Mickey is cool, calm and collected just like his uncle. I found myself lagging through the final third, and did want it to speed up and get things moving along, thus my 3 star rating. I found myself wanting Myron to help his nephew Mickey to solve this life and death conundrum, but this is what this series is all about - it's Mickey's not Myron's! When Myron does make an entrance it's anti climactical, he's purely there in the background. The characters in this small series are all enjoyable, I love them and their friendship.

Then there is 'Spoon' tiny in stature but huge in words and personality, he loves his friends just as much as they love him. Ema, a girl who seems to hide her home life, whose outward appearance is dark and gothic, one of the non cool crowd who doesn't at all care about her status on the social pecking order at high school (these kids are young!). Mickey tall and commanding, excellent basketball player, unflappable. I love how his characters are edgey with barbs thrown in at all stages, with entertaining banter between the three high school friends. I love Harlan Coben's writing, he is witty, sharp and funny while telling his serious stories. I'd happily recommend 'Seconds Away' but I would maybe advise where possible to read 'Shelter' first. Remembering that this is a YA novel, there is limited violence and no language compared to full on adult thrillers and this makes for a much more relaxing and enjoyable read but still as suspenseful and captivating. The denouement was excellent and well plotted - all in all this was a brilliant mystery that was fun to follow and try to solve.

I loved the character 'Spoon', he really gave the book its light entertainment and humour and I thought the three characters - Mickey, Spoon and Ema - worked perfectly well together and I would happily follow them in another book too.

I can see Mickey becoming a permanent fixture and as he grows I believe he'd develop into a more adult series with ease. I managed to read this book in a full day since time allowed and I thoroughly enjoyed spending my day with Mickey Bolitar.īeing a Myron Bolitar fan already from Coben's main adult series I enjoyed the fact that Myron was also in this book albeit in a backseat role. 'Seconds Away' continues on from the previous book 'Shelter' and although there was enough in the story to bring me up to speed I did feel as though I missed out on some important events and introduction of characters.Īs usual Coben entices you into his books with quick, intriguing and exciting chapters and before you know it you are totally engrossed and can't stop reading. As we all know Harlan Coben writes fantastic adult thrillers and he doesn't disappoint either with his YA mysteries starring Myron Bolitar's nephew Mickey.

Mickey bolitar book 2