Title:	Darkest Fear
	Author:	Harlan Coben
	Published:	2000, Dell Publishing
	No. of Pages:	319
	Cover Price:	$7.99 US

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Myron Bolitar is a different sort of hero; he is humorous and has a very sarcastic smart mouth, especially when in dangerous situations. Although he was a promising pro basketball player, a career-ending injury changed his life and he started his own company, MB SportsReps. It seems, though, while in the process of representing big-name sports stars, Myron gets himself involved in all kinds of difficult situations, and is saddled with the task of finding missing persons and solving murders. In the case of Darkest Fear, Myron is contacted by a college girlfriend whom he wants nothing to do with (she married his nemesis and the one responsible for his injury) and is asked to find the name of a bone marrow donor who is registered in the national database, but is not reachable. His ex-girlfriend, Emily, informs him that her oldest son, Jeremy, is actually Myron’s child and will die if he doesn’t get the transplant.

Although Myron is shocked with the news that he is the biological father, he, with the help of his best friends, Esperanza and Win, try to find the donor and get themselves mixed up in multiple kidnappings and murders; in addition, they find themselves in danger throughout the novel.

Even though there is plenty of humor, the suspense is palpable, and because Myron is so likeable, the reader is constantly worried about him surviving the ordeal. His friend Win, an amoral, selfish, and humorous character is always there to rescue Myron, and Esperanza, a former professional wrestler, is the one who is able to find information whenever necessary. Myron’s current girlfriend, Terese Collins, who is a famous reporter, uses her fame to gain information that no one else seems to be able to get, and although she is more likeable than his on-again-off-again true love, (the self-centered diva Jessica, who, thank goodness isn’t in this novel), her role is minimal.

The scenarios in the novel are a little farfetched, and Myron and Win get away with a lot of things nobody else would, but the novel is very entertaining and is a very fast read.

Coben’s Myron Bolitar series are delightful and upbeat, even though they do have some violence and also murder. Fans will love Darkest Fear, and will agree that it is one not to be missed.

This book was purchased with personal funds and no promotion of the book was solicited by the author or publisher.

This book may be purchased at Amazon: Darkest Fear: A Novel (Myron Bolitar Mysteries)