The Imagine Mosaic: Peace Shattered by Violence in Think Twice

What Is the Imagine Mosaic?

The Imagine mosaic is a circular tile work set into the pavement at Strawberry Fields in New York’s Central Park. Dedicated to John Lennon, it features the word “Imagine” at its center and serves as a global symbol of peace, hope, and non-violent protest. In Harlan Coben’s Think Twice, the mosaic becomes the exact location where the book’s climax unfolds: the attempted assassination of Myron Bolitar.

Where the Mosaic Appears

The mosaic is referenced across the final third of the novel, primarily in Chapters 39 through 44. The killer, Grace Konners (under the alias of the Setup Serial Killer), selects Strawberry Fields as the ambush site because Myron must walk through it on his way from the Downing apartment on Fifth Avenue to the Dakota on Central Park West. Chapter 39 (according to the outline – evidence from chapter 40 in the retrieved text) shows Myron entering the park and heading toward Strawberry Fields. The killer, already in position at the tunnel mouth off the path, expects Myron to pass the mosaic. The plan is to shoot him amid the crowd of tourists and buskers, then flee into the subway at 72nd Street.

The physical mosaic is not described in lavish detail, but its presence is felt through the setting: the area is “popular and happening and always has a busker singing Lennon tunes and a lively crowd.” The killer notes that the crowd will provide cover and chaos. Myron, aware he is being followed, uses the mosaic’s open space to try to spot his pursuer. The attack itself happens near the mosaic: Myron is shot twice there, once in the neck/collarbone and once in the back, and collapses under a bench near the tiles.

How Its Meaning Changes

From Peace to Violence

First, the mosaic represents the ideals of peace and remembrance. Strawberry Fields is a living memorial to John Lennon, who was himself murdered nearby. The irony is deliberate: a place meant for quiet reflection becomes the stage for a cold-blooded assassination. The killer exploits the crowd’s very peacefulness as a tactical advantage, reasoning that panic will cover her escape.

From Sanctuary to Trap

Second, as Myron walks through the park, the mosaic shifts from a landmark he knows well (he is a New Yorker) to a trap. He tries to use the environment to hide: he runs toward the trees near the mosaic and ducks behind one. But the open design of Strawberry Fields offers little cover. The mosaic becomes a killing floor where Myron’s vulnerability is exposed.

From Symbol to Evidence

Third, after the shooting, the mosaic becomes part of the forensic record. Myron’s blood pools on the pavement. The panic of the crowd scatters. The site where peace was invoked is now stained with violence. In the aftermath (Chapters 45-46), the location is never revisited as a symbolic place; it is merely a crime scene. The mosaic loses its aspirational meaning and becomes a landmark of trauma for the Bolitar family.

Character and Theme Connections

Myron Bolitar

Myron is the target. His survival instincts are put to the test. He uses his phone—displaying the assassin’s photo—to gain a split-second advantage, but is still shot. The mosaic forces him to rely on his wits and on the unexpected arrival of his son, Jeremy. The setting strips away any illusion of control: Myron, the former FBI agent and sports agent, is reduced to crawling under a park bench.

Grace Konners (The Killer)

Grace chooses the mosaic because it fits her pattern of framing others. She plans to shoot Myron in a crowd, then vanish. The public location aligns with her method: she and Greg Downing earlier murdered in ways that would implicate innocent targets. The mosaic’s peacefulness highlights her cold calculation. She waits in the tunnel mouth, unperturbed by the Lennon songs, ready to kill for self-preservation.

Greg Downing

Greg, wearing a disguise, arrives at the scene and kills Grace to protect his son Jeremy. His presence at the mosaic is both redemptive and tragic. He claims his killing nature died with Grace, then commits suicide. The mosaic, a memorial to a murdered peace advocate, becomes the backdrop for yet another killing by the man who once inspired Myron’s career.

Themes of Framing and Deception

The assassination attempt is part of a larger frame: the killer and Greg have been framing innocent people for murders. The mosaic, a symbol of truth and hope, is used for a setup. This ties directly to the theme of framing and deception: the location is carefully chosen to mislead (the killer expects to frame Myron’s death as a random shooting). The novel’s exploration of justice vs. vengeance also plays out here: Greg shoots Grace not to serve justice but to protect his son, an act of vengeance that saves Myron.

Family Bonds and Sacrifice

Jeremy’s intervention, intervening to save Myron and losing two fingers, underscores the theme of family bonds and sacrifice. The mosaic becomes the site of a selfless act from a son who had never known his biological father. Myron’s survival is owed to both his son and his former friend/enemy Greg downing.

Study Questions with Answers

1. Why does the killer choose Strawberry Fields and the Imagine mosaic as the assassination site?
   Answer: The killer knows Myron will walk through the park from the Downing apartment to the Dakota. Strawberry Fields is a high-traffic area near the west side exit. The crowd provides cover and confusion. The killer expects to shoot Myron, then flee into the subway while panic erupts. The overtone of peace masks the attack.

2. How does the mosaic’s meaning shift after the shooting?
   Answer: Before the attack, it symbolizes John Lennon’s dream of peace. During the attack, it becomes a trap where Myron is wounded. Afterward, it is a crime scene stained with blood. The book does not return to it as a symbol of peace; it remains a place of violence and trauma for the characters.

3. What does Myron’s use of his phone at the mosaic reveal about his character?
   Answer: Myron receives a photo of the killer from Esperanza. He displays it on his phone just as the assassin approaches. This quick thinking buys him a precious half-second, but he is still shot. It shows his resourcefulness and dependence on technology, yet also his physical vulnerability. He cannot outrun a bullet even with good intelligence.

4. How does the mosaic connect to the novel’s theme of identity and disguise?
   Answer: The killer wears a mild disguise (black baseball cap, etc.) to blend in. The mosaic, a public memorial, is a place where people assume identities (tourists, buskers, dog walkers). The killer exploits the anonymity of the crowd. Myron is also in disguise in a sense: he is not a typical client; he is trying to separate his personal and professional lives. The mosaic exposes the gap between appearance and reality.