The Match

Product Information

I couldn't put this book down. It filled the void when I didn’t have WiFi, and that says a lot ! The ending was awesome, but it did leave me with some questions that I hope will be answered in the next book featuring Wilde’s character. It's a book that weaves the biographies of these four men, as well as other characters during this time, around the central theme: The Match. It's a wonderful display of mastery of the written word. Its a book that inspired me. This is what I want to write. As a regular bettor I have used numerous bonus codes and sign-up offers over the years to get the best value for money. There was the right amount of drama and mystery. Even though I haven’t read the first book, I liked the characters and enjoyed the complexity in Wilde and his relationships.

This also lead me to believe less what she was convinced of hence I was always more keen But come on! It’s Harlan Coben! How could I not read one of his books!?💁🏻‍♀️. (Yes, I’ve read every book he has published). Once again, he’s at the top of his game. Everything missing in the previous book was included here making for an exciting and thrilling read! Ray of sunshine heroine which you will adore because she is very optimistic, thoughtful, funny, kind and immensely independent. She's perfect in this book, my dream heroine. Edit: I upgraded the rating because a) The moments that were good were really good and I can't let the bad overshadow them. b) I am not grumpy anymore.I enjoyed the discussion of the age-old distinction between professional and amateur. Frost does a good job highlighting the differences in the way things were perceived in mid-century America. Frankly, it all seems simpler now, though some diehards might regret the passing of the "gentleman amateur." I don't. There were no amateurs in horse racing, but certainly millions who considered themselves rich, sophisticated gentlemen. I'm not sure the loss of the champion-level amateur is really any big problem. Those men are still out there--but now they play for money. So, what brought them together? That's the subject of the 1st half of the book. Basically, what made it happen was the third big trend in golf at that time: Bing Crosby. Crosby created the pro-am almost singlehandedly with his bacchanal known as the Clambake. It was a drinkfest, skirt-chasing, celebrity golf tournament that he hosted at Pebble Beach and Cypress Creek each January, and it helped to bring pro golf into the limelight by attracting Hollywood stars and putting them together with pro golfers and big-time businessmen. Ben Hogan, Byron Nelson, Harvie Ward, and Ken Venturi get their story told by Mark Frost - the wonderful author of the Greatest Game Ever Played. The book reads like a novel, focusing the central theme around one fateful day in golf's history. For the game of golf, it marked the end of a tradition. That of the amateur golfer. In three decades, from the 1930s into the 1950s, golf in America changed from a gentlemanly sport for amateurs to the professional tour of full-time golfers pursuing ever more money. Whether this change has been good or bad for the game is debatable, but the history and the individuals at the turning point make for fascinating reading.

There’s also an Appendix, “Monterrey and Cypress Point”, which contains most of the historical info that I’ve recounted here about the creation of the course. Also a very useful index.

The match took place during a Tuesday practice round before what was then the Crosby Clambake (now the Pebble Beach Pro-Am). Eddie Lowery, who sponsored both Venturi and Ward, challenged George Coleman (like Lowery a wealthy businessman and excellent golfer) that his two golfers could beat any other two in the world. Coleman arranged for Nelson and Hogan to partner together and made the bet. A follow-up from The Boy from the Woods, Wilde was called "Little Tarzan" and no one ever came forward to claim the abandoned little boy in the woods. He was around 6-8 yrs old when he was found.

In addition to Wilde, The Match also features Hester Crimstein as well as some other characters who make appearances in Coben’s novels. My previous encounter with Wilde was in The Boy from the Woods, which was not a favorite. You don’t need to read Coben’s other books before reading this one--it reads well as a standalone. While you don’t have to have read the first book to appreciate the mystery of this one, I’d encourage you to do so to better understand Wilde and get the weight of his transformation in this one. I love the narrator as he manages to capture his personality perfectly along with so many others, including Hester, my favorite. This story has so many dimensions and the vigilante group called Boomerang was a chilling factor. As with any of the author’s stories, there are a host of red herrings and delicious twists, all providing a reason for me not being able to put this one down until I got my answers. However, there’s still more to Wilde’s story, right Mr. Coben? Please say yes. 4.5 stars Additionally, Matchbook offers a brokerage platform that is certainly worth exploring. This platform is only accessible to eligible customers and it enables them to match significant or tailored trades that are not traditionally available in Matchbook's existing exchange markets. Wow!!! This book is fantastically written and had me hook, line and sinker from beginning to end. The descriptions were so in depth and vivid that the hair on my arms was standing on the ends and my heart was pounding throughout. The synopsis, title and cover were perfect for the storyline. A match is actually found - a close relative, but the relative deletes their details immediately. However, Wilde doesn’t give up, but his research results in him becoming embroiled in a secret online community, intent on exposing trolls - and then people start to die - one by one!The Match' (Wilde, #2) is even better (imho) than 'The Boy from the Woods' (Wilde, #1). I highly recommend reading book #1 first since this is its continuation and would be very difficult to understand if you do not. I was also surprised by how much this book made me smile! I'm a bit wary of romantic comedies because sometimes the writing and dialogue can come off as trying too hard for me but no, this one was goooood. Ken Venturi (1931-2013) was 25 years old. Venturi had grown up in the San Francisco area and had been a high school golf champion. Venturi turned professional at the end of the year in which the Match was played. The highlight of his professional career came in 1964 when he overcame severe dehydration in 100-degree heat, to win the U.S. Open. At that time the Open was still played as a three-day event, with 36 holes played on the final day. Doctors followed Venturi around the course in his last round, believing that he was in great danger of succumbing to heat stroke. Everything that I took issue with in The Boy from the Woods was made up for in this one. Wilde’s character is fully formed and has some depth, and the mystery is compelling. Even better was that my armchair detective skills failed me. There were many twists and turns and surprises. Even though the identity of the killer is somewhat predictable, I was still surprised by the reveal.