright neon colors to sell the books? I only finished this book just in case Harlan could salvage it in the last few pages--alas, it was worse than I expected.
  
  Bottom line--it sucks. First--Coben jars the reader every other chapter by switching points of view from first person to third, back to first, first again, and then third and I think at one point there was even a fourth person point of view thrown in to keep the reader confused. I'm surprised the dog wasn't given a few pages for his viewpoint, which would've been at least midly humerous. Second- the characters in the book were sooooo idiotic and overdone...can we have some original characters again? A doctor that could be the best doctor on the planet but instead helps inner city youth . ..now I really, really, really like him . . . blah, blah, blah . . . and a lesbian sister and a lesbian (I think) woman attorney named Hester? Hester is almost as ridiculous a name as Harlan. Third--the plot is so over the top and ridiculous and confusing that I'm still not sure what happened or if anything happened.
  
  This was not an enjoyable book. Don't buy it. I won't buy any other Harlan Coben novels again. I read this book recently called Manhunter because I liked the cover at B&N and it was actually pretty good. Try that one. And someone let me know where are all the writers?
  
  
• This Book is a Loser
  By on 2001-08-07
  I read the other negative reviews by ... posters, and I wholeheartedly agree with all of them. Harlan Coben's writing is surprisingly immature and amateur-ish, the characters are hollow, and the plot is very weak. I could not find one character in the book whom I cared about. It's not that they're all bad or depraved; it's that the author did not seem to have the time nor the talent to turn his characters into real, multi-dimensional people. This book is flat, all the way through. I strongly disliked this book, and for some reason, I was left also strongly disliking the author.
  
  
• Exciting, fast paced read
  By A2RZ9O4PSL16V4 on 2002-03-14
  I really enjoyed this book, I found that I could not put it down. It is a great story, something exciting going on chapter to chapter. I have never read any of Mr.Coben's books before, but this one had such great reviews, I thought I would try it. Well, I loved it. I have spent all afternoon reading it,ignoring my housework, the phone and the doorbell.(Thank goodness for caller I.D.!)
  Anyway, if you want an exciting thrill ride, read this book, although I do have one small complaint. At the end there is something that I think needed a little more explanation. But it doesn't really take anything away from the book as a whole, so enjoy!
  
  
• Set your daily routine aside for this one!
  By A1237ROTM7659 on 2001-06-26
  I feel that it is a mistake to compare this, the latest of Harlen Coben's books, to his suberb series starring Myron Bolitar. They are two separate and distinct entities and should be viewed as such. This novel is excellent in its content, characters and plot. Coben builds a fascinating, gripping story from page one and episode upon episode keeps us turning pages and striving to unravel the mystery of Elizabeth! The roads he leads us on are winding and treacherous and my mind would not rest until the last page. What an excellent display of artistic talent and how marvelous that Coben can stretch that talent to give us yet another marvelous read. Unlike many mysteries that are solved speedily in the last chapter and leave me thouroughly disappointed - I found that the clues were there for me to solve along with the writer. I liked how the title "Tell No One" was repeated in the novel but not in the same words. Look for them when you read. How subtle and intriguing! Of course, it was not easy at all to solve, but the fun was in the many times I changed my mind as to what was happening...and the fact that I was shocked and amazed at how it all turns out. So actually, I never solved it but had fun trying!I wish I could hand Coben a bouquet of flowers for his courage in following his muse and venturing forth on this new tack to his writing....and for succeeding in giving us this gem of a novel. I waited patiently for this book as the author had told me in an e-mail that this would be a 'stand alone' novel. Harlan, it was well worth the wait.Thank you!
  
  
• Terrible writer
  By AL5N55UR11Z3M on 2001-08-30
  I couldn't finish the book. The writing, I am not talking about the story yet, is what you might expect from a High School freshman. It is clumsy, predictable, and has little imagination. The writer also tries to save himself by having quirky charcters yet ruins it by giving them traits from a typical sitcom. The story is not much better although the idea could taken off with a interesting writer. Here is one writer who tries to follow all the formulas for writing a mystery but without any of the talent that makes a story a good ride.
  
  
• Not worth reading
  By A16W9E27VW9IND on 2002-06-29
  Dr Beck, a physician, witness the kidnapping and subsequent dissapearance of his wife during a romantic date in a secluded place called Lake Chermaine. This is the place where they kissed for the first time and hides secrets that only both of them know. Eight years later, Dr Beck gets an e-mail with an indication that his wife may still be alive and the story begins to unfold

  Though this book could be placed into the mystery and thriller genre I can affirm that it is only an attempt to make a tedious plot that was incredibly poorly written to the point that can be read like the technical specification of a piece of machinery

  Except Beck, most of the characters were poorly created and developed, that is, what many readers wittily call cardboard made, the thugs looked pitiful, so at one point I wanted to call it quits but made an effort and went all the way to the end. By the way, this book took me almost two months to read, certainly engrossing,...isn't it ?

  At the ending, the author takes a chance to finish this flop not elaborating something out of a bright idea but instead deceiving the readers making them think that are being lead to the best throughout cunning twist and turns when in fact what he does is to play asinine games with his already feeble characters

  Dissapointing, and as I did one more time like many others, I ended with a sleazy book in my hands deluded by helpful five stars reviews and a four star average, falling again in a trap

  So.., watch out !!!
  
  

• I just don't get it....
  By on 2003-05-24
  

  I've read better fiction in my freshmen creative writing class. At least, the students have been exposed to the elements of a good story.

  Every one of Coben's characters in this book are one-dimensional. The good guys are very, very good and the bad guys are truly evil. The hero is a doctor who loves practicing in the inner city, marries his high school sweetheart, and has a lesbian sister. His wife disappears and is found dead three days later with the letter "K" branded on her face.

  Fast forward 8 years. The hero receives a startling email that leads him to a webcam where his back-from-the-dead wife silently mouths the words "I'm sorry" and then disappears. Our hero will stop at nothing to find her. I kept wishing he would so the book would end.

  The bad guy is a billionaire with more tentacles than an army of octopi. Oh yeah, the bad guy hires hit men who break concrete blocks with their hands and kill their victim by thrusting their bare hands into their innards. *Yawn.*

  I'm not sure if Coben thinks his choppy non-sentences are clever or if he uses them to fill in the huge gaps between important thoughts, but they don't work; not even in a tongue-in-cheek way.

  What bothers me more than the author's bad writing/plot/characters is that lot of talented writers can't find a publisher, while this hack continues to churn out tripe like TELL NO ONE.

  If you like to read and have some time to kill, help me grade my freshman class' essays. They're better than this. Trust me.
  
  

• I Didn't Rush Out To Tell Anyone about "Tell No One"
  By A2I7ZAB04Q0DML on 2003-10-31
  Let me begin by saying that I am not a major fan of suspense-thriller novels, so I read this book after my wife walked away from it feeling confused and disappointed. I was intrigued by the fragments of the story she shared with me, and so I picked it up and gave it a read.

  The novel, "Tell No One" by Harlan Coben, is a somewhat dis-jointed novel about a husband who loses his wife while on a getaway with her at a family cabin. He is attacked and left for dead, and when he recovers, he discovers his wife is taken.

  Eight years later, having long believed that his wife is dead, he receives a strange Email that suggests that she is anything but. Before long, the story delves into a tale of deceit, murder, corruption which ultimately leads the husband into a world that put his life in great peril.

  Sounds like fun, doesn't it?

  It is, but the novel, written partially in the first person, partially in the third, reads more like a screenplay than a novel. The characters are shallow, with little or no development which often leaves the reader feeling indifferent about the situations they are placed in. Coben's ability to depict some of the graphic acts taken on various characters throughout the novel read more like a "how-to" manual than descriptive narrative, leaving the reader feeling grossed out and unsettled (which may be the desired effect), but his inability to translate that method of storytelling to the thoughts and motivations of his characters again leave the reader feeling unsympathetic to the plight of the victims.

  To his credit, this story moves quickly, and does not drone on with the exposition so many writers of this genre employ, placing and presenting background for the situations and events in a way that can often bore the reader, or be insulting to their intelligence, but I think this novel could have used a little character expositon to give them depth and belivability.

  For those looking for an incredible, unbelievable story that they can escape into for a few hours, this novel is probably for you. However, do not expect it to be a great literary work-its not. Its very predictable, relying on graphic violence to fill the void of genuine suspense. If you are looking for a more intense novel in this genre, try Thomas Harris's "Lecter" novels. They hit the mark far more solidly than this effort.

  Scott Kolecki
  
  

• Books like this used to be a mystery to me
  By on 2001-07-14
  My literary tastes have always run very far from this type of fare. I'm usually in search of things with more weight and substance. But when I was suddenly in desperate need for my one and only beach read, I instinctively went with "Tell No One" and I had a blast. I tore through it in a day. I agree with some that there are conveniences, stilted characters, occasionally terrible dialogue,(and hold onto your brain while you try to accept the endless loopy end). No matter what the shortcomings, ingesting this one is like going to see a blockbuster summer thriller movie. You go for the popcorn and the ride. Ain't no Oscars within miles, you know? Surprisingly, there is genuine emotion on display here. I was moved when...oh..we don't want to give things away. Not being a fan of this kind of fiction, this was a guilty pleasure. It was like sneaking a Krispy Kreme. You know it's not good for you, but man it feels good going down. Desserts usually don't satisfy and you usually have that craving all over again hours later...but I'm gonna give this a thumbs up just for the fun writing. This guy had a great time and undoubtedly had the loving support of loved ones doing this. It's clear he took a risk, so let us encourage literary bravery. This will sell by the truckloads. Word of mouth will get it there. Can smell a NY Times bestseller. Expect little gang...enjoy what you can. Isn't that what life is all about?
  
  
• CHEAP, dime store novel
  By on 2002-03-21
  This is the most stupid, unbelievable, shot full of holes BS I've ever read. I can't even bring myself to write a
  review it's that worthless. The characters are all extremists (the baddest of the bad and good goodiest). They are
  unbelievably lame. I've read most all of Coben's Myron Bolitar novels and thought they were pretty good. They
  did start to get old tho. But this Tell No One stinks. It's cheap. Sorry, like I said it's not even worth a review. So
  I guess I'll just place my star vote and shutup.
  
  
• Reads fast, lucky for its sake
  By A2W1WXVSXOGEL0 on 2002-04-15
  A very fast paced novel, and thankfully because as you think about the crimes that were supposedly committed and subsequently investigated by police and then closed - you laugh outloud at the unreality of it. These Keystone Kops couldn't find a matzoh in Brooklyn. It was reduced to comic book "take it on face value" logic, more for Hollywood then for serious writers who should have the time and space to develop realistic plots and situations. One example is the bad guy's invincible omniscience handed to him by literally bugging every house, phone line and computer in Christendom, for years on end no less. Maybe if the victim cleaned his house once in 8 years he could find these bugs in every pore of his living space. I was laughing too hard or I would have helped him.

  The story gets too ponderous to believe, by the time you realize the plot is as leaky as an Enron tax return, you're sucked in and you owe it to yourself to finish. Don't expect to be enchanted and mystified with the ending, it's not Tom Cruise and Penelope Cruz in climax but more like Archie and Edith Bunker.

  So if you can check your intellect at the door, sit down with the Easter Bunny, Santa Claus and Spiderman, you'll have a fast pace read, that even is so bold as to pit a black drug dealer against a billionaire businessmen's own personal Odd Job. Maybe Hollywood will make it more believable?
  
  

• Tell No One Who Reads Good Books
  By A256SOT8H7EW2Y on 2002-08-12
  A decent junk food read, I suppose, although most of it was half-baked. The ending annoyed me, as did most of the characterizations and the implausibility of major parts of the plot. Regarding the characters and the author's mini-dissertations throughout: Was the author trying to be PC and instructive rather than horribly condescending? My ambivalence toward the book was there from start to finish--I did turn the pages to see what happened, and then I felt manipulated and disappointed.
  
  
• Best Mystery Book Available
  By A3IA9K9CEM8TYJ on 2001-06-27
  Harlan Coben is pure genius when it comes to writing novels. TELL NO ONE leaves nothing to be desired. This is, by far, the best mystery book out there right now.

  Dr. David Beck gets an e-mail from his wife who has been dead for 8 years, and he is now sent on one remarkable ride, meeting up with several interesting characters. Coben intertwines them so perfectly with a nice, faced-paced, easy-flowing storyline, you cannot help but enjoy this book.

  TELL NO ONE keeps you on the edge of your seat throughout the entire whodunnit book. This book is amazing. I would give it more than 5 stars if I could. This is a MUST READ. It will not dissappoint.
  
  

• Entertainment with Style
  By A34P5UK7OTCRG9 on 2001-07-03
  I don't get it. After just finishing this read, I'm amazed that this author isn't enjoying the notoriety of say a Crighton, Deaver, or Follett. Albeit, I haven't read his earlier serial Bolitar novels yet. But if there is any similarity to this David Beck thriller to those early works, the public is being cheated by not knowing about Harlan Coben. "Tell No One" has a splendid, well thought out and crafted plot surpassed only perhaps by Coben's crystal clear style of moving the story from a gut wrenching intro to a delicious conclusion. There's very little drag in the 330 plus pages but plenty of hot spots with intense action, intrigue and suspense. All developed nicely into good entertainment.
  
  
• Best Book Of 2001
  By A3DJ7AG4C81LI1 on 2001-07-22
  Harlan Coben has done it again. Hot off the Myron Bolitar mystery series, which I would HIGHLY recommend to everyone, Coben introduces us to Dr. David Beck. Eight years after his wife is identified as a murder victim of a serial killer, he receives an e-mail that has to be from her. Throw in a crooked aristocrat with some heavy muscle, a lesbian love affair, out-of-sync police officers, and a trying-to-do-right-by-his-son drug dealer, and you have an amazing read. TELL NO ONE is the best book that I have read in the last five years. Get this book, and you will not put it down until the surprise ending. Another solid effort from Harlan Coben.
  
  
• A Perfect Summer Thriller!
  By A16VEKEC31TG8I on 2001-08-11
  Coben has written an absorbing and engrossing page turner. He instantly captures the reader's interest on the first page , and clamps down, never letting go.

  Dr. David Beck and his wife Elizabeth, while on a romantic getaway soon find themselves in a nightmare. Out for a evening swim, David hears his wife scream, then disappear as he tries to reach her. Eight years later, he receives mysterious e-mail messages from her.

  Although "Tell no one" can be somewhat predictible, and unrealistic, the book is an enjoyable read. It's the perfect book to throw into your straw bag with a bottle of snapple lemonade, and head for the nearest beach, or shade tree.

  "Tell No One" is a quick thrill, and a fast paced reading adventure. I'm telling everyone to pick up Coben's latest.
  
  

• Gone for Good
• The Final Detail (Myron Bolitar)
• Darkest Fear (Myron Bolitar)
• No Second Chance
• One False Move (Myron Bolitar)