Introduction
The book Tell No One by Harlan Coben is an exciting work that allows readers to dive into the mysterious story of one couple. The plot of the book revolves around the couple Elizabeth and David and their anniversary, which resulted in the wife’s abduction and murder. The reader then learns about the man who broke into the house of the spouses.
However, the novel is built in a way that does not let the reader see the actual picture until the end, leaving them pondering about the actual series of events. Thus, the most compelling aspects of the book are the language employed by the author and the plot twists, which allow it to grab the reader’s attention and make the scenes in the work more vivid and captivating.
Analysis of Language and Plot Peculiarities
The plot twists are among the significant aspects that are crucial in Coben’s work. From the beginning, the readers are exposed to the mystery of Elizabeth’s death and are left to wonder what happened on the day she was murdered. As the plot progresses, the readers learn more about the situation. This starts at the moment the reader learns that while celebrating their anniversary at Lake Charmaine, tragedy struck as Elizabeth was killed and David was injured.
The tension grows as the man receives a message from his dead wife, leading to the investigation. The most effective parts of the book, however, are those where the reader learns about the wife being alive and the natural killer of Brandon Scope, the man who committed the burglary of Elizabeth and David’s house. The audience learns this from the book’s final paragraphs when David confesses, “I was the one who was home when Brandon Scope broke into our house eight years ago” (Coben, 2010, p.328). Elizabeth and her father are blamed for the murder of Brandon, but the real murderer is David, which is unexpected.
Another fascinating aspect of the book by Coben is the focus on language. To grab readers’ attention, the author relies on imagery and metaphors. As a result, it helps create a vivid picture of the surroundings. For example, in the Prologue, the writer vividly depicts nature and how David and Elizabeth were enjoying their trip. One can imagine a romantic atmosphere by reading that “the sun was now in its death throes, bruising the sky a coiling purple and orange” (Coben, 2010, p.9). Therefore, Coben’s overall use of language proves to be effective since it evokes certain emotions based on the situation.
Conclusion
Hence, its most compelling features are the author’s choice of language and the book’s plot twists, which draw the reader in and make the scenes more vivid and fascinating. One of the main elements essential to Coben’s work is the story twists. The readers are made aware of Elizabeth’s death mystery from the beginning, leaving them pondering what had transpired on the day of her murder. The readers discover more about the situation as the story develops, and it becomes evident that the wife is alive.
The emphasis on language in Coben’s novel is also an intriguing feature. The author uses imagery and analogies to capture the interest of the reader. Consequently, it aids in presenting a clear picture of the surroundings.
Reference
Coben, H. (2010). Tell no one. Orion.