
Dell - Dell
Release date: 1996-11-02
Mass Market Paperback
Author: Harlan Coben
Crime & mystery, Fiction, Fiction - Mystery/ Detective, Mystery/Suspense, Mystery & Detective - Series, Fiction / Mystery & Detective / General, Mystery & Detective - General, Mystery fiction




Writing on anything connected to sports gambling is always timely - and "Fade Away" is a good example. Coben's underlying theme, whether intentional or not, centers around the timeless questions of freedom and responsibility. Coben is not only an entertaining writer, but knows how to blend reality and idealism - and everything in between. (Reviewed by Jerry Marcus, author of four novels - including Broken Trust - The Murder Of Basketball Star Jack Molinas.)
I am a fan of Harlan Coben but have never read this particular series. In contrast to the majority of reviews, I found this to be tedious rather than witty and in need of additional editing. Lame, forced dialog on top of a silly plot...even taking it for what it is, there are better ways to spend one's time.
Ten years ago an injury ended his stint in the NBA without him playing one professional regular season game, but though Myron Bolitar has always thought of what could have been he uses self deprecating humor to move on and mope over what was lost to fate. He spent time as the most visible undercover FBI agent in the country (remember this is pre Plame days) before deciding to become a sports agent.
New Jersey Dragons owner Chip Arnstein wants to hire Myron to find his longtime sports rival going back to the sixth grade and the ACC, Greg Downing, who has had an illustrious pro career. The word to the media is he sprained his ankle; but on the street and in the Dragons front office Greg vanished five days ago. Using his not so honed FBI skills, Myron investigates with clues leading to a corpse, gambling, bold thirsty point shaving mobsters and a bit of everything else. Myron realizes he never came to grips with the injury that ended his career before it began.
The reprint of the third Bolitar tale (see DEAL BREAKER and DROPSHOT) is a superb story that easily overcomes the initial credibility of an owner hiring a sports agent to play sleuth due to the hero. Myron is wisecracking throughout targeting himself more so than others, but as he gets closer to finding his firmer rival, he realizes the humor hides his disappointment. This is a terrific series that holds up nicely a decade plus since its first printing as this entry affirms.
Harriet Klausner