“'Long Lost' by Harlan Coben.” – Book Review.

By Bry Schulz

3 1/2 Stars:

There is a lot going on in the newest book by Harlan Coben called “Long Lost.” It’s easy to get sucked into the story from page one with Coben’s lead character, the sarcastic Myron Bolitar. Myron, an entertainment agent with a knack for picking fights, helps solve one hell of a mystery in this book.



In the beginning we find Myron beckoned to Paris by Terese, an old flame with impeccable timing. What appears to be a Euro-booty call is actually a ruse to get Myron to help her solve the murder of her ex-husband. Terese, a one time CNN anchor, gets in deep with Myron, in more ways than one. In trying to find answers to her ex-husband’s death, a major twist arises when DNA belonging to Terese's deceased daughter ends up at the crime scene.

Several times in this story Myron relies on his BFF, Win, to lend a hand in rescuing him from the trouble his sarcasm lands him. At times Myron's side kick steals the show entirely. By the end of the tale you're still guessing as to the origin of the dead daughter’s DNA.

After investigation by Homeland Security, Interpol, and the Mossad, the mystery appears unsolvable. However, Coben ties it all together revealing the DNA belonging to

(SPOILER)

a real live daughter Terese never knew she had. A terrorist cell who's hijacked embryos from a Chryo storage facility has been using surrogate mothers to create and raise white, American children to fool anyone suspecting them of terrorism.

(END SPOILER)

What started out as a simple tale about love lost winds up a thought provoking idea about our perception of how looks can be deceiving.



I knew that Coben had been writing a series of Myron Bolitar books for some time. “Long Lost” is actually book nine in the series. Never having read any of the previous eight I wondered if I might feel lost. I did not. Actually reading “Long Lost” made me very curious about the previous books and interested in reading more.

Myron is a silly character who seems real and relatable. He has real relationships and real problems with them. The character of Win is a little less believable but I could ignore that completely because he was fun. Win's preppy fashion sense and kung-fu fighting skills make him a very likeable character to follow.

The love interest in Terese was a bit sexual and obviously written from a man's point of view. But over all her explanation of her love for her deceased daughter would ring true for any mother. In the end, the relationship between her and Myron is left a little up in the air - a good opening for a possible 10th book perhaps?

And though the twists and turns kept me guessing a lot, I was never ready to give up on reading.



BYLINE:

Bry Schulz is a writer, photographer, and mother who really hates squash. Not necessarily the game but definitely the vegetable.