Nobody’s Fool is a tie-in with Fool Me Once, following the life of the detective from that novel who has been fired from the police force and is doing investigative work for an attorney while teaching a night class about criminal investigations on the side. One night in class, a woman walks in, a woman he last saw twenty-two years earlier, dead, when he woke up with a bloody knife in his hand. He follows her to discover she may actually be a woman who was missing for eleven years, which was during the time he knew her. Since she claims to not remember anything from that time period, her family hires him to discover the truth.

If you’ve read other books by Harlan Coben, you know he is the king of the twist you don’t see coming. Since there are actually three mysteries going on in this novel, Coben has plenty of twists to work with. The characters are engaging and Coben’s trademark sarcasm brings some comic relief to an intense story.

I enjoyed this book and would recommend it to mystery lovers.

Not family friendly due to profanity.

Thanks to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Thank you, NetGalley for giving me access to read this book before it releases to the public. I’ve been looking forward to it ever since I found out Coben was releasing a new one.

This book was a WILD ride that kept me interested from page 1 to the last page. There were so many twists and turns throughout and especially towards the end. The last page was left on a little bit of a cliffhanger but I think I figured it out!

If you’re a Harlan Coben fan you need to add this one to the top of your TBR list!

I can’t wait to see more people read this one and obsess over it as much as I did!

An easy 5 stars!

Harlan Coben you have become one of my favorite authors. The way you were able to write this book was amazing. I didn’t get a chance to read the previous book but did see the movie of it on Netflix because I noticed the name Detective Kierce as I was reading this book. Regarding this book a lot of times I would be on edge or left with some form of unexplainable emotion, which I loved!
I literally stood up clapping for this book! This was an amazing read, that have now made me want to read any other books written by you. This was really great! All the characters were wonderfully written into the story. I’m also hoping to see more of Detective Sami Kierce. Well done!!

Harlan Coben's new book Nobody's Fool was a bit of a slow start for me, but stick with it because it will soon grab you and will be hard to put down. It's a deep mystery with an unexpected ending.

Nobody's Fool by Harlan Coben is a book that will keep you turning pages well into the night - so start reading early in the day so you can finish this book within a day! The plot and characters are well developed. I received an advance copy from NetGalley and I always review every book that I read. I did not realize that this was the 2nd book in this series; it can be read as a stand-alone (which I did). I kept turning pages to find out what was going to happen and "whodunit"! The ending surprised me! I had no clue! Everything came together at the end. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and I highly recommend it.

Synopsis:
Sami Kierce, a young college grad backpacking in Spain with friends, wakes up one morning covered in blood. There’s a knife in his hand. Beside him lies the body of his girlfriend, Anna who is dead. With no memory of what happened he then catches a flight back to the U.S.

Twenty-two years later, Kierce is a private investigator, a new father working surveillance for a lawyer in order to pay his legal bills, and a teaching a detective type class in New York City. One evening, he spots a familiar face in the back of his classroom, Anna. She’s alive. When their eyes meet, she bolts. Now, Kierce has no choice but to uncover the truth and solve the mystery that has haunted him for decades.

Thoughts:
I was really torn on what to rate Nobody’s Fool, but ultimately, I landed on a three, though it might be closer to a 3.5. I kept reading because I wanted to know how it ended, but the beginning felt slow, with too much filler that made it drag. While Harlan Coben is known for his twists, I had already figured out the ending, so the reveals didn’t pack much of a punch for me.

That said, the book wasn’t bad and it was worth the read, but it wasn’t great, and it won’t go down as one of my favorites. If you’re a Coben fan, you’ll likely still enjoy it, but it didn’t quite hit the mark for me.

Nobody writes a thriller like Harlan Coben! This is a fast paced, mind blowing book, with several different plots going on. Just when I thought I had it figured out, I was wrong. Sami has had a bad string of luck since college, but is happily married with a baby and you can't help rooting for him. He teaches a criminology class and the students are a hoot! I hope we get to see more of them in future books (hint, hint.) I highly recommend this book. It's a fast paced, can't put down, on the edge of your seat kind of book. The cliff hanger at the end of the book will leave you speechless and waiting very impatiently for the next book.

Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for an ARC of this book.

As a long-time fan of this author, I am happy to say that we have a classic Harlan Coben here. With an intriguing premise, an interesting main character (and a great bunch of others – Sami's students :)), a believable (and sad) story, engaging plots and twists, and a satisfying ending, in my opinion, it's one of the best books by H. Coben.
I've added Nobody's Fool to the list of my favorite books by this author.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the copy.

This is Harlan Coben's second book featuring PI Sami Kierce. It starts out right after college (about 20 yrs ago)when Sami and some friends went backpacking in Europe, and they went to a club. He meets Anna, and they stay together until he wakes up one morning to a lot of blood and a knife in his hand. He panics, calls his father and gets on the next plane out of Spain.
Currently, Sami is happily married to Molly, and a new father to Henry. He was on the police force but lost his job due to some irregularities in his performance. Now he teaches a criminology night class to people who want to learn to be sleuths like Sherlock Holmes. One day a woman who looks like Anna comes into the class (unregistered), spots Sami, and takes off. Sami follows her but loses her. He then has some of the students take up the search for her and the investigation whether it really is Anna.
At the same time, a murderer who Sami helped put behind bars is released due to an error that Sami made, and he seems to be holding a grudge against Sami.
Needless to say, Coben takes us through many twists and turns, dropping hints and red herrings along the way. This well crafted mystery was fast paced, with great fully developed characters and a lot of tension. Of course the ending is unexpected but it is realistic and brilliant!
I can't wait for the next book with this character!

In full disclosure, I have not read the first book in the series, though I may well have to back now to do so. I really loved the main character, Sami Kierce, who used to be a cop, who has a checkered past. I really would love to sit down and have a cup of coffee with this character.
About 20 years ago, Sami's girlfriend was found dead in bed next to him. There is a knife in his hand. For 20 years he has thought he was responsible for her death in a night of debauchery. He teaches a class to ordinary people interested in crime solving and in walks someone that is the spitting image of Anna, the former girlfriend. He mires himself in an investigation because he needs to find out if he is truly responsible.
There is a strong plot and good character development which kept me reading straight through. There were moments where things were a bit confusing but not nearly as much as many such novels.
Thanks to NetGalley and to Grand Central Publishing for an advance copy of this novel in exchange for my honest opinion.
4 1/2 stars rounded up.

Imagine the shock when a woman he recognizes from a passing relationship years ago walks into Sami Kierce’s Criminology class. The last time he saw her, she was lying next him, dead and covered in blood. This begins Nobody’s Fool, another explosive thriller by Harlan Coben, master of the genre. Coben skillfully weaves two timelines, Sami’s past and present, together until they crash together in a totally unexpected, shocking conclusion.

This is a mystery/thriller you will want to read for yourself so no spoilers here. Nobody’s Fool is a masterclass in plot development, characterization, pacing and false clues. 5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley, Grand Central Publishing and Harlan Coben for this ARC.

As always Harlan Coben’s newest novel is just as fast paced and edge of your seat as his other ones. When former detective Sami Kierce sees the fact of a woman he thought to be dead in one of his classes he follows her and starts on a path of deception and danger. There really were two storylines that were interwoven in this book, one being about Anna/Victoria the girl Sami thought was dead but really was the kidnapped daughter of a wealthy family, and the story of the accused killer of Sami’s fiancé being released from prison. Both storylines were enjoyable and did not take away from each other.

Thank you to Netgalley and to the publishers for allowing me to read this advanced copy in exchange for my unbiased opinions

Harlan Coben, the master of thrillers, returns triumphantly with his highly anticipated (Detective Sami Kierce Series), following the success of his bestselling thriller and #1 Netflix series, Fool Me Once #1.

Now, he unveils the next chapter in this gripping saga with NOBODY'S FOOL (#2). In this unputdownable thriller, a long-buried secret from former Detective Sami Kierce's college days in Spain resurfaces, threatening to shatter his present. His past is about to catch up with him in the most unexpected way…

About...

2025 New York City: Sami Kierce is now a disgraced detective and PI teaching night classes in New York City. He sees her in his classroom: Anna. He could never forget her face. Could she be alive and here in New York City? Is he hallucinating?

The Anna he knew was 20-ish, and this woman was in her mid-forties. She does not have long auburn hair like before, but she is short, blonde, and wears glasses. Is she in disguise? It can't be her. It makes no sense.

He believed she was dead twenty-five years ago in Spain. The woman who has tormented him for years. He reaches out. She flees. He is determined to locate this woman and unravel the enigma that has haunted him incessantly.

2000 Málaga, Spain: Sami is backpacking in Spain with friends and wakes up one morning covered in blood with a knife in his hand. Beside him is the body of a woman, Anna. DEAD. He does not know what happened. He still hears the echo of his screams.

After he reported, he ran. His hopes of becoming a doctor ended, and he dropped out of medical school, drank, and became a cop, then that ended.

After all this time, Sami's investigation will bring him face-to-face with his past—and prove that he's NOBODY's FOOL. Some secrets should stay buried!

My thoughts...

Harlan Coben, the King of this genre, in a category of his own and a long-time favorite, is back with another showstopper, NOBODY'S FOOL. A master storyteller, no one does it better! Detective Sami Kierce takes center stage with more action than you can imagine!

An action-packed, fast-paced, heart-pounding suspense full of thrills, intrigue, mystery, plot twists, turns, and shockers with plenty of humor. As always, this is an unputdownable series.

Sami is a great character; when his past meets the present, it is explosive. He finds himself in a mystery with secrets, lies, and plenty of danger. You feel for him as a disgraced detective, teaching and, as always, a rule bender who wants justice, and he has the worst luck.

His lover, Nicole, was murdered (his fiancée). He got kicked off the force for messing up big-time. He is working for a high-end white-shoe Manhattan law firm and not getting paid. He is being sued by the family of a high school kid named PJ Dawson. Whit Shaw represents him in exchange for his working jobs off the books following cheaters (divorces).

He is happily married to Molly and has a baby, Henry. He also teaches a night class named Academy Night Adult School on the Lower East Side, a group of amateur sleuths.

His criminology class and characters are a riot! The Pink Panthers (three women in their 70s - think Golden Girls); Debbie the Goddess (the Daddy tactics are hilarious); Instagram influencers who started true-crime podcast gals called Three Dead Hots; Hex, who wears gray sweatpants with matching hoodie and wants to solve his aunt's murder from 1982; Golfer Gary who wears ironed polo shirts with logos from ritzy clubs; and Leisure Suit Lenny (show n tell) with his mysterious gadgets and tracking devices. And Raymond.

Please continue this series and Netflix! I cannot wait to see The Pink Panthers and the others on screen and who they cast.

There is a whirlwind of action as Sami endeavors to piece together the puzzle to track down this woman who could be Anna and a mystery that spans decades.

Plus, in another storyline, which is also intriguing, his ex-fiancée's convicted killer is being released from prison, claiming innocence, and wants Sami to team up with him to find the real murderer.

Needless to say, Kierce has a lot on his plate! Get ready for a wild ride, and hang on. It is a doozy! Now, the million-dollar question? When😉 is #3 coming? Harlan, between all you have going on, I hope the next one is in the works.

Audiobook...

The audio version was a treat, narrated by the sexy and mega-talented Vikas Adam, a classically trained actor with numerous credits in stage, film, commercials, and television, in addition to his 200+ audiobooks. He's established himself as one who creates versatile, distinct, and clear voices for the characters he embodies. Vikas adds flair, humor, and plenty of drama, making an ideal choice for NOBODY'S FOOL, further elevating the story with great characterization for all voices. Highly entertaining!

In summary, if you're a fan of Harlan Coben, you simply can't miss Nobody's Fool. Get ready for a rollercoaster of suspense, action, and a shocking twist that will leave you reeling.

Many thanks to Grand Central Publishing, Hachette Audio, and NetGalley for a gifted advance reading and listening copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.

blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 5 Stars
Pub Date: March 25, 2025
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Many thanks to NetGalley, Grand Central Publishing and Hachette Audio for gifting me both a digital and audio ARC of the latest thriller by a favorite, Harlan Coben, wonderfully narrated by Vikas Adam. All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 5 stars!

When Sami Kierce was in college, he took a fateful backpacking trip with friends to Spain. Then he woke up one morning, covered in blood with a knife in his hand, and his girlfriend's body lying next to him. He runs. Decades later, Sami is now a private investigator, married with a young child. He's also teaching night school to wannabe investigators when one evening, he recognizes Anna at the back of his classroom. As soon as they make eye contact, she runs. Sami knows he must find her to understand the nightmare that has haunted him since Spain.

While this is the second in the Detective Sami Kierce series, I somehow missed that one, although I must admit I saw the Netflix series. But it’s easily read as a standalone, so don’t hesitate. There’s a lot going on in this one, with a big timeline and multiple mysteries, but it’s Harlan Coben so you know he pulls it off in grand style. This is written as though Sami is talking to the reader, a style I enjoy for I feel like it pulls me into the book as a participant and not just an observer. There are plenty of twists and reveals, along with Coben’s humorous moments. I ended up mostly listening to this one on audiobook and thought the narration was perfect.

This was such a addicting true crime novel. I really enjoyed it. I couldn't put it down. The author did a fantastic job of making the reader feel like I was right there with them. I highly recommend this book!

I have read most of the author's books but I must have missed the first in this series. However, it was easy to immerse myself into the story with very little knowledge of the characters and backstory. The plot is tightly woven and full of twists and turns. The amnesia plot device was a bit unbelievable but you can understand why it needed to be there.
Although I enjoyed the story, I don't think I will continue on with these particular characters as I really couldn't connect or become invested. I'm sure fans of the first book in the series will enjoy this second installment.

As always, Harlan Coben delivered yet another slam dunk with Nobody’s Fool. The king of sarcastic humor and complex, well-plotted storylines, the ride through this dynamite novel was nothing if not sublime. After all, despite its crime fiction core, the clear thriller vibe made it fast-paced and propulsive from the very first page. And I can’t forget its twisty, twisty premise. You know the kind where if you take your eye off the ball you’re lost in the weeds? Well, this was one of those. I do have to say, though, that there wasn’t a moment of confusion as former Detective Sami Kierce ushered me through these two jaw-dropping cases to their unguessable albeit believable closures.

As for the characters, they were what made this book—and all of Coben’s others—utterly sing. From the determined Sami who may not necessarily be the brightest of the bunch but he’s thoroughly dogged to his motley crew of assistants and their individual contributions, they came together to get the job done. Handling the case with both intuition and pragmatism, it made the entire plot feel all the more real. Speaking of which, I was over the moon to find the storyline just as taut and suspenseful as I would’ve expected. With plenty of long-buried secrets, dastardly deeds, and underhanded manipulations, there wasn’t a chance in hell of me putting it all together in time.

All in all, this book has only reaffirmed my all-out adoration for Mr. Coben and his masterful skill. Compelling, addictive, and seriously electric, I dread the long wait until I get to read another one of his novels. Considering that this second book in a series ended the way that it did, though, I can only hold out hope for the continuing saga to head my way soon. Both wrapped up tight and also left open for more investigations, it was the best of both worlds for this particular thriller lover. All I can say is that you need to grab this one quick, although I do recommend starting at the beginning as you don’t want to miss a minute with Sami. Rating of 5 stars.

Thank you to Harlan Coben, Grand Central Publishing, and Netgalley for my complimentary digital and physical copies. All opinions are my own.

I didn’t read the first of this series so I felt a little lost at first. It was a slow build until midway when it picked up speed. I didn’t dislike Kierce but I’m not sure I’d read more from the series. I usually enjoy anything Coben writes, this was middle of the road. I did get invested once the mysterious appearance of Kierce’s dead girlfriend began to unravel. The tension and family drama is palpable. There were many unexpected turn of events and aha moments. I feel like those who have read Fool Me Once will really like this one. I’d like to thank Grand Central Publishing (via NetGalley) for providing an Advance Reader Copy of “Nobody’s Fool” Detective Sami Kierce #2, by Harlan Coben, publication is expected 03/25/2025. These are all my own honest personal thoughts and opinions given voluntarily without compensation.

4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

When I requested this, I didn’t realize this was book 2 in the series. I don’t think that mattered as I really enjoyed it without reading the first. I really enjoy the way Harlan Coben writes and I liked the main character Sami Kierce. Definitely flawed, a bit rough around the edges, but understandably so considering what he’s been through.

I loved the plot, I think my jaw dropped a couple of times. I love how it ended leaving it open for another book in the series. I already put book one on my TBR!

This is my first Harlan Coben book, although I've watched some his tv series, so have a good feel for his writing style and genre. This story takes place in Spain and NYC, as Sami Kierce tries to unravel what happened to him 22 years ago. On a college jaunt through Europe he meets a girl, Anna, in Spain he can't forget. They spend 5 glorious days together, then he wakes up and finds her dead next to him, covered in blood, and he has a knife in his hand. So it gets off to a great start. Years later, she walks into his criminology class, and that's when things start to get interesting. Coben does a great job here and I couldn't put this one down. The pace is excellent, and the twist at the end!! Followed by another final twist, that you hope indicates a sequel is on the way. There's great character development here as no one is who they seem, and as Sami digs deeper and deeper, lots of new suspects and motives come to light. The outcome is so shocking and unexpected that you have to keep reading to see the full explanation. The twist at the end is a ray of hope in this novel of betrayal, murder, and lies.