Stay Close
by Harlan Coben
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Three people--a suburban housewife, a talented documentary photographer, and a detective--living lives they never wanted, hiding secrets that even those closest to them would never suspect, will find that the past doesn't recede ... and that desperation and hunger can lurk behind even the prettiest facades.Tags
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This story is a riveting thriller that explores the intersecting lives of three protagonists: Megan, a suburban mother with a hidden past; Ray, a washed-up photographer with terrifying nightmares he can't explain; and Broome, a relentless detective with personal ties to some of the players. Each is drawn into a web of secrets, lies, and unresolved trauma connected to a series of mysterious disappearances. As Broome, who leads the investigation, puts the pieces together, his efforts are complicated by a couple of psychotic killers named Ken and Barbie, the supposed reappearance of one of the missing victims, and a crooked cop.
As the plot unfolds, buried truths emerge, and the tension escalates, with unexpected twists and turns keeping show more readers on edge. Coben masterfully crafts a narrative that delves into the complexities of identity, the consequences of past choices, and the pursuit of redemption, culminating in a suspenseful, emotionally charged ending I didn't see coming. 'Stay Close' is one of Mr. Coben's finest efforts. show less
As the plot unfolds, buried truths emerge, and the tension escalates, with unexpected twists and turns keeping show more readers on edge. Coben masterfully crafts a narrative that delves into the complexities of identity, the consequences of past choices, and the pursuit of redemption, culminating in a suspenseful, emotionally charged ending I didn't see coming. 'Stay Close' is one of Mr. Coben's finest efforts. show less
The more I read Harlan Coben's books - particularly the later, stand-alone ones, the more of a fan I become. Here we have the traditional respectable-married-woman-with-sordid-past (and most of his novels have one) but in this case, it's stated up front, so you know the mystery must lie elsewhere.
I am in awe of the way each chapter manages to squeeze in a shock, and the way suspense is ramped up to such a degree towards the finish that I found myself feverishly reading it on a night time car journey by the light of my phone (I wasn't driving btw). When you break it down into its constituent parts, the plot consisted of a small number of people who between them held knowledge which would unlock a mystery, and during the course of the show more novel all of them had to meet up at separate times and be persuaded to share that information. Simple as. But crikey, what a fiendishly complicated job it must have been to keep track of who knew what at any given time. And then there's the constant witticisms. You come to expect it in a Harlan Coben novel, and however irritating it might be at times, I know I would miss them if they weren't there. "Everyone is a wiseass" observes a character at one point and I had to smile. In these books, they certainly are. show less
I am in awe of the way each chapter manages to squeeze in a shock, and the way suspense is ramped up to such a degree towards the finish that I found myself feverishly reading it on a night time car journey by the light of my phone (I wasn't driving btw). When you break it down into its constituent parts, the plot consisted of a small number of people who between them held knowledge which would unlock a mystery, and during the course of the show more novel all of them had to meet up at separate times and be persuaded to share that information. Simple as. But crikey, what a fiendishly complicated job it must have been to keep track of who knew what at any given time. And then there's the constant witticisms. You come to expect it in a Harlan Coben novel, and however irritating it might be at times, I know I would miss them if they weren't there. "Everyone is a wiseass" observes a character at one point and I had to smile. In these books, they certainly are. show less
Over the past few years, some of Harlan Coben's novels have come to life on Netflix. "Stay Close" is a mini-series on Netflix. I have not seen the series. However, I'm always a fan of reading the novel first, before watching the movie or series. As most of you would attest to, the novel usually carries greater detail. Overall, I enjoyed "Stay Close", the plot fits into the typical Coben fashion. In this particular plot, the reader is first introduced to the characters, Megan (Cassie), Ray, Broome, Fester, Dave, Lorraine and others. Megan has a past that she has hidden from her husband, Dave from the day they met. Without giving away too many details, her past is now catching up with her. The mystery of "who done it" is revealed at the show more end. Clues are given throughout the storyline. I enjoyed the novel and I'm looking forward to comparing it to the mini-series. If you're a Harlan Coben fan, I would recommend adding this one to your tbr list. show less
I like Coben's non-basketball books. And this one was good but not the best. A winding tale about seemingly random deaths of people who don't matter turns into a twisted tail of a serial killer with a special mission. It rambled a little and some of the twists and turns were just a little too jerky but I rode it to the end and I'm glad I did.
Megan is a suburban soccer mom who once upon a time walked on the wild side. Now she's got two kids, a perfect husband, a picket fence, and a growing sense of dissatisfaction. Ray used to be a talented documentary photographer, but at the age of forty he finds himself in a dead-end job posing as a paparazzo, pandering to celebrity-obsesed rich kids. Broome is a detective who can't let go of a cold case - a local husband and father who disappeared seventeen years ago - and spends the anniversary every year visiting a house frozen in time, the missing man's family still waiting, his slippers left by the recliner as if he might show up at any moment to step into them. Three people living lives they never wanted, hiding secrets that even show more those closest to them would never suspect, will find that the past never truly fades away. show less
I love Coben's Myron Bolitar series. And I keep reading his stand alone books hoping for that excitement and intensity of Bolitar books. I keep being disappointed. This book was no different. I was 80% (thank you Kndle for the measurement) into the book before the main characters figured out that there was indeed a serial killer. It just took entirely too long to get to the point of the mystery. And then once we got there, it was as if the author ran out of steam and just slapped together a quick ending to get the pain over with - almost like ripping a band aid off a wound.
Sadly, I won't be recommending this book to anyone.
Sadly, I won't be recommending this book to anyone.
The plot centers around the yearly disappearance of men on Mardi Gras that has gone on for seventeen years in Atlantic City. Coben does an excellent job of throwing in twists and turns to keep you guessing until the end.
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Author Information
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Harlan Coben was born in Newark, New Jersey on January 4, 1962. After receiving a political science degree from Amherst College, he worked in the travel industry in a company owned by his grandfather. He writes the Myron Bolitar series and Mickey Bolitar series. His other works include Gone for Good, The Innocent, The Woods, Hold Tight, Caught, show more Stay Close, Six Years, Missing You, The Stranger, Fool Me Once, Home, and Don't Let Go. Tell No One was turned into the multiple award-winning 2006 French film Ne le Dis à Personne. He was the first author to win the Edgar Award, Shamus Award, and Anthony Award. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
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Common Knowledge
- Canonical title
- Stay Close
- Original title
- Stay Close
- Original publication date
- 2012-03-20
- People/Characters
- Megan Pierce; Ray Levine; Jack Broome; Barbie; Ken; Harry Sutton (show all 8); Stuart Green; Lorraine
- Important places
- Atlantic City, New Jersey, USA
- Important events*
- Mardi Gras
- Related movies
- Stay Close, miniseries 2021
- Epigraph
- Well now everything dies, baby that's a fact. But maybe everything that dies, someday comes back. - Bruce Springsteen, "Atlantic City"
- Dedication
- This one is for Aunt Diane and Uncle Norman Reiter and Aunt Hene and Uncle Marty Kromberg, with love and gratitude.
- First words
- Sometimes, in that split second when Ray Levine snapped a picture and lost the world in the strobe from his flashbulb, he saw the blood.
- Quotations*
- Well, now everything dies, baby , that's a fact.
But maybe everything that dies, someday comes back,
- Bruce Springsteen, 'Atlantic City' - Last words
- (Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)But maybe if she took a deep breath and held on, she could make this feeling stay with her, at least for a little while more.
*Some information comes from Common Knowledge in other languages. Click "Edit" for more information.
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