Giveaway: Mickey Bolitar Series by Harlan Coben

Earlier this year I discovered Harlan Coben's new mystery/thriller series starring Mickey Bolitar. The first book, Shelter, which is just out in paperback, introduces us to Mickey, whose life is spinning a bit out of control. Here are the opening paragraphs:

I was walking to school, lost in feeling sorry for myself--my dad was dead, my mom in rehab, my girlfriend missing--when I saw the Bat Lady for the first time.

I had heard the rumors, of course. The Bat Lady supposedly lived alone in the dilapidated house on the corner of Hobart Gap Road and Pine. You know the one. I stood in front of it now. The worn yellow paint was shedding like an old dog. The once-solid concrete walk was cracked into quarter-size fragments. The uncut lawn had dandelions tall enough for the adult rides at Six. Flags. (p. 1)

I don't know about you, but that passage made me want to keep reading.

One thing about Harlan Coben, he can write an intense, action-packed story that's not all that easy to figure out. And the good news is he doesn't ease up just because his Mickey Bolitar series is geared to a teen audience. In fact, Mickey and his friends find themselves in a few adult situations (a strip club for one), and the bad guys are very, very bad.

As other reviewers have mentioned, one of the pluses about Shelter and Seconds Away (book two in the series) is the fantastic characters. Mickey and his friends have distinct personalities that are consistent and believable, and they stick together, even when things get tough.

The next book in the series, Seconds Away, went on sale this week. It starts immediately where Shelter left off, and Mickey is still in the thick of things. Coben keeps the action and mysteries coming and has definitely sidestepped the sophomore slump. To whet your appetite, here are the opening paragraphs of Seconds Away:

There are moments in your life that change everything. I don't mean little things like, say, what cereal turns out to be your favorite or whether you get into any AP classes or what girl you fall in love with or where you wind up living for the next twenty years. I mean total change. One second your world is one thing, the next--snap!--it is completely altered. All the rules, all the things you accepted about reality, are turned around.

Like, up becomes down. Left becomes right. (p. 1)

Ummmm. Okay. Now I need to know what had been so completely turned on its head. Just in case you need more, take a look at the book trailer:

For information about the series, see the Mickey Bolitar website and Facebook page. For more on author Harlan Coben, check out his website.

The Giveaway

If I've caught your attention, then you're in luck because, thanks to Big Honcho and the publisher, I'm happy to offer one of my readers a fabulous giveaway package. One winner will receive a copy of Shelter, a copy of Seconds Away, and a very cool Mickey Bolitar tote bag.

To enter for a chance to win the Mickey Bolitar prize pack, simply fill out the following form. I'll pick a winner (using a random number generator) on September 30. Once a winner is picked and confirmed, all data will be erased from my computer. Because this giveaway is being handled by the publicist, it is open to only those with a U.S. mailing address. Good luck!

Published by Penguin USA / Speak
ISBN-13: 9780142422038, Shelter (paperback), 2012
Published by Penguin USA / G. P. Putnam's Sons
ISBN-13: 9780399256516, Seconds Away (hardcover), 2012