Fast paced story with characters you'll root for. Harlan is a master of redirection, can you solve the mystery before the book ends?

Sami Kearce is not going to back down when facing threats or danger. I loved his methodical way of approaching this investigation, and using his class to help in the search for answers was very clever! I liked this storyline and felt the ending was quite a surprise, but also perfect! Another winner by Coben!

A young American backpacking in Spain wakes up covered in blood with a knife in his hand next to the body of a woman. He flees back to the U.S. and tries to forget his crime. Twenty two years later he recognizes the assumed dead woman in the back of his classroom. As he searches for her he begins to uncover a dark and depraved mystery.

Harold Coben is a master of the twisty thriller. I’ve learned to just go along for the ride in a Coben novel because every time I think I’ve figured it out a new twist is introduced. For me Sami Kierce was an unlikable main character but I appreciated his commitment to doing whatever it took to solve the mystery. And he was surrounded by likable endearing side characters who balanced out his charmlessness. Fast-paced and intriguing this story kept me glued to the page and I couldn’t wait to see what happened next.

An excellent read for any and all readers! Author comes at you with both barrels and knocks you out of your shoes! Great job fleshing out all the characters. I give this book FIVE stars! Definitely recommend!

You don’t *have* to have read Coben’s “Fool Me Once” but it certainly wouldn’t hurt. I’ve read Coben’s novels for years but for some reason, missed reading “Fool Me Once”. I did, however, watch the Netflix series. This novel, Nobody’s Fool, follows Sami Kierce for another twisty and fun thriller, cop (former cop) mystery. For the first half or so, it didn’t seem like you needed to have read Fool Me Once, but once finishing this, I’d highly encourage you read the other first to really understand the nuances of these characters. Overall, it’s a page turner and you want so badly to know what happened. I didn’t guess the end and it was fun final reveal. Only one little thread felt like a weird wrap up but overall fun turns, not predictable, another great Coben mystery!

I did not realize this book was part of a series and have not read the first one. It did not affect my comprehension at all. The plot of “Nobody’s Fool” sounds almost like a joke: a disgraced NYPD detective has multiple past girlfriends who have been murdered, there’s a stalker, a cold-case kidnapping, sex trafficking, possible amnesia, and at least one killer on the loose. Yet it all works. The story flows well, the plot lines make sense, and there are many minor characters who add to the enjoyment. I wanted to keep reading to find out how each of the story lines would resolve. Would recommend!
Thank you to Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley for providing this ARC.

Thank you to NetGalley, Harlan Coben and Grand Central Publishing for allowing me read this book prior to publication. I am a huge Harlan Coben fan. I have read all his books. This one has to be the best one yet! WOW is all I have to say about this one. So, brief synopsis. Sami Kierce is a former cop turned PI. Hi fiancé was murdered years ago and the man convicted of it is trying to prove he is innocent and get out of prison. Years ago Sami was on a backpack trip through Europe and got his head turned by a women named Anna. Things didn't end well, and it sent his life on a trajectory that he had not planned. Now, he is a disgraced cop, thinks he has seen Anna after 20+ years and the person convicted of his fiancé's murder might actually get out. Add to this a kidnapped heiress, that re-appears 11 yrs later and all of these threads start to intersect.
This book takes Sami on an adventure where he has to confront his past, and work out the mystery of the kidnapped heiress all at the same time. I tried and tried to figure out where Harlan was going with this story and couldn't get there on my own, so I couldn't put this book down! There were so many twists and turns and surprises it was just an amazing book! My favorite part was Sami's students(read the book you will understand) working for him as assistant detectives to help solve the case!!! If you are a Harlan Coben fan this is a must read! If you are not yet a fan, this one will certainly make you one!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book in return for an honest review.

Detective Sami Kierce was briefly introduced in the first book of this series, Fool Me Once. This time, he isn’t only the investigator, he is part of the crimes being investigated. Due to previous events, Sami is no longer on the police force, and times are hard. Sami is teaching a PI class (No Shit, Sherlock) to an eclectic group of characters, and they also become involved in helping Sami solve a case from his distant past.

More than 20 years ago, Sami woke up next to his girlfriend, Anna, after a night of partying. Did I mention his girlfriend has been stabbed to death, and Sami has a knife in his hand? Fast forward to today, and Anna walks into his classroom, setting off a chain of events that twist and turn to the end. Sami can’t let sleeping dogs lie, and is determined to find the truth about Anna.

The narration is first person (Sami) and while the plot does become elaborate, it’s easy to follow. Sami is a peculiar character, and I found myself either liking or disliking him. He can be principled or entirely reckless, honest or not, empathetic or uncaring.

This was much better than Fool Me Once, and I look forward to reading more of the series.

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I enjoyed this book a lot. The premise was interesting and the book continued to be interesting and easy to read. Relatable characters, sense of humor integrated into the story. Fast paced. I don't know how I have missed reading him before and will continue to read his book. 4.5

A gripping, compelling tale. I very much enjoyed this. It keeps you guessing and the ending was a surprise, at least to me.

Although this is book two in the Sami Kierce series by Harlan Coben, you don't have to have read the first book to enjoy this one. The book opens as Sami Kierce, a private investigator is teaching a class to want to be investigators. In the back of his class he sees someone from his past who he thought was dead. And the novel takes off as Sami sets off to track down the visitor and find out what really happened twenty years ago. I've read several Harlan Coben novels. They are all fairly fast paced, easy to get engrossed in with many twists and turns on the way to the conclusion. This one was an enjoyable read. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book.

3 stars

The suspense was definitely there, but I’m not a fan of the ending. It felt too abrupt, like it just ended without a real sense of satisfaction. I was expecting a bigger twist. Or maybe it’s because this was book two in a series?

I enjoyed it overall, but it feels like the kind of story you forget easily.

Note : Thank you Grand Central Publishing and Harlan Coben, for sending me this ARC

Today was a five star snow day. I blew through this new Harlan Coben crime thriller & I loved evvvvvverything about it 👏🏻

The tone of this book stood out to me the most and that made it most enjoyable in my opinion. This is written as if the main character, Sami Kierce- ex cop turned private investigator, is speaking directly to us. He’s also hilarious and his sense of humor is much appreciated in between all the danger and action. There wasn’t a dull moment in this book. There are a lot of characters but not in an overwhelming way. The main and side characters were each interesting and I loved seeing their personalities unfold. The twists never stopped coming and the tension kept me hooked. There was no way I was putting this down past 50%.

If you like crime thrillers add this to your TBR for March 25th and go in blind. Coben has never disappointed me. This was so so good 👏🏻

Nobody’s Fool encompasses two mysteries, both involving Sami Kierce, a former detective now teaching a community based criminology class following his removal from the police force after disciplinary action. This novel was engaging, and the storyline kept me consistently invested. I really enjoyed the eclectic gang of students in Kierce’s class and how they played a role in the investigations. It was also refreshing to see the positive, honest, and loving relationship that Sami has with his wife (although she must be the most patient and understanding partner in history!). I would have liked to have seen some parts of the story more fleshed out, and some of the characters to be better developed. Additionally, I thought the resolution of one of the mysteries happened too quickly, as though it were an afterthought.

Overall, I enjoyed this novel, and I would definitely recommend it. Thank you to NetGalley, Grand Central Publishing, and Harlan Coben for this free digital book in exchange for an honest review.

In NOBODYS FOOL, written by Harlan Coben, Sami Kierce met Anna over twenty years ago on a dance floor in Spain while on a European backpacking trip following college graduation. Later, Sami Kierce woke up in bed next to Anna, and he was holding a knife, wet with blood. In the present time Kierce (previously a cop) went on a stake-out to catch a cheating husband; then, he taught a course on criminology as an ex-police detective. That’s when he thought he saw Anna. I continued reading to find out if the woman Sami Kierce saw was Anna. I wanted to know what would happen next.

I liked the casual-sounding voice Coben gave Sami Kierce. It was inviting, and I wanted to read more. As the story progressed, however, I found that I began to tire of the first-person present-tense writing. I do think the plot was interesting. This book followed FOOL ME ONCE, but it still could be read as a stand-alone. Thank you, Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley, for the chance to read and review an advance reader copy of NOBODYS FOOL.

Nobody’s fool by Harlan Coben is the second book in the Sam Kierce series.
Sam is ex-police and it a teacher. The man who killed his fiancé is released from prison and a woman he knew years ago – he sees in the back of his classroom.
As the story continues his students help him with the two mysteries.
I have read many of Mr. Coben’s books and have enjoyed them. This one was good but a little improbable. It did have a dual timeline which is extremely popular now.
It is worth a read and recommend it. Thanks Net Galley for an advanced copy

Nobody’s Fool by Harlan Coben is the second book in the Sami Kierce series (first being Fool Me Once).
This book starts off with a bang in a flashback from 20 years ago. While traveling abroad after college, Sami was involved in a mysterious murder of a woman named Anna which was never solved. Present day, Sami is a former police detective who now teaches a criminology class called No Sh*t Sherlock. If that doesn’t tell you the kind of humor in this book, let me spell it out. It’s just plain funny. Sami is married with a young son, has a disgraced past with the NYPD, and is just trying to make ends meet. Supposed to be dead Anna reappears in Sami’s life and the circumstances become even more mysterious. Sami is hired to find out what happened in Spain all those years ago, and he enlists his students to help. This crew has personality and adds to the humor of the book. Despite it having great comedic delivery, Nobody’s Fool is a traditional detective mystery with theories, investigations and some danger, and it does get solved by the end. There are allusions to the first book’s characters and history that are not annoyingly repetitive and give just enough backstory that makes this work as a stand alone read. Readers who enjoy Coben’s other series with Myron Bolitar are sure to enjoy, as well as those who would enjoy a funnier Michael Connelly (Bosch) or a more realistic James Patterson experience. Thanks to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for my ARC.

My Thoughts

In 2000 Sami Kierce ran away and for 25 years has carried a burden on his conscience that still bothers him.

Now married and with a baby boy he and his little family are struggling to make ends meet but are happy together despite their financial woes.

What he ran from all those years ago proves to be more complicated than he was expecting it to be as now Kierce mounts a full-scale investigation which brings him unexpected answers and also a new danger from an old source.

Filled with twists that I did not see coming and a finale that tied up things in some ways and yet also left an opening for another book.
[EArc from Netgalley]
On every book read as soon as it is done and written up for review it is posted on Goodreads and Netgalley, once released then posted on Amazon, Barnes and Nobles as well.

Ex-detective Sami Kierce is having a very rough week. In addition to his fiancé’s killer being released from prison, he also just saw a woman, whom he believed to be dead, standing in the back of his criminology class. As a result, along with the help of his students, he’s working to get to the bottom of two very different mysteries before it’s too late. The real question is whether or not the truth is actually worth all of the risk.

Truth be told, I had no idea this was the second Sami Kierce novel but other than wishing I knew exactly how he got kicked off the police force, I don’t feel like it really mattered. While Sami definitely appears to be an impulsive character, he’s also extremely likable and has the best intentions for his actions, even the reckless ones. His relationship with his wife, Molly, helped portray him as someone who truly wants to do good for those he loves & make them proud. Coben’s writing style of having Sami basically be speaking to the reader worked well & also allowed his personality to be front and center.

While many mysteries focus on solving one crime or case, Nobody’s Fool focused on & intertwined two completely separate cases and managed to do so extremely well. Both were distinguishable in their own way and when they intertwined it definitely left the reader wondering what direction things were going to go. All in all it was a quick read the kept me intrigued from start to finish & I would without a doubt read more about Sami Kierce if it’s ever written.

**Thank you #NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for providing me with an ARC for my honest review**

This was my first Harlan Coben book, and I enjoyed it immensely! In Nobody's Fool we meet a disgraced former Detective with a helluva backstory. He is hosting a wannabe-detectives night class when a woman comes in that he hasn't seen in twenty-five years... and thought was dead.

The story felt light despite the heavy topics it broached. There is lots of dark humor and it definitely hit the spot for me. I did not feel like I was missing anything despite not reading the first book. Lots of fun, and I will certainly be reading Coben's work again!