Tell no one by Harlan Coben

Eight years ago David Beck was knocked unconscious and left for dead, and his wife Elizabeth was kidnapped and murdered. For the next eight years Dr Beck re-lived the horror of what happened that day every day of his life. Then one afternoon, he receives an anonymous e-mail telling him to log on to a certain web-site at a certain time, using a code that only he and his wife knew. The screen opens on to a web cam - and it is Elizabeth's image he sees. Is it a practical joke? But as Beck tries to find out if Elizabeth is truly alive, and what really happened the night she disappeared, the FBI are trying to pin Elizabeth's murder on him. And everyone he turns to seems to end up dead?

From the author's website:
TELL NO ONE is a story of loss and redemption. It begins innocently enough. Dr. David Beck and his beloved wife, Elizabeth, are celebrating the anniversary of their first kiss in the quiet of Lake Charmaine. They grew up together, first kissed at age twelve, and now, twenty-five years old and married less than a year, they return for an idyllic weekend away.

Tragedy shatters their solitude. Elizabeth is abducted and murdered, her body found in a ditch. Her killer is caught and brought to justice. But for David Beck, there can be no closure. Eight years pass. He never gets over Elizabeth’s murder. He loses himself in his work as an inner city pediatrician.

But everything changes on the eighth anniversary of Elizabeth’s death. Two unidentified bodies are found at Lake Charmaine, unearthed years after their deaths. But even more disturbing, Beck gets a bizarre email that mentions a specific phrase – a phrase known only to him and Elizabeth. The email also tells him to click a hyperlink the next day at a specific hour – “kiss time” – 6:15PM.

I loved this book. It was very hard to put down and the characters I thought were very well written. There was non-stop action throughout and it was hard to predict what would happen next. I will surely be reading more books by this author.

2 stars for mindless suspense. This book gave me anxiety, I didn't need right now. The author creates a very likable MC, who can memorize his patient's cell number, the phone number of the acquaintance in the apartment below his. He is politically correct, a doctor who works for Medicaid. Lost his wife and never had a serious relationship for 8 years. Perfect hero. When something unlikable is happening to him, however bad the writing is it gives me palpitations and I hated it.

Writing is subpar. I used to enjoy thrillers like this. But after reading books like the Millenium Series and Gone Girl, you can't help but compare every other thriller to these. Plot twists are very appealing. They are the most attractive part of any thriller. But at times it can be one too many. I never knew. Now I know. It's just tiring. Bigger fewer twists are better than numerous tiny twists. Once you start questioning the plausibility it is impossible to stop.

Quality of Writing in thrillers, adds so much to the book, than we assume. It becomes obvious only after we have read stories with different standards. I was in awe at every sentence written in “We need to talk about Kevin”. I kept wondering, so articulate, this lady is. A thriller that triggered emotions.
This book has short matter-of-fact sentences. That barely work to convey information and nothing else.
If you need an analogy, I'll compare the above novels with a sewing machine, and this book with a spade.

If you are beginner, trying to start reading, you may try it. If not, better let it stay on the shelf.

i have to stop going into books blind. predictable ending. boring characters. casual racism???

*3.5 stars

Things I liked:

• Coben's writing style - always good, twisty and compelling
• Fast pace - I love short quick chapters in thrillers
• Character dynamics between David and Tyrese throughout.

Things I didn't like so much:

• It felt quite dated with people using pagers and going to internet cafes, I get that it was written in 2001 but it just doesn't read well now.
• Oddly 2 characters have the same name - one of the supporting characters is called Tyrese and at one point the main character is watching the news and the news caster is called Tyrese. This is just odd!