Myron Bolitar's father's recent heart attack brings Myron smack into a midlife encounter with issues of adulthood and mortality. And if that's not enough to turn his life upside down, the reappearance of his first serious girlfriend is. The basketball star turned sports agent, who does a little detecting when business is slow, is saddened by the news that Emily Downing's 13-year-old son is dying and desperately needs a bone marrow transplant; even if she did leave him for the man who destroyed his basketball career, he wouldn't wish tsuris like that on anyone. And he's not at all interested in getting involved with Emily again, not even to track down the one mysterious donor who may be able to save the boy. But when Myron learns that Jeremy Downing is his own son, conceived the night before Emily and Greg Downing married, he embarks on a search for someone who disappeared a lifetime ago. And what he finds leads him to a powerful family determined to keep an old secret, a disgraced reporter who may have plagiarized a novel to create a serial killer, a very interested FBI agent, and a missing child.

This is the seventh outing in a series that's been gaining in popularity since Bolitar's first appearance, in Harlan Coben's Deal Breaker. Myron's a bit of a baby, but he's not afraid to get rough when the situation calls for it, he's eminently likable, and his heart's in the right place. The fireworks are supplied by his friend and partner, Win, who really deserves a series of his own, and Esperanza, the lesbian wrestler-lawyer who has finally talked Myron into making her a partner in the business.

Published
2000
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Myron Bolitar

The series

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In a world where secrets don’t stay buried and justice wears many faces, the Myron Bolitar series carves out a space that’s as emotionally raw as it is relentlessly gripping. Beneath the sleek surface of sports agents and celebrity clients, former basketball star Myron Bolitar finds himself in the murky depths of crime, corruption, and moral gray zones—often against his better judgment. With each case, he’s not just solving mysteries; he’s navigating the fragile human connections that make every decision count.

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The heart of this bestselling crime thriller series isn’t just its plot twists—though those come fast and hard—but the people caught in their wake. Myron, loyal to a fault and shaped by past regrets, is the kind of protagonist who bleeds real, carrying the emotional weight of every life he touches. Beside him stands Win, a polished sociopath whose violent precision balances Myron’s empathy with bone-chilling efficiency. And then there’s Esperanza, whose strength and sarcasm cut through the tension like a knife.

Set against a backdrop that moves effortlessly between high-stakes glamour and gritty realism, this character-driven mystery series explores themes of trust, redemption, and what it truly means to do the right thing when the rules no longer apply. The writing is sharp, emotionally charged, and laced with Coben’s trademark blend of suspense and dark humor—ideal for readers who crave psychological thrillers with heart.

Whether you’re drawn to morally complex heroes or slow-burn crime fiction that keeps you guessing until the very last chapter, this long-running series delivers a compelling mix of pulse-pounding tension and genuine human drama. For those who believe thrillers should do more than entertain—they should make you feel—this is a journey worth taking.

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