As I’ve been reading through the Myron Bolitar series by Harlan Coben, I was enjoying it quite a bit.  The last couple of books seemed to have some silly moments and I was a bit concerned that Coben would degenerate the series into silly plots with silly actions on the part of the main characters.  I gave up on the Stephanie Plum series largely for that reason and could see this series becoming the same thing.

Thankfully that isn’t the case.  With One False Move, Coben brings the series in a different direction entirely.  Some of it was hinted at in previous books in the series, which is the one negative here.  If you want to read the series, you really need to start at the beginning.  Picking it up here with the fifth book will leave you lost with the many nuances and relationships within.

For anyone who’s not up to speed, Myron Bolitar is a one-time college basketball phenomenon who missed out on the pros due to an “accident”.  Following a short stint working for the government with his pal, Win Lockwood, he began working as a sports agent, opening up his own agency.  His right-hand at the agency is Esperanza, a former female wrestler who just got her law degree.

If there’s one thing that’s central to One False Move it’s relationships.  There were hints at cracks in the relationship between Myron and his long-time love, Jessica, in the previous novel, Back Spin.  Not only is Myron’s relationship with Jessica challenged in One False Move, but so is his friendship and working relationship with Esperanza.  Myron also has the opportunity to reflect on some of his past actions and realizes he let down some people who helped him out and cared about him, as well as learning some secrets about his own family.

At the center of all of this though is the mystery of Brenda Slaughter.  She’s a top women’s basketball player and happens to be the daughter of someone who helped Myron out quite a bit in his younger days.  A medical student as well, she is the face of the new Women’s Basketball League.  Twenty years ago, her mother went missing without a trace, seemingly deserting her family. Now, her father is missing and Brenda herself has been threatened.

As Myron tries to protect Brenda and find out exactly what’s going on, it takes him on a journey of discovery.  He’s at a crossroads of sorts in his life and the events in One False Move will change his story from here on out.  He’s figuring out what’s important, and although much of the humor is still here, this is a slightly different story for the series.  In my opinion, it’s just what the series needed.

As for the mystery, you will be guessing until the end.  Coben does here what he always seems to do: make a story seem obvious but it isn’t.  Then, just when you think you know what happened, he throws in something else.  In the end, it all makes sense.  I have to say I really liked the ending in One False Move for a variety of reasons.  He gives us part of the last chapter to begin with, and figuring out just how he gets there is a lot of fun.

I liked how Myron evolved in this story, which is to say quite a bit.  Coben really has done a lot to create a multi-dimensional character who could have ended up a cartoon-like super-hero but isn’t.  I could see Myron’s humanity both in his feelings, emotions, actions, and inactions.  He’s a compelling character which is what leads me to wanting more instead of feeling dread as to how more ridiculous can his plots get. Coben’s plots tread that line quite nicely.

If you’re interested after reading this, I’d recommend starting the series at the beginning.  Books three and four might be harder to get through, but it’s well worth it once you get to One False Move.  My friend Sue recommended Coben as a writer to me when I was looking for books to read, and I will forever be in her debt for turning me on to a terrific writer and this great series.

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