Author: Harlan Coben
Genre: YA, Mystery/Thriller
Rating: PG
Publisher: G.P. Putnam's Sons
Publication Date: September 6, 2011
Pages: 304 pages
Source: ARC Courtesy of the Publisher
My Rating: 4*
[Gooodreads | Amazon]
A young adult debut from internationally bestselling author Harlan Coben
Mickey Bolitar's year can't get much worse. After witnessing his father's death and sending his mom to rehab, he's forced to live with his estranged uncle Myron and switch high schools.
A new school comes with new friends and new enemies, and lucky for Mickey, it also comes with a great new girlfriend, Ashley. For a while, it seems like Mickey's train-wreck of a life is finally improving - until Ashley vanishes without a trace. Unwilling to let another person walk out of his life, Mickey follows Ashley's trail into a seedy underworld that reveals that this seemingly sweet, shy girl isn't who she claimed to be. And neither was Mickey's father. Soon, Mickey learns about a conspiracy so shocking that it makes high school drama seem like a luxury - and leaves him questioning everything about the life he thought he knew.
First introduced to readers in Harlan Coben's latest adult novel, Live Wire, Mickey Bolitar is as quick-witted and clever as his uncle Myron, and eager to go to any length to save the people he cares about. With this new series, Coben introduces an entirely new generation of fans to the masterful plotting and wry humor that have made him an award-winning, internationally bestselling, and beloved author.
Quotes
"Evil remains. Always. You can combat it, but you can never fully defeat it. You settle for small victories. IF you overreach, you lose everything. But every life matters. There is an old saying: 'He who saves one life saves the world.' So we pick and choose."
My Thoughts
Now I know that I am a fast reader, usually reading at least one book a day, but I absolutely devoured this book. I think in total it took me an hour and half to read it. That is fast, even by my standards. After having read the book all I have to say is why haven't I read a novel by Harlan Coben before?
I was hooked from the first page and when I finished the book, I immediately wanted to read another one. Unfortunately, Shelter is Harlan Coben's first foray into writing a YA novel. Having said that, I really hope he writes another one. The novel was the perfect blend of suspense, intrigue, humor, and sensitivity. The character's, who were all very different, came across as authentic and real in both their relationships and interactions.
The protagonist Mickey is currently living with his uncle Myron after having lost both his mother and father in some shape or form. Mickey is both a likeable character and an honourable one. He has a tremendous sense of right and wrong, and a very deep social conscience that is not usually displayed at his age. He, despite the recent trials and tribulations he has been through, remains steadfast in the belief that you should help those who are in need despite the personal cost, and displays this throughout the novel on his search for his missing girlfriend.
All in all, I found this a very enjoyable and easy read. It can get a bit suggestive at times, but it's really nothing more than you would see on TV in any prime time show.
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