Live Wire by Harlan Coben

Title: Live Wire

Author: Harlan Coben

Published: March 2011

Over the years, Myron Bolitar has walked a tight rope between sports agent, friend, problem solver and private eye, his big heart quick to defend his clients' interests so fiercely that he can't help but jump in to save them, no matter the cost to his own happiness.

So when former tennis star Suzze T and her rock star husband, Lex, encounter an anonymous Facebook post questioning the paternity of their unborn child, Lex runs off, and Suzze - at eight months pregnant - asks Myron to save her marriage, and perhaps her husband's life. But when he finds Lex, he also finds two people he wasn't looking for: his sister-in-law, Kitty, wife of Myron's estranged brother, and her teenage son, Mickey, who is achingly familiar. But this boy that he has never met blames Myron for everything that has happened to his parents.

As Myron races to locate his missing brother while their father clings to life after a savage heart-attack, he must face the lies that led to the estrangement long ago - including the ones told by Myron himself. He must also answer the questions that Mickey's arrival has thrown up. Who is Myron Bolitar really? And can he heal the damage of the past?

Rating: 4 Stars

This is the first Myron Bolitar book that I have read and after a while I found it to be fairly enjoyable. However I'm not sure that I entirely buy into the whole idea of Myron being an agent and some crime solving sleuth. I don't know but I really don't think that the two careers mesh together very well.

And whilst Myron is the main character it really seems to me that the brains behind the entire operation is his friend and colleague Win. Now that might not necessarily be a bad thing, but it does lower the attraction of Myron somewhat. Then again Myron seems to be good at everything so I'm pretty glad that Coben gave him the flaw of wanting to help everyone out, no matter how much he despises them. 

I have to admit that the plot turned in a completely different direction than what I first imagined, and I always enjoy it when a book manages to surprise me. However this was mainly because of the introduction of so many smaller characters who appear to be pulling the strings. My favourite twist though has to be the one with Lex and Gabriel, but I won't say anymore as I don't want to give the game away. 

Would I recommend this book? I would indeed. It may not be the hardest mystery to solve, but this was an enjoyable read nonetheless.