Think Twice Chapter 6 (Chapter 7) Summary & Analysis
⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.
Summary
Myron Bolitar and Win fly to Las Vegas. Win heads to a golf course while Myron visits Donna Kravat, mother of the murdered Jordan Kravat. Donna recognizes Myron from his Duke basketball days. She describes running a gay strip club called Man United, which was taken over by the Turant mob family. She believes Bo, Jordan’s friend, is also dead. Myron suspects Bo is alive and asks about Bo’s real name. Donna reveals Bo claimed his name was Brian Connors from Oklahoma, with a mother named Grace and a possibly deceased father. Myron mentions a possible connection between Bo and the late basketball star Greg Downing. Donna invites Myron to dinner at Mizumi that evening.
Key Events
- Win’s jet lands at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas
- Win takes a Mercedes to Shadow Creek golf course; Myron rides to Kyle Canyon
- Myron finds Donna Kravat by the pool wearing a pink bikini
- Donna recognizes Myron from his college basketball career
- Donna explains that the Turant mob family forced its way into her club Man United
- She tells Myron she thinks Bo is buried in the desert
- Myron counters that he believes Bo is still alive
- Myron asks if Bo ever mentioned Greg Downing; Donna says no
- Donna shares what she knows about Bo’s real identity: Brian Connors, from Oklahoma, mother Grace, father dead, possible brother
- Donna proposes a dinner meeting at Mizumi at 8 p.m.; Myron declines any romantic implication and accepts
Character Development
Myron Bolitar – Shows his trademark persistence and empathy. He handles Donna’s grief with care, navigates attorney-client privilege, and clearly values his marriage by refusing any “what happens in Vegas” scenario.
Donna Kravat – Emerges as a layered character: a grieving mother who keeps her son’s murder as a constant companion, a former college athlete, a shrewd businesswoman undermined by the mob, and a woman capable of flirtation even in her pain. Her guardedness about Bo hints at deeper knowledge.
Win – Minimal presence in this chapter, but his choice of hotel (Wynn) and love for alliteration (“Win at the Wynn”) reinforce his polished, playful personality.
Bo (Brian Connors) – Remains offstage, but the chapter fills in crucial background: his real name, his mother Grace, his Oklahoma roots, and his secretive past.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
Grief as an Inescapable Companion – Donna says her son’s murder is “my constant companion” that jumps out when she is unprepared. The motif recurs when she keeps Jordan’s sunglasses nearby.
Identity and Concealment – Bo’s false name, the mob’s hidden influence, Myron’s guarded investigation, and even Donna’s cosmetic “work” all point to a world where surfaces rarely match reality.
Mob Infiltration – The Turant family’s takeover of Man United illustrates how criminal enterprises corrupt legitimate businesses, a recurring concern in Coben’s crime fiction.
What Happens in Vegas – The classic slogan is invoked both as a joke and as a test of Myron’s integrity. The chapter contrasts Sin City’s temptations with Myron’s moral compass.
Athletic Past as Credential – Myron and Donna bond over their ACC basketball backgrounds; his status as a former Duke player gives him access and trust.
Why This Chapter Matters
This chapter provides a major plot advancement: Bo’s real identity and his potential link to Greg Downing. It also confirms the Turant mob family as a key antagonistic force. Donna Kravat becomes a vital source, and her dinner invitation promises more revelations. The chapter deepens the mystery around Bo’s disappearance and tightens the connection to Myron’s own past.
Study Questions and Answers
1. How does Donna Kravat characterize her relationship with her son’s murder?
She says the murder is a constant companion that never leaves her. If she tries to push it away, it waits and jumps out when she is not ready. This shows her grief is ever-present.
2. What information does Donna give Myron about Bo’s real name and background?
She says Bo claimed his real name was Brian Connors, from Oklahoma. His mother is named Grace. His parents divorced long ago, his father is dead, and there may be a brother. Bo never provided a Social Security number.
3. What new connection does Myron raise that surprises Donna?
Myron asks whether Jordan ever mentioned Greg Downing, the late NBA star. Donna is surprised and says no. Myron hints that Bo may have been friends with Greg Downing, which could be why he is investigating.