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Myron Bolitar #9
Long Lost
The #1 "New York Times" bestseller
It begins with an early morning phone call to Myron Bolitar. His old flame Terese Collins is in Paris, and she needs his help. In her debt, Myron makes the trip, and learns of a decade-long secret: Terese once had a daughter who died in a car accident. Now it seems as though that daughter may be alive-and tied to a sinister plot with shocking global implications.
It begins with an early morning phone call to Myron Bolitar. His old flame Terese Collins is in Paris, and she needs his help. In her debt, Myron makes the trip, and learns of a decade-long secret: Terese once had a daughter who died in a car accident. Now it seems as though that daughter may be alive-and tied to a sinister plot with shocking global implications.
432 pages, ebook
First published March 29, 2009
2309 people are currently reading
12262 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 2,539 reviews
August 8, 2023
3,5 ⭐️
Primeira vez que leio Harlan Coben e me diverti bastante! Fiquei curiosa para ler mais livros do autor.
Primeira vez que leio Harlan Coben e me diverti bastante! Fiquei curiosa para ler mais livros do autor.
May 18, 2016
Another very enjoyable entry in this excellent series. Myron only ever has trouble from his women and in this book he seems to lose every which way! I particularly enjoyed Win in this one with his funny lines, his skewed view of relationships and his unfailing efforts to keep Myron alive. I raced through this book in record time and loved every minute of it. A great achievement on the part of the author considering this is Mr. Bolitar's ninth outing.
October 17, 2015
4.5/10
This was a steaming pile of shit. It could quite easily have gone on the DNF shelf but for two reasons. 1) it was a short book and little chapters make for a quick read. 2) I don't like to stop reading books especially in a series so close to the end. Maybe it's stupidity of "glass is half full" outlook but I don't want to stop reading something on the off chance it becomes amazing at the end. However, this wasn't the case here.
The thing that I've realised with this series is that the enjoyment levels have seriously dropped since the whole angle of Myron Bolitar being a sport agent has been dropped. In the early novels it was the gimmick that made it stand out to other series and something that added extra layers to otherwise normal crime novels. Not only has the sports agent angle been dropped but to replace it Harlan Coben has replaced it with Myron being a international terrorist hunter and all credibility is now out of the window.
The setup was done early on meaning Myron and Win have to flee the country to France and then the UK and back to USA with a bit of terrorist killing and secret torture added in for good measure. It was dog shit, I actually had to take painkillers from the amount of pain I was getting from all the eye rolling. Also, the book says Win is a vigilante billionaire who hunts people across the globe. So, just to clear that up then, he's Batman…
Without ranting too much I'll tie it up here. I think that my tastes have changed since I started this series a number of years ago but also the authors ability to write top notch stuff is waining. I really liked some of his earlier works but I've since read lots more novels and have broadened my horizons. I still maintain though that the early books in this series are worth a read as they have a niche in the crime thriller market. One more in the series (I hate being a completionist!) and then I think I will refrain from reading anymore from the author.
If you like this try: "Sleepyhead" by Mark Billingham
This was a steaming pile of shit. It could quite easily have gone on the DNF shelf but for two reasons. 1) it was a short book and little chapters make for a quick read. 2) I don't like to stop reading books especially in a series so close to the end. Maybe it's stupidity of "glass is half full" outlook but I don't want to stop reading something on the off chance it becomes amazing at the end. However, this wasn't the case here.
The thing that I've realised with this series is that the enjoyment levels have seriously dropped since the whole angle of Myron Bolitar being a sport agent has been dropped. In the early novels it was the gimmick that made it stand out to other series and something that added extra layers to otherwise normal crime novels. Not only has the sports agent angle been dropped but to replace it Harlan Coben has replaced it with Myron being a international terrorist hunter and all credibility is now out of the window.
The setup was done early on meaning Myron and Win have to flee the country to France and then the UK and back to USA with a bit of terrorist killing and secret torture added in for good measure. It was dog shit, I actually had to take painkillers from the amount of pain I was getting from all the eye rolling. Also, the book says Win is a vigilante billionaire who hunts people across the globe. So, just to clear that up then, he's Batman…
Without ranting too much I'll tie it up here. I think that my tastes have changed since I started this series a number of years ago but also the authors ability to write top notch stuff is waining. I really liked some of his earlier works but I've since read lots more novels and have broadened my horizons. I still maintain though that the early books in this series are worth a read as they have a niche in the crime thriller market. One more in the series (I hate being a completionist!) and then I think I will refrain from reading anymore from the author.
If you like this try: "Sleepyhead" by Mark Billingham
July 5, 2022
Myron and Win are back, this time stepping away (or should I say fleeing) away from the sporting clients he represents and heading into the murky waters of terrorism. We see Myron rattled in serious and various ways, so, after all, he is human!
As I read the series so infrequently, I don’t fully remember Myron’s romantic entanglements, but of course I do remember that he is a man of integrity, and he treats people well. It was sad to see him not succeed in his latest relationship.
This time around he reforms his connection with Therese, after she has been told to go to Paris by her ex-husband, and it is very serious.
Myron ends up on the run and being questioned by the police in Paris, and his witty barbs and comments are funny, spot on and very Myron-esque.
Myron and Win’s relationship is always at the fore, although this time we don’t hear from Win so much, but we do hear a lot about Myron’s parents who are ageing quite rapidly. Myron is a family man, and he has learned this strong character and integrity from his father.
Win was the best at keeping his voice steady, but for maybe the second time since I’ve known him, I heard a crack. “The last sixteen days were difficult.”
“I know, pal.”
“I scorched the earth looking for you.”
I said nothing.
“I did some things you would never approve of.”
I understood what he meant. Win has sources like no one else I know. Win has money and influence-and the truth is, he loves me.
And this, my friends, is why this series, and this author, rocks.
As I read the series so infrequently, I don’t fully remember Myron’s romantic entanglements, but of course I do remember that he is a man of integrity, and he treats people well. It was sad to see him not succeed in his latest relationship.
This time around he reforms his connection with Therese, after she has been told to go to Paris by her ex-husband, and it is very serious.
Myron ends up on the run and being questioned by the police in Paris, and his witty barbs and comments are funny, spot on and very Myron-esque.
Myron and Win’s relationship is always at the fore, although this time we don’t hear from Win so much, but we do hear a lot about Myron’s parents who are ageing quite rapidly. Myron is a family man, and he has learned this strong character and integrity from his father.
Win was the best at keeping his voice steady, but for maybe the second time since I’ve known him, I heard a crack. “The last sixteen days were difficult.”
“I know, pal.”
“I scorched the earth looking for you.”
I said nothing.
“I did some things you would never approve of.”
I understood what he meant. Win has sources like no one else I know. Win has money and influence-and the truth is, he loves me.
And this, my friends, is why this series, and this author, rocks.
May 22, 2022
Reading this book was like coming home and visiting some friends. I love Myron and Win as fictional characters, they are among my very favorites. There's always a lot of humor in these stories and that makes it more enjoyable. It is great to have characters like this who you can enjoy learning more about. I also enjoy reading them because I live in NJ for a while and I can identify with lots of the locations mentioned in the book in NY and NJ. This story tookd place a lot in France but then the French came to the US to help Myron solve the crime. They had a growing friendship and that was fun. Like I've said so many of these characters were already familiar and Harlan Coben is a wonderful author. Definitely recommend.
January 18, 2026
Book nine in the Myron Bolitar series.
This book is brilliant! Typical Harlen Coben book that keeps you guessing until the final pages.
Five stars.
This book is brilliant! Typical Harlen Coben book that keeps you guessing until the final pages.
Five stars.
September 26, 2016
Long Lost is a 2009 Dutton publication.
This ninth installment in the Myron Bolitar series stumbled out of the gate, and never fully gained a proper foothold for me.
Within the thriller genre, one must allow a great deal of leeway when it comes to plausibility, because sincerely, in real life most of these scenarios wouldn’t really fly, but they often come close enough to reality to give us pause or cause a little niggle of worry. But, this time out, everything here felt forced and the plot was just a tiny bit too outlandish for me to buy into. Chilling? Yes, on the surface, it is certainly that, and the thought of such a thing could cause a few sleepless nights, but putting a sports agent in the midst of terrorist and the ensuing trust he garnered from the French authorities, and several other key elements just did not jibe for me. In fact, upon deeper reflection, the whole story is pretty messy.
I was also disappointed in the turn Myron’s personal life took and that too felt forced or I suppose it was just convenient. Either way, a warm, sweet lady, who is just right for Myron, suddenly turns icy cold, giving him the perfect out, so he can go screw a former lover… UGH.
I felt this series was pretty dependable up to this point, although the last installment did feel a little tepid and not as sharp as previous chapters, making me wonder if the author should take such lengthy breaks between each release of this series, because, in doing so, it seems the series is beginning to lose its charm and momentum.
I have only one more book left before I can dive into the new release, which I have been SO excited about, so I’m hoping this is just a one off, and things get back on track from here.
2 stars
This ninth installment in the Myron Bolitar series stumbled out of the gate, and never fully gained a proper foothold for me.
Within the thriller genre, one must allow a great deal of leeway when it comes to plausibility, because sincerely, in real life most of these scenarios wouldn’t really fly, but they often come close enough to reality to give us pause or cause a little niggle of worry. But, this time out, everything here felt forced and the plot was just a tiny bit too outlandish for me to buy into. Chilling? Yes, on the surface, it is certainly that, and the thought of such a thing could cause a few sleepless nights, but putting a sports agent in the midst of terrorist and the ensuing trust he garnered from the French authorities, and several other key elements just did not jibe for me. In fact, upon deeper reflection, the whole story is pretty messy.
I was also disappointed in the turn Myron’s personal life took and that too felt forced or I suppose it was just convenient. Either way, a warm, sweet lady, who is just right for Myron, suddenly turns icy cold, giving him the perfect out, so he can go screw a former lover… UGH.
I felt this series was pretty dependable up to this point, although the last installment did feel a little tepid and not as sharp as previous chapters, making me wonder if the author should take such lengthy breaks between each release of this series, because, in doing so, it seems the series is beginning to lose its charm and momentum.
I have only one more book left before I can dive into the new release, which I have been SO excited about, so I’m hoping this is just a one off, and things get back on track from here.
2 stars
September 1, 2023
In "Long Lost," Harlan Coben returns to his roots, reuniting his series characters Myron Bolitar and his sidekick, Win, along with the rest of the cast that populated Coben's early books.
In the ninth installment of this series, Myron's relationship with 9/11 widow Ali Wilder sputters to a convenient end when Ali decides to move to Scottsdale, Arizona. Right on cue, Myron's old girlfriend Terese Collins, whom he hasn't seen in seven years, phones from Paris, begging Myron to come help her. Terese's journalist ex-husband, Rick, has disappeared after telling her that he was about to give her shocking news.
Myron goes to Paris, with Win following along behind, only to discover that the ex-husband has been murdered under very mysterious circumstances. Evidence at the scene suggests a shattering revelation. Myron determines to solve the crime and to discover the secret that led to Rick Collin's death and which threatens Myron and Terese as well.
In fairly short order Myron, Terese and Win find themselves at the epicenter of an international chase involving terrorists, who are determined to carry out a diabolical plot, and the agents of several governments who believe that there are issues much larger and more important than the survival of our intrepid heroes.
The terrorist plot strains credulity, but still this is a fun ride with lots of action, some great fight scenes, and the usual humor that one finds in these books. In particular, Coben and his characters get a lot of mileage out of the activities of a flight attendant named Mee.
Coben fans will welcome this addition to the series, but those who haven't read Coben yet (assuming that such creatures exist) might do better starting with the earlier books in the series and working their way in the direction of "Long Lost."
In the ninth installment of this series, Myron's relationship with 9/11 widow Ali Wilder sputters to a convenient end when Ali decides to move to Scottsdale, Arizona. Right on cue, Myron's old girlfriend Terese Collins, whom he hasn't seen in seven years, phones from Paris, begging Myron to come help her. Terese's journalist ex-husband, Rick, has disappeared after telling her that he was about to give her shocking news.
Myron goes to Paris, with Win following along behind, only to discover that the ex-husband has been murdered under very mysterious circumstances. Evidence at the scene suggests a shattering revelation. Myron determines to solve the crime and to discover the secret that led to Rick Collin's death and which threatens Myron and Terese as well.
In fairly short order Myron, Terese and Win find themselves at the epicenter of an international chase involving terrorists, who are determined to carry out a diabolical plot, and the agents of several governments who believe that there are issues much larger and more important than the survival of our intrepid heroes.
The terrorist plot strains credulity, but still this is a fun ride with lots of action, some great fight scenes, and the usual humor that one finds in these books. In particular, Coben and his characters get a lot of mileage out of the activities of a flight attendant named Mee.
Coben fans will welcome this addition to the series, but those who haven't read Coben yet (assuming that such creatures exist) might do better starting with the earlier books in the series and working their way in the direction of "Long Lost."
December 29, 2025
4.5 Stars
This was a reread for me. Myron Bolitar never gets old
Love the Myron and Wynn pairing in investigations.
Myrons gf Tereses daughter is killed in an accident. They're not sure it's her.
When they start to investigate, they uncover a whole world of intrigue and lies.
Loved all the characters in this novel.
A favourite HC.
This was a reread for me. Myron Bolitar never gets old
Love the Myron and Wynn pairing in investigations.
Myrons gf Tereses daughter is killed in an accident. They're not sure it's her.
When they start to investigate, they uncover a whole world of intrigue and lies.
Loved all the characters in this novel.
A favourite HC.
August 21, 2024
Long Lost is the 9th book in the Myron Bolitar series. The former basketballer turned agent has long proven himself to be willing to drop everything to help out people in need. Relying heavily on help from his good friend Win, who is also a source of some real groaners of one-liners, this is a mystery that moves quickly across continents and into danger.
As has become consistent, Myron’s relationship merry-go-round takes another turn. His current relationship with Ali Wilder comes to a fizzing end with her sudden move to Scottsdale, Arizona. In almost the same breath he’s called on for help by former girlfriend Terese Collins. She asks him to come to Paris for the weekend. The fact that he hasn’t heard from her in more than 10 years causes him to hesitate. But his crumbling relationship helps him to make the decision to take the trip.
In France he is almost immediately questioned by police, then he finds out that Terese’s husband is missing, presumed dead and finally, he’s accosted by a man with a gun, barely getting away with his life. It’s clear that Terese’s life has become more than a little dangerous and hasn’t told him everything that’s been going on these last 10 years.
It all goes a little terroristic, and the danger is ramped up to an extreme level. Coben also tends, at this point, to take us into a scarcely believable place involving the idea of genetic engineering. I had some problems following this aspect of the story and felt the momentum drop dramatically as a result.
Fortunately, Win plays a more active role in proceedings, helping out in France and then again at regular intervals whenever Myron paints himself into another difficult corner. Things are always a little more interesting when Win’s involved. That being said, his belabouring of the “clever” jokes regarding the name of his latest infatuation, Japanese hostess Mee did get a little tiring.
Fans of the series (and I’m one of them) will appreciate that all of the aspects that have made this so readable are still there. The self-deprecating humour, the description of Big Cyndi, the knight in shining armour tendencies of Myron and the mocking attitude hiding the cold ruthlessness of Win. The action, when it takes place, while furious and ferocious didn’t quite hit the right notes of believability.
While not what I would consider to be up there with some of the best Myron Bolitar stories, I enjoyed the lighter moments of Long Lost and am prepared to see where he’s taken next.
As has become consistent, Myron’s relationship merry-go-round takes another turn. His current relationship with Ali Wilder comes to a fizzing end with her sudden move to Scottsdale, Arizona. In almost the same breath he’s called on for help by former girlfriend Terese Collins. She asks him to come to Paris for the weekend. The fact that he hasn’t heard from her in more than 10 years causes him to hesitate. But his crumbling relationship helps him to make the decision to take the trip.
In France he is almost immediately questioned by police, then he finds out that Terese’s husband is missing, presumed dead and finally, he’s accosted by a man with a gun, barely getting away with his life. It’s clear that Terese’s life has become more than a little dangerous and hasn’t told him everything that’s been going on these last 10 years.
It all goes a little terroristic, and the danger is ramped up to an extreme level. Coben also tends, at this point, to take us into a scarcely believable place involving the idea of genetic engineering. I had some problems following this aspect of the story and felt the momentum drop dramatically as a result.
Fortunately, Win plays a more active role in proceedings, helping out in France and then again at regular intervals whenever Myron paints himself into another difficult corner. Things are always a little more interesting when Win’s involved. That being said, his belabouring of the “clever” jokes regarding the name of his latest infatuation, Japanese hostess Mee did get a little tiring.
Fans of the series (and I’m one of them) will appreciate that all of the aspects that have made this so readable are still there. The self-deprecating humour, the description of Big Cyndi, the knight in shining armour tendencies of Myron and the mocking attitude hiding the cold ruthlessness of Win. The action, when it takes place, while furious and ferocious didn’t quite hit the right notes of believability.
While not what I would consider to be up there with some of the best Myron Bolitar stories, I enjoyed the lighter moments of Long Lost and am prepared to see where he’s taken next.
November 22, 2020
Myron Bolitar's 9/11-widow girlfriend dumps him, leaving him free to fly to Paris when a super sexy ex-CNN-anchor-ex-lover calls, mysteriously frantic. Terese was the hottest sex Bolitar ever had, surpassing even those tumbles with the 9-11 widow. (Thoughts of one's spouse disintegrating into dust in a single instant can cast a shadow over one's otherwise merry bumping-and-grinding.) Now Terese's current husband has been murdered, and mingled with his blood somehow is the DNA of their daughter, who died years ago in a car crash. In Paris Bolitar accidentally murders a major jihadist, making lots of dangerous people very angry. He also catches tantalizing glimpses of a blond teenage girl who has exactly the same ass as Terese, and shakes it in exactly the same way when she walks, making Bolitar think this could be Terese's dead daughter who perhaps didn't die after all. Bolitar falls in love with a Parisian police captain (male) who follows him back to the Connecticut woods, where they try to track down the blond girl. She turns out to be a frozen embryo stolen from Terese's frozen embryo stash by the jihadist, who was posing as a fertility doctor stealing blond embryos and implanting them in burqa-wearing Muslim surrogates, to turn them into a blond jihadi army.
June 26, 2025
#️⃣3️⃣1️⃣1️⃣ Read & Reviewed in 2025 ⛈️⚡🚨
Date : 📢 Tuesday, June 24, 2025 🍙⚔️
Word Count📃: 96k Words 🏕️
──★ ˙💥🪨💣🪨💥 ̟ ⋆✮˚.*⋆
ദ്ദി ≽^⎚˕⎚^≼ .ᐟ My 49th read in "Explosive Impactful Reads June"
2️⃣🌟, huh.....weird...........maybe this bad review is my own fault??????? Because i accidentally read the 9th book in this series 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭 and i've only read the first and second book so i'm supposed to read the third one next, buuut i think all of this can be read as a standalone cuz it's a standalone mystery book.
——————————————————————
➕➖0️⃣1️⃣2️⃣3️⃣4️⃣5️⃣6️⃣7️⃣8️⃣9️⃣🔟✖️➗
Ah yes, the Myron Bolitar Series 🥰🥰, he is one of my favorite boisss when it comes to the mystery genre, i love the first two books of this series because probably that is the only books that i've ever read in this series but thiss????? Yeah this is pretty bad.
He and his friend Win just kindaa go to their "biggest case evarrrrr", honestly that line right there is like one of the most common things a mystery book does 😐😐😐,. "Biggest case ever" bro it like says nothing. The story is very convoluted and messy so i can't really wrap my head around this oneee, the sports with it supposed to be the focus of this book turned into a mess of events, he's in this one place doing this thing, then in the next page which is another chapter he does another thing in another totally random unrelated place, then cycle repeats again and again every new chapter, AND THIS HAS SHORTER CHAPTERS THAN THE FIRST TWO BOOKS. So the messiness? Really apparent here now.
I don't even think that the case is handled correctly here, the impact of the twist and the suspense and the reveal are all overshadowed by the fact that everything from the investigation to the detective work in the interactions with all the other characters...ARE JUST MESSSSYYYYYYY.
Plus the whole "he is a sports guy now just trying to do detective work", being the whole idea and unique character that i pretty much loved ever since the first book where it is character introduced...IS DROPPED. the "he is a sports guy now just trying to do detective work" is NO MORE, he is just like all the other detective investigator novel characters now and that is pretty sad 😢 😢 😢.
Date : 📢 Tuesday, June 24, 2025 🍙⚔️
Word Count📃: 96k Words 🏕️
──★ ˙💥🪨💣🪨💥 ̟ ⋆✮˚.*⋆
ദ്ദി ≽^⎚˕⎚^≼ .ᐟ My 49th read in "Explosive Impactful Reads June"
2️⃣🌟, huh.....weird...........maybe this bad review is my own fault??????? Because i accidentally read the 9th book in this series 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭 and i've only read the first and second book so i'm supposed to read the third one next, buuut i think all of this can be read as a standalone cuz it's a standalone mystery book.
——————————————————————
➕➖0️⃣1️⃣2️⃣3️⃣4️⃣5️⃣6️⃣7️⃣8️⃣9️⃣🔟✖️➗
Ah yes, the Myron Bolitar Series 🥰🥰, he is one of my favorite boisss when it comes to the mystery genre, i love the first two books of this series because probably that is the only books that i've ever read in this series but thiss????? Yeah this is pretty bad.
He and his friend Win just kindaa go to their "biggest case evarrrrr", honestly that line right there is like one of the most common things a mystery book does 😐😐😐,. "Biggest case ever" bro it like says nothing. The story is very convoluted and messy so i can't really wrap my head around this oneee, the sports with it supposed to be the focus of this book turned into a mess of events, he's in this one place doing this thing, then in the next page which is another chapter he does another thing in another totally random unrelated place, then cycle repeats again and again every new chapter, AND THIS HAS SHORTER CHAPTERS THAN THE FIRST TWO BOOKS. So the messiness? Really apparent here now.
I don't even think that the case is handled correctly here, the impact of the twist and the suspense and the reveal are all overshadowed by the fact that everything from the investigation to the detective work in the interactions with all the other characters...ARE JUST MESSSSYYYYYYY.
Plus the whole "he is a sports guy now just trying to do detective work", being the whole idea and unique character that i pretty much loved ever since the first book where it is character introduced...IS DROPPED. the "he is a sports guy now just trying to do detective work" is NO MORE, he is just like all the other detective investigator novel characters now and that is pretty sad 😢 😢 😢.
May 8, 2009
I liked Myron Bolitar better when he was in just paperback. Ever since these hard back Bolitars, he's weaker. I don't know if Harlan Coben things sissyness comes with age but after his return to his Myron Bolitar character, he's made Myron a total wimp--always crying and saying cheesy things and the way he has Myron describe his feelings towards whoever his current love interest is at the time, it's like Michael Bolton is singing it. I'm not digging the Hardback Myron. I want Paperback Myron back.
Other than that, it wasn't as captivating as his others. I was apathetic towards the other characters, about the plot and the whole thing was just a little tired.
I also felt like Harlan was jumping the shark with the whole Paris setting in the beginning. It really served no purpose whatsoever except to have the setting somewhere other than New Jersey. Lame.
Other than that, it wasn't as captivating as his others. I was apathetic towards the other characters, about the plot and the whole thing was just a little tired.
I also felt like Harlan was jumping the shark with the whole Paris setting in the beginning. It really served no purpose whatsoever except to have the setting somewhere other than New Jersey. Lame.
May 1, 2023
What a great read albeit the plot is outlandish. Still patience can be a weapon. There is a bit of stretched credulity about a sports agent who speaks no French working in Paris with the French police. The abrupt end of his relationship with Ali so he can hook up with Terese seems contrived.
Win is also relatively subdued in this story although a billionaire friend does come in useful.
SPOILERS AHEAD
The plot of breeding Midwich Cuckoo blond terrorists
is original. The use of embryos and training the children from childhood is ingenious if a bit far fetched. I liked Berleand the Frenchman and it was a shame he had to go. The water boarding of Myron to find out what he knew about Matar or Doctor Death seemed over the top. Terese finding her daughter Carrie was nice with the potential for a follow up book.
Saying all that the story had me reading the book in a day.
Win is also relatively subdued in this story although a billionaire friend does come in useful.
SPOILERS AHEAD
The plot of breeding Midwich Cuckoo blond terrorists
is original. The use of embryos and training the children from childhood is ingenious if a bit far fetched. I liked Berleand the Frenchman and it was a shame he had to go. The water boarding of Myron to find out what he knew about Matar or Doctor Death seemed over the top. Terese finding her daughter Carrie was nice with the potential for a follow up book.
Saying all that the story had me reading the book in a day.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 29, 2014
Such awful writing! Every dialog, every encounter, every event to drive the plot forward sounds forced. The plot itself... Poor.
Why have deductive or investigation skills when you have a best friend (a bad-ass killing machine and filthy rich) whose life is solely dedicated to your hopes, feelings and problems?
Police is chasing you? Here comes Win in his private jet with falsified documents to get you out of the country.
A group of meanies is threatening to shoot you? Here comes Win with a sniper riffle!
...Ridiculous.
This was the first book by Harlan Coben I've read, and definitely the last. I had heard very good things about his books, but for the life of me I don't understand why.
Why have deductive or investigation skills when you have a best friend (a bad-ass killing machine and filthy rich) whose life is solely dedicated to your hopes, feelings and problems?
Police is chasing you? Here comes Win in his private jet with falsified documents to get you out of the country.
A group of meanies is threatening to shoot you? Here comes Win with a sniper riffle!
...Ridiculous.
This was the first book by Harlan Coben I've read, and definitely the last. I had heard very good things about his books, but for the life of me I don't understand why.
April 3, 2009
Myron and I go way back. I first discovered the series around the third or fourth book so that's at least ten years ago. And boy, was I hooked! Coben really ruined Myron when he "gave" Myron a son. Myron is not the kind of person who can be a father without being a daddy. Maybe that's why he took several years away from Myron and focused on standalones (never as good as Myron). So, the last one (Promise Me) was good but I think Coben didn't quite know how to deal with son, parents, and an aging Myron so he put the son and the parents on the shelf. This one brings back the parents and I've always enjoyed the relationship he has with them.
This book is dark and sad. Myron becomes broken. It brings back a love interest that wasn't very interesting the first time around. The banter between Myron and Win just isn't the same... but enough about Mee (you'll get that when you read the book.).
Do I still love Myron? Yes, I'd cheat on my husband in a second for Myron (but Myron's not that kind of guy.) But if I was starting the series with this book, I doubt I would go back and start from number 1. And I've read the earlier ones in the series at least twice.
This book is dark and sad. Myron becomes broken. It brings back a love interest that wasn't very interesting the first time around. The banter between Myron and Win just isn't the same... but enough about Mee (you'll get that when you read the book.).
Do I still love Myron? Yes, I'd cheat on my husband in a second for Myron (but Myron's not that kind of guy.) But if I was starting the series with this book, I doubt I would go back and start from number 1. And I've read the earlier ones in the series at least twice.
April 14, 2022
Much better than the last book!
October 10, 2010
One theme of the book is that sometimes it is necessary to torture people to get access to their secrets. It is odious, but it saves lives, so isn't it morally acceptable to do so?
I viscerally hate this kind of thinking, even in fiction, and must speak against it.
When people are tortured, they are tortured until they say what they say what their captors want to hear. If they don't know details of a terrorist plot, the torture will continue until they cough something up, true or not. This alone makes torture useless for intelligence gathering, but it gets worse.
When you have legitimized torture as a tool to prevent terrorism, you become obligated to torture anyone who might know something. And as shown, this torture will reveal more dangerous people and future terror plots - none of them real, but declared simply to stop the pain. And those people whose names that were provided will have to be tortured next, because they will deny being sleeper cell terrorists until the electricity flowing through their genitals convinces them to speak up.
This book is evil, and the plot and characters don't make it worth it. There are other, better Coben books to borrow from the library.
I viscerally hate this kind of thinking, even in fiction, and must speak against it.
When people are tortured, they are tortured until they say what they say what their captors want to hear. If they don't know details of a terrorist plot, the torture will continue until they cough something up, true or not. This alone makes torture useless for intelligence gathering, but it gets worse.
When you have legitimized torture as a tool to prevent terrorism, you become obligated to torture anyone who might know something. And as shown, this torture will reveal more dangerous people and future terror plots - none of them real, but declared simply to stop the pain. And those people whose names that were provided will have to be tortured next, because they will deny being sleeper cell terrorists until the electricity flowing through their genitals convinces them to speak up.
This book is evil, and the plot and characters don't make it worth it. There are other, better Coben books to borrow from the library.
January 7, 2021
I really miss the early Myron Bolitar novels where the focus was on Myron's clients and different sports. The latest novels have really taken a turn where they are super far fetched and unbelievable.
The novel starts innocently enough when Myron gets a call from ex who wants him to go to Paris. Once Myron gets to Paris, the storyline takes a twist where he is now involved with the police and investigating a terrorist plot.
I was hooked on the storyline and wanted to see where the novel would go, but again it was way too far fetched. Why would multiple governments allow Myron to investigate and don't get me started on Win. Win who is a billionaire and can seem to drop everything to watch over Myron as he gets himself into trouble (which is often).
I'm almost done catching up with the series and it's been bittersweet. I'm hoping that the next 2 novels won't be as unbelievable, but I'm not holding my breath.
Also side note: when did Myron get siblings? I could of sworn in an earlier book he mentions having a really close relationship with his parents because he was an only child. Now this book mentions a brother and a sister? Am I confusing this with another series?!
The novel starts innocently enough when Myron gets a call from ex who wants him to go to Paris. Once Myron gets to Paris, the storyline takes a twist where he is now involved with the police and investigating a terrorist plot.
I was hooked on the storyline and wanted to see where the novel would go, but again it was way too far fetched. Why would multiple governments allow Myron to investigate and don't get me started on Win. Win who is a billionaire and can seem to drop everything to watch over Myron as he gets himself into trouble (which is often).
I'm almost done catching up with the series and it's been bittersweet. I'm hoping that the next 2 novels won't be as unbelievable, but I'm not holding my breath.
Also side note: when did Myron get siblings? I could of sworn in an earlier book he mentions having a really close relationship with his parents because he was an only child. Now this book mentions a brother and a sister? Am I confusing this with another series?!
January 20, 2016
What to say about this disappointing book.... compared to its Scandinavian counterparts Long Lost is about as tense and taut as an old bag of jello.
The characters are one dimensional. The plot is fantastical and ends predictably. The pacing is poor. And what's become of Myron Bolivar? When did he become this smart ass, high school jock with the emotional range of a wet fish? That said, I liked Win. Win rocks!
The characters are one dimensional. The plot is fantastical and ends predictably. The pacing is poor. And what's become of Myron Bolivar? When did he become this smart ass, high school jock with the emotional range of a wet fish? That said, I liked Win. Win rocks!
April 15, 2025
4⭐️= Good.
Hardback.
I was a little undecided if I should rate this a 3.5 or a 4*. I plumped on 4 as this has a really unusual plot and nothing like I’ve come across before. An easy read and one that jumped straight into an intense situation.
I read this out of series sequence but it didn’t take away any cohesion.
Hardback.
I was a little undecided if I should rate this a 3.5 or a 4*. I plumped on 4 as this has a really unusual plot and nothing like I’ve come across before. An easy read and one that jumped straight into an intense situation.
I read this out of series sequence but it didn’t take away any cohesion.
July 4, 2020
While performing his usual search for a missing person, Myron gets mixed up with international terrorism, and a few other unusual activities. It's pretty involved, a bit darker than usual, but very enjoyable, as always.
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May 28, 2025
Harlan Coben - Myron Bolitar 09 - Long Lost 2009 %%
I read a print copy of this book, or I listened to this audiobook, or both, either sometime prior to joining Goodreads in October 2011, and/or before I started writing reviews. My assessed rating for this audiobook after I joined Goodreads was 4-Stars.
My "Date Started" and "Date Finished" Years are approximate and the "Month/Day" is my date of birth.
I read a print copy of this book, or I listened to this audiobook, or both, either sometime prior to joining Goodreads in October 2011, and/or before I started writing reviews. My assessed rating for this audiobook after I joined Goodreads was 4-Stars.
My "Date Started" and "Date Finished" Years are approximate and the "Month/Day" is my date of birth.
March 26, 2015
This was my first Harlan Coben and I am definitely going to read lots by him in the future. This book got me hooked from the beginning till the very end. It was fast paced and entertaining. Loved Myron Bolitar he was fun to be with. He was aggressive, witty, emotional and everything!! Didn't know this book was part of a series when i picked it up from my library, now that i know i am definitely going to continue with it as i am eager to know more about Myron and his history.
July 27, 2025
Wow! Words escape me! That was intense! For me, Long Lost is the most gut wrenching, emotionally-charged book in the series to date. I wiped tears during this one. I can't stress enough how the audiobooks bring these books to life. The pain, turmoil, hurt, heartbreak - wow, it becomes real through the narrator's voice. I felt I was there during the ordeal Bolitar goes through in Long Lost. I felt the pain, the hopelessness. And that ending...Wow! I have to read the next one now!
September 22, 2010
Coben's really lost his thread on Myron Bolitar. The guy used to be a snarky sports agent, and the books were somewhat light and breezy and fun. Remember the days when each book featured a case set around a different professional sport? And the violence in the books, when it happened, was somewhat personal. It didn't need to be extreme because it was real, and real for the characters, and that gave it all the weight it needed.
Now Coben's become more interested in writing standalone thrillers, something that he doesn't do very well with his two-dimensional characters, belabored characterization, and obvious, somewhat whiny, narration. He's brought that same style over into the Bolitar books, and it's not a good match. There's really no reason for this story to be happening to Bolitar, in fact, except perhaps to sate Bolitar fans who were awaiting a new chapter in Myron's life. It feels more like the plot of one of Coben's standalone thrillers grafted on the character of Bolitar, and it's not a fit that works or makes much sense. Additionally, the way Coben has changed Bolitar's character over the newest books doesn't work either, and is contrary to everything the character once represented. Suddenly Myron is a superhero who's always involved in oodles of ultra-violence, while simultaneously being a lost romantic who waxes on and on about his feelings for women he has no real connection to. And Win? Coben can't seem to resist using the most sophmoric, unfunny humor with the character, and using it over and over and over when it was never funny in the first place.
At this point, Coben's just phoning these novels in and has "long lost" sight of what made the Bolitar books work in the first place. I give Coben points for being a decent writer and being able to adequately hold a story together, but it's far cry from the great writer he once had the potential of becoming.
Now Coben's become more interested in writing standalone thrillers, something that he doesn't do very well with his two-dimensional characters, belabored characterization, and obvious, somewhat whiny, narration. He's brought that same style over into the Bolitar books, and it's not a good match. There's really no reason for this story to be happening to Bolitar, in fact, except perhaps to sate Bolitar fans who were awaiting a new chapter in Myron's life. It feels more like the plot of one of Coben's standalone thrillers grafted on the character of Bolitar, and it's not a fit that works or makes much sense. Additionally, the way Coben has changed Bolitar's character over the newest books doesn't work either, and is contrary to everything the character once represented. Suddenly Myron is a superhero who's always involved in oodles of ultra-violence, while simultaneously being a lost romantic who waxes on and on about his feelings for women he has no real connection to. And Win? Coben can't seem to resist using the most sophmoric, unfunny humor with the character, and using it over and over and over when it was never funny in the first place.
At this point, Coben's just phoning these novels in and has "long lost" sight of what made the Bolitar books work in the first place. I give Coben points for being a decent writer and being able to adequately hold a story together, but it's far cry from the great writer he once had the potential of becoming.
October 27, 2014
Não sei qual é exatamente o meu problema com Harlan Coben, um autor de renome que parece agradar bastante à generalidade dos leitores. Daí que parto do princípio que o 'problema' seja meu porque não consigo (!) ultrapassar diversos pormenores/irregularidades/incoerências embutidas na escrita do autor. Estas vão acumulando e acabam por me provocar uma irritação crescente em relação ao livro ao ponto de a leitura se tornar bastante desagradável.
A investigação por detrás do enredo, que o fundamente, parece-me muito pobre e insatisfatória. As 'piadolas' ridículas que, para mim, raramente funcionam, levam-me a desenvolver uma certa impaciência para com os personagens. A descrição do carácter destes personagens não parece corresponder às suas escolhas /ações. Para onde quer que olhe só vejo clichés. O desenvolvimento do enredo é frustrante: estamos uma eternidade às voltas no ponto A e de repente já estamos no ponto B e nem percebemos bem como. Os diálogos pareceram-me sem nexo na sua grande maioria, mal desenvolvidos e recorrentemente desnecessários e 'infantilóides'.
Sei que a história, na sua base, não é má e tem bastante potencial…mas este aglomerado de 'problemas' impediu-me de a apreciar pelo que talvez seja.
A investigação por detrás do enredo, que o fundamente, parece-me muito pobre e insatisfatória. As 'piadolas' ridículas que, para mim, raramente funcionam, levam-me a desenvolver uma certa impaciência para com os personagens. A descrição do carácter destes personagens não parece corresponder às suas escolhas /ações. Para onde quer que olhe só vejo clichés. O desenvolvimento do enredo é frustrante: estamos uma eternidade às voltas no ponto A e de repente já estamos no ponto B e nem percebemos bem como. Os diálogos pareceram-me sem nexo na sua grande maioria, mal desenvolvidos e recorrentemente desnecessários e 'infantilóides'.
Sei que a história, na sua base, não é má e tem bastante potencial…mas este aglomerado de 'problemas' impediu-me de a apreciar pelo que talvez seja.
June 24, 2021
2.5 stars
So I haven't read a Myron Bolitar book in at least 4 years I think, but I don't remember him being this badass? I mean, he was badass, but he was also still a sports agent and most of his cases revolved around the sports world, which I really liked. Coben started deviating from that path towards later books in the series, but the plot of this book was honestly ridiculous.
This read more like a Dan Brown novel and I have nothing against Dan Brown - I enjoy his pageturners as much as anyone, it's the literary equivalent of a mindless action movie after all - but it just threw me a little. Suddenly there's the Mossad and a terrorist plot and life-and-death fights in European cities. Reader, my head was spinning.
I'm still rounding up because I flew through this book (damn Harlan Coben and his way of making me want to turn page after page even if I'm not particularly loving the story) and because my love for Myron and Win pretty much knows no bounds. Even if they have suddenly, seemingly become agents in the war-on-terror.
I am finishing up the Myron Bolitar series as a lead-up to Win, Coben's newest release, but I sincerely hope the other 2 books left on my list are better than this one.
So I haven't read a Myron Bolitar book in at least 4 years I think, but I don't remember him being this badass? I mean, he was badass, but he was also still a sports agent and most of his cases revolved around the sports world, which I really liked. Coben started deviating from that path towards later books in the series, but the plot of this book was honestly ridiculous.
This read more like a Dan Brown novel and I have nothing against Dan Brown - I enjoy his pageturners as much as anyone, it's the literary equivalent of a mindless action movie after all - but it just threw me a little. Suddenly there's the Mossad and a terrorist plot and life-and-death fights in European cities. Reader, my head was spinning.
I'm still rounding up because I flew through this book (damn Harlan Coben and his way of making me want to turn page after page even if I'm not particularly loving the story) and because my love for Myron and Win pretty much knows no bounds. Even if they have suddenly, seemingly become agents in the war-on-terror.
I am finishing up the Myron Bolitar series as a lead-up to Win, Coben's newest release, but I sincerely hope the other 2 books left on my list are better than this one.
July 5, 2022
Myron hasn't heard from Terese since their sultry affair 10 years ago. Catching him completely off guard and pleading for him to meet her in Paris Myron feels he has no choice but to go.
Over the course of the book Myron learns of why Terese has been gone for the last 10 years, her struggles to get pregnant and then being robbed of it all in a fatal crash and now being a prime suspect in her ex-husbands murder.
Ex-husband Rick calls Terese summoning her to meet with him in Paris to tell her something of the upmost importance, however he's killed before he arrives. A shocking twist at the crime scene leaves Myron with some clues as to what he wished to disclose to Terese, but of course it isn't as simple as Myron would've expected. Now involving the FBI, Interpol and a notorious international terrorist the complications pile up for Myron. Myron brings in his best friend who just happens to be a billionaire and a wide range of resources at his disposal (how convenient!)
Long lost family secrets uncovered and a distrubing plot twist.
An interesting and exciting read that was slightly far fetched.
Over the course of the book Myron learns of why Terese has been gone for the last 10 years, her struggles to get pregnant and then being robbed of it all in a fatal crash and now being a prime suspect in her ex-husbands murder.
Ex-husband Rick calls Terese summoning her to meet with him in Paris to tell her something of the upmost importance, however he's killed before he arrives. A shocking twist at the crime scene leaves Myron with some clues as to what he wished to disclose to Terese, but of course it isn't as simple as Myron would've expected. Now involving the FBI, Interpol and a notorious international terrorist the complications pile up for Myron. Myron brings in his best friend who just happens to be a billionaire and a wide range of resources at his disposal (how convenient!)
Long lost family secrets uncovered and a distrubing plot twist.
An interesting and exciting read that was slightly far fetched.
November 9, 2021
First time I read a Harlan Coben novel. A taut thriller it is not. Just your average run-of-the-mill thriller with some sarcastic lines thrown in. The protagonist Myron Bolitar is an agent representing celebrities who also gets involved in terrorist plots, courtesy of his ex-girlfriend Terese Collins. She suddenly appears one fine day after almost a decade of disappearance and calls Myron to Paris to help trace her husband's daughter. What follows is a chase across France and England along with his best friend and colleague Win, who is conveniently a billionaire with immense resources at his disposal, and his partner Esperanza. The climax is a bit far-fetched with some shock value to boot. But it is a thriller so we can take it at face value. I liked the character of Inspector Borleand. He has the best lines in the book and is far more enjoyable. The plus point is that the book has short chapters and a breeze to read it through over a couple of days.
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