Harlan Coben is the king of the twist in thrillers and in Nobody's Fool, it is no different! This is Coben at his best and I devoured this novel. If you have liked his previous novels, you will love this one! Pre-order this one, you will not regret it!

My thanks to Net Galley and Grand Central for this arc to review.

What an excellent book! This hooked me from the very beginning!!

Sami Kierce was backpacking with friends and wakes up with a woman covered in blood and flees the country. 25 years later he's married with a son and has a "detective school." and thinks he sees that woman walk into his class. This further leads him to a wealthy family that hires him to find out what happened to their daughter who was kidnapped for 11 years that resemble the woman who walked into his class. Loved this book. Lots of twists.

This is the first book I have read by Harlan Coben. Based on his success and popularity, I expected this book to be one I could not put down.

Nobody’s Fool grabbed me from the start, but I quickly lost interest. The pace was too slow and repetitive. Sami Kierce is too flat/monotone and I found him not likable. Most of the characters felt flat.

The storyline did pick up a bit in the second half of the book and it did have some good twists. The ending leaves room for this story to continue. I don’t think I am interested enough to continue the series. I do however think this book would be better as a movie.

Release: March 25, 2025
-Harlan Coben
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing

Rating: 4.25 ★ 

Nobody's Fool by Harlan Coben centers around the life of a man named Jake Fisher, who is still haunted by the death of his fiancée, Natalie. She died years ago, under mysterious circumstances, and Jake has spent all this time trying to move on, but he can't shake the feeling that something isn't right. When he discovers that Natalie’s death might not have been an accident, Jake gets pulled back into her complicated past. As he digs deeper, he uncovers secrets that not only challenge his memories of her but also put him in dangerous situations with people who want to keep the truth buried. It’s a gripping, fast-paced thriller that explores love, loss, and betrayal.
Nobody's Fool is a classic Harlan Coben novel that blends suspense, mystery, and emotional depth. Coben’s writing draws you in with complex characters and keeps you on edge with twists and turns. What I really appreciate about this book is how it keeps you questioning everything. Jake’s journey feels very real, and the emotional stakes are high because you can understand his desire for closure. At times, the story feels like a rollercoaster with unexpected reveals that make it difficult to put down.
One thing I especially enjoyed was the pacing—Coben does a great job of balancing action with the more introspective moments that make you really feel for Jake. The dialogue is sharp, and the narrative keeps you guessing about who to trust and what’s actually going on. The ending is satisfying but still leaves you thinking about the story long after you’ve finished.
If you're a fan of psychological thrillers with plenty of twists and an emotional punch, Nobody's Fool is a must-read. It shows Coben’s skill at crafting a tense, unpredictable narrative while exploring deeper themes of love and betrayal.

Favorite Quote:
"the truth can be more painful than the lie"

The one element that tends to be present in most Harlan Coben books is a shocking/outrageous premise/event/happening, which grabs your attention and drives the suspense forward. That in and of itself isn’t completely unique (Clive Cussler?), but what makes Mr. Coben so special is that he delivers a thrill ride throughout the book, it’s not just a gimmick to draw you in. “Nobody’s Fool” definitely fits the bill.

We start with Sami Kierce twenty-five years ago, backpacking through Europe with some friends before he goes off and starts medical school. In Spain he meets a young girl named Anna and decides to spend some time with her instead of going off with his friends. This idyllic vacation ends suddenly when he wakes up one morning covered in blood with a knife in his hand and Anna laying next to him, dead.

Fast forward to today. Sami Kierce never became a doctor, instead he became a police detective, until he was thrown off the force. Now he’s a private investigator during the day and teaching a night class to a bunch of wannabe PIs and true crime podcasters, barely making ends meet to support his wife and one-year-old son. Much to his surprise, during one of the night classes, who should walk in but Anna, seemingly alive and well. Sami tries to chase her down but she gets away, however he managed to slip a tracker into her coat.

And so it begins. The tracker leads Sami to a wealthy family with many secrets, all stemming from the kidnapping of their daughter, who was found 11 years later with no recollection of what had happened. If Anna is the long lost heiress, can Sami solve the case and find the kidnappers? If this wasn’t enough pressure, Sami’s fall from grace with the police opens the doors for all of his cases to be reviewed, and the release of the killer who murdered his fiancée. Now this killer claims his innocence and wants to work with Sami on finding the real killer. Is this a bluff, or is the real killer still out there? And is the timing of this with Anna’s appearance just a coincidence or are they connected?

A thrilling book with many twists and turns, some of which you can see coming, but others will blow you away. Sami enlists the help of his students, a motley bunch that provides some smiles along with their enthusiasm and skills. Although this is the second book in the series, it is a complete standalone story (with one small exception). I look forward to Sami’s next adventure.

I requested and received a free advanced electronic copy from Grand Central Publishing via NetGalley. Thank you!

I really enjoyed this book. It was full of twist and turns just like all of Harlan Coben's books! I kept wanting to read more because the book was so engaging and I felt like I needed to know what was going to happen. I enjoyed the characters and the story line. If you enjoy a thriller this would be a great book for you!

I don't know what I was expecting. I enjoyed the writing. It was simple and cinematic. I think I enjoyed some of the collateral characters more so than the main character. I could easily see this made into a movie. I was expecting a few more twists and turns to it. However, it was an enjoyable read.

From the very first pages, I was hooked on this story and its main character. Kearce made for an intriguing protagonist — his past moral choices were a bit questionable, but I quickly grew to like him and found myself rooting for his success. What began as a seemingly straightforward mystery took one unexpected turn after another, spiraling into a head-spinning twist. It's no exaggeration to say — I never saw it coming!

The fast-paced plot never slowed, with a quirky cast of characters who helped Kearce along the way. They added just the right amount of humor without overshadowing the story, leaving me hoping to see more of them in future books. This was my first read from this author, and it definitely won't be my last.

(It wasn’t until after finishing that I realized this was actually the second book in a series — but rest assured, it works perfectly as a standalone!)

The twists and turns! I never see them all coming (I saw a few here, but not all) with a Harlan Coben novel. This kept me so engaged and on the edge of my seat. I had to know what happened and had anxiety until I found out! It is set up for another book and I will defintely be reading that one too.
Thanks to Grand Central, Netgalley and Harlan Coben for an early copy.

The twists and turns in this latest book by Harlan Coben were frequent and well played! There were several times I really needed to stop reading, but just couldn't put the book down. Sami Kierce is such an interesting character - lots of flaws, yet you can't help but root for him to work through his demons and find success.

This one will keep you guessing right to the end, and I highly recommend.

Thank you to Grand Central Publishing and Net Galley for this ARC. #NobodysFool #NetGalley

I've been a Harlan Coben fan for years - - ever since I read "Tell No One" in one sitting, finishing at 3 a.m. His books are that addictive - you just can't put them down.

The characters in this book are excellent as always. Coben's characters always seem to be a perfect blend of normal and quirky. The plot is all over the place - there's a lot going on here. I always try to figure the mystery out before finishing but I can rarely come up with the solution.

This is a book that holds your attention and has your brain working overtime trying to figure everything out. I'm never disappointed in Coben's books!

Nobody's Fool by Harlan Coben is an excellent, very highly recommended, twisty investigative thriller. You don't want to miss this one!

Sami Kierce, a young college grad backpacking in Spain with friends when he meets Anna in a nightclub in Fuengirola. His friends move on but Sami stays on with Anna until one morning he wakes up, covered in blood with a knife in his hand, and the body of Anna beside him. He doesn’t know what happened. He screams and then he runs.

Twenty-two years later Sami is a former NYPD cop now working as a PI for a law firm and teaching wannabe sleuths at a night school in New York City. When Sami sees a woman peeking her head in the door, he can't believe his eyes. It is Anna. He chases her down the hall and manages to get a tracker into her coat pocket before she flees. How can it be possible that she is alive?

What follows is an un-put-downable, action-packed, masterful investigative thriller where events from Sami's past come to the forefront in the present. Sami is not only searching for answers about Anna, there are numerous other things going on all at the same time. The tension runs high, the twists and reveals are nonstop, and the action gallops throughout the unpredictable but extremely well-executed plot right to the stunning ending.

Sami is a fully realized character who is portrayed as a unique, intelligent individual with a keen mind and a sense of humor. He is happily married to Molly and they have a one-year-old son, Henry. The plot unfolds through Sami's point-of-view. This is the second Sami Kierce novel following Fool Me Once but it can easily be read as a standalone.

No spoilers included here - read Nobody's Fool and thank me later. Thanks to Grand Central for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

The review will be published on Edelweiss, Barnes & Noble and Amazon.

3.5 stars rounded up- Nobody’s Fool is a twisted mystery/thriller that has multiple cases overlapping each other in the story. The characters are not among my favorites and the story would probably play out better as a movie. The beginning of the book almost lost my attention as it jumps around and I didn’t particularly care about the main players. The last third of the book is full of enough twists to make up for some of the struggles in the beginning. Sami Kierce is an okay detective but I actually liked his students helping on the case more than Sammy’s contributions. I may or may not read the next book in the series but I would watch it as a movie. My voluntary, unbiased, and non-mandatory review is based upon a review copy from NetGalley.

Harlan Coben is one of the authors who first hooked me on thrillers years ago, beginning with his Myron Bolitar series. Over the years, I've found myself drawn to his newer works even more, especially with their unexpected twists and gripping storylines. Nobody's Fool is no exception—it kept me on the edge of my seat from start to finish. The suspense was palpable, and I didn’t want it to end. Coben’s knack for weaving intricate plots and keeping readers guessing is unmatched. A must-read for any thriller fan!

Harlan Coben is definitely becoming one of my favorite thriller authors I never see his twist coming . The twist in turns in this book had me feeling like I was a FBI agent. Definitely recommend reading this series I’m hoping for a book 3 to get the answers to the questions Kierce ask at the end.

Harlan Coben has always created memorable characters and stories but I found this Sami Kielce book to be exceptional! Sami is relatable to most readers as he has an experience during his college years that haunts him and alters his well-planned life.. Years later he comes face to face with this event when a young woman whose life he feared he had a part in ending appears in a classroom where he (a disgraced police detective turned private eye) is teaching the art of investigation in night school to an interesting, motley group of wannabe sleuths. How can this be?

Coben brings mystery, suspense, lots of plot twists, humor, and memorable characters to this newest title in the Sami Kierce series. Nobody’s Fool kept me turning pages in search of the answers Sam was seeking and has me looking forward to the next title featuring Sami!

This fast moving unusual plot was riveting!

This was a terrific read. I was sucked in by the mystery and completely shocked about what happened in the book.

Another excellent outing for Harlan Coben. I am not sure how he creates such exciting stories and relatable characters.

The second Sami Kierce novel. I love the Sami Kierce universe, and this book did not disappoint. I think I love the cast of supporting characters more than Sami himself. Can't wait for the next.Thanks to Netgalley for the free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review, book publishes March 25

⛵ Nautical Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

🌦 Literary Weather Report: Hurricane Warning! This book sweeps you up in a storm of twists, leaving no safe harbor for the reader. Expect unpredictable gusts of suspense, waves of chaos, and a final revelation that hits like a rogue tide.

📖 The Book’s Voyage:
Sami Kierce’s life has been adrift since a backpacking trip to Spain turned into his worst nightmare—waking up next to his girlfriend’s lifeless body, with no memory of what happened. Now, twenty-two years later, he’s an exhausted private investigator, teaching sleuthing classes on the side when Anna—the woman he thought was dead—walks into his classroom. And then? She disappears.
What follows is a breakneck chase through the murky waters of memory, deception, and a past that refuses to stay buried. Coben masterfully steers readers through a twisting mystery that seems utterly impossible—until Kierce, sharp as ever, finds his way to the truth.

⚓ Final Docking Thoughts:
This was an absolute thrill ride—fast-paced, high-stakes, and completely immersive. I devoured it like a sailor lost at sea, finally spotting land. Nobody’s Fool is perfect for readers who love their mysteries tangled, their stakes high, and their endings oh-so-satisfying.

🌊 Would I sail these waters again? Absolutely. Coben proves once again why he’s the captain of the twisty thriller genre.