Myron Bolitar (and Coben's readers) finally get a little more insight into the mysterious past of Myron's good friend and business partner Win in this novel. Myron is invited to the US Open of golf with the possibility of picking up a few more clients for his sports management business. It is largely due to the fact that it has gotten around that he is a pretty good detective as well as a sports manager.Pro golfers Linda and Jack Coldren need Myron's help because their teenaged son has been kidnapped. Linda is at the top of her game while Jack has been struggling around for the last 23 years after blowing a hole in the US Open when he was far in the lead. The result of a lost of confidence and competitive edge. The Coldren's have started to receive phone calls as the US Open begins, but at first there is no demand for money from the kidnappers. This is a bit confusing, and it removes the primary reason why most kidnappings occur. The fact that the initial contact occurred before the start of the golf tournament (and the fact that Jack is viewed as a mediocre player until he ends up on the leaderboard) indicates that it has nothing to do with someone wanting to affect his game play.The result is a case that gets Myron digging into the mean streets of Philadelphia. To make things more interesting, the Coldren's are actually cousins of Win's. Win seems to have a particular disgust for them, but no one seems to know why. As a result, Myron will find no help from Win and finds he can only turn to Esmerelda, their receptionist and newly graduated lawyer, for help.The book is actually really intriguing. Win has always been quite the mystery. He represents everything that one would think of with the term WASP, though he seems to be cold-hearted and dangerous. Thankfully, he uses his power for good, but even his friends recognizes that his disconnect is something to be of concern. This book really starts to highlight how he ended up like this.Despite my not being a huge fan of sports, though I do find them interesting, I really do enjoy these mysteries. Coben does a nice job of describing the sports-related elements in a way that allow me to keep up. I really love the level of humor used by the characters, which is not unlike what can be found in the Dresden Files.I am definitely looking forward to the next book, which I believeis called ONe False Move.
"Back Spin: A Case of Literary Maximalism". Titular protagonist Myron Bolitar is a professional basketball player and a successful sports agent and a lawyer and does secret stuff for the U.S. government and his best friend from childhood is Batman. No really, his best friend is actually Batman - a wealthy son of privilege separated from his parents who goes out at night and avenges victims. Like with the stately manor and the martial arts and the secret car and everything. So with Batman backing him up Myron can't lose.Due to a childhood trauma involving his mother riding a riding instructor and the mother's involvement in the case, Batman refuses to get involved in the case. On his own polymath Myron blunders around a case involving golf at hallowed Merion Country Club, the U.S. and many ethnically diverse co-stars. The case carries a fair amount of interest although it relies on some wild connections between disparate people. It also relies on a nearly every character have sex, or trying to at least, with every other character. New drinking game: have a drink every time a secret liaison or sexually tense interaction occurs. Stop before you wind up with alcohol toxemia. Coben tells his goofy mystery mostly in an engaging way. He uses these same "confessional" cutaway as used in reality television shows where we hear a snide remark from Myron or what he is thinking. While entertaining Coben way too often goes to the well and occasionally the reader just wants him to get on with the next reveal of an secret affair. In short, if you like golf and Batman and mysteries, this is a uniquely targeted book and a goofy summer read.
What do You think about Back Spin (1997)?
Le couple de champions de golf, Linda et Jack Coldren, en plein tournoi de l'US Open, apprend la disparition de leur fils de 15 ans, Chad. Kidnapping ou fugue ? Le couple refuse pourtant d'alerter la police ou les médias et conçoit timidement l'aide de Myron Bolitar, lequel va rapidement s'apercevoir que tout dans cette affaire sonne faux.De plus, son ami Win marque la distance et le laisse mijoter dans son jus, à se triturer les méninges face à un couple Coldren qui manque de transparence et inspire peu de sympathie... Myron pédale dans la semoule, alors que Jessica fait de nouveau des siennes et Esperanza le tanne pour devenir son associée. Situation tendue pour notre agent sportif !L'enquête, néanmoins, déploiera un certain cafouillis, à force de multiplier les retournements de situation qui ne faisaient plus d'effet ! Hélas. Trop, c'est trop. Au milieu de tout ça, Myron sera égal à lui-même : charme et humour à deux balles pour contrer le sordide. Et pour la première fois, Win lèvera le voile sur un aspect insoupçonné de sa personnalité ! Woow.Bref, ce quatrième titre n'est pas sensationnel mais fait partie d'un ensemble toujours agréable à découvrir...
—Clarabel
This novel is another mystery with the character Myron Bolitar as well as his cohorts. This can be read as a stand alone but reading the previous novels helps knowing the relation of the characters. This one enters the world of golf. A teenage son is kidnapped and he is the son of the golfer who is currently the leader of the U.S. Open and Myron is asked to investigate. This novel also has a minor storyline about Win and his mother who do not communicate with each other.One thing I enjoy about this series is the relationship between Myron, Win, and Esperanza. This book is another example of their actions and feelings for each other. I also enjoyed how these characters act in everyday events and their dialogue with other characters. My feelings for the mystery are not so great. The author had too many "what ifs" and mystery twists and by the end it ran out of steam. The secondary storyline never piqued my interest as well as it was only mentioned in snippets. But the author at the end decided to combine these two storylines and it fell flat.This book was decent because I enjoyed the characters but it is not a murder mystery that amazed me.
—Jim C
"Read" as an audiobook. In fact, I "read" the first CD twice, it was that enjoyable.Myron has become entangled in the world of golf. Jack Coltrane is on the cusp of winning the tournament he choked on 22 years earlier. His wife is the LPGA top player. His son has been kidnapped. Win refuses to help for personal reasons. Esperanza will help, but she wants to become a partner in MB Sportreps when she graduates law school. It's up to Myron to untangle this tangled bag of golf clubs and he does it with wit, humility, and dogged determination. I simply enjoyed this book. The narrator is absolutely perfect for the voices, conveying the haughtiness of the upper crust in Win's character and Myron's more humble roots. You can really see Esperanza rolling her eyes at Myron as she snarks back at him. The writing really pulls the reader along, alternating between laugh out loud and baited breath anticipation. My commute mantra became "please let me hit a red light, I need a red light!" Wish I could get these consistently on audiobook from the library, but the system seems to be hit or miss. Highly recommended.
—Kristin
