Product Description

Marc Seidman's idyllic world is brutally ripped apart when he is gunned down in his home. Twelve days later he wakes up in hospital to learn that his wife is dead and his baby daughter Tara is missing. A ransom demand is made and agreed to. But something goes terribly wrong. The kidnappers escape, and Marc remembers the ransom note's ominous warning: there will be no second chance. An agonising eighteen months pass with no word. And then, as Marc has just about given up all hope of seeing his daughter again, a package arrives with a note attached: want a second chance? The note is chilling, but Marc sees only one thing: the chance to save his daughter. And, haunted by deception and deadly secrets - about his wife, about an old love, and about his own past - he vows to bring Tara home ... at any cost.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #187007 in Books
• Published on: 2004-11-02
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 400 pages

About the Author
Harlan Coben was the first ever author to win all three major crime awards in the US, and has established a best-selling series of crime novels starring his powerful creation, Myron Bolitar. He currently lives in New Jersey with his wife and four children.

Customer Reviews

A great diversion
If you ever want a distraction from the mundane trappings of modern life, here is the ideal book to whisk you away to another world. It is not a fantasy, a romance or comedy, but instead a fast-paced absorbing thriller. It is however, far above average, and incredibly involving. I admit, I was a little unsure on receiving the book as to whether it would hold my attention, but the book contains some beautifully observed moments. Instead of dragging us through the details of a grisly ordeal, it relates the story to us in a number of ways. The mixture of third-person story-telling and first person narrative gives this book an edge above others of this genre. But I stress again, it is the nuances, the details of thoughts and emotions, usually in the narrative, that delivers the books weighty punch. A story told to you that reminds you of some point in your life is always more compelling, and this doesn't disappoint.
The basic plot, which I won't spoil, is full of enough twists and turns to keep you guessing all the way, and is a little more thought out than the majority of best sellers.A man in his thirties is largely pre-occupied with his career, and it takes a tragedy to really see where his life is going.
There is nothing profound here, just good story telling.
Highly recommended for an absorbing read.

It's a page turner
When I read the first chapter of this book I knew I had to get to the end and fast!

Now I'm not a great book reader. I go through periods when I read a lot but I am the kind of person that gets half way through a book and gets bored so I stop and start another one. With 'No second chance' there was no danger of this. I was hooked from the very beginning, totally absorbed in the characters and the story line and having a young daughter myself I could understand the pain and the thoughts of Dr Marc Seidman. This book was so good that I even turned the TV off and chose to read instead. I've been sat up in bed until gone 1O'Clock in the morning reading, 'just one more chapter', and I went to bed at 10!!
I highly recommend this book to anyone that wants an absorbing, fast paced thriller. I'm off to buy another Harlan Coben book and just hope it is as good as this one. Fantastic.

Page-turner
If you like a good thriller then this book should be high on your to-be-read list.

Murder, kidnapping, betrayal, action, intrigue, big-bucks, conspiracy, old friendships renewed - it's all there. Guaranteed to keep you enthuasiastically turning the pages right to the end - you won't want to put it down.

The plot starts with the shooting of Marc and his wife. As he wakes in hospital he finds his wife is dead and their 6-month old daughter missing. A ransom drop goes badly wrong and hope is lost...or is it? Eighteen months later there is a renewed demand...a second chance. Is she alive or dead? Have the ransom demands come from the real kidnappers? Who were the shooters? Why do the Feds suspect Marc and an old flame of orchestrating the whole thing? Who can be trusted?

This is the first of Coben's books that I've read...and it certainly won't be the last.

If you enjoy this book you may also enjoy the medical thrillers by Robin Cook or the books of Tami Hoag.