So far, I've read about half a dozen Coben novels. While all have been quite good, this particular book completely hooked me. I simply couldn't not put it down. I just had to know what would happen and how the parallel stories would link up. In this case, we have a social worker (apparently a good guy) who appears to have been set up by a TV show aimed at exposing sexual predators who pray on teens via the Internet. We also have the mysterious disappearance of a teenager with no history of trouble/problems. A bunch of other characters get involved, directly and indirectly, into one or the other or both stories.... It's a convoluted plot with intricate subplots but somehow it all hangs together really well and in no time at all, you find yourself consumed with finding out who did what, when, why and how.... Furthermore, this author is really good at pulling the heart strings and he makes you reflect/feel for the parents of the missing girl, the innocents that are falsely accused, the victims of absurd crimes and unfair accidents, the guilt associated with tragic errors. I almost shed some tears at the end which shows how well some of the characters and the story were developed. Because of that , it makes it easy for me to ignore some of the plot twists that were a bit too far fetched and easily resolved. I give it a 4.5 out 5 stars = very, very good...
