My wife reads a lot of what I would call trash. She also delves into the occasional deeper book, one you really have to concentrate on, one that takes time. I, too, have books I find I have to concentrate on, and I suppose there is also a series of authors who write what she would, in turn, describe as my trashy books. Harlan Coben is part of this group, although I hasten to add that this is no criticism.

Coben has written some excellent stand alone novels, most notably being Tell No One, which has recently been made into a French feature film, and very well made, too. However, the majority of his novels feature his recurring main character, Myron Bolitar, a wise-cracking literary version of Jerry Maguire. Bolitar is an ex-pro Basketball player whose career was ended almost immediately through injury when he turned pro. He owns and runs a sports agency, and is a popular agent with a dedicated team.

The Final Detail is the latest in a series of books featuring Myron and his associates, and this one starts with him reeling following disastrous events in the previous book. It starts with him taking an unscheduled vacation in an undisclosed location somewhere in the Caribbean, but is forced to return when he finds out that his business associate and best friend, Esperanza Diaz, has been arrested for murder, and his agency is under threat of losing all its clients.

Thus ensues a typical Bolitar novel, where Coben takes us through a number of brief but effective character developments, including regulars such as Win, Byron's college friend, deadly and rich; and Big Cyndi, Esperanza's ex-wrestling partner who works for Myron and Esperanza as a receptionist (don't ask!). There is also a reawakening of an old vendetta between Myron and Frank Ache, son of the local mobster, a man not to be messed with. However, neither is Win, and the undertones of the ongoing feud is littered with stalemate as Myron and Win have a literary staring contest with Ache and his goons.

Ultimately, the book deals with high levels of conspiracy as Myron digs deep in the present and in the past to find out who exactly has killed his old friend and client Clu Haid, an ageing baseball star who has found his second professional wind. Esperanza is charged with his murder: Myron is determined to prove it wasn't her. Usually, in the Bolitar books, Coben shows us that Myron is onto a bit of winner and happens to find the truth by following his nose. However, this time, the author gives us a bit to work with. It appears that Esperanza may not be as innocent as Myron thinks. She won't talk to him, or see him!

I can't pretend that Coben's writing is literary genius: it's not! But what it does do is entertain, and highly. Not all of his books are great, but this one kept me thrilled from start to finish. I am currently 4 books in with Stephen King's The Dark Tower chronicles, but am finding it hard going, and Coben's style of writing is very easy to read. The words do flow off the page very easily indeed. Not quite like James Patterson's novels, but good enough, and it's a nice change. His books have a deal of variety, and I liken them to authors such as Robert Crais and Michael Connelly in terms of how easy I find them to read.

I highly recommend giving this book a go. It does help to have read some of the Myron Bolitar book before, but it is not essential. The Final Detail is currently available from amazon.co.uk for around the £3 mark for a new copy, and is definitely worth giving a go.