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| Plot Summary of No Second Chance |
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"
Dutton, May 2003, 24.95, 352 pp.
ISBN 0525947299
Renowned plastic surgeon Marc Seidman wakes up in the intensive care unit after being in a coma for twelve days to learn that his wife was murdered and his six year old daughter Tara is missing. The FBI and the local police are on the case but so far there are no ransom demands. On the day that he is to be released from the hospital, his father-in-law asks Marc to visit him.
His father-in-law gives Marc a ransom note with instructions from the kidnapper that he must follow if he wants to see his daughter again. Marc gives two million-dollars in money supplied by his father-in-law to the kidnappers but they spot the police tail and escape. Eighteen months later, the kidnappers call his father-in-law again to repeat the process. Marc intends to handle the situation by himself, but ex-FBI agent Rachel Mills plans to help the man she loves get back his daughter. The two of them uncover a conspiracy much greater than a missing child scenario.
NO SECOND CHANCE is a fascinating roller-coaster ride of chills, thrills and non-stop action, so much so that readers will want to read the book in one sitting so they can find out just exactly what is going on. Harlan Coben uses the art of misdirection perfectly so that after awhile hope and dread run together leaving the protagonist totally confused about what his next step should be. This superb multi-layered story uses the first person narrative so that readers know just how Marc helpless feels and their hearts go out to him as he faces every parent's worst nightmare.
Harriet Klausner
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Harriet Klausner, Resident Scholar
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"Dr. Marc Seidman awakens to find himself in the hospital in an ICU. He is hooked up to an IV and his head swathed in bandages. Twelve days before, he'd had an enviable life as a successful surgeon, living in a peaceful suburban neighborhood with his beautiful wife and baby daughter. Now, he lies in the hospital bed, shot by an unseen assailant. His wife has been killed, and his six-month-old daughter is kidnapped. But just when his whole world seems to be shattered, something happens giving Marc new hope: a ransom note.
This note is chlling, but Marc sees only one thing-he has the chance to save his daughter. He can't talk to the police or FBI. He doesn't know whom he can trust. And the authorities are closing in on a new suspect: Marc himself.
However, as they continue to dig deeper, an unbelievable deception is revealed."
Boppy, Resident Scholar
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| Review Analysis of No Second Chance |
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Our unique search engine provides a wealth of detail about books by breaking them down into many different literary elements, all of which are searchable (click here).
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
Composition of Book
descript. of violence and chases - 10%
Planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 60%
Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 20%
How society works & physical descript. (people, objects, places) - 10%
Tone of story
- suspenseful (sophisticated fear)
How difficult to spot villain?
- Difficult, but some clues given
Time/era of story:
- present (2000-2010)
What % of story relates directly
to the mystery, not the subplot?
- 60%
Misc. Murder Plotlets
- Proving innocence of very obvious suspect
Kind of investigator
- amateur citizen investigator
Kid or adult book?
- Adult or Young Adult Book
Any non-mystery subplot?
- feelings towards family/friends
Crime Thriller
Yes
Crime plotlets:
- escape/rescue from kidnappers
Murder Mystery (killer unknown)
Yes
General Crime (including known murderer)
Yes
Who's the criminal enemy here?
- breaking up gang
Main Character
Gender
- Male
Profession/status:
- doctor
Age:
- 20's-30's
Is this an ordinary person caught up in events?
Yes
How much violence does he/she use?
- just the right amount
Ethnicity/Race
- White/American
How sensitive is this character?
- sensitive to others' feelings
- middling sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence
- Smarter than most other characters
- Very much smarter than other characters
Physique
- very athletic
- average physique
Main Adversary
Identity:
- Female
Age:
- 40's-50's
Profession/status:
- killer
- criminal
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in:
- a moderate amount
- an above average amount
Motive of antagonist
- money/treasure
The antagonists are:
- rednecks
How sensitive is this character?
- hard edged
- mean, arrogant
Sense of humor
- Cynical sense of humor
Intelligence
- Very much smarter than other characters
Physique
- very athletic
- average physique
Setting
United States
Yes
The US:
- Northeast
City?
Yes
City:
- wealthy
Style
Person
- mostly 1st
- rotating 1st
Accounts of torture and death?
- moderately detailed references to deaths
How many deaths?
- 3-4
Unusual forms of death
- perforation--bullets
Unusual form of death?
Yes
Amount of dialog
- significantly more dialog than descript
- roughly even amounts of descript and dialog
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Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s). | |
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