Fool Me Once is a 2016 mystery-thriller written by American thriller writer Harlan Coben. It explores the life of Maya, a former military pilot who discovers through a nanny cam video that even after death, her husband comes to caress her daughter.
Here’s my review of the book.
Plot
Discharged from the Army, Maya Stern lost her only sister and her husband within four months. The already mentally disturbed Maya discovers through a nanny cam video that even after death, her husband comes to caress their only daughter!! The Burkett family also plays their part in this great mystery. Will Maya be able to solve all the mysteries and find out the solution to this game of death??
My Review
I have to admit this bald guy, Harlan Coben, is a page-turner writer. The author has an uncanny ability to keep the reader hooked all the time with one incident after another very quickly. One mystery after another has come to light. After unraveling a little tangle, it is seen that a bigger mystery has come to the fore. The struggle of Maya Stern’s personal life, the trouble of the police behind her, and her past hitting her repeatedly, the book was quite enjoyable. Apart from the main story, I really like the emotion that the author has shown in the last chapter. I didn’t expect this kind of emotional stuff from a Western thriller writer.
But from what I have heard about the author, this book was not at least of that level. It’s a good, interesting book, but the main twist seems to have suddenly pulled the whole story into question. Personally, I cannot accept why the reader should read the entire book from one point of view and then suddenly change it. I feel like I have been cheated!! Anyway, this is just my opinion, and I’m sure very few readers have the same opinion as me.
Characterization
Coben shows how to portray the characters of the story. The author skillfully portrays every thought of the main protagonist, Maya Stern, and her emotional tension. I was surprised by the characterization of Claire, Maya’s sister. The girl was not visible in the whole book, but the author portrayed her in such a way that the girl left an impression on my mind. Apart from this, the author also describes other small characters well.
Price
Kindle – $8.99
Hardcover – $8.53
Paperback – $15.14
Personal Rating
7/10. The book is about the battle of a mother, a wife, and a sister. While this story has all the excitement it needs, the excitement of the last chapter could have been a little more in the book.
Similar Books
- Tell No One by Harlan Coben.
- Don’t Let Go by Harlan Coben.
- Run Away by Harlan Coben.
- Gone For Good by Harlan Coben.