Live Wire by Harlan Coben (2011) Review

I’ve been waiting for two years now for the latest Myron Bolitar novel and here it finally is – Live Wire.

The book begins when eight months pregnant former tennis star and good friend of Myron, Suzze T asks for his help when her rockstar husband Lex disappears due to some online rumours questioning the baby's paternity. Myron’s father is at death’s door, and more of the Bolitar family’s past comes to light when during the search for Suzze T’s husband, Myron sees the wife of his brother Brad who abandoned the family many years ago.

I’ve just finished this book today and wow! It sure is exciting! I’ve been reading these books for the past 7 or 8 years and loved each one (and have re-read several on numerous occasions), so when I read a new addition to the series it is like revisiting old friends. Although this touches on some very serious matters with regards to the Bolitar family and it’s past (which is all revealed in this one) the sharp, witty dialogue is still there, the action is very fast paced (and thankfully isn’t as over the top and unbelievable as Long Lost, which I felt made Myron out to be some kind of superhero) and the story is full of mystery and twists around every corner.

As well as a bit of a Bolitar history lesson we also get to meet Myron’s nephew Mickey. I’m not going to give anything away but how many parts of storyline in this book finishes makes me wonder if this is the end for the Myron series, particularly as the next Harlan Coben book is a young adult novel starring Mickey Bolitar called Shelter (due out late 2011). So maybe the baton has been passed over to his nephew for the spotlight from now on? Time will tell.

I really enjoyed this book. It wasn’t the best in the series and definitely isn’t the worst but it is a thoroughly good read and if this does happen to be the last on in the series then so be it. I will definitely miss Win, Esparenza, El-Al, Big Cyndi and of course Myron but the way this book finishes is great and I would be happy with this ending if that was it. No doubt if Mickey Bolitar is the lead guy in Coben’s books from now on then Myron will pop up from time to time and I can’t wait to see how it all goes from here.

                                                              Harlan Coben & Me - May 2009

Chicken Pasta Salad (Main Course)

If you fancy a big meal that is going to fill you up but is also quite healthy (not to mention extremely delicious!) then my chicken salad may be for you.

-       Wrap a large chicken breast fillet in foil, add condiments (I just used black pepper and a small drop of olive oil) and then cook in the oven for approx 40 mins at 190C.

-       Refrigerate the chicken for about 2 hours.

-       Boil a portion of pasta on medium heat for 10 minutes (this tastes best in this dish when al dente). Once finished boiling, spread onto a dinner plate.

-       Next add torn lettuce leaves.

-       Tear the chicken breast and spread evenly over the dish.

-       Cut 6 cherry tomatoes in half and then add to the salad.

-       Garlic and black pepper croutons accompany this dish perfectly. Add maybe 15 to the dish.

-       Finish off with a thin squirt of salad cream all over.

Xbox 360 Gamercard w/c 10th May 2011

Not too much gaming this week. Just some Trivial Pursuit and Kinect Sports. I also picked up Madden NFL 2011 nice and cheap (only £19.99 new at Gamestation) but not had chance to properly get into it yet.

The Woman In Black (1989) Review

A couple of years back a friend and I were in London and decided to go to a play. Both being fans of the horror movies and the supernatural, we agreed upon seeing The Woman in Black at The Fortune Theatre, a play based upon the 1983 book of the same name by Susan Hill. I have watched a lot (and I mean a LOT!) of horror movies over the years but nothing had prepared me for such an intense and frightening experience as what we had on that evening watching this show.

Last weekend we met up again, this time for some food, a bottle of wine and a movie at my house. Knowing of this night in beforehand I managed to track down an old VHS copy on eBay of the ITV movie that aired on Christmas Eve 1989 and has only ever been shown on TV once since, back in 1994 on Channel 4.

With the lights off and it just happened to be pouring with rain outside, we started the movie.

To start with, the first half an hour or so was very slow, introducing characters that weren’t in the play and Kipps’ character spending a lot more time at the law firm before heading to the house. Then we get to the funeral where ‘she’ appears at the back of the church...now things start to get interesting!

From here on (although still slow paced) it just gets creepier and creepier. His first meeting in the cemetery outside the house. Hearing the deaths of the young children on the causeway. The knocking behind the locked door. The toy soldier. And that scene when he’s lying in bed! Not to mention the unforgettable and shocking ending.

Although this didn’t absorb me or scare me half as much as the stage play, I did thoroughly enjoy it and I am very glad that I’ve now seen it, especially now that there’s a remake starring Harry Potter’s Daniel Radcliffe in the works (although I’ve read that the story as been changed drastically) which I’ll have to check out when it’s released.

Rating: Four out of Five

Have you seen this movie? Or maybe seen the play or read the book? Share your experiences of this classic ghost story.

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This is my little blog where I’ll be posting about my everyday life, my interests - films, TV, books, photography, fitness and cooking and just any general topics I’d like to share and discuss.