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Myron Bolitar #8
Promise Me
The bestselling author and creator of the hit Netflix drama The Stranger reveals the deadly consequences that can be born of the best intentions.
As the school year winds down, Myron Bolitar is determined to help keep his friends’ children safe from the dangers of drinking and driving. So he makes two neighborhood girls promise him that if they are ever in a bind but are afraid to call their parents, they must call him. Several nights later, the call comes at two a.m. The next day, a girl is missing and Myron is the last person who saw her. Racing to find her before she’s gone forever, Myron must outrun his own troubled past and decide once and for all who he is and what he will stand up for...
As the school year winds down, Myron Bolitar is determined to help keep his friends’ children safe from the dangers of drinking and driving. So he makes two neighborhood girls promise him that if they are ever in a bind but are afraid to call their parents, they must call him. Several nights later, the call comes at two a.m. The next day, a girl is missing and Myron is the last person who saw her. Racing to find her before she’s gone forever, Myron must outrun his own troubled past and decide once and for all who he is and what he will stand up for...
432 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2006
2684 people are currently reading
12711 people want to read
About the author
Harlan Coben
194 books44.7k followersHarlan Coben is a #1 New York Times bestselling author and one of the world's leading storytellers. His suspense novels are published in forty-five languages and have been number one bestsellers in more than a dozen countries with seventy-five million books in print worldwide.
His books have earned the Edgar, Shamus, and Anthony Awards, and many have been developed into Netflix Original Drama series, including his adaptations of The Stranger, The Innocent, Gone for Good and The Woods. His most recent adaptation for Netflix, Stay Close, premiered on December 31, 2021 and stars Cush Jumbo, James Nesbitt, and Richard Armitage.
His books have earned the Edgar, Shamus, and Anthony Awards, and many have been developed into Netflix Original Drama series, including his adaptations of The Stranger, The Innocent, Gone for Good and The Woods. His most recent adaptation for Netflix, Stay Close, premiered on December 31, 2021 and stars Cush Jumbo, James Nesbitt, and Richard Armitage.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,175 reviews
February 18, 2017
The thing about reading any Harlan Coben story is that before you know it you've soaked up half the book!
I have loved reading the Myron and Win books - unfortunately out of order, although they are all easy enough to read as standalones too. This is book number 8 and a great one at that! They are all so easy to read and follow and every story is different, I don't quite know how Harlan comes up with so many different ideas! The characters are brilliant, Myron and Win are just so unique, and I love Hester and Esperanza, such class independent women you can't help admire.
In this book 'Promise Me' Myron makes a promise to teenager Aimee that he would be there for her any time day or night whenever she needed help without any questions asked. Unfortunately when she does call him for help and he accepts she disappears into the night after dropping her off at a friends. Thereon in comes tense twists and turns as per the usual Harlan trait that keeps you hooked to the very last page.
Harlan's brilliant descriptive writing is always so professional, clever and his characters so well developed I'd have say he's my favourite author due to the wide variety of storylines that he comes up with. You feel so safe and comfortable with his books.
Although I've often said that I prefer Harlan's fantastic standalone novels these Myron Bolitar stories are equally fabulous books and I highly recommend them, on their own or in or out of order! A well awarded 5 stars!
I have loved reading the Myron and Win books - unfortunately out of order, although they are all easy enough to read as standalones too. This is book number 8 and a great one at that! They are all so easy to read and follow and every story is different, I don't quite know how Harlan comes up with so many different ideas! The characters are brilliant, Myron and Win are just so unique, and I love Hester and Esperanza, such class independent women you can't help admire.
In this book 'Promise Me' Myron makes a promise to teenager Aimee that he would be there for her any time day or night whenever she needed help without any questions asked. Unfortunately when she does call him for help and he accepts she disappears into the night after dropping her off at a friends. Thereon in comes tense twists and turns as per the usual Harlan trait that keeps you hooked to the very last page.
Harlan's brilliant descriptive writing is always so professional, clever and his characters so well developed I'd have say he's my favourite author due to the wide variety of storylines that he comes up with. You feel so safe and comfortable with his books.
Although I've often said that I prefer Harlan's fantastic standalone novels these Myron Bolitar stories are equally fabulous books and I highly recommend them, on their own or in or out of order! A well awarded 5 stars!
March 8, 2019
Hmmmm – this one has been tough for me to get interested in reviewing. I actually finished it over 24 hours ago and have spent a lot of time thinking about what I would say. The reason for this is that I have so many other Coben books – as well as Bolitar-specific Coben books – to compare it to. And, with this being the case, it is not all that straightforward. Also, I am not sure if having the points of reference makes me like it more or less.
I feel like if this had been a standalone book, I would not have cared for it much at all. For me, it just got too over the top and out of control. Not that Bolitar stories usually end up based in a normal reality, but this time it just felt like too much. It was lots of characters doing lots of unbelievable things. I got to the point where I just could not accept the plot and the way that everyone was responding to it.
Here was my progression – plot points fabricated to protect the innocent, but hopefully you get the idea:
“Hmm, okay . . . well, that decision is a bit unreasonable, but I can go with it . . .”
A few pages later:
“Hmmm . . . well, beating up a cop in the food court at the mall and then shooting up the Sears with hardly any repercussion seems odd, but I will let that slide”
Even later:
“27 highly trained ninjas who have been hired killers for 20 just cornered our hero, but his friend showed up and shot them all in the head and the danger is over . . . now, wait a minute, that’s it?”
And then:
“These two characters were ready to kill each other two pages ago, but now they are working together . . . I think????”
I mean, sure it was high intensity crazy insanity, but it had me totally thrown completely into left field for the first time I can remember in the Bolitar series. And, much like M. Night Shyamalan, I have come to expect the Coben twists at the end, but I am still not quite sure they made any sense to me this time.
However, I am giving this book 3 stars, which goes back to the beginning of my review when I ask if my earlier experience with Coben makes me rate it higher or lower. I think the fact that I enjoy Coben and the characters in his Bolitar universe has caused me to give it the benefit of the doubt despite my complaints.
In the end, I cannot truly say if you will enjoy it or not, just know it is kinda out there even for this series!
I feel like if this had been a standalone book, I would not have cared for it much at all. For me, it just got too over the top and out of control. Not that Bolitar stories usually end up based in a normal reality, but this time it just felt like too much. It was lots of characters doing lots of unbelievable things. I got to the point where I just could not accept the plot and the way that everyone was responding to it.
Here was my progression – plot points fabricated to protect the innocent, but hopefully you get the idea:
“Hmm, okay . . . well, that decision is a bit unreasonable, but I can go with it . . .”
A few pages later:
“Hmmm . . . well, beating up a cop in the food court at the mall and then shooting up the Sears with hardly any repercussion seems odd, but I will let that slide”
Even later:
“27 highly trained ninjas who have been hired killers for 20 just cornered our hero, but his friend showed up and shot them all in the head and the danger is over . . . now, wait a minute, that’s it?”
And then:
“These two characters were ready to kill each other two pages ago, but now they are working together . . . I think????”
I mean, sure it was high intensity crazy insanity, but it had me totally thrown completely into left field for the first time I can remember in the Bolitar series. And, much like M. Night Shyamalan, I have come to expect the Coben twists at the end, but I am still not quite sure they made any sense to me this time.
However, I am giving this book 3 stars, which goes back to the beginning of my review when I ask if my earlier experience with Coben makes me rate it higher or lower. I think the fact that I enjoy Coben and the characters in his Bolitar universe has caused me to give it the benefit of the doubt despite my complaints.
In the end, I cannot truly say if you will enjoy it or not, just know it is kinda out there even for this series!
December 21, 2018
Myron and I have not been acquainted for quite some time. I am glad I remedied this. Myron is back after a six year hiatus, and back with a vengeance is he.
Myron has promised a close friends daughter to call him, day or night, if she ever needs help, trying to discourage drink driving. This back fires after she does call for help, and after dropping her off to an unknown location, she disappears.
Snappy, witty and clever writing, Harlan Coben never ceases to disappoint. Throw in the hilarious Big Cyndi, the loyal Esperanza and crazy Win. Love it. Always love how Win has Myron's back. Always love this series.
Myron has promised a close friends daughter to call him, day or night, if she ever needs help, trying to discourage drink driving. This back fires after she does call for help, and after dropping her off to an unknown location, she disappears.
Snappy, witty and clever writing, Harlan Coben never ceases to disappoint. Throw in the hilarious Big Cyndi, the loyal Esperanza and crazy Win. Love it. Always love how Win has Myron's back. Always love this series.
September 25, 2016
Promise Me by Harlan Coben is a 2007 Dutton publication.
I’ve been going through this series as quickly as possible, hoping to catch all the way up before ‘Home’ becomes available at the library. So, it was a pretty big jolt when I started this one because apparently there is a huge time gap between book seven and book eight, and it really caught me off guard.
But, once I started reading, I soon realized I have read this book before. It was years ago, and I couldn’t recall all of the key points, but I was able to zip through this one pretty fast, since it was so familiar.
This eight installment puts Myron in an awkward and tight spot, as he becomes a person of interest in the case of a missing teenage girl.
This one is very fast paced, tense, and has so many twists, you might get whiplash. The plot is very sharp and once more exposes the darker side of humanity, and places the spotlight on the secretive world teenagers live in, and the lengths parents will go to save their child and secure their future.
The only complaint I have is how muted Win is in this one and the humor was practically nonexistent, and I missed Myron’s parents as well. But, I did like the direction Myron’s future is headed, as he puts some ghost to rest, and moves into a brighter place, finding some happiness for a change.
Overall 4
I’ve been going through this series as quickly as possible, hoping to catch all the way up before ‘Home’ becomes available at the library. So, it was a pretty big jolt when I started this one because apparently there is a huge time gap between book seven and book eight, and it really caught me off guard.
But, once I started reading, I soon realized I have read this book before. It was years ago, and I couldn’t recall all of the key points, but I was able to zip through this one pretty fast, since it was so familiar.
This eight installment puts Myron in an awkward and tight spot, as he becomes a person of interest in the case of a missing teenage girl.
This one is very fast paced, tense, and has so many twists, you might get whiplash. The plot is very sharp and once more exposes the darker side of humanity, and places the spotlight on the secretive world teenagers live in, and the lengths parents will go to save their child and secure their future.
The only complaint I have is how muted Win is in this one and the humor was practically nonexistent, and I missed Myron’s parents as well. But, I did like the direction Myron’s future is headed, as he puts some ghost to rest, and moves into a brighter place, finding some happiness for a change.
Overall 4
March 23, 2016
I love Myron Bolitar but this book started off a little bit strangely. Myron was not his normal buccaneering self and the subject matter seemed to be runaway teenagers. But things came good very quickly and then I was totally unable to put the book down. I love the way Win always has Myron's back and also how they are (nearly) always ahead of the game when taking on criminals and thugs. The story line was very involved and the eventual conclusion was totally unpredictable. So sad I only have two to go before I complete the series:(
November 15, 2016
I always enjoy reading about Myron Bolitar and his friends. In this book Myron is older and seems more settled. He has a more mature love interest. He no longer drinks Yoo-Hoo. However, his connection to Win is the same. Win always has Myron's back. The sarcastic humor which is part of Myron's personality is still there. Myron makes a promise to two teenage girls and that promise brings him into a disappearance of one the girls. He has the police thinking of him as a suspect and parents who are angered initially by him when they learn about his promise. There is a twist in this book. I liked this book but not as much as some of the earlier books. I have the next two books at home in my TBR group. If you are new to Myron I would start with the first book in the series. This could be read as a stand-alone but it would be better if you had read some books leading up to this book.
January 16, 2026
At this point I'm really invested in this author, this series and these characters. I can't get enough.
Four stars.
Four stars.
January 9, 2024
“I dated a lot of bisexual women – I’d mention sex, the girl would say ‘bye’.”
For longer than he can remember, Myron Bolitar, ex NBA pro-basketball player, has mourned his split from Jessica Culver, the love of his life and a ravishing babe who would rank 12 on the men’s universal 10-point hottie scale. Now Ali Wilder has entered his life and Bolitar is convinced that true love and relief from those memories has re-entered his life. Of course, PROMISE ME is a suspense thriller and literary life is never that simple or straightforward.
When he overhears a teenage conversation on the matter of drinking at teenage parties, Bolitar extracts a promise from Wilder’s teenage daughter to phone him at any time if she should need help or a ride, any time, any place, and he would come to the rescue “no questions asked” tied to a promise to never discuss it with her mother. Of course, the inevitable comes to pass and when Bolitar drops Wilder’s daughter off at a friend’s house, she promptly disappears off the face of the earth – kidnapped? runaway? stolen into teenage prostitution? white slave trade? Obviously, the game is afoot and feeling bound by his promise to the young girl, Myron wrestles with the problem of revealing his knowledge of her last whereabouts to her mother and the police.
PROMISE ME is a first-rate suspense thriller that deals with issues of teenage pregnancy, teenage runaways, underage drinking and sex, and domestic violence. Bolitar’s sarcasm and ribald sense of humour are reminiscent of Nelson DeMille’s famous hero, John Corey. As fans of the Myron Bolitar series would expect, they will be treated to several appearances of Bolitar’s murderous and über-wealthy psychopathic friend, helper, and ofttimes guardian angel, Windsor Horne Lockwood III.
Definitely recommended.
Paul Weiss
For longer than he can remember, Myron Bolitar, ex NBA pro-basketball player, has mourned his split from Jessica Culver, the love of his life and a ravishing babe who would rank 12 on the men’s universal 10-point hottie scale. Now Ali Wilder has entered his life and Bolitar is convinced that true love and relief from those memories has re-entered his life. Of course, PROMISE ME is a suspense thriller and literary life is never that simple or straightforward.
When he overhears a teenage conversation on the matter of drinking at teenage parties, Bolitar extracts a promise from Wilder’s teenage daughter to phone him at any time if she should need help or a ride, any time, any place, and he would come to the rescue “no questions asked” tied to a promise to never discuss it with her mother. Of course, the inevitable comes to pass and when Bolitar drops Wilder’s daughter off at a friend’s house, she promptly disappears off the face of the earth – kidnapped? runaway? stolen into teenage prostitution? white slave trade? Obviously, the game is afoot and feeling bound by his promise to the young girl, Myron wrestles with the problem of revealing his knowledge of her last whereabouts to her mother and the police.
PROMISE ME is a first-rate suspense thriller that deals with issues of teenage pregnancy, teenage runaways, underage drinking and sex, and domestic violence. Bolitar’s sarcasm and ribald sense of humour are reminiscent of Nelson DeMille’s famous hero, John Corey. As fans of the Myron Bolitar series would expect, they will be treated to several appearances of Bolitar’s murderous and über-wealthy psychopathic friend, helper, and ofttimes guardian angel, Windsor Horne Lockwood III.
Definitely recommended.
Paul Weiss
July 10, 2015
7/10
An enjoyable read with a fast pace but let down by a poor ending(s). This was typical Harlan Coben in that you could fly through it, something the short chapters certainly help with, without getting too invested or bogged down.
It’s sort of like a fluffy Dennis Lehane “Kenzie and Gennaro”. The writing styles are pretty similar in a jokey tone but heavy material, the cast of characters are the same apart from there isn’t a Gennaro style female lead (or at least not in this one as Esperanza was barely in this one) and Win is like the complete other end of the scale to Bubba (both crazy but neither would ever hang in the same circles), there are quite a few red herrings to keep you guessing throughout with a couple of big reveals at the end.
The plot was decent but quite forgettable like some of these can be. Whilst I’m reading it I’m enjoying it but once I’ve finished then I forget them and in days gone by I could probably forget that I’d read it from the synopsis (Myron has to help someone, in this case find a missing girl who may have run away or may have been taken) and picked it up again. Goodreads win there then. One noticeable thing though I found was this series had a nice edge with Myron being in the sport world and that was a little niche market and made the background into the sports a bit more fun, this had none of that with Myron now just sort of in a slump. It just seemed very run of the mill and could be like any of his other stand alone work.
The ending was the thing that annoyed me a little. There were three endings in the space of about 10 pages which seemed quite rushed. The most interesting of those endings or plot twists didn’t have time to breath before it was squashed straight away in an epilogue that was just too much. Maybe it’s because the ending I liked was more Lehane meets Gone Girl and was quite twisted? Maybe that says more about me than I care to admit.
All in all a good read, sort of like a KFC bucket meal. Great at the start working your way through it but then at the end when picking through the bones of it you’re not all that bothered about discarding it and forgetting what you’ve just done. I’m only two left from finishing the series so I will see it through but I think maybe my tastes are slightly changing as Coben used to be my go to guy and a favourite to read. This is becoming less and less these days (damn you Lehane!!).
If you like this try: “A Drink Before the War” by Dennis Lehane.
An enjoyable read with a fast pace but let down by a poor ending(s). This was typical Harlan Coben in that you could fly through it, something the short chapters certainly help with, without getting too invested or bogged down.
It’s sort of like a fluffy Dennis Lehane “Kenzie and Gennaro”. The writing styles are pretty similar in a jokey tone but heavy material, the cast of characters are the same apart from there isn’t a Gennaro style female lead (or at least not in this one as Esperanza was barely in this one) and Win is like the complete other end of the scale to Bubba (both crazy but neither would ever hang in the same circles), there are quite a few red herrings to keep you guessing throughout with a couple of big reveals at the end.
The plot was decent but quite forgettable like some of these can be. Whilst I’m reading it I’m enjoying it but once I’ve finished then I forget them and in days gone by I could probably forget that I’d read it from the synopsis (Myron has to help someone, in this case find a missing girl who may have run away or may have been taken) and picked it up again. Goodreads win there then. One noticeable thing though I found was this series had a nice edge with Myron being in the sport world and that was a little niche market and made the background into the sports a bit more fun, this had none of that with Myron now just sort of in a slump. It just seemed very run of the mill and could be like any of his other stand alone work.
The ending was the thing that annoyed me a little. There were three endings in the space of about 10 pages which seemed quite rushed. The most interesting of those endings or plot twists didn’t have time to breath before it was squashed straight away in an epilogue that was just too much. Maybe it’s because the ending I liked was more Lehane meets Gone Girl and was quite twisted? Maybe that says more about me than I care to admit.
All in all a good read, sort of like a KFC bucket meal. Great at the start working your way through it but then at the end when picking through the bones of it you’re not all that bothered about discarding it and forgetting what you’ve just done. I’m only two left from finishing the series so I will see it through but I think maybe my tastes are slightly changing as Coben used to be my go to guy and a favourite to read. This is becoming less and less these days (damn you Lehane!!).
If you like this try: “A Drink Before the War” by Dennis Lehane.
December 29, 2023
Actual rating is 3.5 stars.
This is part of a series but can be read as a stand alone novel. In this one Myron is called up by a friend's teenage daughter to pick her up in the middle of the night. Myron drops her off and she is not seen again. Myron investigates.
There is a gap between this book and the previous book. Myron is a new relationship and his business has expanded. Myron is ready to be the hero again. I was really enjoying this book until the twist of the ending. Up to that point it had the staples of a Bolitar story. Myron investigating and trying to be the hero. Win being a badass and one of the most scariest people on the planet. Also Coben has a writing style that flows easily and that envelops the reader. I liked how he progresses the main character within the story. In this one we say bye to a relationship that has been throughout the previous books. It felt like the dawn of a new era for the main character. The highlight for me was how the author used real life events that happened years ago and put his twist on them. With all these aspects this book should have a higher rating but there were a few flaws. This book's drama was more on a domestic level than a sports related level. With this Win was relegated to the sidelines and I missed him. We saw glimpses of him and the banter between him and Myron. This was more of a tease than anything else. The twist at the end affected me the most. It was too much. I also felt like it was unbelievable and I do not buy it. Honestly it was revealed in more of an add on fashion and if we we never went there I believe I would have given this a four star review.
It has been awhile since I read a book from this series. For the most part it was on the cusp of saying "welcome back" and feeling like I did not miss anything. It was right there but never achieved it. It was a likeable book. It was just missing aspects that I expect when I read a book from this series.
This is part of a series but can be read as a stand alone novel. In this one Myron is called up by a friend's teenage daughter to pick her up in the middle of the night. Myron drops her off and she is not seen again. Myron investigates.
There is a gap between this book and the previous book. Myron is a new relationship and his business has expanded. Myron is ready to be the hero again. I was really enjoying this book until the twist of the ending. Up to that point it had the staples of a Bolitar story. Myron investigating and trying to be the hero. Win being a badass and one of the most scariest people on the planet. Also Coben has a writing style that flows easily and that envelops the reader. I liked how he progresses the main character within the story. In this one we say bye to a relationship that has been throughout the previous books. It felt like the dawn of a new era for the main character. The highlight for me was how the author used real life events that happened years ago and put his twist on them. With all these aspects this book should have a higher rating but there were a few flaws. This book's drama was more on a domestic level than a sports related level. With this Win was relegated to the sidelines and I missed him. We saw glimpses of him and the banter between him and Myron. This was more of a tease than anything else. The twist at the end affected me the most. It was too much. I also felt like it was unbelievable and I do not buy it. Honestly it was revealed in more of an add on fashion and if we we never went there I believe I would have given this a four star review.
It has been awhile since I read a book from this series. For the most part it was on the cusp of saying "welcome back" and feeling like I did not miss anything. It was right there but never achieved it. It was a likeable book. It was just missing aspects that I expect when I read a book from this series.
December 22, 2025
68/2025
LA PROMESA
Esta es la segunda novela que leo de Coben (la primera fue EL BOSQUE) y la experiencia no ha podido ser más diferente.
El comienzo me resultó muy intrigante. Capítulos cortos que animaban al "solo uno más", misterio, dos jóvenes desaparecidas...
Pero había algo en el tono, en el estilo, que no me enganchaba como debería. Quería saber cómo se iba a resolver todo, por supuesto, pero era más intriga que enganche real.
Myron Bolitar, el protagonista de la serie, no me caía especialmente bien, por no hablar del psicópata del amigo. Solo el personaje de Edna me parecía de interés.
Encontramos exceso de clichés (personajes arquetipos americanos como el quaterback triunfador, patriotismo...), algunas conversaciones o situaciones inverosímiles y bromas/chistes que fuera del universo USA no se comprenden ni hacen gracia.
Supura testosterona y americanismo por cada página.
Y el final... Ese final... Sorprendente, por supuesto, pero intragable, como un trozo de hígado al que das vueltas y vueltas en la boca, pero no hay forma.
Por ese final le he bajado aún más la calificación y he terminado la lectura con más decepción que disfrute.
Calidad de la obra:7
Disfrute: 6
LA PROMESA
Esta es la segunda novela que leo de Coben (la primera fue EL BOSQUE) y la experiencia no ha podido ser más diferente.
El comienzo me resultó muy intrigante. Capítulos cortos que animaban al "solo uno más", misterio, dos jóvenes desaparecidas...
Pero había algo en el tono, en el estilo, que no me enganchaba como debería. Quería saber cómo se iba a resolver todo, por supuesto, pero era más intriga que enganche real.
Myron Bolitar, el protagonista de la serie, no me caía especialmente bien, por no hablar del psicópata del amigo. Solo el personaje de Edna me parecía de interés.
Encontramos exceso de clichés (personajes arquetipos americanos como el quaterback triunfador, patriotismo...), algunas conversaciones o situaciones inverosímiles y bromas/chistes que fuera del universo USA no se comprenden ni hacen gracia.
Supura testosterona y americanismo por cada página.
Y el final... Ese final... Sorprendente, por supuesto, pero intragable, como un trozo de hígado al que das vueltas y vueltas en la boca, pero no hay forma.
Por ese final le he bajado aún más la calificación y he terminado la lectura con más decepción que disfrute.
Calidad de la obra:7
Disfrute: 6
August 26, 2011
Myron Bolitar is another literary fictional agent similar to James Bond, Hercule Poirot, Dave Robicheaux, Charlie Parker, Elizabeth Costelo or even Robert Langdon. Those are just some that I've encountered in my reading but I am sure you know more of them as I am not really a big fan of mystery thriller genres.
Harlan Coben has Bolitar as his cash cow. Meaning, Bolitar is his recurring character for this series (the 8th, but my first. Yes, I just want to try his book). Bolitar has resigned as an sportswriter and crime fighter and opted to have another career as an entertainment agent. The school year is about to end and the graduating high school students, while waiting for the results of their college entrance exams (similar situation as my daughter now) are up for partying to celebrate left and right. One day, he is sitting by a couple of his friends' daughters and he hears that they are planning to drink and drive. He says that if ever they are in a bind, and the young ladies need Bolitar's help, they have to promise that they call him and Bolitar will get them whenever they are.
One night he receives a call. He picks up the girl, brings her to a friends house. The following morning, the girl disappears and Bolitar becomes the suspect.
Nice plot really especially the second part, the whodunit part. Nice engaging writing. Coben writes well and he knows his stuff. My only problem, this is me and not Coben was that I could not relate to the characters. Why would the ladies go partying without telling their parents? My daughter has not done that and I think she does not have to do it because I normally am the one who prods him to go to parties. I also don't buy Bolitar hiding the whereabout of his friends' daughters. They are his friends and they ought to know.
Anyway, maybe the other Coben's books are better. Maybe I chose the wrong one.
Harlan Coben has Bolitar as his cash cow. Meaning, Bolitar is his recurring character for this series (the 8th, but my first. Yes, I just want to try his book). Bolitar has resigned as an sportswriter and crime fighter and opted to have another career as an entertainment agent. The school year is about to end and the graduating high school students, while waiting for the results of their college entrance exams (similar situation as my daughter now) are up for partying to celebrate left and right. One day, he is sitting by a couple of his friends' daughters and he hears that they are planning to drink and drive. He says that if ever they are in a bind, and the young ladies need Bolitar's help, they have to promise that they call him and Bolitar will get them whenever they are.
One night he receives a call. He picks up the girl, brings her to a friends house. The following morning, the girl disappears and Bolitar becomes the suspect.
Nice plot really especially the second part, the whodunit part. Nice engaging writing. Coben writes well and he knows his stuff. My only problem, this is me and not Coben was that I could not relate to the characters. Why would the ladies go partying without telling their parents? My daughter has not done that and I think she does not have to do it because I normally am the one who prods him to go to parties. I also don't buy Bolitar hiding the whereabout of his friends' daughters. They are his friends and they ought to know.
Anyway, maybe the other Coben's books are better. Maybe I chose the wrong one.
June 12, 2023
It’s been a while since Myron Bolitar has come to the rescue of a damsel in distress but he’s lost none of his derring do, nor has he lost his ability to put himself in a wildly regrettable position, regardless of his best intentions. Promise Me is the 8th book in the series and demonstrates exactly why Myron, along with Win, Esperanza, Big Cyndi and, of course, Hester Crimstein have become such a readable cast of characters.
The crux of the story, and the reason for its title, comes from a plea from Myron to a couple of teenage girls that if they ever find themselves in a situation where they feel pressured to accepting a lift from someone who is over the alcohol limit, to promise to call him and he would be there to help them, no questions asked.
The problem is that when 18 year old Aimee, the daughter of a lifelong friend, takes him up on the offer and calls Myron and accepts the lift back home to a friend's house only to wind up missing the next day. When the police become involved their investigation reveals that Aimee had called Myron’s phone in the hours leading to her disappearance. This is not a good look for Myron and the unwanted suspicion and attention it brings on him acts as a catalyst to redouble his efforts to find her.
He embarks on a difficult investigation trying to retrace the steps Aimee took after he dropped her off at the end of a cul-de-sac. With very few clues and no real idea what it is he’s looking for he’s torn as to whether Aimee was abducted or if she simply chose to run away.
From this point the story follows a tense and troubling route as Myron follows one possible lead after another, speaking with teachers, friends and other possible links to the missing girl. He also has a showdown with a group of stone killers when it appears his involvement with Aimee’s disappearance could be construed as being linked to the disappearance of another girl from the same school.
There’s a lot going on here with numerous possible reasons for Aimee’s disappearance and several people with plausible reasons for being considered a suspect. The plot is well developed and fits together very nicely, never really getting bogged down or becoming stagnant.
This is a mature series by now (8 books strong) and Myron has undergone a noticeable change from the earlier books. He has become a lot more introspective and tends to rationalise his motives to a far greater degree. This is clearly a direct result from earlier - let’s call them adventures - where things didn’t exactly work out for the best. He’s not quite gun-shy, but he’s definitely a little less prone to running headlong into danger. He also has the advantage of having Win on his side to do the real dangerous stuff for him.
Promise Me delivers a solid mystery that’s investigated thoroughly and logically which gave me the opportunity to try to solve it myself (I didn’t). All of the main recurring characters are growing and developing, with the exception of Win, of course, and this gives me an even greater feeling of anticipation as I consider what lies ahead in the remaining 3 books (as I write this) in the series.
The crux of the story, and the reason for its title, comes from a plea from Myron to a couple of teenage girls that if they ever find themselves in a situation where they feel pressured to accepting a lift from someone who is over the alcohol limit, to promise to call him and he would be there to help them, no questions asked.
The problem is that when 18 year old Aimee, the daughter of a lifelong friend, takes him up on the offer and calls Myron and accepts the lift back home to a friend's house only to wind up missing the next day. When the police become involved their investigation reveals that Aimee had called Myron’s phone in the hours leading to her disappearance. This is not a good look for Myron and the unwanted suspicion and attention it brings on him acts as a catalyst to redouble his efforts to find her.
He embarks on a difficult investigation trying to retrace the steps Aimee took after he dropped her off at the end of a cul-de-sac. With very few clues and no real idea what it is he’s looking for he’s torn as to whether Aimee was abducted or if she simply chose to run away.
From this point the story follows a tense and troubling route as Myron follows one possible lead after another, speaking with teachers, friends and other possible links to the missing girl. He also has a showdown with a group of stone killers when it appears his involvement with Aimee’s disappearance could be construed as being linked to the disappearance of another girl from the same school.
There’s a lot going on here with numerous possible reasons for Aimee’s disappearance and several people with plausible reasons for being considered a suspect. The plot is well developed and fits together very nicely, never really getting bogged down or becoming stagnant.
This is a mature series by now (8 books strong) and Myron has undergone a noticeable change from the earlier books. He has become a lot more introspective and tends to rationalise his motives to a far greater degree. This is clearly a direct result from earlier - let’s call them adventures - where things didn’t exactly work out for the best. He’s not quite gun-shy, but he’s definitely a little less prone to running headlong into danger. He also has the advantage of having Win on his side to do the real dangerous stuff for him.
Promise Me delivers a solid mystery that’s investigated thoroughly and logically which gave me the opportunity to try to solve it myself (I didn’t). All of the main recurring characters are growing and developing, with the exception of Win, of course, and this gives me an even greater feeling of anticipation as I consider what lies ahead in the remaining 3 books (as I write this) in the series.
May 24, 2022
3,5* αστεράκια και το Όσκαρ Β' ανδρικού ρόλου στον Γουίν, που κλέβει χαλλλαρά την παράσταση από τον Μάιρον που είναι και ο πρωταγωνιστής του βιβλίου.
June 15, 2020
The narrator on this changed from Jonathan Marosz to Harlan Coben, so I had to get used to the change. May be better to take a break before reading this one, if you think this might be an issue. So far, I think I like Jonathan Marosz better, but it may just be that I'm used to him.
The story itself was very involved with lots of things happening to keep us on our toes. There were surprises all along the way, with Myron usually on top of the curve of what was happening. All the regulars were here, even his old girlfriend, and of course, the humor kept it from getting too dark.
A surprisingly good series that I would recommend to any of my friends. But start from the beginning - it's worth it.
The story itself was very involved with lots of things happening to keep us on our toes. There were surprises all along the way, with Myron usually on top of the curve of what was happening. All the regulars were here, even his old girlfriend, and of course, the humor kept it from getting too dark.
A surprisingly good series that I would recommend to any of my friends. But start from the beginning - it's worth it.
January 22, 2022
Not as good as the previous 7 books. Myron just wasn’t as smart-assed as normal, and I kind of miss the sports angle.
July 15, 2021
I've finished another Harlan Coben book very quickly. He is one of my favorite authors and I will read anything he writes. I enjoy the standalone novels but I love his characters in the Myron Bolitar series and even enjoyed his newest book "Win". This is a story of two missing 18 year old girls and what Myron and Win do to try to find them and how Myron ends of solving the whole crime himself, of course. Really good read!
June 8, 2017
Harlan Coben you did it again!
Myron is a Sportsagent who has a history with the FBI (he worked for them in the past). One day a family friend of his dissapears, however he feels the need to find her. So he starts an investigation with his partner in crime Win.
This book was another one in his Myron Bolitar series. The book started a bit slowly which reduced my rating to 4 stars, but I can't get enough of the amazing plot twists! Harlan has the gift to keep you on the edge of your seat and to twist your thoughts. I never suspected the ending and my suspects changed every chapter.
An amazing novel, which I would highly recommend!
Myron is a Sportsagent who has a history with the FBI (he worked for them in the past). One day a family friend of his dissapears, however he feels the need to find her. So he starts an investigation with his partner in crime Win.
This book was another one in his Myron Bolitar series. The book started a bit slowly which reduced my rating to 4 stars, but I can't get enough of the amazing plot twists! Harlan has the gift to keep you on the edge of your seat and to twist your thoughts. I never suspected the ending and my suspects changed every chapter.
An amazing novel, which I would highly recommend!
June 24, 2025
A great addition to this series! I really enjoy the character development in these books which I honestly wasn't expecting. Things come full circle for Bolitar in this one as he faces his past love and figures out how to move forward. His snarky sense of humor is ever prevalent & the plot lines well executed. Highly recommended!
April 14, 2009
Let me introduce you to Myron Bolitar, one of my favorite characters of all time. He is a former basketball star (blew out his knee after leading Duke to NCAA championship and being drafted by Boston Celtics). He went to law school and became a sports agent. His clients and friends become embroiled in all sorts of crimes and situations. Myron's current flame is a 9/11 widow with 2 children. Myron is concerned that the teenage daughter and her friend might do something dumb so makes them promise that they will call him even in the middle of the night before they get into a car with someone drunk. When the friend turns up missing Myron becomes a suspect because he was the last to see her. He uses his brains, wits, his best friend Win's brains and wits as well to figure out what has happened to the girl. Win is another interesting character - not at all what he seems. The first few books in the series painstakingly describe Win who is fascinating in and of himself. Coben is a terrific writer who can craft an excellent mystery story. You are in for a treat if you haven't read Coben before.
Why I like Myron....
Bolitar's quips always make me laugh, even when they are dumb. He is a contemporary, so the references (in this one to Scooby Doo) to which I relate. Every generation has an author or character that speaks to it. I'm afraid for mine it is the wise-cracking, not very serious, rule-breaking, so not the company man character in popular but not serious literature. Pretty much sums up the X generation. Now the story is a typical Harlan Coben mystery. Interesting, engaging and worth the read. Coben is one of those rare authors that appeals to both genders. Definitely for '80s people as our first teenage babysitter derisively labeled us.
Why I like Myron....
Bolitar's quips always make me laugh, even when they are dumb. He is a contemporary, so the references (in this one to Scooby Doo) to which I relate. Every generation has an author or character that speaks to it. I'm afraid for mine it is the wise-cracking, not very serious, rule-breaking, so not the company man character in popular but not serious literature. Pretty much sums up the X generation. Now the story is a typical Harlan Coben mystery. Interesting, engaging and worth the read. Coben is one of those rare authors that appeals to both genders. Definitely for '80s people as our first teenage babysitter derisively labeled us.
September 6, 2019
For full review - The Limit of Books Does Not Exist
I was worried that the Myron Bolitar series would start going downhill after the 5th novel. Even though I thought it was looking that way, Coben’s 8th novel of the series turns things around and I really enjoyed it.
Myron Bolitar is quite the character all of his own. He was going towards a career in the NBA, when a knee injury took him out before he could play his first NBA game. He switched gears and became a sports agent and later goes on solving murders and kidnappings. I love Myron and his relationship with all of the main cast (Win, Esperanza and Big Cyndi). I wish the novel had more of Myron’s parents and not just one brief scene.
I really enjoyed the mystery, even though, it started off a bit tame – teenage girl goes missing/runs away. Once the novel got to the half way point, it really picks up and I didn’t see the reveal coming at all.
If you are looking for mystery series with lots of humour, you need to check out this series!
I was worried that the Myron Bolitar series would start going downhill after the 5th novel. Even though I thought it was looking that way, Coben’s 8th novel of the series turns things around and I really enjoyed it.
Myron Bolitar is quite the character all of his own. He was going towards a career in the NBA, when a knee injury took him out before he could play his first NBA game. He switched gears and became a sports agent and later goes on solving murders and kidnappings. I love Myron and his relationship with all of the main cast (Win, Esperanza and Big Cyndi). I wish the novel had more of Myron’s parents and not just one brief scene.
I really enjoyed the mystery, even though, it started off a bit tame – teenage girl goes missing/runs away. Once the novel got to the half way point, it really picks up and I didn’t see the reveal coming at all.
If you are looking for mystery series with lots of humour, you need to check out this series!
May 9, 2023
4 Stars
This book was read by the author, and I didn't find him as good as the usual narrator. Sorry HC.
Another mystery for Myron Bolitar to figure out.
His friends daughter Amy goes missing as does another girl.
This leads Myron and Win in all directions.
The book didn't end with the girls but with another story and crime.
Great writing and characters as always.
This book was read by the author, and I didn't find him as good as the usual narrator. Sorry HC.
Another mystery for Myron Bolitar to figure out.
His friends daughter Amy goes missing as does another girl.
This leads Myron and Win in all directions.
The book didn't end with the girls but with another story and crime.
Great writing and characters as always.
September 21, 2024
Kind of irony
December 20, 2019
Ξεκίνησε με μια συνηθισμένη ιδέα,είχε τον γρήγορο ρυθμό μιας ταινίας περιπέτειας,και παρόλο που κατά τόπους πήγαινε να ξεφύγει προς το γλυκανάλατο,έδωσε μια ανατροπή στο τέλος και έσωσε τα προσχήματα.Ευκολοδιάβαστο με αρκετές δόσεις "ανθρώπινου" χιούμορ,δεν ανήκει στα εξαιρετικά του συγγραφέα,αλλά ήταν πολύ ωραίο.
August 27, 2022
סקירה בעיברית -
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https://sivi-the-avid-reader.com/הבטי...
July 10, 2017
Another winner in the entertaining Myron Bolitar series! Filled with laughs, thrills, and suspense, everything you'd want from Mr. Coben!
It had been 6 years since legendary Sports Agent Myron Bolitar had played superhero, fired a gun, solved dark mysteries, or called his friend Win to get him out of trouble. But that's all about to change, when Myron befriends 2 High School Seniors about to graduate and move on to College, who encourages to not get into a vehicle with a stranger or a drunk driver. Myron asks the girls to make him a promise, that if either of them are ever in a bind and are afraid to call their parents, to call him instead of getting into a car with someone who's been drinking, and they promise. A few nights later, Myron gets a call at 2:00 in the morning from one of the girls, Aimee Biel. Aimee says she needs a ride, but when picked up in Manhattan, Aimee is being very secretive and mysterious, not giving Myron a whole lot of information, and asks him instead of dropping her off at her parents home, (afraid to face them) to drop her off at a quiet cul-de-sac in New Jersey where Aimee says her friend lives.
Myron drops her off there, and drives away, still skeptical. The next day, Aimee's parents discover that she is missing, and never came home. Now Myron is the #1 Suspect because he was the last one to see Aimee before her disappearance. Now along with his buddy Win, Myron must once again put his hero face back on after so long, solve another dark mystery, set out to find Aimee and bring her home.
Promise Me will have you turning the pages right from beginning to end! And once again holds a big twist at the end!
It had been 6 years since legendary Sports Agent Myron Bolitar had played superhero, fired a gun, solved dark mysteries, or called his friend Win to get him out of trouble. But that's all about to change, when Myron befriends 2 High School Seniors about to graduate and move on to College, who encourages to not get into a vehicle with a stranger or a drunk driver. Myron asks the girls to make him a promise, that if either of them are ever in a bind and are afraid to call their parents, to call him instead of getting into a car with someone who's been drinking, and they promise. A few nights later, Myron gets a call at 2:00 in the morning from one of the girls, Aimee Biel. Aimee says she needs a ride, but when picked up in Manhattan, Aimee is being very secretive and mysterious, not giving Myron a whole lot of information, and asks him instead of dropping her off at her parents home, (afraid to face them) to drop her off at a quiet cul-de-sac in New Jersey where Aimee says her friend lives.
Myron drops her off there, and drives away, still skeptical. The next day, Aimee's parents discover that she is missing, and never came home. Now Myron is the #1 Suspect because he was the last one to see Aimee before her disappearance. Now along with his buddy Win, Myron must once again put his hero face back on after so long, solve another dark mystery, set out to find Aimee and bring her home.
Promise Me will have you turning the pages right from beginning to end! And once again holds a big twist at the end!
June 1, 2022
4 sterren - Nederlandse paperback
Harlan Coben is een begrip. " Niemand vertellen", "Spoorloos" en " Geen tweede kans" waren stuk voor stuk pareltjes van pageturners waarmee Coben zijn naam stevig vestigde. Met zijn nieuwste boek, Eens beloofd, keert hij terug naar zijn roots. Myron Bolitar is back en maakt verdomd veel kans om ook bij ons razend populair te worden.
Eens beloofd is het zesde Bolitarboek, en daardoor bestaat een heel verleden dat de meeste Nederlandstalige lezers niet kennen. Dat is absoluut geen probleem. Coben last genoeg flashbacks in die maken dat je het verhaal prima kan volgen. In Eens beloofd hoort Myron twee tienerdochters van vrienden tegen elkaar zeggen dat ze bij een stomdronken maat in de auto stapten. Voor hij het zelf goed en wel beseft, laat Myron de meiden beloven om hem te bellen als ze ooit dringend verlegen zitten om een lift. Maakt niet uit waar, maakt niet uit wanneer. Een paar weken later al krijgt Myron midden in de nacht een telefoontje. Aimee Biel, dochter van zijn vrienden, heeft hem nodig. Myron pikt haar op en zet haar af op de plaats waar ze wil. De volgende dag is Aimee vermist en Myron de laatste die haar zag.
Vanaf die dag belandt Bolitar in een draaikolk gebeurtenissen. Met een geweldig laconieke flair en de hulp van een bont gezelschap vrienden houdt hij zich daarin staande. Het levert onvergetelijk grappige scènes op en Eens beloofd is dan ook vooral een erg humoristisch boek. Spanning en emoties zijn ook te vinden in dit boek. Een mooie mix dus.
En die heerlijke dialogen. Geweldig! Aanrader dus.
Harlan Coben is een begrip. " Niemand vertellen", "Spoorloos" en " Geen tweede kans" waren stuk voor stuk pareltjes van pageturners waarmee Coben zijn naam stevig vestigde. Met zijn nieuwste boek, Eens beloofd, keert hij terug naar zijn roots. Myron Bolitar is back en maakt verdomd veel kans om ook bij ons razend populair te worden.
Eens beloofd is het zesde Bolitarboek, en daardoor bestaat een heel verleden dat de meeste Nederlandstalige lezers niet kennen. Dat is absoluut geen probleem. Coben last genoeg flashbacks in die maken dat je het verhaal prima kan volgen. In Eens beloofd hoort Myron twee tienerdochters van vrienden tegen elkaar zeggen dat ze bij een stomdronken maat in de auto stapten. Voor hij het zelf goed en wel beseft, laat Myron de meiden beloven om hem te bellen als ze ooit dringend verlegen zitten om een lift. Maakt niet uit waar, maakt niet uit wanneer. Een paar weken later al krijgt Myron midden in de nacht een telefoontje. Aimee Biel, dochter van zijn vrienden, heeft hem nodig. Myron pikt haar op en zet haar af op de plaats waar ze wil. De volgende dag is Aimee vermist en Myron de laatste die haar zag.
Vanaf die dag belandt Bolitar in een draaikolk gebeurtenissen. Met een geweldig laconieke flair en de hulp van een bont gezelschap vrienden houdt hij zich daarin staande. Het levert onvergetelijk grappige scènes op en Eens beloofd is dan ook vooral een erg humoristisch boek. Spanning en emoties zijn ook te vinden in dit boek. Een mooie mix dus.
En die heerlijke dialogen. Geweldig! Aanrader dus.
February 4, 2013
Although this book was very slow to capture my interest and I almost put it down around page 50 and chose another novel, it turned out to be an AMAZING read. I'm REALLY glad i did not give up on this one. It is habitual for me to put down a novel if it hasn't gripped me within the first couple chapters so I almost didn't allow myself the pleasure of this novel. The first couple chapters weren't bad, they were ok, there was just something they didn't have that other favorites of mine did. OH WELL I got past that and I'm glad I did! There were a few scenes in which the book had me totally gripped that I actually forgot where I was for a moment or what time of day it was, LOL! This was my first read by Harlan Coben, and definitely will not be my last.. I've already got a few more in my collection by him that I can't wait to tear into! The only issue I had with "promise me" though, which really isn't all that serious anyway, at the end when we found out who the culprit was, I found myself saying that I wish that character had been developed more in the story, that we had a better background on him/her.. We still got a good background on this person in the last chapter tho, enough to keep me happy. This book was great... I hope the rest of Harlan Coben's books are as good if not better than this one!
August 17, 2008
I started reading this book this morning while having a late breakfast ... and finished it tonight, before going to bed, because I simply could not put the book down! The novel starts with a series of events that appear to be unconnected, but the protagonist (Myron Bolitar, a professional-class basketball player who got sidelined by a knee injury while in college, went through law school, and now works as a representative (i.q., agent) for actors. Myron overhears two teenage girls (one the daughter of a woman he has just started dating, the other the daughter of a friend from his high school days) talking about being in a car driven by high school friends who had been drinking; remembering a beautiful full-of-life girl in his high school class who died in an automotive crash, he makes them both promise to call him, at any time, if they ever need a ride, telling them he will ask no questions. One of them takes him up on it and asks him to pick her up in the city and then drop her off at a friend's house; he does so, and the girl vanishes, with Myron naturally being blamed not only for her disappearance but also for the disappearance two months previously of another senior girl from the same high school. He promises the mother of the missing girl that he will find her, and he then starts to draw connections between the different events. The plot is astonishingly intricate, with no real appearance of contrivance, but the endings blew me away -- yes, endings, because the third chapter from the end provided the ending ... the next chapter turned it around with a shocking revelation of a completely different ending, with a different explanation of what had been going on all the time ... and then the last chapter turned it all around again! Along the way we are introduced to some colorful characters, and I am delighted to find from the jacket cover that this is actually the seventh book in a series about these same people, so I can go find more books about them!
May 9, 2011
***3,5*** stars - It's been awhile since I read a Harlan Coben book and it was great to get reacquainted with Myron Bolitar. I think this is one of my favourite Myron stories (to be honest: I read this one before) We get to see a more sensitive side of his personality is revealed. I also liked how he's moving on with his life. I'm like Esperanza; I just never liked Jessica Culver. Ali Wilder on the other hand is a more realistic, "normal" character and I like her very much. This was a very entertaining read; the plot around the disappearing girls was intriguing; and I now look forward reading Myron's more recent adventures.
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