Myron Bolitar does ultimately keep his promise to Aimee's mother, and decides that helping people - despite the inevitable failures - is what he wants to continue doing with his life. In Promise Me, Harlan Coben explores the intense feelings parents have for their children, and the extreme things they will do to keep them safe. As the story develops, the violence escalates, and surprises unfold to the very end. Other characters seem to be there more for continuity with the earlier Bolitar books than out of plot necessity - including Myron's previous soulmate Jessica Culver who has a brief walk on part, and his delightful El Al parents (his worries over them - and vice versa - ring true to life).

Other players in the drama include Aimee's mother and father, her boyfriend Randy and his protective parents (the moms and dads in this story will go to incredible lengths to assure their children's futures), Livingston High School teachers, and an elderly doctor who spotted Katie in the city. Luckily, Myron's best friend Win is even deadlier. When Katie's shady father finds out about Myron's involvement, he sends psychotic thugs, the Twins, after him (their bite is much worse than their bark). Myron is soon under investigation by the police.

Her use of a particular ATM machine links her case to that of another missing teenager, Katie. It starts when Aimee calls Myron in the middle of the night and asks him to pick her up in the city - she makes him promise not to tell her parents, and he drops her off at what she says is a friend's house. This sets in train a convoluted sequence of events and twisty plot turns, as has become Coben's trademark. At the party, Myron overhears two high school seniors (Erin and Aimee) talking and pushes them to promise to call him at any time rather than to drive with anyone who's been drinking.

As the story opens, he's holding ' a 'coming out' party' for himself and freelance magazine writer (and 9/11 widow) Ali Wilder as a couple. Myron, once a basketball player with the Boston Celtics, is now a high profile sports and entertainment agent. Since I've only read the more recent of Harlan Coben's thrillers, Myron Bolitar - who has reappeared after a long absence - was new to me.

Harlan coben gone for good summary