Can you ever know too much about your children? When does keeping an eye on things turn to spying? In this day and age a parent does have to be vigilant about what their child is doing...especially online. However, we want to have our children grow up feeling they have a right to privacy, so it's a really fine line.In "Hold Tight" Mike and Tia Baye are concerned about Adam, their sixteen-year-old son. Adam seems to be pulling away from them and acting secretive. He's been very distant since the suicide of his classmate, Spencer. Mike and Tia become increasingly concerned and decide to install a spy program on Adam's computer. Soon after they come across a message telling Adam to "Stay quiet".Meanwhile Spencer's mom has come across a picture taken the night of Spencer's suicide and it looks as though Adam was actually with Spencer that night.Then Adam goes missing...."Hold Tight" was a good read with some interesting characters. There are a few storylines, so at times it was tough keeping track of everything. I also found that this was a bit slower paced than some of the author's other novels. However, once I was a few chapters in, I was thoroughly engrossed in what was happening and found it hard to put down.All in all this was quite an enjoyable read and I was really impressed with how the author tied everything together. It kept me guessing with it twists and turns until it's unexpected but satisfying ending.I look forward to more from Harlan Coben.

Coben should again be commended for his accurate portrayal of men, women, teens, and tweens. But I have to wonder what Coben's personal obsession is with having all the characters in his books marry their first love (aw shucks, how sweet), having these marriages end almost never in divorce but in the untimely death of a partner, having those who cheat duly (and violently) punished for straying, and constantly reminding readers that his couples keep no secrets from each other and, when they do, are likewise punished. Is Coben doing this to convince his own wife he made the right decision in marrying her, has no secrets, would never think of another woman, and still thinks she's as beautiful as the day he married her? Hmm. Wouldn't a Valentine's Day card suffice? Must each character drum in the same values? ********************SPOILER******************Coben rarely disappoints me with his writing, which is clean and gets the job done, but on p. 404, Frank and I were brought to a screeching halt with perhaps the hokiest paragraph Coben has ever written:"The room pretty much exploded then. There were tears, of course. Hugs. Apologies. Wounds were ripped open and closed. [. . .:]"Yeah, we got the picture. I'm reaching for my tissues right now.

I am a fan of Harlan Coben's, but this wasn't my favorite of his books. Yes, the plot had many unexpected twists and turns and kept me guessing up until the end. But I thought he wove too many stories together, making it hard to follow. Also, I thought the story line with the daughter was wrapped up a little too neatly at the end. If you're a parent, this book explores some current moral dilemmas in parenting--namely, how much is it permissible to invade your child's privacy? Coben blends his characters from one book to another, and I was happy to see one of my favorites, Hester Crimstein, make a return appearance. Overall, a quick and fun read, but not his best.

After reading Harlan Cobens The Woods, I knew I needed to read more of the authors work. Thus, I went and grabbed myself a collection that provided me with ten Harlan Coben books. I wasnt quite sure where to start, and due to this I went a while without reading any of the books, but in the end I opted to dive into Hold Tight.Hold Tight has guaranteed that I will be diving into those other Harlan Coben books soon there will not be the gap between my reading that emerged between The Woods and Hold Tight. Although Hold Tight was not quite a full four-star rating, it was extremely close. Its the kind of book that is perfect for anyone looking for a fun quick mystery read, the kind of book people read when on holiday (personally, my reading does not change whether Im on holiday or not, but I understand why people would want a book like this specifically for their holiday reading).It was one of those mystery books where there is a lot going on, many stories are being told, and you know everything is connected. Youre able to work certain things out, but other things will leave you guessing. A few things seemed to come out of left field, and I wasnt quite sure how I felt about them, but as a whole I really enjoyed the way everything came together in this one. It was easy to follow, there was plenty to keep me interested, and I enjoyed the journey. Plus, I was excited to see some characters from The Woods in this one Im certainly curious to find out if reoccurring characters are a theme in Harlan Cobens standalone novels, as I would love to see more of the characters.Well worth reading if youre a fan of easy yet engaging mystery reads.

Tia and Mike Baye never imagined they'd become the type of overprotective parents who spy on their kids. But their sixteen-year-old son Adam has been unusually distant lately, and after the suicide of his classmate Spencer Hill - the latest in a string of issues at school - they can't help but worry. They install a sophisticated spy program on Adam's computer, and within days they are jolted by a message from an unknown correspondent addressed to their son - 'Just stay quiet and all safe.' Meanwhile, browsing through an online memorial for Spencer put together by his classmates, Betsy Hill is struck by a photo that appears to have been taken on the night of her son's death and he wasn't alone. She thinks it is Adam Baye standing just outside the camera's range; but when Adam goes missing, it soon becomes clear that something deep and sinister has infected their community. For Tia and Mike Baye, the question they must answer is this: when it comes to your kids, is it possible to know too much? This was my January book Pal read, and yet another great Harlan Coben book, full of great characters, twists and turns, with the whole story and different characters weaving in and out of the plots very intertestingly and all coming together for an exciting and frightening few chapters.A story filled with the life behind closed doors of four families, and how one thing said can sent the whole ball running and cause a chain effect of events and deaths.Brought together so well by the author.