Thrillers & Suspense
![Harlan Coben - [object Object] author](https://res.cloudinary.com/readsomnia/image/upload/authors/a_B000APCH7Y.jpg)
The Match
From the creator of the #1 hit Netflix series Stay Close comes a gripping new thriller in which Wilde follows a tip that may finally reveal the truth behind his abandonment-only to end up in the sights of a ruthless killer.
After months away, Wilde has returned to the Ramapo Mountains in the wake of a failed bid at domesticity that confirms what he's known all along: He belongs on his own, free from the comforts and constraints of modern life.
Suddenly, a DNA match on an online ancestry database brings Wilde closer to his past than he's ever dreamed, and finally gives Wilde the opening he needs to track down his father. But meeting the man brings up more questions than answers. So Wilde reaches out to his last, most desperate lead, a second cousin who disappears as quickly as he resurfaces, having experienced an epic fall from grace that can only be described as a waking nightmare.
Was his cousin's downfall a long time coming? Or was he the victim of a conspiracy as cunning as it is complex? And how does it all connect to the man once known as The Stranger, a treacherous fugitive with a growing following whose mission and methods have only turned more dangerous with time?
After months away, Wilde has returned to the Ramapo Mountains in the wake of a failed bid at domesticity that confirms what he's known all along: He belongs on his own, free from the comforts and constraints of modern life.
Suddenly, a DNA match on an online ancestry database brings Wilde closer to his past than he's ever dreamed, and finally gives Wilde the opening he needs to track down his father. But meeting the man brings up more questions than answers. So Wilde reaches out to his last, most desperate lead, a second cousin who disappears as quickly as he resurfaces, having experienced an epic fall from grace that can only be described as a waking nightmare.
Was his cousin's downfall a long time coming? Or was he the victim of a conspiracy as cunning as it is complex? And how does it all connect to the man once known as The Stranger, a treacherous fugitive with a growing following whose mission and methods have only turned more dangerous with time?
Editorial Reviews
"Coben's trademarks of brisk plotting, solid action and compelling characters are well matched in The Match."―South Florida Sun Sentinel
"The topical follow-up to Coben's best-selling The Boy from the Woods addresses reality shows, DNA searches, cyberbullying, and social media influencers in a suspenseful novel guaranteed to be a hit."―Library Journal (Starred Review)
"If you like the Netflix series Stay Close, created by the author, this is a good one to add to your reading list."―CNN
"Harlan Coben's puzzle-box mysteries have inspired numerous Netflix series, and his latest book, The Match, seems poised to follow suit."―Popsugar
"2022 is the year of Harlan Coben's adrenaline-pumping thrillers."―BuzzFeed
Praise for Harlan Coben
"The Boy from the Woods is as much an action as a psychological thriller, as much a riveting read as a superb character study in which Coben challenges himself by taking his story outside his suburban comfort zone. A must-read for any mystery or thriller fan."―Providence Journal
"The crafty Coben knows how to weave a compelling story with intriguing characters, and Wilde is one of his best."―Associated Press
"Coben never, ever lets you down."―Lee Child
"Every time you think Harlan Coben couldn't get any better at uncoiling a whip snake of a page-turner, he comes along with a new novel that somehow surpasses its predecessor."―San Francisco Chronicle
"[Harlan Coben is] the modern master of the hook and twist."―Dan Brown
"Coben is simply one of the all-time greats."―Gillian Flynn
"The topical follow-up to Coben's best-selling The Boy from the Woods addresses reality shows, DNA searches, cyberbullying, and social media influencers in a suspenseful novel guaranteed to be a hit."―Library Journal (Starred Review)
"If you like the Netflix series Stay Close, created by the author, this is a good one to add to your reading list."―CNN
"Harlan Coben's puzzle-box mysteries have inspired numerous Netflix series, and his latest book, The Match, seems poised to follow suit."―Popsugar
"2022 is the year of Harlan Coben's adrenaline-pumping thrillers."―BuzzFeed
Praise for Harlan Coben
"The Boy from the Woods is as much an action as a psychological thriller, as much a riveting read as a superb character study in which Coben challenges himself by taking his story outside his suburban comfort zone. A must-read for any mystery or thriller fan."―Providence Journal
"The crafty Coben knows how to weave a compelling story with intriguing characters, and Wilde is one of his best."―Associated Press
"Coben never, ever lets you down."―Lee Child
"Every time you think Harlan Coben couldn't get any better at uncoiling a whip snake of a page-turner, he comes along with a new novel that somehow surpasses its predecessor."―San Francisco Chronicle
"[Harlan Coben is] the modern master of the hook and twist."―Dan Brown
"Coben is simply one of the all-time greats."―Gillian Flynn
Readers Top Reviews
BookwormFictionOv
Wilde, the boy from the woods has embarked in a quest to find his parents. This leads to a convoluted story with Coben touching all the buttons. Cybercrime and cyberbullying, super hackers, all you wanted to know about DNA, vigilantes, murders, organized crime, the murky world of reality shows along with weighty issues such as does the end justify the means. Along the way there are enough red herrings and double bluffs to turn your head. Wilde gets there in the end - so four stars. Oh, there is also a mere hint of a follow-up.
Sharon R -- A Reg
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. So perhaps it's not fair that I'm giving it only 4 stars. But I've read every Harlan Coben book (all the Myron Bolitar books I've read twice) and this one could have been a bit better. I know Cobin has moved more into domestic suspense compared to his earlier books, but I miss some of the humor we saw in earlier books. Even in the first book in this series, The Boy From the Woods, we were treated to more humor (not a lot - but more than we saw in this book). It seems that most of my favorite authors start to lose their senses of humor in their later works. I'm so happy with the developments in Wilde's personal life - that aspect of the story was very satisfying. But the main plot seemed to have too many branches- hacking, cyberbullying, social media strategy, trolling, reality TV/celebrity, vigilantism, evil religious leaders, evil crime bosses, DNA.....and a partridge in a pear tree, haha. That's just a lot to wrap into one book. I enjoyed the skewering of social media/celebrity a lot though :-). While this book can be enjoyed as a standalone, you'll get a lot more out of it if you read the other book in the series first. Most of the character development was in the earlier book, so if you haven't read that one, the character development in this second book might seem lacking. I enjoyed how Coben tied together the clues to figure out the mysteries. I also enjoyed how Wilde seems to finally be coming into his own as a more fully functioning human. Overall a very enjoyable book with a satisfying ending. I do hope we see more books featuring Wilde.
Susan Vrabel-Will
It seems like I've been waiting forever for this book, but it was well worth the time! This is the sequel to "The Boy From The Woods" featuring Wilde, the "little tarzan." When Wilde gets a match on a DNA site, the game is off and running. Added to the mix is the main character from "The Stranger" who's running Boomerang, A secret group of people that mete out punishment to cyber bullies and trolls. When Peter Brennan, his cousin, goes missing, Wilde has to look for him since he's just ONE match, the other is Daniel Carter, his father...who disappears after Wilde visits him. Included in the mix is a serial killer, shooting various people that Boomerang turned down, Wilde's ongoing relationship with Matthew and Laila, Hester Crimstein's relationship with Oren, plus a lot of other neat things. This is classic Harlan Coben, a lot of subplots, suspicious characters and an unputdownable book!!!
PattoSusan Vrabel
Harlan Coben delivers his usual unputdownable thriller with Match. Wilde, the boy found in the woods in a previous book, is back — still looking for his parents, still trying to figure out how he became a wild boy living in the woods. There are plenty of surprises awaiting him and us in these pages. We're also thrown into the unreal world of reality TV, because Wilde finds a relative on a DNA site who turns out to be a reality star. There's enough drama surrounding Peter Bennett to be a thriller on its own, without any subplots. The drama includes multiple murders. But the subplots are equally gripping — cyber-vigilantes hunting down cyber-bullies, online investigations, rogue cops on a rampage, relationship ups and downs for Wilde... I’ve never watched reality TV, and never will — after reading this book. But what a fascinating subject!. I did send my DNA to an ancestry site — so that subplot really resonated with me. Coben is a master storyteller, and he’s got some very timely themes in Match.
T. MarentettePatt
Sorry, I miss Myron. I like Wilde, and this was a good read, despite having some confusing plot issues. Mostly the DNA. Loved the twist at the end. I will admit after my utter disappointment in “Win” I wasn’t expecting much. I was sad to hear Hester refer to herself as old…… Be like Spenser and return to Myron, Harlan, and don’t age him.
