Stay Close

By: Harlan Coben

Narrated by: Scott Brick

Megan is a suburban soccer mom who, once upon a time, walked on the wild side. Now she’s got two kids, a perfect husband, a picket fence, and a growing sense of dissatisfaction. Ray used to be a talented documentary photographer, but at the age of 40 he finds himself in a dead-end job posing as a paparazzo, pandering to celebrity-obsessed rich kids. Broome is a detective who can’t let go of a cold case—a local husband and father who disappeared 17 years ago—and spends the anniversary every year visiting a house frozen in time, the missing man’s family still waiting, his slippers left by the recliner as if he might show up at any moment to step into them.

Three people living lives they never wanted, hiding secrets that even those closest to them would never suspect, will find that the past never truly fades away. Even as the terrible consequences of long-ago events crash together in the present and threaten to ruin lives, they will come to the startling realization that they may not want to forget the past at all. And as each confronts the dark side of the American dream—the boredom of a nice suburban life, the excitement of temptation, the desperation and hunger that can lurk behind even the prettiest façades—they will discover the hard truth that the line between one kind of life and another can be as whisper-thin as a heartbeat.

Master of domestic suspense Harlan Coben delivers his trademark combination of pause-resistant thrills and unrivaled insight into the dark shadows that creep into even the happiest communities.

©2012 Harlan Coben (P)2012 Brilliance Audio, Inc.

Harlan Coben and Scott Brick? A perfect match!

Yes, I've always been a fan of Scott Brick's style. Perhaps it's not for everyone, but I love that each "reading" is a "performance." The story is a who-done-it with lost love, a psycho-killer Ken & Barbie (almost the evil-comic relief of the story), and real people with real flaws. I read several audiobooks a week and found this to be one of my recent favorites. Great plot and a great performance!

Good typical Coben

The story was good and not hard to follow. I don't understand all the negative reviews about Scott Brick. He did great and added life to the characters. Over all it was an entertaining book and in the general Harlan Coben fashion...that's why I keep listening to his books

good story

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

This book had a lot of twists and turns. Overall is was a great book. Scott Brick is the best! I look forward to more of Harlan Cohen's books.

Have you listened to any of Scott Brick’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Scott Brick is the best in the biz!

Surprisingly entertaining

What made the experience of listening to Stay Close the most enjoyable?

The story kept me intrigued and kept me guessing. I couldn't wait to find out how all the pieces fit together.

What did you like best about this story?

The character development was thorough. The reader had a smooth pleasant voice.

Which scene was your favorite?

My favorite scene was when the two women fight to the death. It was equally tough to listen to because I could visualize it.

Any additional comments?

Overall, this is a good listen. If you like a good thriller, you won't be disappointed.

longer than it needed to be

much longer than it should have been, and one of those Agatha Christie type endings where the person who did it really had not had any hint of involvement. just pick a person and make them the bad guy, with your own justification as the writer

Good Book Good Reading

Usual collection of fun characters and tight plotting. Scott Brick is great for subtle drama.

stay closer

I really enjoy reading harlan cobens books, he is one of my favorite authors. This is one

Coben does suspense well

Would you consider the audio edition of Stay Close to be better than the print version?

Scott Brick makes the audio version entertaining as usual.

If you???ve listened to books by Harlan Coben before, how does this one compare?

This was a good story, well read by Brick. I always like the Myron bolitar books most but this was good. Just not great, I guess I struggled to care about any of the cast.

What about Scott Brick???s performance did you like?

He is one of the best. He always does believeable voices.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No, I was ale to listen a little bit each day. It was easy to put down. It was good but not great.

A slow beginning that makes up for it at the end

I was a bit frustrated with the beginning few chapters, but decided to stick with the book. I was glad I did.

The story interweaves several characters into a tangled web of lies, deceptions, past mistakes. Before long, two of the most interesting antagonists I've seen show up in town, leaving horrific destruction in their wake. The last half to one third of the book make up for the reader's patience at the beginning - there is heart-racing suspense as we track from character to character, with the mystery finally unraveling into a startling conclusion.

I found the narration to be a bit grating at times: I wasn't fond of Scott Brick's whispered female voice for the part of Meagan, and some of the choices he makes in his line reading, but overall, he got better as the story's pace increased. The rest of his characterization was good.

Overall, a very solid, a-typical mystery thriller. I will definitely investigate more from this author.

Typical Harlan Coben story

I love Scott Brick as narrator. He could read anything and make it good. I enjoy Harlan Coben books and this was on par with his others. It's worth a read if you like Coben.