by Krystle Hernandez

Created on: March 04, 2009

Mystery and suspense novelist Harlan Coben has achieved bestseller status as a direct result of the rising popularity of his "Myron Bolitar Series." The collection of books, which boats seven entries, focuses on the misadventures of Renaissance man, Myron Bolitar. Bolitar, who began his career at the highly regarded Duke University ultimately went on to earn his Juris Doctor at the prestigious Harvard Law School. Despite his excellent academic background, Bolitar was also a star basketball player, but due to an unfortunately irreparable knee injury, Bolitar's professional basketball career was cut short, forcing him to open his own sports agency where he represents prominent athletes. However, Bolitar also has a knack for solving crimes and often conducts his own amateur investigations on the side.

"The Final Detail" is the sixth installment in the Myron Bolitar series and picks up soon after the close of the fifth entry. As the novel opens, readers learn that Bolitar's relationship with Jessica Culver may not have worked out, but he seems to be moving along just nicely while vacationing in the Caribbean islands alongside a beautiful CNN reporter. Unfortunately, Bolitar's vacation is cut short and he is dragged back into reality when his trusted friend and sidekick, Windsor Horne Lockwood III (a.k.a. "Win") hauls him back to their New York City offices where one of their clients has just been murdered.

Back in New York, Bolitar is briefed on the series of recent events. Before his murder, Clu Haid was a New York Yankees relief pitcher who had garnered a reputation of being wild and tumultuous. Haid's body was found shot to death after his recent failure of a mandatory drug test. Unfortunately, it appears that Bolitar's partner at the firm, Esperanza Diaz, has been arrested and is being held under suspicion of committing the crime. Now, Bolitar must ask himself whether his belief that Esperanza is hiding something has something to do with the case, or whether she is attempting to cover up some aspect of her private life, perhaps something to do with her questionable sexuality.

In Coben's characteristic style, "The Final Detail" features a fast-paced, action-packed narrative that is guaranteed to leave readers gripping the edges of their seats as they attempt to figure out the clues alongside Bolitar. But, don't be shocked if you aren't first to figure out the mystery as Coben leaves readers with a twist ending that may be satisfying for some while frustrating for others.

Overall, it appears that although Coben may have found a successful writing formula for his Bolitar books early on, his growing experience as a novelist has allowed him to take risks and deviate from the formula in new, surprising, and commendable ways.

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