I have just finished reading  ‘Fool Me Once’ by Harlen Coben.  This is the first book I have read by this author and I must admit it really exceeded my expectations.

The initial reason for chosing this book over any of the others that were calling to me from the shelves was the snippet on the back cover (see the bottom of this post).  I tend to choose a book the same way that I would choose a movie.  I like to read the blurb on the back to see if it is something that I think i could get into. My reasoning is that if I would like to watch it as a film then I would be able to get into it as a book.

There is nothing I hate more in the world than a book that you begin to read but you know in your heart that you are seeing the words but nothing is sinking in.  This book is the exact opposite.  I am not usually one for thrillers but this is one of those reads that you just can’t put down.

Breakdown

The book started by jumping straight into the action of the murder of Maya’s Husband, Joe.  Maya is ex-millitary and did not leave under honorable circumstances, but rest assured she is still a good guy.  The memories of her time in the airforce will forever haunt her.  She lays her husband to rest, which for any spouse I can only imagine is heartbreaking, but she does it with such class and composure.  Maya has always been around death as her profession would imply and with the recent murder of her sister, Claire, still fresh in her mind, she has had more than her fill over the last few months.

Her husband, Joe, was one of four siblings of the Burkett family who have also been touched by tragedy in the past when his younger brother, Andrew, died whilst partying on a yacht with friends.  The Burkett’s were a wealthy family so they did not want for anything, but where there is money there is sure to be scandal.  This comes in the form of a connection between the murder of Maya’s sister and her husband.  Maya takes it upon herself to investigate and get to the bottom of what has happened to connect these two deaths.

The more Maya digs to unearth the truth, the more secrets are revealed.  She must be careful who she can trust if she is to ever have any hope of finding out who killed her sister and how it can be linked to the death of her husband!

Overall Review

Great storyline, I loved the characters and their background stories.  Throughout this book I found myself guessing who the murderer could be.  I had an incline as to how it would end but there was always something that followed to dismiss that feeling and throw you right back off track.  I was hooked from beginning to end and would rate this book 9/10.

xo Mello