Don’t Let Go

Coben’s new protagonist, suburban New Jersey cop Nap Dumas, is a witty and heroic sleuth who is not afraid to break the law when it comes to giving woman-batterers a bit of their own back. Nap’s everyday world is shaken up when he receives word that his high school crush Maura Wells’s fingerprints were recently found near the murdered body of another schoolmate, a Pennsylvania cop. Maura disappeared 15 years ago on the same night Nap’s twin brother, Leo, and his girlfriend, Diana, were killed by a speeding train. Always suspicious of Leo’s “accidental” death, Nap is convinced Maura’s abrupt departure was connected, and he’s driven to find his lost love and discover what happened on that long-ago night. Actor Weber has perfected his sarcastic wise-guy delivery reading the author’s Bolitar series. For much of Nap’s narration, he only has to toughen it a little, but when the going gets rough, he effortlessly enters the full-out performance zone. Weber skillfully presents the detective’s assorted witnesses, suspects, friends, and foes. But his major set piece is his enactment of Nap’s ever-more-frantic thoughts and emotions during a torture scene at the end. It’s convincing, chillingly effective, and award-worthy. [em]A Dutton hardcover. (Sept.) [/em]