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Run Away
Goodreads Choice Award
Nominee for Readers' Favorite Mystery & Thriller (2019)YOUR DAUGHTER IS MISSING.
YOU'LL RISK ANYTHING TO FIND HER.
And then you see her, frightened and clearly in trouble.
You approach her, beg her to come home.
SHE RUNS.
You follow her into a dark, dangerous world where no-one is safe and murder is commonplace.
NOW IT'S YOUR LIFE ON THE LINE...
YOU'LL RISK ANYTHING TO FIND HER.
And then you see her, frightened and clearly in trouble.
You approach her, beg her to come home.
SHE RUNS.
You follow her into a dark, dangerous world where no-one is safe and murder is commonplace.
NOW IT'S YOUR LIFE ON THE LINE...
371 pages, Hardcover
First published April 2, 2019
About the author
Harlan Coben
166 books38.9k followersHarlan Coben is a #1 New York Times bestselling author and one of the world's leading storytellers. His suspense novels are published in forty-five languages and have been number one bestsellers in more than a dozen countries with seventy-five million books in print worldwide.
His books have earned the Edgar, Shamus, and Anthony Awards, and many have been developed into Netflix Original Drama series, including his adaptations of The Stranger, The Innocent, Gone for Good and The Woods. His most recent adaptation for Netflix, Stay Close, premiered on December 31, 2021 and stars Cush Jumbo, James Nesbitt, and Richard Armitage.
His books have earned the Edgar, Shamus, and Anthony Awards, and many have been developed into Netflix Original Drama series, including his adaptations of The Stranger, The Innocent, Gone for Good and The Woods. His most recent adaptation for Netflix, Stay Close, premiered on December 31, 2021 and stars Cush Jumbo, James Nesbitt, and Richard Armitage.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 6,160 reviews
March 19, 2019
“Question: Would you kill someone? Answer: No, of course not. Question: Would you kill someone to save your child? Answer…?”
Coben really knows how to balance thrills and character dynamics. I found it hard to put Run Away down.
Chelsea wrote a great review for this book. I think this is a story that will cut to the core of readers with kids. I found myself sympathizing so much with Simon Greene as he hunts for his missing daughter. His pain and fear felt so real, so visceral, that I was on the edge of my seat. It is a book that really affected me on an emotional level, as well as providing all the exciting thrills I seek out in this genre.
If you're new to Coben's work, I should point out that he's more of a traditional thriller writer. By this I mean he favours high-octane, high-stakes plots, as opposed to the quieter domestic thrillers that have become popular in recent years. I'm telling you this because I have seen a few comments about the plot being "unrealistic", and it definitely is more Die Hard than The Girl on the Train.
That being said, the relationships between the main players in this book made the story so tense and compelling for me. I cared so much about the characters. In this book, Simon Greene's daughter, Paige, is lost. At first, she is lost to drugs and a relationship that he suspects is abusive; then, later, her boyfriend is found dead and she is simply missing. Nowhere to be found. Did she kill her boyfriend and run? Or is the person responsible looking for Paige, now, too?
The plot thickens at every step. Simon discovers new bizarre threads of the mystery, snaking across the country and, perhaps, leading back many years to an old secret. I found myself questioning everyone. The more Simon uncovers, the more questions arise. Does his daughter have a dark secret? Did her boyfriend? Does his wife? I love how Coben hides all his clues in plain sight.
I also really enjoyed the nod to a current trend that is gaining popularity by the minute, and how this could easily be abused. I had wondered when an author was going to tap into concerns and fears surrounding this issue, and Coben does not go easy on us.
I don't know about you, but I found this extremely entertaining. Fast-paced, dramatic, with a side order of WTF.
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October 6, 2022
Simon's eyes stayed locked on the panhandling girl mangling John Lennon's legacy. Her hair was matted clumps. Her cheekbones were sunken. The girl was rail-thin, raggedy, dirty, damaged, homeless, lost. She was also Simon's daughter Paige."
Over the years, I've found myself moved on a deeply emotional level when I read stories about parents trying to save their wayward children. This is likely due to the fact I'm now a parent myself, and even though my kids are still young and dependent upon me for most everything, I still find myself getting lost in the "what ifs" that come with having another person's life being your responsibility. As children grow and become young adults themselves, at what age is the line drawn where they become dependent on themselves and cut out the middle man? And at what point, as a parent, are we supposed to step back and let our kids make their own mistakes vs. roaming the ends of the earth to save them from life-altering mishaps? These are some of the debates that Coben tackles in his latest thriller.
Don't get me wrong; when I use the term emotional I do not belittle the fact that Run Away is simultaneously a compulsive page turner and a rip-roaring adventure that delves deep in the underbelly of every form of seedy activity you can imagine going on in New York City. Due to Simon and his loved ones being a privileged white family living a more than comfortable life, it was interesting to see how the author picked apart the details of their privilege and how, at the end of the day, it did nothing to protect them from the nightmare they endured. Simon works as a financial advisor on Wall Street and his wife is a pediatrician in NYC as well, and their children grew up sheltered within that cocoon of wealth and providence.
As an avid reader of thrillers and mysteries, we all know it grows more and more difficult to find novels that keep us guessing and entertained for roughly 300-500 pages. The beauty of Coben's books, and what I think a significant number of debuts lack, is the simple aspect of writing characters who come alive off the page and matter to the reader. Once again, Run Away focuses more on drawing the reader in by becoming the conduit to connect reader to cast which results in a memorable read, much more memorable than putting all the proverbial eggs into the "wild, unimaginable twist". Don't get me wrong, there were a few good twists here, and one that I was so blindsided by that I had to reread a certain page THREE TIMES to make sure I was understanding correctly, but the details that have kept me picking up Harlan Coben novels for over a decade now are the deeply personal characters.
And this, my friends, is why Harlan Coben remains KING of the thriller.
*I received a review copy via the publisher.
Over the years, I've found myself moved on a deeply emotional level when I read stories about parents trying to save their wayward children. This is likely due to the fact I'm now a parent myself, and even though my kids are still young and dependent upon me for most everything, I still find myself getting lost in the "what ifs" that come with having another person's life being your responsibility. As children grow and become young adults themselves, at what age is the line drawn where they become dependent on themselves and cut out the middle man? And at what point, as a parent, are we supposed to step back and let our kids make their own mistakes vs. roaming the ends of the earth to save them from life-altering mishaps? These are some of the debates that Coben tackles in his latest thriller.
Don't get me wrong; when I use the term emotional I do not belittle the fact that Run Away is simultaneously a compulsive page turner and a rip-roaring adventure that delves deep in the underbelly of every form of seedy activity you can imagine going on in New York City. Due to Simon and his loved ones being a privileged white family living a more than comfortable life, it was interesting to see how the author picked apart the details of their privilege and how, at the end of the day, it did nothing to protect them from the nightmare they endured. Simon works as a financial advisor on Wall Street and his wife is a pediatrician in NYC as well, and their children grew up sheltered within that cocoon of wealth and providence.
As an avid reader of thrillers and mysteries, we all know it grows more and more difficult to find novels that keep us guessing and entertained for roughly 300-500 pages. The beauty of Coben's books, and what I think a significant number of debuts lack, is the simple aspect of writing characters who come alive off the page and matter to the reader. Once again, Run Away focuses more on drawing the reader in by becoming the conduit to connect reader to cast which results in a memorable read, much more memorable than putting all the proverbial eggs into the "wild, unimaginable twist". Don't get me wrong, there were a few good twists here, and one that I was so blindsided by that I had to reread a certain page THREE TIMES to make sure I was understanding correctly, but the details that have kept me picking up Harlan Coben novels for over a decade now are the deeply personal characters.
And this, my friends, is why Harlan Coben remains KING of the thriller.
*I received a review copy via the publisher.
January 23, 2023
The fathomless love of a parent is a mysterious tunnel, and nobody really knows where it leads. It is this sort of intimacy that Harlan Coben so searchingly explores in this novel.
<Run away grips. The author has sculpted a humbling monument to the power—and agony—of parenthood. His novel bleeds unspeakable tenderness, indescribable warmth, and a hard-won hope. There is a tightness in my chest still, as if all the shock and horror of the last few chapters of this book had strained my heart. Days later, I can still feel the tail end of that sweep of a parent’s love, radiant and enchanting and more than a little troubling. I suspect the feeling, this book, won't recede from memory for a while.
<Run away grips. The author has sculpted a humbling monument to the power—and agony—of parenthood. His novel bleeds unspeakable tenderness, indescribable warmth, and a hard-won hope. There is a tightness in my chest still, as if all the shock and horror of the last few chapters of this book had strained my heart. Days later, I can still feel the tail end of that sweep of a parent’s love, radiant and enchanting and more than a little troubling. I suspect the feeling, this book, won't recede from memory for a while.
March 21, 2019
Simon Greene and his wife Ingrid live a somewhat privileged middle class life, together with their 3 children Sam, Anya and Paige. The kids have had everything that wealth could throw at them, but while mum and dad were busy living their perfect lives, Paige has taken a wrong turning on life’s journey, and has fallen into a world of drugs, dealers, criminals and an abusive boyfriend. It’s a dark and dangerous world hidden from the circles which the Greene’s inhabit, but Simon and Ingrid are about to clash head on with a particularly vicious cast of characters, when Paige disappears, and it’s clear that she doesn’t want to be found.
This is Harlan Coben at his best - the master at work. The slick and entertaining narrative exposes family secrets of enormous proportions, and makes one question how much we really know those closest to us. Right from page one the action begins, with New York’s Central Park setting the scene. And it’s here that Simon discovers Paige busking, but she’s not in a good place, frail to the point of skeletal, she’s just a shadow of her former self. A fight ensues between Simon and Paige’s drug dealer boyfriend, after which Paige disappears again. Shortly afterward her boyfriend is found dead in what appears to be a particularly frenzied and bloody attack, but with both Simon and Paige under suspicion who really did it? In addition to the main storyline, there’s a sub plot that not only adds enormous interest, fear and tension, but produces a shocking conclusion.
The situation regarding Paige’s addiction mimic reality, with scenarios that will be played out in many ordinary homes across the world - the sheer desperation of parents who will do anything to get their child back from the clutches of drug addiction and the deviant world that comes with the territory, but for Simon and Ingrid it takes them head on into that territory into a terrifying world they’ve only ever seen in the movies.
Harlan Coben is renowned for his twisty plots, and it’s what contributes to his reputation as a master of his trade - So not unnaturally there were twists galore as we’ve come to expect, but just when I thought I was all twisted out, Coben does it again and pulls the mother of all twists!
*Thank you to Netgalley and Random House UK, Cornerstone for my ARC. I have given an honest unbiased review in exchange*
This is Harlan Coben at his best - the master at work. The slick and entertaining narrative exposes family secrets of enormous proportions, and makes one question how much we really know those closest to us. Right from page one the action begins, with New York’s Central Park setting the scene. And it’s here that Simon discovers Paige busking, but she’s not in a good place, frail to the point of skeletal, she’s just a shadow of her former self. A fight ensues between Simon and Paige’s drug dealer boyfriend, after which Paige disappears again. Shortly afterward her boyfriend is found dead in what appears to be a particularly frenzied and bloody attack, but with both Simon and Paige under suspicion who really did it? In addition to the main storyline, there’s a sub plot that not only adds enormous interest, fear and tension, but produces a shocking conclusion.
The situation regarding Paige’s addiction mimic reality, with scenarios that will be played out in many ordinary homes across the world - the sheer desperation of parents who will do anything to get their child back from the clutches of drug addiction and the deviant world that comes with the territory, but for Simon and Ingrid it takes them head on into that territory into a terrifying world they’ve only ever seen in the movies.
Harlan Coben is renowned for his twisty plots, and it’s what contributes to his reputation as a master of his trade - So not unnaturally there were twists galore as we’ve come to expect, but just when I thought I was all twisted out, Coben does it again and pulls the mother of all twists!
*Thank you to Netgalley and Random House UK, Cornerstone for my ARC. I have given an honest unbiased review in exchange*
March 18, 2019
4.5 stars
Wow. Wow. Wow! Harlan Coben, where have you been all of my life!?
“Murder was simple if you kept it simple.”
Run Away has all of the elements that I look for in a thriller: action, intrigue, danger, secrets and lies, twists and turns. It’s well-written, intricately plotted and kept me on my toes! Furthermore, there’s a creepy cult, quirky characters, and commentary on popular culture! Yes, it’s a little over the top, but who cares, because it works!
This is a must read for thriller fans!
Thank you to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Wow. Wow. Wow! Harlan Coben, where have you been all of my life!?
“Murder was simple if you kept it simple.”
Run Away has all of the elements that I look for in a thriller: action, intrigue, danger, secrets and lies, twists and turns. It’s well-written, intricately plotted and kept me on my toes! Furthermore, there’s a creepy cult, quirky characters, and commentary on popular culture! Yes, it’s a little over the top, but who cares, because it works!
This is a must read for thriller fans!
Thank you to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
July 30, 2023
5 full of action, breathtaking stars! I may have been reading Harlan Coben’s books for at least 10 years. Myron Bolitar’s series are always the light of my day. I enjoyed them so much. Maybe you find it like a cheesy slogan but when you start one of his books, you cannot stop!
You stay up all night till you finish and earn your restful sleep! ( actually that’s what happened to me over and over like living a dejavu)
When I’m reading a book, I usually imagine some actors who can act as that character. I always do it for Coben books because they’re written like fast paced action movies. ( this book may be considered as Taken meets Ben is Back) So I imagined Liam Neeson’s 15 year old younger version as Simon and Robin Wright’s 10 years younger version as Ingrid . When you read the book, you’ll understand why I matched these characters with those actors. ( Also Evan Peters and Emma Roberts may be quiet great Ash and DeeDee)
As a summary this book has so many twists as you expect from any other Coben books. It’s full of action and it brings so many layers together starting from ancestry and DNA match sites, creepy cult members, a lost daughter, a private investigator who searches a lost boy and a family who breaks into pieces because of their lost daughter’s drug addiction. There too many secrets, surprises till the end. The tempo gets faster and your heart rate raises as you keep reading and trying to find a reasonable answers and making your assumptions.
The end is real slap on the face! I liked so much! Mr. Coben kept us waited for this new book for so long but it is totally worth it!
You stay up all night till you finish and earn your restful sleep! ( actually that’s what happened to me over and over like living a dejavu)
When I’m reading a book, I usually imagine some actors who can act as that character. I always do it for Coben books because they’re written like fast paced action movies. ( this book may be considered as Taken meets Ben is Back) So I imagined Liam Neeson’s 15 year old younger version as Simon and Robin Wright’s 10 years younger version as Ingrid . When you read the book, you’ll understand why I matched these characters with those actors. ( Also Evan Peters and Emma Roberts may be quiet great Ash and DeeDee)
As a summary this book has so many twists as you expect from any other Coben books. It’s full of action and it brings so many layers together starting from ancestry and DNA match sites, creepy cult members, a lost daughter, a private investigator who searches a lost boy and a family who breaks into pieces because of their lost daughter’s drug addiction. There too many secrets, surprises till the end. The tempo gets faster and your heart rate raises as you keep reading and trying to find a reasonable answers and making your assumptions.
The end is real slap on the face! I liked so much! Mr. Coben kept us waited for this new book for so long but it is totally worth it!
August 22, 2019
Run Away by Haran Coben is a 2019 Grand Central Publication.
Enjoyable, but not up to Coben’s usual standards-
Simon Greene’s daughter, Paige, is on the run. She’s addicted to drugs and under the influence of her abusive boyfriend, Aaron. Her family has done everything humanly possible to help her, but they’ve finally accepted that there is nothing more they can do until Paige is ready to get clean.
But, on the sly, Simon, continues to search for his daughter. Following up on a tip, Simon spots Paige, but gets into a physical altercation with Aaron. Paige seizes the opportunity and runs away from Simon.
Not only that, the scuffle between Aaron and Simon is captured on video, leading to Simon’s arrest. He is then ostracized in the court of public opinion for ‘picking on a homeless guy’. Shortly, thereafter, Aaron is murdered.
So, guess who becomes suspect number one?
Coben’s novels, like those of Stephen King, or any other consistent NYT bestselling authors are pure pleasure reads for me. I seldom request ARCs from authors of this caliber because they don’t need the reviews or promotion in the same way other authors do. So, I usually wait for his books to show up at the library and feel no real urgency about getting my hot little hands on it. I just fit these in when and where I can, just for fun. That said, Coben is still one of my favorite suspense writers, and reading his clever thrillers are always a big treat.
I could tell from the very high ratings, this book was another well received effort by this author, but unfortunately, for me, this one was an uncharacteristic misstep.
Early in the novel the author employed a clever plot device which all but guaranteed my undivided attention and instantly forged my connection with Simon. As usual Coben held me in the palm of his hand, luring me deeper into his mesmerizing trap until….
Suddenly the plot veered off track with the introduction of an entirely new thread that seemed to have no bearing on Simon’s dilemma, which totally threw me. As this very strange thread expands, things got super weird, and I completely lost focus. Sadly, I never regained it.
One of the things that draws me to this author time and time again is his ability to challenge me. But, on this occasion, I easily met that challenge, piecing together key developments in advance, despite what I thought were some rather weak and obvious red herrings.
The big twists were effective, and strange enough to make me squirm in my seat a little, not because I was shocked, but because of how twisted and bizarre the scenario was.
Overall, I suppose one can tell I’m a bit disappointed in this one. It didn’t have to blow me away, but it at least needed to be up to par, which is wasn’t. However, it sufficed for a quick, pleasure read, and was entertaining enough to warrant a three -star rating.
3 stars
Enjoyable, but not up to Coben’s usual standards-
Simon Greene’s daughter, Paige, is on the run. She’s addicted to drugs and under the influence of her abusive boyfriend, Aaron. Her family has done everything humanly possible to help her, but they’ve finally accepted that there is nothing more they can do until Paige is ready to get clean.
But, on the sly, Simon, continues to search for his daughter. Following up on a tip, Simon spots Paige, but gets into a physical altercation with Aaron. Paige seizes the opportunity and runs away from Simon.
Not only that, the scuffle between Aaron and Simon is captured on video, leading to Simon’s arrest. He is then ostracized in the court of public opinion for ‘picking on a homeless guy’. Shortly, thereafter, Aaron is murdered.
So, guess who becomes suspect number one?
Coben’s novels, like those of Stephen King, or any other consistent NYT bestselling authors are pure pleasure reads for me. I seldom request ARCs from authors of this caliber because they don’t need the reviews or promotion in the same way other authors do. So, I usually wait for his books to show up at the library and feel no real urgency about getting my hot little hands on it. I just fit these in when and where I can, just for fun. That said, Coben is still one of my favorite suspense writers, and reading his clever thrillers are always a big treat.
I could tell from the very high ratings, this book was another well received effort by this author, but unfortunately, for me, this one was an uncharacteristic misstep.
Early in the novel the author employed a clever plot device which all but guaranteed my undivided attention and instantly forged my connection with Simon. As usual Coben held me in the palm of his hand, luring me deeper into his mesmerizing trap until….
Suddenly the plot veered off track with the introduction of an entirely new thread that seemed to have no bearing on Simon’s dilemma, which totally threw me. As this very strange thread expands, things got super weird, and I completely lost focus. Sadly, I never regained it.
One of the things that draws me to this author time and time again is his ability to challenge me. But, on this occasion, I easily met that challenge, piecing together key developments in advance, despite what I thought were some rather weak and obvious red herrings.
The big twists were effective, and strange enough to make me squirm in my seat a little, not because I was shocked, but because of how twisted and bizarre the scenario was.
Overall, I suppose one can tell I’m a bit disappointed in this one. It didn’t have to blow me away, but it at least needed to be up to par, which is wasn’t. However, it sufficed for a quick, pleasure read, and was entertaining enough to warrant a three -star rating.
3 stars
March 24, 2019
4.25 Stars (rounded down).
A Fast-Paced Thrill Ride with Lots of Heart.
Harlan Coben knows how to to get my attention in order to bring me into a story. He uses heart and humor and he writes with real human emotion. In addition, he always makes the characters authentic and makes me feel as if I am right there with him. The best part for me is that he includes recurring characters in each of his stories, and that make my heart sing and yeah, it makes my eyes fill with these little things called tears. Just call me a sap why don’t you? What can I say, I just love these guys and gals.
I’ve now read every novel Harlan Coben has ever written, and while the Myron Bolitar series is my favorite, some of his standalones rank pretty high (with his last one “Don’t Let Go” being my favorite so far (perhaps because Detective Nap Dumas reminds me of Myron.. lol)).
In his latest “Run Away” we discover Simon searching for his daughter Paige. He and Paige were always so close - she was the perfect daughter and then well, you know: drugs, crime, the whole gamut. Simon is beside himself, he searches for her everywhere and then finds her in Central Park and when he chases after her, she disappears into thin air.
Simon becomes a desperate man, stopping at nothing to save his child and his family and the cost is higher than he ever imagined.
“Run Away” begs the question: What would you do if your child or your loved one was lost to you? How far would you go? Saving yourself sure. Harming others? There’s no telling, right? Raw human emotion is felt throughout this novel. Harlan Coben always brings it out in his characters and here is no different. You can’t help but want to tear your hair out one minute and cry your darn eyes out the next.
Parts of this novel was crazy, thrilling and completely insane. Insert heart in throat, kind of insane. There was a part this novel that reminded me of Stephen King’s “Doctor Sleep” - if you’ve read that, you know what I’m talking about. Chilling.
On a surprising note, for the first time in my life while reading a Harlan Coben, I guessed almost the entire ending (insert shock and awe)! Kaceey would call that being an “Armchair Detective.” (Note she guessed some good stuff too (it wasn’t just me)). Though I got it, it was still full of lots of twists and turns and I loved every darn minute.
Now, I’ll be eagerly awaiting his next novel (fingers crossed it’s a Myron and Win novel, I need my Win fix desperately!).
This was a buddy read with Kaceey of course! Kaceey, I love our buddy reads, I think you know that. So glad we both love Harlan Coben so much! Can’t wait for our next one.
Thank you Harlan Coben for continuing to keep me entertained and thank you to Amazon for my copy (I know, I know.. I shouldn’t be thanking you.. you’re thanking me for being a loyal customer, LOLOL).
Published on Goodreads, Amazon and Twitter on 3.24.19.
Excerpt published on Insta.
A Fast-Paced Thrill Ride with Lots of Heart.
Harlan Coben knows how to to get my attention in order to bring me into a story. He uses heart and humor and he writes with real human emotion. In addition, he always makes the characters authentic and makes me feel as if I am right there with him. The best part for me is that he includes recurring characters in each of his stories, and that make my heart sing and yeah, it makes my eyes fill with these little things called tears. Just call me a sap why don’t you? What can I say, I just love these guys and gals.
I’ve now read every novel Harlan Coben has ever written, and while the Myron Bolitar series is my favorite, some of his standalones rank pretty high (with his last one “Don’t Let Go” being my favorite so far (perhaps because Detective Nap Dumas reminds me of Myron.. lol)).
In his latest “Run Away” we discover Simon searching for his daughter Paige. He and Paige were always so close - she was the perfect daughter and then well, you know: drugs, crime, the whole gamut. Simon is beside himself, he searches for her everywhere and then finds her in Central Park and when he chases after her, she disappears into thin air.
Simon becomes a desperate man, stopping at nothing to save his child and his family and the cost is higher than he ever imagined.
“Run Away” begs the question: What would you do if your child or your loved one was lost to you? How far would you go? Saving yourself sure. Harming others? There’s no telling, right? Raw human emotion is felt throughout this novel. Harlan Coben always brings it out in his characters and here is no different. You can’t help but want to tear your hair out one minute and cry your darn eyes out the next.
Parts of this novel was crazy, thrilling and completely insane. Insert heart in throat, kind of insane. There was a part this novel that reminded me of Stephen King’s “Doctor Sleep” - if you’ve read that, you know what I’m talking about. Chilling.
On a surprising note, for the first time in my life while reading a Harlan Coben, I guessed almost the entire ending (insert shock and awe)! Kaceey would call that being an “Armchair Detective.” (Note she guessed some good stuff too (it wasn’t just me)). Though I got it, it was still full of lots of twists and turns and I loved every darn minute.
Now, I’ll be eagerly awaiting his next novel (fingers crossed it’s a Myron and Win novel, I need my Win fix desperately!).
This was a buddy read with Kaceey of course! Kaceey, I love our buddy reads, I think you know that. So glad we both love Harlan Coben so much! Can’t wait for our next one.
Thank you Harlan Coben for continuing to keep me entertained and thank you to Amazon for my copy (I know, I know.. I shouldn’t be thanking you.. you’re thanking me for being a loyal customer, LOLOL).
Published on Goodreads, Amazon and Twitter on 3.24.19.
Excerpt published on Insta.
July 30, 2019
5, it's taken me forever to write this review but welcome to my favorites shelf stars!!!
Review featured on my blog Recipe & a Read!
Simon Greene knows the worst thing that can happen to a parent is being unable to save their child from personal demons. He knows this on a visceral, personal and heart breakingly painful level. His first child, the girl who made him a father, Paige fell into an abusive relationship with an older man and is now addicted to drugs. Simon and his wife worked tirelessly to help Paige, to save her, to fix her, to do anything to help her escape the crippling addiction that chipped away at her once vibrant, creative and bright future. Despite their best efforts, despite moments that it seemed like she may really get better those moments were elusive and would quickly slip through their fingers as Paige slipped back into the waiting arms of heroine.
And bad stays. Bad doesn’t go away. You bury bad, it digs itself out. You throw bad in the middle of the ocean, it comes back at you like a tidal wave.
Anyone familiar with addiction on even a cursory level knows that at a certain point you have to draw lines. Not light, penciled lines that can be erased but deep fissures in the foundation of your relationship with an addict. Ultimatums have to be made or you run the risk of enabling them, making it worse not just for them but for you and your life. This is just what Simon and his wife Ingrid realize with Paige. They can no longer sit idly by and watch her wither away, threatening the livelihood and happiness of not just themselves but their other children. Paige is an adult who doesn’t want to be a part of their family and they must let her go in hopes that she will find her way back to them.
When a friend tells Simon he’s seen a girl in Central Park playing music who looks just like Paige he tries everything to hunt her down. When he finally does see the daughter he’s thought he lost he can’t help but approach her. As her face twists into a show of fear, she immediately runs away with Simon quickly approaching behind her. As Simon and his wife grapple with the decision to let Paige go or to chase after her they both realize they can no longer wait as Paige destroys herself. They must find her, they must attempt, yet again, to help her out of the grave she’s dug for herself. They will stop at nothing to save their daughter. As they uncover the secrets of Paige’s life they find that they’re no longer standing outside of the hole Paige has dug, but they’ve lowered themselves into it and their very lives are now in danger.
Kids don’t come with instruction manuals, and you quickly learn that your child comes to you hardwired, that in the battle of nature vs nurture, nature kicks complete and total ass—still, when things go wrong, when something this dark invades your child’s soul, you can only wonder where the hell you went wrong.
This is my first book by Coben and the man did absolutely not disappoint. I will be honest with you, I fell a bit into the “judging a book by it’s cover” with this beauty. The synopsis didn’t necessarily blow me away because domestic drama’s aren’t generally my *vibe*. However, I’m so stinkin’ happy that I picked this baby up because it completely blew my socks off. I’ve said it before and I’m sure I’ll say it again but part of reading is the suspension of reality. I love Fantasy so that’s never been particularly difficult for me. However, with Run Away Coben beings with a believable premise, crafts a believable story with believable characters but doesn’t lose any suspense, thrill or entertainment value in doing so. This is a master class in writing a grounded, realistic depiction of a parents worst nightmare making it all the more thrilling for it’s realism.
Run Away is so much more than what meets the eye. What starts off as feeling fairly predictable quickly turns into a twisty thrill ride that left me breathless throughout most of the read. I honestly had no idea what I was getting into with this and it quickly made itself the newest addition to my “favorites” shelf. The character and story development is rich and layered with Coben not sacrificing any detail throughout. I found myself hurdling towards the end, biting my nails with a deep need to understand how the Greene’s story would end.
Truth is truth. By definition. Anything else is a lie.
While on it’s surface this is the story of a family fighting for each other. Parents fighting for their daughter, a husband and wife fighting to find their way back to one another and a daughter fighting to stay alive – it’s so much more. I found myself consistently surprised throughout this heart-pounding, heart-aching thrill ride of a novel. The intricacy and delicacy that Coben showed throughout the novel left me in awe of his skill and ability to craft a story so emotional it felt tangible. Immediately after finishing this book my library had a huge sale and I picked up all the Coben novels available. They’re on my short list of upcoming reads and if his other novels are even half as good as this I’m feeling that I’ve found a new favorite author.
Review featured on my blog Recipe & a Read!
Simon Greene knows the worst thing that can happen to a parent is being unable to save their child from personal demons. He knows this on a visceral, personal and heart breakingly painful level. His first child, the girl who made him a father, Paige fell into an abusive relationship with an older man and is now addicted to drugs. Simon and his wife worked tirelessly to help Paige, to save her, to fix her, to do anything to help her escape the crippling addiction that chipped away at her once vibrant, creative and bright future. Despite their best efforts, despite moments that it seemed like she may really get better those moments were elusive and would quickly slip through their fingers as Paige slipped back into the waiting arms of heroine.
And bad stays. Bad doesn’t go away. You bury bad, it digs itself out. You throw bad in the middle of the ocean, it comes back at you like a tidal wave.
Anyone familiar with addiction on even a cursory level knows that at a certain point you have to draw lines. Not light, penciled lines that can be erased but deep fissures in the foundation of your relationship with an addict. Ultimatums have to be made or you run the risk of enabling them, making it worse not just for them but for you and your life. This is just what Simon and his wife Ingrid realize with Paige. They can no longer sit idly by and watch her wither away, threatening the livelihood and happiness of not just themselves but their other children. Paige is an adult who doesn’t want to be a part of their family and they must let her go in hopes that she will find her way back to them.
When a friend tells Simon he’s seen a girl in Central Park playing music who looks just like Paige he tries everything to hunt her down. When he finally does see the daughter he’s thought he lost he can’t help but approach her. As her face twists into a show of fear, she immediately runs away with Simon quickly approaching behind her. As Simon and his wife grapple with the decision to let Paige go or to chase after her they both realize they can no longer wait as Paige destroys herself. They must find her, they must attempt, yet again, to help her out of the grave she’s dug for herself. They will stop at nothing to save their daughter. As they uncover the secrets of Paige’s life they find that they’re no longer standing outside of the hole Paige has dug, but they’ve lowered themselves into it and their very lives are now in danger.
Kids don’t come with instruction manuals, and you quickly learn that your child comes to you hardwired, that in the battle of nature vs nurture, nature kicks complete and total ass—still, when things go wrong, when something this dark invades your child’s soul, you can only wonder where the hell you went wrong.
This is my first book by Coben and the man did absolutely not disappoint. I will be honest with you, I fell a bit into the “judging a book by it’s cover” with this beauty. The synopsis didn’t necessarily blow me away because domestic drama’s aren’t generally my *vibe*. However, I’m so stinkin’ happy that I picked this baby up because it completely blew my socks off. I’ve said it before and I’m sure I’ll say it again but part of reading is the suspension of reality. I love Fantasy so that’s never been particularly difficult for me. However, with Run Away Coben beings with a believable premise, crafts a believable story with believable characters but doesn’t lose any suspense, thrill or entertainment value in doing so. This is a master class in writing a grounded, realistic depiction of a parents worst nightmare making it all the more thrilling for it’s realism.
Run Away is so much more than what meets the eye. What starts off as feeling fairly predictable quickly turns into a twisty thrill ride that left me breathless throughout most of the read. I honestly had no idea what I was getting into with this and it quickly made itself the newest addition to my “favorites” shelf. The character and story development is rich and layered with Coben not sacrificing any detail throughout. I found myself hurdling towards the end, biting my nails with a deep need to understand how the Greene’s story would end.
Truth is truth. By definition. Anything else is a lie.
While on it’s surface this is the story of a family fighting for each other. Parents fighting for their daughter, a husband and wife fighting to find their way back to one another and a daughter fighting to stay alive – it’s so much more. I found myself consistently surprised throughout this heart-pounding, heart-aching thrill ride of a novel. The intricacy and delicacy that Coben showed throughout the novel left me in awe of his skill and ability to craft a story so emotional it felt tangible. Immediately after finishing this book my library had a huge sale and I picked up all the Coben novels available. They’re on my short list of upcoming reads and if his other novels are even half as good as this I’m feeling that I’ve found a new favorite author.
May 29, 2019
4.5 Stars— Over the years Harlan Coben has become one of my top five favorite thriller writers. His latest book, “Run Away” does nothing to diminish that status. What I like about Coben is that he tries to anticipate every objection or question a reader might have and answer it with reasonable explanations and realistic plot twists. “Run Away” starts out with the main plot of Simon searching for his missing daughter Paige who has become a severe drug addict who is living with her supplier. From this basic story Coben takes the plot places you would never dream of with murders, cults, hit men, and numerous plot twists you never see coming. In fact, I was never able to figure out how it all tied together until Coben tied it all together for me at the end. Coben might be the most talented writer to ever write in the first person as both the thoughts and words of Simon seem to be as close to reality as any biography I have ever read. It would have been the perfect book if not for Mother Adiona — both scenes in which she appeared were so preposterous that it put a dampener on an otherwise perfect book. Definitely a great book though which I highly recommend.
March 21, 2019
4.5 stars.
In recent years, Harlan Coben has written some of my favorite thrillers. He's one of those authors who skillfully combines rich character development with heart-pounding suspense. Even his signature Myron Bolitar series meshed humor and sarcasm with suspense.
I have been eagerly awaiting the publication of Run Away , Coben's latest thriller for several months, and was excited to get my hands on an advance copy a few days before its release. While this won't surpass Home as my favorite of his books, Coben has another terrific book on his hands.
One of the worst things a parent must face is when they're unable to save their children from their problems. Simon Greene knows this all too well—his oldest daughter, Paige, always so studious and creative, fell into a relationship with an older man who got her addicted to drugs. Simon and his wife have tried to help Paige free herself from this man and get clean, but they never can fully succeed; she always seem to slip right back into his clutches and back in the throes of addiction.
It has been a while since Simon has seen his daughter and he worries what the ramifications of that fact may mean. But when a friend mentions that he saw Paige playing music in Central Park, Simon tries everything to track her down. And when he finally does, he has a split connection with Paige—before her face contorts in fear and she flees. When Paige's boyfriend tries to keep Simon from running after her, Simon does the only thing he can—he punches the man in the nose. But when bystanders intervene, Simon is arrested and Paige and her boyfriend escape.
Even though his wife tells him they should let Paige go, Simon cannot let his daughter continue to destroy herself. But as things get more complicated, they both recognize that they need to stop at nothing to save their daughter. Even if that means putting their own lives on the line, risking their family's safety—and laying bare some secrets that are better left hidden.
What would you do if your child was in danger? How many signs might you have missed, how many things could you have done differently that might have helped sway your child toward a better path? And what decisions to keep things secret might have changed everything?
Coben starts with a believable premise—a father trying to save his daughter—and creates a thriller with lots of twists and turns. There are so many questions that come to light as Simon starts to dig deeper into the circumstances that brought Paige into her boyfriend's clutches, and what happened after he punched him. I really couldn't put this book down, and flew through it.
There were definitely some surprises to be had here, and there was some rich emotion and character development as well. There was one storyline that didn't work for me at all, and while I like where Coben took things, the addition of two characters really frustrated me when they appeared periodically. But other than that, this had my heart pounding, my brain scrambling to figure things out before the characters did, and might have even brought a tear to my eyes once or twice.
If you've never read any of Coben's thrillers, I'd highly recommend Home and Don't Let Go in particular. And definitely pick this one up, too. If you like a well-written thriller that offers more than suspense and action, these are great books for you.
This book will be published March 19, 2019.
See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com.
Check out my list of the best books I read in 2018 at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2019/01/the-best-books-i-read-in-2018.html.
You can follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/yrralh/.
In recent years, Harlan Coben has written some of my favorite thrillers. He's one of those authors who skillfully combines rich character development with heart-pounding suspense. Even his signature Myron Bolitar series meshed humor and sarcasm with suspense.
I have been eagerly awaiting the publication of Run Away , Coben's latest thriller for several months, and was excited to get my hands on an advance copy a few days before its release. While this won't surpass Home as my favorite of his books, Coben has another terrific book on his hands.
One of the worst things a parent must face is when they're unable to save their children from their problems. Simon Greene knows this all too well—his oldest daughter, Paige, always so studious and creative, fell into a relationship with an older man who got her addicted to drugs. Simon and his wife have tried to help Paige free herself from this man and get clean, but they never can fully succeed; she always seem to slip right back into his clutches and back in the throes of addiction.
It has been a while since Simon has seen his daughter and he worries what the ramifications of that fact may mean. But when a friend mentions that he saw Paige playing music in Central Park, Simon tries everything to track her down. And when he finally does, he has a split connection with Paige—before her face contorts in fear and she flees. When Paige's boyfriend tries to keep Simon from running after her, Simon does the only thing he can—he punches the man in the nose. But when bystanders intervene, Simon is arrested and Paige and her boyfriend escape.
Even though his wife tells him they should let Paige go, Simon cannot let his daughter continue to destroy herself. But as things get more complicated, they both recognize that they need to stop at nothing to save their daughter. Even if that means putting their own lives on the line, risking their family's safety—and laying bare some secrets that are better left hidden.
What would you do if your child was in danger? How many signs might you have missed, how many things could you have done differently that might have helped sway your child toward a better path? And what decisions to keep things secret might have changed everything?
Coben starts with a believable premise—a father trying to save his daughter—and creates a thriller with lots of twists and turns. There are so many questions that come to light as Simon starts to dig deeper into the circumstances that brought Paige into her boyfriend's clutches, and what happened after he punched him. I really couldn't put this book down, and flew through it.
There were definitely some surprises to be had here, and there was some rich emotion and character development as well. There was one storyline that didn't work for me at all, and while I like where Coben took things, the addition of two characters really frustrated me when they appeared periodically. But other than that, this had my heart pounding, my brain scrambling to figure things out before the characters did, and might have even brought a tear to my eyes once or twice.
If you've never read any of Coben's thrillers, I'd highly recommend Home and Don't Let Go in particular. And definitely pick this one up, too. If you like a well-written thriller that offers more than suspense and action, these are great books for you.
This book will be published March 19, 2019.
See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com.
Check out my list of the best books I read in 2018 at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2019/01/the-best-books-i-read-in-2018.html.
You can follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/yrralh/.
April 24, 2019
Harlan Coben’s books are like braids. Strands of equal strength are woven together to bring the reader a strong story. Here, we’ve got Simon Green, who should have the perfect life. But his eldest daughter has succumbed to drugs and wants nothing to do with her family. When Simon sees her busking in Strawberry Fields he tries to talk to her but ends up in a fight with her dealer boyfriend. Next thing, the boyfriend is dead. Simon and his wife Ingrid begin a search for their daughter, taking them to some of the darker and seamier sides of the city.
Meanwhile, we have two hitmen who have a list of folks they’re taking out. And the third strand involves Elena, a private investigator searching for a missing young man. What’s the connection? That’s for Harlan to know and us to find out.
As with all his novels, Coben keeps the pace moving along at a good clip. He intersperses small doses of humor to help when things threaten to get too dark. The basic question is one all parents can relate to. How far would you go to save your child? As with most Coben books, this is all about the story. Characters are secondary. The ending totally threw me for a loop. Just perfect!
I really enjoyed this. It made the perfect audiobook. It helped me make my step goal because I was anxious to take walks so I could listen to the story. Steven Weber, as narrator, did a great job with the various voices.
April 27, 2019
Another engaging thriller from Harlan Coben, and, as usual in his books, not everything is as it seems.
Simon Greene is given a tipoff that his estranged, drug addicted daughter is busking in Central Park, so he goes to find her, has an altercation with her junkie boyfriend, and she runs off. Simon and his wife try to find her, and so their lives spiral out of control as this leads them down a path that they, and the reader, would never have imagined.
I really don't want to say too much as I don't want to give anything away. This is one rabbit hole that the reader has to experience for themselves, as it takes you far away from the promise of the blurb, it is so much more than that. Gripping and exciting, this is one I recommend for all lovers of crime fiction.
Simon Greene is given a tipoff that his estranged, drug addicted daughter is busking in Central Park, so he goes to find her, has an altercation with her junkie boyfriend, and she runs off. Simon and his wife try to find her, and so their lives spiral out of control as this leads them down a path that they, and the reader, would never have imagined.
I really don't want to say too much as I don't want to give anything away. This is one rabbit hole that the reader has to experience for themselves, as it takes you far away from the promise of the blurb, it is so much more than that. Gripping and exciting, this is one I recommend for all lovers of crime fiction.
May 31, 2019
My worst fears were realized when I began reading Run Away. It's not the kind of thriller, well, to thrill you every chapter. The book got 4 stars simply due to the magnitude of the twists present near the end of the book.
The writing is minimalist, but effective. The layout of the plot was aesthetically pleasing. When the action starts, it gets really tense. I felt a talented writer was behind the words.
Now for one or two negatives; the twists were what kept me going. Whether they were worth the trouble is debatable. The book is superficial and reminded me of James Patterson at his most lukewarm self. But if you like thrillers and haven't yet read a ton of the genre, this book is for you.
The writing is minimalist, but effective. The layout of the plot was aesthetically pleasing. When the action starts, it gets really tense. I felt a talented writer was behind the words.
Now for one or two negatives; the twists were what kept me going. Whether they were worth the trouble is debatable. The book is superficial and reminded me of James Patterson at his most lukewarm self. But if you like thrillers and haven't yet read a ton of the genre, this book is for you.
July 31, 2020
Watchful
Harlan Coben is a renowned thriller author, and his latest novel is literally page after page of gripping action. The pace never falters and just when you think you can catch your breath, another twist has your mind off and running again. The layers of plot are truly captivating, and the level of detail and unpredictable surprises is impressive and wholly believable.
Simon Greene sits in Strawberry Fields in Central Park, watching this bedraggled homeless girl, playing and singing for money and butchering a version of the Beatles song, Penny Lane. Simon is a high-end financial advisor and his wife, Ingrid, is a paediatrician, both wealthy, happily married and supportive of their 3 children, yet here he watches his run-away daughter Paige. Her hair matted and her cheekbones sunken. She was rail-thin, raggedy, dirty, damaged, lost and a drug addict. He has searched a long time to find her and his heart breaks as he watches his beautiful daughter in such a decrepit and pitiful state.
When Simon approaches her, he is confronted by her drug dealer boyfriend, Aaron. After an altercation between Simon and Aaron, Paige takes off and goes back into hiding. Several days later Aaron is found savagely murdered, and of course who is the main suspect? Simon needs a high priced and capable lawyer to help his case and the interplay between lawyer and law enforcement is absorbing and revealing.
On separate threads, several targeted murders are taking place by a professional killer, Simon and Ingrid are trying to find their daughter, a private investigator, Elena Ramirez, is trying to find a missing person, and a Detective Fagbenle is investigating a particular murder. The story as it reveals itself so cleverly that the turns and surprises will shock the reader.
The dialogue, imagery, characterisation and plot, weave together so effortlessly that it is a delightful experience to read this book. The family challenges are wonderfully portrayed and what will happen the ideal family when placed under extreme pressure. What family secrets will be exposed in an effort to discover what happened to their daughter? What pressures are put under children as they start to live independent lives while having been protected their whole youth? An amazing book with so many perspectives to explore a story. Themes that are appropriate in today’s world make this a contemporary novel that just frightens the life out of me as a parent.
Run Away is a masterful story delivered by a true master of the mystery thriller. A book that I highly recommend and a solid 5 star. I'd like to thank Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC version in return for an honest review.
Harlan Coben is a renowned thriller author, and his latest novel is literally page after page of gripping action. The pace never falters and just when you think you can catch your breath, another twist has your mind off and running again. The layers of plot are truly captivating, and the level of detail and unpredictable surprises is impressive and wholly believable.
Simon Greene sits in Strawberry Fields in Central Park, watching this bedraggled homeless girl, playing and singing for money and butchering a version of the Beatles song, Penny Lane. Simon is a high-end financial advisor and his wife, Ingrid, is a paediatrician, both wealthy, happily married and supportive of their 3 children, yet here he watches his run-away daughter Paige. Her hair matted and her cheekbones sunken. She was rail-thin, raggedy, dirty, damaged, lost and a drug addict. He has searched a long time to find her and his heart breaks as he watches his beautiful daughter in such a decrepit and pitiful state.
When Simon approaches her, he is confronted by her drug dealer boyfriend, Aaron. After an altercation between Simon and Aaron, Paige takes off and goes back into hiding. Several days later Aaron is found savagely murdered, and of course who is the main suspect? Simon needs a high priced and capable lawyer to help his case and the interplay between lawyer and law enforcement is absorbing and revealing.
On separate threads, several targeted murders are taking place by a professional killer, Simon and Ingrid are trying to find their daughter, a private investigator, Elena Ramirez, is trying to find a missing person, and a Detective Fagbenle is investigating a particular murder. The story as it reveals itself so cleverly that the turns and surprises will shock the reader.
The dialogue, imagery, characterisation and plot, weave together so effortlessly that it is a delightful experience to read this book. The family challenges are wonderfully portrayed and what will happen the ideal family when placed under extreme pressure. What family secrets will be exposed in an effort to discover what happened to their daughter? What pressures are put under children as they start to live independent lives while having been protected their whole youth? An amazing book with so many perspectives to explore a story. Themes that are appropriate in today’s world make this a contemporary novel that just frightens the life out of me as a parent.
Run Away is a masterful story delivered by a true master of the mystery thriller. A book that I highly recommend and a solid 5 star. I'd like to thank Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC version in return for an honest review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 14, 2019
3.5 ⭐️
“You can look for her man, I can’t blame you for trying. But she’s a junkie. Even if you find her, this story won’t have a happy ending.”
There have been so many great reviews for this one, I was really excited to get stuck in. This was my first Harlan Coben novel.
Simon Greene’s daughter Paige is missing. She fell in with a dodgy druggie – Aaron Corval, and has been estranged from her family ever since.
A brief spotting in central park reopens old wounds and Simon is desperate to find his little girl again, but when he approaches her, she bolts. What follows is a slippery slope of secrets and lies, violence and cover ups.
With Private Investigator Elena Ramirez also sniffing around, suddenly what started as a simple cat and mouse chase begins to unravel some much more sinister activities.
Throw in a couple of hired assassins and we’ve got ourselves some serious action.
With plenty of characters and twists, this was a gripping plot and I enjoyed it. The only reason it received 3.5 stars instead of 4 is simply because a good 80% of the drama in the story is caused by dishonesty. If characters had been upfront and truthful from the beginning, so much could have been solved earlier, with less bloodshed. I know this is probably the point; but it is infuriating to read these scenes when they could have been avoided so easily if people didn’t insist on keeping their secrets.
“Murder is simple if you kept it simple.”
“You can look for her man, I can’t blame you for trying. But she’s a junkie. Even if you find her, this story won’t have a happy ending.”
There have been so many great reviews for this one, I was really excited to get stuck in. This was my first Harlan Coben novel.
Simon Greene’s daughter Paige is missing. She fell in with a dodgy druggie – Aaron Corval, and has been estranged from her family ever since.
A brief spotting in central park reopens old wounds and Simon is desperate to find his little girl again, but when he approaches her, she bolts. What follows is a slippery slope of secrets and lies, violence and cover ups.
With Private Investigator Elena Ramirez also sniffing around, suddenly what started as a simple cat and mouse chase begins to unravel some much more sinister activities.
Throw in a couple of hired assassins and we’ve got ourselves some serious action.
With plenty of characters and twists, this was a gripping plot and I enjoyed it. The only reason it received 3.5 stars instead of 4 is simply because a good 80% of the drama in the story is caused by dishonesty. If characters had been upfront and truthful from the beginning, so much could have been solved earlier, with less bloodshed. I know this is probably the point; but it is infuriating to read these scenes when they could have been avoided so easily if people didn’t insist on keeping their secrets.
“Murder is simple if you kept it simple.”
April 12, 2019
I hadn’t read a Coben novel in years and when I saw this latest release getting great reviews I thought it was time to read him again. Per usual, it was gripping, fast moving, great characters and lots of heart!
April 4, 2019
O. M. G. Holy cow! This was his best book.
I listened to 3 discs and almost gave up, sort of lost after a good start. The headlines, text messages, YouTube comments etc, didn't make sense on audio. So I switched to reading instead and wow, what a difference.
Author told a complex mystery. Clues were given and they nagged you while you read, but didn't completely realize until much too late when it's revealed. Wanted to hit my head with the book... A GOLDEN ENDING!!
I listened to 3 discs and almost gave up, sort of lost after a good start. The headlines, text messages, YouTube comments etc, didn't make sense on audio. So I switched to reading instead and wow, what a difference.
Author told a complex mystery. Clues were given and they nagged you while you read, but didn't completely realize until much too late when it's revealed. Wanted to hit my head with the book... A GOLDEN ENDING!!
February 12, 2020
DNF...lots of high ratings out there...this one for me wasn’t as good as usual and I do like Coben...didn’t like the plot line and decided to give up and move on to one of the other five or six books I’m reading right now...
2 out of 5 stars
2 out of 5 stars
October 1, 2020
Enjoyed the book, good story, a few unexpected twists, including the wrap up. Typical Harlan Coben - I think one of his better ones that I’ve read. Always a quickly paced read for me, which I also appreciate.
April 15, 2019
Yes! Yes! Yes! Lights! Action, Camera. That's a wrap! I was so in the mood for a fast based, but tautly plotted thriller. Especially now, as I reading a slow paced historical that isn't quite doing it for me. Have been a fan of this author for many years, and as much as I adore his Bolitar series, i think it is in his stand-alones that his talent really shines.
Some great characterizations, a multitude threaded story line that keeps the reader interested. Trying to figure out what was going on, how they intersected before the reveal. A daughter on drugs, under the influence of an unworthy man, a mother snd father, family in crisis. A cult will a sinister agenda, but what is their part in these happenings? So many twists and even after I felt that all the answers were given, there was another surprise turn.
What would you do for love? Could you please keep the knowledge of something secret? Good questions, no? And I was satisfied with the answer!
ARC from Netgalley
Some great characterizations, a multitude threaded story line that keeps the reader interested. Trying to figure out what was going on, how they intersected before the reveal. A daughter on drugs, under the influence of an unworthy man, a mother snd father, family in crisis. A cult will a sinister agenda, but what is their part in these happenings? So many twists and even after I felt that all the answers were given, there was another surprise turn.
What would you do for love? Could you please keep the knowledge of something secret? Good questions, no? And I was satisfied with the answer!
ARC from Netgalley
June 18, 2019
4+ Stars.
Oh Boy! There's a doozie of a secret hiding in RUN AWAY!
The search for Paige is under way and daddy Simon is playing it close to the edge punching out those who get in his way, and questioning everyone and anyone....including those hazardous to your health.
Bullets are flying....and hitting their mark in this suspenseful mystery-thriller with ruthless killers and drug dealers; we even meet up with a couple familiar notable faces from the past.
Get ready to quickly turn pages, read a well-written, multi-layered story....by a master....with well-done characters and more than one worthy twist.
Don't RUN AWAY from this one....and be sure to check out H.C.'s Myron Bolitar series. (my favorite)
(Did you Coben fans catch the reference to Win? ... "Articulate" ... Love it!)
***Arc provided by Grand Central Publishing via NetGalley in exchange for review***
March 24, 2019
This was my first Harlan Coben novel. He has been on my want to read list for quite awhile, but just never got around to reading any of his books. I saw this one being marked as "want to read" so many times in my feed, I just had to read it. I have to say I found this book hard to put down. I found the 3 story lines very interesting and loved how they came together. I will definitely be reading more books by Harlan Coben soon.
March 14, 2019
This book takes you on a wild ride! Non-stop action, plenty of suspense, and as a big Harlan Coben fan, I totally enjoyed it all.
Others have given the gist of the story, so I'll not go into that much. It involves a father, Simon Greene's search for his daughter, Paige, who has dropped out of college due to her boyfriend, Aaron, who got her addicted to drugs in the first place.
The pace is fast and kept me turning pages quickly. I couldn't wait to find out where Paige was, if she was still alive.
I highly recommend this book. 5 stars
Others have given the gist of the story, so I'll not go into that much. It involves a father, Simon Greene's search for his daughter, Paige, who has dropped out of college due to her boyfriend, Aaron, who got her addicted to drugs in the first place.
The pace is fast and kept me turning pages quickly. I couldn't wait to find out where Paige was, if she was still alive.
I highly recommend this book. 5 stars
May 7, 2019
Harlan Coben bundles everything imaginable into this backpack of a read. Every zipper compartment, hidden pockets, and snapped enclosures are filled to the brim.
Unpacking it and laying it all out is an adventure in itself.
Simon Greene comes face-to-face with reality. His daughter, his precious child, is a hardcore junkie. He and his wife, Ingrid, have fought the good fight. They've given Paige every chance under the sun to stay clean, but to no avail. But every young woman he sees from the corner of his eye on the streets of Manhattan reflects back into an image of Paige.
So he sits on a lonely bench in Central Park near Strawberry Fields lost in his memories. You don't give up on that one child who has strayed so very far. You just don't. In the distance he hears a female voice singing off key and strumming a guitar. He's mesmerized by the very sight of her begging for stray dollar bills and random coins. Paige looks up in her drugged state, but she utters one word: "Dad?" Simon reaches toward her, but Paige takes off running in a frenzied motion. And right up in Simon's face is Aaron, Paige's druggie boyfriend. An altercation takes place and it's videotaped by onlookers. Now Simon is the one arrested.
You would move heaven and earth to find your child, wouldn't you? And that's exactly what Simon and Ingrid intend to do. But they don't think things through. They're flying intensely on emotion. And that bumping into dark corners is going to come at a high price. Simon and Ingrid are gonna lift the lid off of some mighty devilish passageways here.
"Once one lie is let in the room, even for the best of reasons, a whole bunch more will ride in on its back."
Run Away is lined with Coben's knack for keeping the hidden underground like landmines until just the right moments. Just when you think you've figured this one out, you're not even close. A page-turner with a shifty ending that rolls out of nowhere at the end. Just like we like 'em......
Unpacking it and laying it all out is an adventure in itself.
Simon Greene comes face-to-face with reality. His daughter, his precious child, is a hardcore junkie. He and his wife, Ingrid, have fought the good fight. They've given Paige every chance under the sun to stay clean, but to no avail. But every young woman he sees from the corner of his eye on the streets of Manhattan reflects back into an image of Paige.
So he sits on a lonely bench in Central Park near Strawberry Fields lost in his memories. You don't give up on that one child who has strayed so very far. You just don't. In the distance he hears a female voice singing off key and strumming a guitar. He's mesmerized by the very sight of her begging for stray dollar bills and random coins. Paige looks up in her drugged state, but she utters one word: "Dad?" Simon reaches toward her, but Paige takes off running in a frenzied motion. And right up in Simon's face is Aaron, Paige's druggie boyfriend. An altercation takes place and it's videotaped by onlookers. Now Simon is the one arrested.
You would move heaven and earth to find your child, wouldn't you? And that's exactly what Simon and Ingrid intend to do. But they don't think things through. They're flying intensely on emotion. And that bumping into dark corners is going to come at a high price. Simon and Ingrid are gonna lift the lid off of some mighty devilish passageways here.
"Once one lie is let in the room, even for the best of reasons, a whole bunch more will ride in on its back."
Run Away is lined with Coben's knack for keeping the hidden underground like landmines until just the right moments. Just when you think you've figured this one out, you're not even close. A page-turner with a shifty ending that rolls out of nowhere at the end. Just like we like 'em......
April 26, 2019
EXCERPT: ... there was no beauty in the music. None.
Simon's eyes stayed locked on the panhandling girl mangling John Lennon's legacy. Her hair was matted clumps. Her cheekbones were sunken. The girl was rail thin, raggedy, dirty, damaged, homeless, lost.
She was also Simon's daughter Paige.
ABOUT THIS BOOK: You've lost your daughter.
She's addicted to drugs and to an abusive boyfriend. And she's made it clear that she doesn't want to be found.
Then, quite by chance, you see her busking in New York's Central Park.
But she's not the girl you remember. This woman is wasted, frightened and clearly in trouble.
You don't stop to think. You approach her, beg her to come home.
She runs.
And you follow her into a dark and dangerous world you never knew existed. Where criminal gangs rule, where drugs are the main currency, and murder is commonplace.
Now it's your life on the line. And nowhere and no one is safe.
MY THOUGHTS: I have a hit and miss relationship with Coben's writing. When he's good, he's very, very good, but I thought Run Away was only a little better than average.
It started out well - a Dad on the lookout for his missing, drug addicted daughter who, it seems, is quite content with her life and has no desire to change. An exercise in futility and self punishment. But then it disintegrated into this unbelievable 'action-thriller' with guns and abductions that never quite rang true, and left me feeling disappointed. There was plenty of scope for mystery and suspense. It went unrealised, underdeveloped. I felt that he had sold out and taken the easy option.
Coben has written some great suspenseful novels. This is not one of them. But it will appeal to those who like a lot of action for the sake of action. It would probably make a better movie.
But there are glimpses of the perceptive Coben I love in this book, and I would like to share my two favorite quotes from Run Away with you: 'Once one lie is let into the room, even for the best of reasons, a whole bunch more will ride in on its back. Then those lies will gang up and slaughter the truth. '; and 'There are few moments of pure bliss in this life. Most of the time you don't realize that you are having one of those moments until they are over. But that wasn'tthe case right now. Right now, as Simon sat with the woman he loved, he knew. And she knew. This was bliss. And it wouldn't last.'
THE AUTHOR: With over 60 million books in print worldwide, Harlan Coben’s last seven consecutive novels, MISSING YOU, SIX YEARS, STAY CLOSE, LIVE WIRE, CAUGHT, LONG LOST and HOLD TIGHT all debuted at #1 on the New York Times bestseller list and lists around the world. His books are published in 43 languages around the globe.
Coben is the winner of the Edgar Award, Shamus Award and Anthony Award – the first author to win all three – and he has received an eclectic variety of honors from all over the world. His novel TELL NO ONE has been turned into a hit French film of the same name. His essays and columns have appeared in many top publications.
Harlan was born in Newark, New Jersey. He still lives in New Jersey with his wife, Anne Armstrong-Coben MD, a pediatrician, and their four children.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Random House UK Cornerstone via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of Run Away by Harlan Coben for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
Please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com for an explanation of my rating system. This review and others are also published on my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
Simon's eyes stayed locked on the panhandling girl mangling John Lennon's legacy. Her hair was matted clumps. Her cheekbones were sunken. The girl was rail thin, raggedy, dirty, damaged, homeless, lost.
She was also Simon's daughter Paige.
ABOUT THIS BOOK: You've lost your daughter.
She's addicted to drugs and to an abusive boyfriend. And she's made it clear that she doesn't want to be found.
Then, quite by chance, you see her busking in New York's Central Park.
But she's not the girl you remember. This woman is wasted, frightened and clearly in trouble.
You don't stop to think. You approach her, beg her to come home.
She runs.
And you follow her into a dark and dangerous world you never knew existed. Where criminal gangs rule, where drugs are the main currency, and murder is commonplace.
Now it's your life on the line. And nowhere and no one is safe.
MY THOUGHTS: I have a hit and miss relationship with Coben's writing. When he's good, he's very, very good, but I thought Run Away was only a little better than average.
It started out well - a Dad on the lookout for his missing, drug addicted daughter who, it seems, is quite content with her life and has no desire to change. An exercise in futility and self punishment. But then it disintegrated into this unbelievable 'action-thriller' with guns and abductions that never quite rang true, and left me feeling disappointed. There was plenty of scope for mystery and suspense. It went unrealised, underdeveloped. I felt that he had sold out and taken the easy option.
Coben has written some great suspenseful novels. This is not one of them. But it will appeal to those who like a lot of action for the sake of action. It would probably make a better movie.
But there are glimpses of the perceptive Coben I love in this book, and I would like to share my two favorite quotes from Run Away with you: 'Once one lie is let into the room, even for the best of reasons, a whole bunch more will ride in on its back. Then those lies will gang up and slaughter the truth. '; and 'There are few moments of pure bliss in this life. Most of the time you don't realize that you are having one of those moments until they are over. But that wasn'tthe case right now. Right now, as Simon sat with the woman he loved, he knew. And she knew. This was bliss. And it wouldn't last.'
THE AUTHOR: With over 60 million books in print worldwide, Harlan Coben’s last seven consecutive novels, MISSING YOU, SIX YEARS, STAY CLOSE, LIVE WIRE, CAUGHT, LONG LOST and HOLD TIGHT all debuted at #1 on the New York Times bestseller list and lists around the world. His books are published in 43 languages around the globe.
Coben is the winner of the Edgar Award, Shamus Award and Anthony Award – the first author to win all three – and he has received an eclectic variety of honors from all over the world. His novel TELL NO ONE has been turned into a hit French film of the same name. His essays and columns have appeared in many top publications.
Harlan was born in Newark, New Jersey. He still lives in New Jersey with his wife, Anne Armstrong-Coben MD, a pediatrician, and their four children.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Random House UK Cornerstone via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of Run Away by Harlan Coben for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
Please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com for an explanation of my rating system. This review and others are also published on my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
March 23, 2019
WOW!!!!!
What a rush!!! This story kept you guessing until the final chapter, so much adrenaline and intensity.
Simon is a concerned father who is searching for his daughter. He believes she has succumbed to drugs and the wrong crowd. He spots her in Central Park, almost unrecognizable. He approached her and tries to convince her to leave with him but his attempts are thwarted by her drug crazed boyfriend and his daughter, Paige, slips away. Simon is taken into custody and begins to learn difficult truths about his daughter and how nothing is as it seems.
Simon and his wife, Ingrid, decide to search for their daughter as they believe she may be in danger, which now puts them in danger. Soon, there are murders that appear to have a common thread which connects to their daughter.
The story is fast paced, and is tied together very well. I did not want to put down this book, I was hoo!ed by the first chapter. This is a favorite author of mine and this story did not disappoint........Well done!!!!!!!
What a rush!!! This story kept you guessing until the final chapter, so much adrenaline and intensity.
Simon is a concerned father who is searching for his daughter. He believes she has succumbed to drugs and the wrong crowd. He spots her in Central Park, almost unrecognizable. He approached her and tries to convince her to leave with him but his attempts are thwarted by her drug crazed boyfriend and his daughter, Paige, slips away. Simon is taken into custody and begins to learn difficult truths about his daughter and how nothing is as it seems.
Simon and his wife, Ingrid, decide to search for their daughter as they believe she may be in danger, which now puts them in danger. Soon, there are murders that appear to have a common thread which connects to their daughter.
The story is fast paced, and is tied together very well. I did not want to put down this book, I was hoo!ed by the first chapter. This is a favorite author of mine and this story did not disappoint........Well done!!!!!!!
April 15, 2019
Simon Green is a successful financial manager, married to a successful doctor and father to their three children. Life was pretty good for them until their oldest daughter went away to college, met a boy and spiraled downward. She eventually ran away and they’d given up looking for her. Except Simon really hadn’t and when one day he sees her in Central Park, he goes after her and things get out of control. What happens after that moment leads him and his family down paths they’d never expected to ever experience.
Howard Coben became an auto read (and listen) for me years ago and this book is a perfect example as to why. No one can nimbly set a stage like he does, not wasting a lot of time with meaningless details but building a foundation for what’s to come, like the calm before a vicious storm. I started this book thinking I’d listen for an hour and then kept extending it. Next thing I knew, I was almost finished. So much goes on in Simon’s effort to find his daughter, the murky characters he encounters, the dangerous situations he finds himself in and the secrets he exposes along the way. There’s much more going on and he’s just a normal guy driven by a love for his child.
Obviously, I enjoyed this story as well as Steve Weber's performance. I love that he’s narrating so many of the standalones as well as my beloved Myron Bolitar series. He just gets the characters and creates a vivid image for you with outstanding storytelling. This is a classic Coben story with all the elements you expect to see but around a unique story. I guessed one of the twists but missed a couple of others. The ending was provocative and though provoking, just how I like them to be. You don’t want to miss this one.
(I received an advance copy from the publisher in exchange for an unbiased review)
Howard Coben became an auto read (and listen) for me years ago and this book is a perfect example as to why. No one can nimbly set a stage like he does, not wasting a lot of time with meaningless details but building a foundation for what’s to come, like the calm before a vicious storm. I started this book thinking I’d listen for an hour and then kept extending it. Next thing I knew, I was almost finished. So much goes on in Simon’s effort to find his daughter, the murky characters he encounters, the dangerous situations he finds himself in and the secrets he exposes along the way. There’s much more going on and he’s just a normal guy driven by a love for his child.
Obviously, I enjoyed this story as well as Steve Weber's performance. I love that he’s narrating so many of the standalones as well as my beloved Myron Bolitar series. He just gets the characters and creates a vivid image for you with outstanding storytelling. This is a classic Coben story with all the elements you expect to see but around a unique story. I guessed one of the twists but missed a couple of others. The ending was provocative and though provoking, just how I like them to be. You don’t want to miss this one.
(I received an advance copy from the publisher in exchange for an unbiased review)
February 19, 2021
When I see a new book out by Harlan Coben I get very excited, and I have to have it. His books are kind of like the excitement I feel when buying a new pair of shoes. I have to have them, but I want to save them for just the right time, and often I ended up admiring them and not wearing them. Well, I have been admiring Run Away since it was released and waiting for that perfect time to read it. Well, it came, and I finally dived into it. I have to say I can't believe I waited so long!
"Perception is often more important than reality" " Is this what you guys teach the kids" ~ Simon
Harlan Coben sets the mood here with one of a parent's worst fears, with one of our adult children lost in danger and running away from us. Simon has lost his daughter Paige to a dark and dangerous world, "where criminal gangs rule, where drugs are the main currency, and murder is commonplace." Simon is on a dangerous quest to find Paige and keep her safe when meets up with another character who is searching for someone who is lost. There are a few surprises along the way for both and for us!! Another storyline is weaved in, which adds more suspense to the story, and I was turning the pages as fast as I could to see how they all are connected.
While not my favorite from the master of suspense, Coben doesn't miss a step here, delivering his nonstop twists and turns he is known for. My head was spinning so fast, trying to keep up with them. He takes his time revealing how all the storylines come together while delivering a few surprises that I didn't expect. Those surprises shock me, and I was in shock Coben sprung some of some on us! When I thought the story was starting to wrap up, I began to relax my neck when another twist snapped me to attention.
Maybe just a little over the top at times; however, the story delivers on the thrills, suspense, tension, and action. I highly recommend it.
"Perception is often more important than reality" " Is this what you guys teach the kids" ~ Simon
Harlan Coben sets the mood here with one of a parent's worst fears, with one of our adult children lost in danger and running away from us. Simon has lost his daughter Paige to a dark and dangerous world, "where criminal gangs rule, where drugs are the main currency, and murder is commonplace." Simon is on a dangerous quest to find Paige and keep her safe when meets up with another character who is searching for someone who is lost. There are a few surprises along the way for both and for us!! Another storyline is weaved in, which adds more suspense to the story, and I was turning the pages as fast as I could to see how they all are connected.
While not my favorite from the master of suspense, Coben doesn't miss a step here, delivering his nonstop twists and turns he is known for. My head was spinning so fast, trying to keep up with them. He takes his time revealing how all the storylines come together while delivering a few surprises that I didn't expect. Those surprises shock me, and I was in shock Coben sprung some of some on us! When I thought the story was starting to wrap up, I began to relax my neck when another twist snapped me to attention.
Maybe just a little over the top at times; however, the story delivers on the thrills, suspense, tension, and action. I highly recommend it.
May 1, 2019
Deciding on my rating
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