Harlan Coben, best known for his adult books, makes his YA debut with Shelter. His fans will recognize the hero's uncle, Myron Bolitar, from Live Wire.
Fifteen-year-old Mickey Bolitar is having a rough year: his father is dead and his mother's in rehab. He has finally met a girl, sweet and shy Ashley, but she's gone missing. When an old woman known around town as Bat Lady tells him his father isn't dead, Mickey is faced with two mysteries to solve. Where is Ashley? What happened to his father? Two misfit sidekicks--sarcastic Ema and trivia-obsessed Spoon--help Mickey search for answers. As the mysteries deepen, Mickey finds himself being led farther into the past and realizes that there may be more to his father, and Ashley, than he ever imagined.
Coben finds realistic ways to put his teenage protagonists in extraordinary situations. Mickey's determination to find Ashley, even once he realizes she may not be as sweet and innocent as he'd thought, is heroic. Spoon, the source of much comic relief in the book, is memorable and charming in his own way. Mysterious Ema acts tough but proves herself to be extremely loyal. Coben's neatly woven narrative manages multiple storylines without becoming confused or slowing down the action. This fast-paced read asks many questions and leaves most unanswered until the riveting final pages. --Kyla Paterno, retail coordinator and blogger, Garfield Book Company at PLU