This is the 4th of the (currently) 12 books by Coben that feature Myron Bolitar, sports agent and detective. This one is set at Merion Golf Club during the US Open tournament. Jack Coldren, a veteran pro playing on his home course, has a huge 9-stroke lead after 2 rounds. But he also had a lead the last time the US Open was played there and lost due to a disastrous shot on the 16th green. The crowd was both anticipating a triumphant atonement for his earlier failure or an even more spectacular collapse. Which would it be?
Unbeknownst to the public, Jack’s 16-year-old son, Chad, has been kidnapped. Linda Coldren, Jack’s wife and a world-class tennis pro, asks Myron to quietly investigate and advise them on what to do. Which Myron does without the usually reliable assistance of Win Lockwood III, investment guru and bone cracker. He refuses to assist Myron because of long-standing animosity with the Coldrens.
Myron has to unravel the mysterious kidnapping solo while also trying to land a new client, Tad Crispin, a young golfer in his first US Open and the one closest to Coldren on the leaderboard. A few people die along the way but he figures it out eventually, but not quickly enough to save Chad from harm.
The plot is complex. In some cases, in my opinion, either too complex or not explained with clarity.
5 out of 10.