If like me, you’re a longtime HC fan then you’ll share in my excitement that we finally get a book with Hester as one of the main characters and not just a secondary one!! She has been such a fantastic addition to so many of his other books and she’s also fascinating, so a book featuring her was a real treat. Spoiler alert, she’s just as interesting as she’s seemed in the past and I’m even more obsessed with her than I was before.
Per usual there is a lot going on here with a main plot and several subplots, I love how there’s always so much happening, truly never a dull moment. If you like thrillers where nothing is ever as it seems, read this. Or maybe you like books that are smart, well written and chock full of characters that are beyond interesting. Or maybe you just like to read a really, really good book. Whatever you like give this one a chance because it was absolutely fantastic!

3.5 Stars

This is my second Coben novel and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It’s on the lighter side of the mystery/suspense genre, but the writing makes it so you want to keep turning pages. I loved Wilde and how intertwined Coben was able to make every character’s story in such a short amount of time. There were some good twists along the way as well.

I received an advanced copy through Netgalley in return for an honest review.

I am a huge fan of Harlan Coban and was excited to receive an ARC of The Boy From The Woods. Like every other Harlan Coban book, I was hooked! The book was filled with so many twists and turns, I couldn’t put the book down until I was finished!

Action-wise, this book was as excellent as I have come to expect from Harlan Coben. Lots was going on at all times. Several subplots overlapped and came together, which made it so that the pacing never lagged. But where this differed from Coben's most recent book Run Away and the now almost-classic Tell No One is that The Boy from the Woods had no strong emotional pull for me.

I've said this before, but I am an emotional reader. I love to connect with characters, share their experiences, and become deeply-invested in what will happen to them. In this book, that never really happens. I think this may be because the two characters we follow - Hester and Wilde - had no real emotional attachment to the main mystery-- that of a missing girl and the missing son of local billionaires. And on top of that, the girl's parents do not seem to give much of a shit where she is and the rich boy's parents seem more interested in protecting their own secrets.

Because of this, I never felt emotionally drawn into the story. It never got my pulse racing as I wondered if these poor kids would be found. I experienced more of a mild curiosity about them, not that all-consuming need to know what would happen.

The book does tie well into current U.S. events and politics. There's a guy called Rusty Eggers running for president and he's a little bit of Trump, a little bit of Weinstein-- essentially, a powerful man with powerful connections and maybe a lot to hide. Political secrets and cover-ups abound!

Coben plays around with a number of subplots that feel like distractions because, well, they are. If you ignore them and look underneath to the bare bones of this book, it is very easy to figure out who is behind the kidnapping. Though, credit where it’s due: Coben lays out one twist after another in the final few chapters and I'm sure even the most astute readers will have a hard time spotting everything that is coming (I certainly didn't).

Of the two main perspectives the story is told from, Hester was undoubtedly the star for me. She's a badass, seventy-year-old lawyer who takes shit from no one. Wilde, unfortunately, was nowhere near as interesting as I thought he might be. He is the boy from the blurb who was found in the woods as a young child and remembers nothing from before that. His circumstances and mysterious history are intriguing, but he himself felt a little flat. I far preferred Hester's chapters.

The Boy from the Woods is definitely not a bad read for those who enjoy action, thrills, and some politics thrown in too. But I will always prefer books that I become emotionally invested in over lots of mindless action.

Four and a half stars! Harlan Coben has a way of drawing you in and keeping you interested, anxiously awaiting the next twist in his story. This is another great thriller from a proven storyteller.

Thank you, NetGalley, for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. I’ve read many Jack Reacher books so I was interested to read The Boy From the Woods. In it, a late 30s guy known as Wilde, lives in the same small town where he was found living in the woods at age 6 or 7. He was adopted into a family, went into the military, and worked with his adoptive sister in an investigations business. When a friend’s daughter disappeared, he helped investigate and uncovered a big mess, including rape, child abuse, kidnapping, and murder. He even had a fist fight, but not at Jack Reacher’s level. Coben is a good writer, but kind of with a one trick pony main character.
A

The Boy From the Woods is an action-packed thriller about two missing teenagers, a dirty politician, and damaging secrets.

The plot seems simple and focuses a teenage girl who disappears without a trace. She is the school pariah. Then the rich popular boy, who is a bit of douche, disappears as well. This is where things get more complicated. There’s a lot of action and suspense in the attempts to find the missing teenagers. Lies unravel and secrets are revealed. Conspiracy theories, a ransom note, and a lot of drama play into the outcome of events. Two main characters solve the case: The boy from the woods, Wilde, and lawyer, Hester Crimstein.

Wilde was found as a little boy living in the woods by himself. The mystery of how he came to be living on his own in the woods has never been solved. He has no recollection of his parents, the only thing he remembers are parts of dreams. He is now an adult, former army intelligence, drop-dead gorgeous and to top it off, he happens to be a genius. Haunted by his past, he is damaged and reckless, but of course, he has a huge heart. All of the women want him. He is a bit of a giant cliche. Then there is Hester, a 70-year-old kick-ass lawyer who made an appearance in The Runaway. I loved her character--she is intelligent, feisty and posses the ability to slay people with her words. She made this book for me.

I would compare reading this book to watching an action movie: the characters are mysterious and charismatic, and the plot is intriguing until one starts to think and ask questions. It’s all a little too unbelievable, but it makes for good entertainment.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Two missing teens. A politician with secrets. A very wealthy family trying to cover things up. A boy who emerged from the woods 35 years before with no identity and is now in security. A seventy-something feisty female attorney with a talk show. There is a lot going on and the story moves fast. The writing is simple so it can be read very quickly. There were some things that seemed over the top and unrealistic, but I found myself thinking about this book all day and looking forward to reading more.

High school student, Naomi Pines, the target of unrelenting bullying is missing and a classmate asks his Aunt Hester who is a famous attorney with her own TV program to help find her. She enlists the assistance of Wilde, aptly named because he was once a child living on his own in the wilds of the Ramapo forests in New Jersey. Wilde has a history with Hestor because he was once the playmate of Hester’s now dead son and is the godfather of her grandson. There is a sleazy politician who sounds all too familiar , a wealthy television producer whose so also goes missing, and others who add to this plot.

I enjoy Harlan Coben’s writing and this book was no exception, although the story is a bit all over the place. Despite this limitation, I found it an engrossing read.

Let me start by saying that I always enjoy reading Harlan Coban. The first couple of chapters in the book, I wondered if he was slipping. And then the twists began. I would say that his books are between a cozy mystery and a Michael Connelly read. If that is what you like, he is consistent and you will be happy.

A wild boy from seemingly nowhere grows up and fights injustice where he sees it. He doesn't need to stay within the lines of the criminal system, so he can actually help people. Part of the mystery surrounds his origins which goes unresolved in this book. I hope there will be more books about Wilde telling his story.

This stand alone is typical Coben - fast paced with fully developed character. Not to mention an ending that I didn't see coming.

A wealthy family, a long ago mystery, a crooked politician, and a man whose outsider status brings him just the right qualities to solve the crimes in this book.

High school drama is part of the book - and lends itself to the mystery that takes place.

Kidnapping, disappearances, long buried secrets, and a look at what really makes a family all dance throughout this novel.

From page one I couldn't put this book down. Again, Coben entrances me.

Harlan Coben never fails to disappoint! This is a great stand-alone (I hope becomes a series) in which the main protagonist is a private investigator who, when a child, fended for himself in the woods for a number of years. This book has everything you'd expect from a Coben book: a high octane plot, lots of exciting twists, and engaging characters.

I received a free ARC from the #! Net Galley

In between sexual confusion (which added ZERO to story) bullying, the ominous former entertainer-cum-presidential candidate, there is a good story here. If you read it you can find it but more and more today books read more like commentary than good writing which is the best writing!

Not his best effort but only because he is trying to cover all the bases than hitting for the fence!

It’s been awhile since I’ve read a Coben book-happy that he still knows how to weave a great tale!
There is something about his writing style that works for me. It's feels smooth, easy-even in those tense or dramatic scenes.

In typical Coben style, he starts out in one direction, then the next thing you know there are sub plots popping up, all with their own mystery to figure out. I did guess accurately at the outcome of one, the rest did catch me by surprise.

While some of the situations require a stretch of the imagination, his characters are memorable and real. Anytime Hester Crimstein makes an appearance you know it's going to be a great read!

This is a clever, witty, and fast paced mystery that I highly recommend.
ARC provided by NetGalley

I think Harlan Coben is a fun read. His books are hard to put down and this one is no exception.
It is a stand alone book but has a hero who, like Myron, seems to be able to overcome all obstacles
when dealing with bad guys. Here the "bad guys" are teenagers. There have been a slew of books lately
about teens' cruelty to each other, the sophistication of there malfeasance and the consequences.
This only adds the variable of the very, very rich!
It does have a plot and a happy unexpected ending.
I recommend it to anyone who loves Mr. Coben and to anyone who loves a good fast read that you can get
immersed in. You won't be disappointed.

Normally love Harlan Coben but this was a miss for me. I guess based on the cover blurb I expected this to primarily be about the disappearance of a young girl but there was a whole bunch of other stuff here that just didn't capture my attention. Not his best.

The Boy from the Woods
by Harlan Coben
Grand Central Publishing
Mystery & Thrillers


Harlan Coben books are very popular at our library. This was not my favorite book by this writer.
Thanks to Net Galley and Grand Central Publishing for my ARC.

A fun and fast paced thriller with intriguing characters, The Boy From The Woods was a wild ride! There were many different side stories that kept me perplexed and riveted to the pages. The climax got a little muddled but overall, this was a fun read that I couldn’t put down. One of the storylines was left unanswered so I’m hoping that this is the start of a fantastic new series! I enjoyed the characters and the relationships that were forged. The writing is well executed and the author did a fabulous job ramping up the anticipation! 4⭐️ Thank you to @grandcentralpub for the advance reader in exchange for my honest review.

Harlan Coben books never disappoint. Always a fresh plot with interesting and believeable characters.
Boy from the Woods is truly a winner. Loved the ending. Great characters.