Mystery
![Harlan Coben - [object Object] author](https://res.cloudinary.com/readsomnia/image/upload/authors/a_a_harlan_coben.jpg)
The Match
A shocking genetic match exposes a family's darkest secret in this gripping #1 New York Times bestselling thriller from the creator of the #1 hit Netflix series Stay Close
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?
Named a Best Book by USA Today • Wall Street Journal • Publishers Weekly
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?
Named a Best Book by USA Today • Wall Street Journal • Publishers Weekly
Editorial Reviews
"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 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
cheri carrawayJef
Cohen has always been one of my favorite authors. This story was definitely unique, with lots of information on DNA matching. As always, Cohen brings us vivid characters with lots of twists. Once I got about halfway through, there was no putting the book down.
Nancy Gcheri carr
I felt like I was racing from one page to the next, attempting to figure out what was going to happen next….And of course I didn’t. Loved it.
EdubbieyNanceNanc
Trying to figure out the importance of the cast of thousand characters takes patience. But that would require flipping back to re-read pages, which is a tiresome endeavor. Far too many plot and subplot points that pop up at a dizzying pace. Trying to get to the other side of the plot is like trudging through an alligator infested swamp, and when you make it to the other side, you wonder why you decided to keep reading. I kept reading because I wanted to get to the end, which mercifully I did. The characters were conveniently placed without much character development. It's like drop in this character, that character, to force the plot. By doing that, I never developed an attachment to any on the characters. I wanted to root for someone, but there was no one. Wilde, the boy left in the woods until he was five or so, became an intelligent sleuth; no development of how he achieved these skills. The book never tells us in a meaningful way how Wilde, as a nipper, survived in the woods. Not believable that he broke in houses and slept in a warm basement... The story about Hester and her defense of a man charged with murder was useless - it was just there to take up space. Bottom line: Most of the plots werefar too contrived, made up to try to make it make sense. Why in the world would Wilde take a chance on a relationship with the wife's deceased husband, who was Wilde's best friend? I think the author was working for a happy ending. Felt entirely forced. Here's to hoping HC's next book will be much better.
marlyn bandieroEd
Twist and turns. Not as predictable as I thought it was going to be. Highly recommend. My favorite of his books so far.
Kindle marlyn ba
It's hard for authors to continually come up with unique and intriguing story lines and give the world of stories a new twist we haven't seen or figured out before. Especially without violating the fair rules of play with clues and red herrings. Coben delivers again, exceptionally well, in this novel. I'd read them both, in order. Ann's then I'd probably need to raff this one again to see what I missed, or if I was too intrigued with the story to stop and think, it too busy with my own life that I didn't have enough time to stop and think, but the twists seemed plausible, and maybe I need to learn more about DNA, but there new DNA tests that folks are signing up for in recent years - and even COVID and reality shows and influencers and all the negative garbage from too much "social media" as we lump it together, the downside to all the upside, makes this a novel of our time and our place. With a great novelty about it that makes it just fun, and it's not bad as a NJ tourist guidebook, either. Maybe someone should start a service like in Hollywood, where the tour bus goes by homes once intended by this or that star, but now owned by so- and-so star, but this one with famous mafia from NJ (better skip the living) and include some famous pizza places and Italian restaurants and bakeries, where the fans can get out and nosh.
