This is my first Harlan Coben book, believe it or not. He's written so many books, and I read a lot of thrillers, so I don't know how I haven't read any of his before. It definitely won't be my last, though!

This detective, disgraced ex-cop Sami Kierce, is certainly an interesting character. He grapples with an unresolved past all while trying to muddle through a complicated present. His class of amateur sleuths gives me vibes of Only Murders in the Building. The pacing is on point, and the twists keep me guessing.

Thank you to Grand Central Publishing for providing me with a complimentary Advanced Reader Copy through NetGalley. All opinions are my own. Expected publication date is March 25, 2025.

Nobody’s Fool is sharp, fast, action packed and utterly gripping.
Sami Kierce thought he left his past behind—until a ghost from 22 years ago walks back into his life. What follows is a fast-paced, mind-bending mystery packed with secrets, suspense, and that signature Coben twist that left me SHOCKED. Every chapter had me saying “just one more” until it was wayyyy past my bedtime.

✨ If you love:
✔️ Jaw-dropping twists
✔️ Unsolved mysteries coming back to haunt
✔️Action-Packed
✔️ A thriller that keeps you guessing

Then you NEED this book on your TBR!
📚🔥

I love Harlan Coben’s and this was a wonderful next book in the series. I will definitely recommend to others! Great suspense read.

This book could easily be read as a standalone but this is the second book about Detective Sami Kierce. I like him as a character and I was excited to see him again. When he was fresh out of college he took a trip to Europe and met a girl and his life would never be the same. He woke up feeling like he’d been drugged with a knife and blood everywhere. He ran but has never forgotten the girl he has believed he killed. Now with his life again taken a turn for the worse he is drowning in debt and is disgraced after a mistake cost him his career and reputation. This doesn’t stop him from teaching detective skills to a group of young people and one day a woman joins the class who looks like Anna, the girl he met in Spain. He chases her and finds a mystery he wasn’t expecting. This book twisted between several mysteries and I really liked it a lot. I listened to the audiobook and I liked the narrator a lot, he really brought the main character to life. I gave this book 4.5 stars rounded up because it was a very enjoyable story.

This book was a pleasant surprise.
I thoroughly enjoyed it, as it was a quick read and a good time.

Former detective Sami Kierce is getting his life back together. He’s married, has a son, and is teaching a community college class on investigating. But a familiar face from his past turns his world upside down. A woman from his post-college European sojourn resurfaces – a woman he thought was dead.

Following her trail, Sami stumbles upon an even greater mystery. He becomes entangled in an unsolved kidnapping from 20 years ago, finds himself at the wrong end of a gun, and starts working for a very wealthy family. The more Sami digs, the more questions he has. He’ll use his detective skills and his band of wannabe-sleuth students to confront the memory that haunts him the most, but will what he uncovers give him peace?

The plot of this book was very intriguing, and the twists and turns throughout kept me guessing. I enjoyed the mix of characters involved – from the elite family who hires Sami to the eclectic group of amateur detectives in Sami’s class, there are lots of enjoyable individuals in play. This is my first time reading a Harlan Coben book, but I’ll definitely pick up another thriller of his. After reading this I learned there is another story featuring Sami Kierce, but I never felt that I was missing anything from not having read the first book. A fast-pace, twisty thriller that is sure to entertain!

does Harlan Coben create anything that isn't a complete masterpiece?? seriously this man is brilliant. i absolutely devoured this book. probably close to the top of my favorites from him after Tell No One. 5/5 stars!!! even better on audiobook too.

Review of Nobody's Fool by Harlan Coben.

How wonderful it is to be entranced by another Harlan Coben tale! Somehow, I missed the first book (Fool Me Once) in this series starring Sami Kierce, but not to worry, Nobody's Fool stands beautifully on its own.

Sami Kierce is a memorable character and one easy to root for. A former detective, Sami is now the loving husband of Molly, the doting father of infant son Henry, and a private investigator who teaches night classes to quite a mixed bag of students. One night, he looks up to see a woman standing at the back of his class. When he spots her, she flees, and he takes off running after her. He swears it was Anna, a girl he fell in love with twenty-two years ago during a backpacking trip abroad to Spain after college graduation. Anna, the girl he woke up next to one morning - he covered in blood and holding a knife, she dead beside him.

Kierce immediately starts to investigate, giving his class assignments that help him learn the truth.

There is much to like about this book:
- Coben's intricate plot hooked me from the start and kept rolling out surprises until the very end.
- The characters are well-drawn and complex making them relatable whether you like them or not. - Sami seems to speak to the reader as he discloses the past, works through the investigation, and shares what he uncovers. I don't know how to explain it, but it's very effective.
- I loved the class - what a hoot!
- As things come together, there is ample opportunity for the reader to ponder what they would have done if placed in the same situations as the various characters.

A very entertaining read that I recommend highly.

My thanks to Grand Central Publishing for allowing me to access a DRC of this novel via NetGalley. Publication is 3/25/25. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own and are freely given.

Another excellent read by Harlan Coben. Following the story of Kierce, who is down on his luck after losing his job on the police force, we are pulled into 2 possible murders and a kidnapping. I was kept guessing throughout the story as I tried to figure out how they might be connected and what happened to Victoria Belmond. Reaching the conclusion and the way the author ended the story definitely left me wanting more. Can’t wait for the next one!

Nobody’s Fool by Harlan Coben – 4/5 Stars

I’m a huge Harlan Coben fan, so I had high expectations for Nobody’s Fool – and it definitely didn’t disappoint! It’s a fast-paced, twisty thriller with lots of heart.

The story follows Jake, who’s forced to face some uncomfortable truths after his estranged father passes away. What starts as him dealing with a family death quickly turns into a full-on unraveling of secrets, lies, and a ton of unexpected twists. Honestly, it’s the kind of book that makes you feel like you’re always on the edge of your seat, constantly second-guessing everything.

Jake is a really well-written character – he’s flawed, but you can’t help but root for him as he tries to make sense of everything. And the side characters really brought something to the story too. Everyone has their own mysteries, and that added a lot to the suspense.

The pacing was great. Coben keeps the chapters short, which makes it hard to put the book down (I definitely lost track of time a few times!). Some of the twists were a little predictable for thriller fans, but honestly, they still hit hard. The suspense just kept building until the very end.

I also really liked how Coben explored themes of trust, betrayal, and redemption. It wasn’t just about the mystery – there were real emotional moments that added to the story’s depth.

My only minor complaint is that, at times, the plot felt a little rushed. A couple of the twists felt a bit over the top, but honestly, I was so caught up in the story that I didn’t mind too much.

Overall, Nobody’s Fool is a solid thriller that fans of Coben (or anyone who loves a good mystery) will definitely enjoy. If you like books that keep you guessing and have emotional depth, this one’s worth checking out!

Dollycas’s Thoughts

Former Detective Sami Kierce is now teaching night classes. It is there that his past from 25 years ago hits him right in the face. A woman he was afraid he killed just walked into his class. He met Anna while he was backpacking in Spain with friends in 2000. His friends moved on and he stayed with her until he woke up one morning with a knife in his hand, covered in blood, and Anna dead.

The woman runs from his classroom as soon as he sees her. That moment in Malaga is heavily etched in his memory. Could Anna truly be alive? Is he hallucinating? What really happened that night? He can’t let it go. He has to find her. But he may regret tracking her down. Should the past remain in the past? Could it be dangerous? Will someone else die? Could Sami be killed? Is he putting his wife and young son in jeopardy?

Fool Me Once was released on March 22, 2016. It quickly became a favorite Coben thriller. While I remembered much about the story, I was thrilled that Netflix adapted it and released it in an 8-episode limited series last year which I binge-watched a few weeks ago. This not only made the story fresh in my mind, but it also put faces on Sami and the characters who join Sami Kierce in Nobody’s Fool.

Sami went through a lot in Fool Me Once, he is no longer a detective but works as a private investigator and teaches a night class in criminology with some very interesting students. He is still in contact with his ex-partner Marty and is married to Molly with an infant son named Henry. Life wasn’t great but they were getting by when his past walks back in his life. Molly and Henry are good for Sami, they keep him grounded as chaos starts to surround him. Their love is palpable and Molly is a treasure. Sami is a smart man with a good heart and when he starts something he intends to finish it, no matter where the clues lead. All the characters in this story are complex and well-crafted. Their interactions feel true and I enjoy the humor and sarcasm I have come to expect in Mr. Coben’s stories.

Mr. Coben never disappoints. Nobody’s Fool is full of plotlines twisted together with tons of action and suspense. Kierce has his class working a cold case after the guilty party was released from prison on a technicality. They have also convinced him to let them help with the Anna matter. As much as you try to figure out where the author is taking his characters and us readers, my advice is to just hold on and enjoy the ride because there are twists upon twists, turns upon turns, surprises, and edge-of-your-seat moments that only Harlan Coben can provide. I have to say the unexpected ending threw me for a loop. I had to pick my jaw up off the floor. Wow! Just WOW! Then stay tuned for the cliffhanger.

Nobody’s Fool is a fast-paced suspense thriller that blew me away. Another extraordinary story from Mr. Harlan Coben. I hope NetFlix picks this one up too. I already felt like I was watching all the drama, tension, and suspense unfold before my eyes so I would love to see what they would do with it. I also hope we don’t have to wait another 10 years for another Detective Sami Kierce book because I am very intrigued to see where life takes him next.

Look for Nobody’s Fool on my Best Reads of 2025. I encourage you to preorder your copy today!

This is one fast reading thriller I could not put down. Harlan Coben hits it out of the ballpark once again! I love his writing style and loved the shocking ending! Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this advance copy. To be published March 25, 2025.

A woman reappears in Private Investigator Sami Kierce’s life, but it can’t be because he found her dead years ago. His memory is clear but the facts don’t add up. He must find this woman and solve the mystery that has haunted him every minute since that day.

As a thriller enthusiast I am somewhat embarrassed to admit that this is my first read by Harlan Coben, but now I see what all the buzz is about. I understand now why so many of his books have been adapted for Netflix and prime shows. This book was so entertaining! It had everything- a likable MC, interesting storyline, plenty of twists, tons of mystery and suspense, and even a few laughs.

Nobody’s Fool is the follow up to Fool Me Once, his first Kierce thriller. I had not read the first book and although I suggest you do ,because I am sure it is as good as this one (I know I am!), it did not seem necessary to understand this story. The MMC, Sami Kierce, was my favorite part. He is flawed, sarcastic, and unrefined-almost an anti hero. But he is also a genius detective despite his fall from grace. He is so likable that you can’t help but be truly invested in this story. I hope there are more Kierce thrillers to come. I will be first in line!

Overall this was one of the best pure mystery and suspense thrillers I have read in a long time and I will be highly recommending it to everyone!

Many thanks to NetGalley, Harlan Coben, and Grand Central Publishing for the chance to read this ARC copy.

Thanks to Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley for providing me with an early copy to read and review.

3.5 Stars - I think I would have enjoyed it more had I realized this was book #2. The author did a pretty good job providing some background context, but it felt like details and some characters would have further explained plot points in this novel.

Interesting plot, a thrilling mystery that I didn’t quite solve until the final pages.

From the first pages, this story had my undivided attention. I enjoyed the ongoing theme of how the past influences and intrudes into the present. Sami Kierce, a former NYC police detective, was an Interesting main character, struggling with the consequences of past poor decisions while trying to do his best to keep his family afloat. The story played on this while alternating between two eras and locations, with a varied cast of characters contributing to the color and suspense.

I’ve read just about everything this author has written, and while not my favorite, this book kept me engaged until the end. It’s the second in a new-ish series, but could work a standalone.

Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an unbiased review.

Nobody's Fool is a continuation of the Sami Kierce series, whose first installment was Fool Me Once. It was also adapted into a miniseries for Netflix if you're wondering why it may should familiar to you. A year after the events of Fool Me Once, Sami is a disgraced detective forced to take on jobs as a PI for a law firm while teaching night classes for a few bucks to people obsessed with crime. After his breaking protocol in his last case led to the release of his fiancee's killer, Sami is already mentally on thin ice. While teaching his class, he spots a face of someone he thought was dead. Someone he might have killed in his 20s on a trip to Spain. Anna.

In his effort to find more, he wonders if Tad Greyson's release and Anna's reappearance could be connected. The story definitely kept me on my toes, but there was admittedly a lot going on with the two storylines. I really loved the Pink Panthers (Sami's "best" students), though. They had a lot of character development so even though they were supporting characters, I felt like I knew about them so they adequately added to to the story.

I shouldn't have been surprised after Fool Me Once, but THE. PLOT. TWISTS!!! I was completely unprepared. My jaw literally hung open. All in all, I enjoyed Nobody's Fool. I do wonder if there will be a third book. If so, I'll pick it up. I think this would be another great contender for a Netflix miniseries as the continuation of Fool Me Once.

Thank you to Grand Central Publishing and Netgalley for a free advanced copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Rating: 5 ⭐️
Pub Date: March, 25 2025
How I Read It: 📱

Synopsis
Sami Kierce is a young college grad backpacking in Spain with friends, when he meets a girl, Anna, one night in a club. They become smitten with each other, and he decides to stay behind with her while his friends continue on in their trip. But he wakes up one morning covered in Anna’s blood, and there’s a knife in his hand. She’s dead, and Kierce doesn’t know what happened, but flees the country in fear.

Twenty-two years later, Kierce, now a private investigator and teacher, is in his classroom in New York City, teaching amateur sleuths, and he recognizes a familiar face at the back of the classroom. It’s Anna, but how? She’s dead…


My Thoughts
Harlan Cobin is such an exciting writer! This book had me hooked from the beginning and I finished it in two days. I had to know what the heck was going on! I kept guessing and guessing with every twist and turn! I loved the addition of Kierce’s students to the book, as it was fun to see how amateurs would think compared to an actual detective. They were also an interesting bunch of characters!

Final Thoughts
I’m looking forward to the next Sami Kierce book. Pick this one up if you like a good, page-turning thriller. You’re not going to be able to put this one down!

Of Note: this is the second book in the Sami Kierce series. You don’t have to read the first book to read this one.

Themes:
🔪 murder
🌪️ twists/turns

Ratings
Characters: 5 ⭐️
Pace: 5 ⭐️
Enjoyability: 5 ⭐️


Thank you to Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book!

Former cop, now private investigator, Kierce is haunted by events from his distant past. Anna's seeming reappearance calls his assumptions about what happened into doubt. He is driven by a need to find out whether she really is who she says she is. Kierce is easy to relate to and his narrative is peppered with sarcasm.

This book starts off strong with a flashback to Kierce's past, immediately engaging the reader in what promises to be an intriguing story. Although the story was indeed intriguing and it started off at breakneck speed, it seemed to slow down as the story unfolded. The plot was complex and original, however not as much of a page-turner as other books I have read by this author. Nonetheless, a well-written and enjoyable read.

This book will hook you from the start, take you on a twisty ride to the shocking end.
Already down on his luck, the past comes back to haunt Sami Kierce! Twenty plus years ago Sami was a recent college grad vacationing in Spain when he woke up next to a dead girl, covered in blood and holding a knife. Panicked, he runs. Present day, he’s a disgraced ex NYC detective working as a Private PI and teaching. One night, the girl he believed to be dead walks into his classroom, but as soon as he sees her, she runs. Sami is determined to track her down and find out what truly happened.

Another great Harlan Coben book and #2 for Sami Kierce. Knocked it out of the park. Full of twists and shocks. Highly recommend.