In this first book of a new series, fan favorite Win has family issues on his mind. Having been called to the scene of a murder at one of the most prestigious buildings in Manhattan, he finds something surprising: a valuable oil painting that once adorned the wall of his family’s pile in Pennsylvania. How did it end up here and what journey did it take along the way. Through a friend and former mentor – the man who pulled him to this place – we learn of a possible link to a radical left wing group responsible for the death of seven people.

A complex but intriguing puzzle starts to take form. Win has access to a private plane a full-time assistant and an ample store of contacts to aid his investigation. And, driven on by the various familial connections he identifies, he finds this particular mystery pretty much all consuming.

All in all, Win is a very good and highly complex protagonist to build an intriguing series around. Recommend.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review.

4+ stars

Win is the first stand alone book in the Myron Bolitar series that focuses entirely on, you guessed it, Win.

I read the book without having read the book jacket summary so I had no idea of the plot. There were so many different mysteries for Win to solve.

Win is an odd character. I always liked him as the rich, cold, and loyal best friend of Myron. I wasn’t sure how he would translate to a main character given he is known for being Uber wealthy, not having personal attachments, and enjoying violence.

Harlan Coben does an excellent job showing us more of Win’s world and backstory. I enjoyed the book and hope that he will continue with this series.

This book from Win’s point of view was everything I could have hoped and dreamed. Easiest 5-star rating I’ve made.

If you know me, you know that I love all things Harlan Coben. It is rare to find an author whose work you love each and every time, but here we are. Coben has given me (and hopefully you) the gift of Myron Bolitar. His Myron Bolitar series is the absolute best character series I have ever read, hands down. Not only is each plot full of twists and fun, but the cast of characters is actually amazing. Never have I wanted to be part of a friend group more than I do with Myron, Win and the gang.

Which leads me here, to WIN. Win has always and will always be the best. His questionable morals, but unyielding friendship to Myron are just some of the ways that make him a great character. Therefore, when I found out that Harlan was writing a book based on Win's perspective - my inner fan girl may have died a bit. This was the BEST news and guess what? This book delivers!!

I hate to say "long story short" after I have already rambled on, but I think it's imperative that you know how amazing of a character Win is. I highly recommend reading a few of the Myron Bolitar books before coming into this, just so you have a full appreciation for the joy that this book will bring. If not, it is an absolute great book in and of itself, anyway and I am confident that you will love Windsor Horne Lockwood III as much as I do.

The plot is thick as always, and the investigation with Win at the front couldn't be better. It starts with a murder of an (at first) unknown man in a NYC apartment, but quickly is linked to the kidnapping of Win's cousin, Patricia Lockwood, over twenty years ago. Throw in a few other items that link Win to this murder and BAM - you have Win's attention. Win is on the case and will stop at nothing (really - he has all of the money and hardly any morals) to solve it.

If you do one thing, make it pre-ordering this book.

If you were not aware, I am Harlan Coben’s #1 fan ... so when I was offered an opportunity to review an early copy of Win, you know I dropped everything to do so. ⁣
⁣
This freaking book you guys!!! Win is a love letter to all of Harlan’s long time fans - those who know Windsor Horne Lockwood as Myron Bolitar’s billionaire badass sidekick with a penchant for the finer things, and a man you certainly don’t want to stumble across in a back alley. But, what we’ve never gotten is an entire novel from Win’s POV and when I tell you this is everything you ever hoped for - it’s MORE. ⁣
⁣
Now, you’re probably wondering - what if I’m new to Coben? What if I’m a casual reader of his but not caught up on Myron Bolitar? That’s ok! (Well it’s not and you should fix it immediately cause you are missing some of the best books of all time) This can totally be read standalone - the plot and wit will still “win” you over. ⁣
⁣
In every book of Coben’s, he uses the line “man plans, g-d laughs” and I think this quote is truer than ever in 2020, but reading this book felt like visiting some of my oldest friends for a moment and everything was alright once again. ⁣
⁣
If you didn’t get the gist by now, this is without a doubt 5 stars for me, one of my favorite reads of the year, and one you must read when it releases in March 2021.