Harlan Coben’s best books

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Where to start reading Harlan Coben

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Recommendations

The best new novels of 2023

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Brilliant books for the crime fanatic in your life

10 books for crime fans, which have thrilled and chilled us this year

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10 books for crime fans which have thrilled us this year

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Features

Harlan Coben on creating subtle suspense

Now An Original Netflix Series

Fool Me Once

THE BIGGEST NETFLIX SHOW OF 2024 STARRING MICHELLE KEEGAN, JOANNA LUMLEY AND RICHARD ARMITAGE. 
 
READ THE BOOK THAT STARTED IT ALL . . . 
 
'The absolute master' RICHARD OSMAN 
'One of the all-time greats' GILLIAN FLYNN 
'At the top of his game' PETER JAMES 
'Never lets you down' LEE CHILD 
_______________ 
 
You think you know the truth. The truth is you know nothing. 
 
If your husband was murdered. 
 
And you were a witness. 
 
How do you explain it when he appears on your nanny cam, back from the dead? 
 
You thought you trusted him. 
 
Now you can't even trust yourself. 
 
Dark secrets and a terrifying hunt for the truth lie at the heart of this gripping thriller by the 'master of the double twist' Harlan Coben ... 
_______________ 
 
Readers love Fool Me Once . . . 
 
***** 'This book was such a spine tingling page turner!' 
***** 'The story was fast-paced and very captivating. I couldn't wait to see how everything would turn out.' 
***** 'Any reader who enjoys a cleverly plotted book filled with twists and turns will enjoy this one.' 
***** 'An excellent thriller, packed with taut, edgy suspense, and is certainly entertaining.' 
***** 'What a story. What a plot.'

…adorned with that peerless brand of storytelling he always provides.

Fool Me Once is a perfect example of what makes his work so appealing… When you're writing a story full of twists, nothing is ever the way it seems, and Coben is brilliant in the way he reminds you of this with small references to ambiguities, to yin and yang, things like the opposite interpretations of the Second Amendment, to a school overlooking a graveyard, or receiving lines at weddings and funerals. Reminders that things have different meanings at different times. I won't give away any spoilers, but the climax of the story not only ties things together, but does it in a way that is chilling and maybe darker than anything I've read from Coben…[There is a] brilliant finish.

Coben excels in thrillers about families torn apart by secrets…Typically twisty read with customary Coben shock ending.

This slick thriller examines what you can believe and who you ever really trust… Coben has excelled himself.  This intense and multi-layered story has a very creepy conspiracy.  Exciting, poignant and insanely readable.

Coben hits the bull's eye again with a tale guaranteed to fool even the craftiest readers a lot more than once.

Coben is like a skilled magician saving the best, most stunning trick for the very end.

Coben’s storytelling is as moreish as ever

a top notch thriller…an enjoyable twisty experience where I defy you to predict the ending! A standalone novel that will delighted fans both old and new.

this book was fantastic… Very hard to put down, I most definitely recommend this to thriller fans and I sure that Coben fans will not be disappointed

Another masterful display from the master of smoke and mirrors fiction

There is nothing quite as exciting as a brand new Harlen Coben…Brimming with plot twists, secret lives and untrustworthy confidantes, Fool Me Once centres around Maya Stern…badass and totally cool – she is a heroine you won’t be able to get enough of.

An outrageously stunning read, that takes a tight hold from the outset and continues to squeeze until the shockingly intense end.

As ever, Coben ramps up the tension expertly.

Slick, stylish and – ultimately – beautifully crafted and delivered, Harlan Coben’s Fool Me Once is tremendous crime novel of depth, pathos, shocks and surprises that will delight anyone who loves great crime fiction that’s made to make jaws drop in wonder.

Full of twists and turns… a gripping page-turner

Coben remains one of the most reliable thriller writers around and his standalones, like Fool Me Once, make it very easy to entice new readers on board.

I am a huge fan of Harlan Coben and have read just about all his books, and this one surpassed my expectations. This is a very clever and well thought out plot and kept me guessing right up to the very end.

He takes you on a journey so detailed, and with such rich characters, that when the inevitable twist finally comes, it really stings. As the truth about that fateful night is revealed, it will leave you wondering if you can really trust anyone at all. Another must read from Camp Coben.

*Soon to be a hit Netflix series starring Michelle Keegan, Adeel Akhtar, Joanna Lumley and Richard Armitage* 
 
You think you know the truth. The truth is you know nothing. 
 
If your husband was murdered. 
 
And you were a witness. 
 
How do you explain it when he appears on your nanny cam, back from the dead? 
 
You thought you trusted him. 
 
Now you can't even trust yourself. 
 
Dark secrets and a terrifying hunt for the truth lie at the heart of this gripping thriller by the 'master of the double twist' Harlan Coben ... 
_______________ 
 
'The absolute master' RICHARD OSMAN 
'One of the all-time greats' GILLIAN FLYNN 
'At the top of his game' PETER JAMES 
'Never lets you down' LEE CHILD

From the #1 bestselling creator of the hit Netflix series Fool Me Once

I Will Find You

THE NO. 1 SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER 
 
David and Cheryl Burroughs are living the dream - married, a beautiful house in the suburbs, a three year old son named Matthew - when tragedy strikes one night in the worst possible way. 
 
David awakes to find himself covered in blood, but not his own - his son's. And while he knows he did not murder his son, the overwhelming evidence against him puts him behind bars indefinitely. 
 
Five years into his imprisonment, Cheryl's sister arrives - and drops a bombshell. 
 
She's come with a photograph that a friend took on vacation at a theme park. The boy in the background seems familiar - and even though David realizes it can't be, he knows it is. 
 
It's Matthew, and he's still alive. 
 
David plans a harrowing escape from prison, determined to do what seems impossible - save his son, clear his own name, and discover the real story of what happened that devastating night. 
______________ 
 
Readers are loving I Will Find You . . . 
 
'A thrilling roller-coaster ride' 
'Harlan at his absolute best!' 
'Couldn't put is down' 
'Bravo on another fab story' 
'Such an amazing writer' 
_______________ 
 
Praise for Harlan Coben . . . 
 
'Unbelievably brilliant' RICHARD OSMAN 
'A GREAT writer' JOHN GRISHAM 
'Never lets you down' LEE CHILD 
'Simply one of the all-time greats' GILLIAN FLYNN 
'The modern master of the hook and twist' DAN BROWN 
'One of the world's finest thriller writers' PETER JAMES 
 
I Will Find You was a Sunday Times no. 1 bestseller 14/01/2024

A master of the intricately plotted thriller, I Will Find You bristles with the irresistible storytelling nous that is Coben&rsquo;s purview

Rightly admired for his plotting, Coben pulls off some trademark twists and scores with the screwball exchanges of two FBI agents

I Will Find You takes the heart-pounding action to another level, leaving the reader on tenterhooks until an explosive finale. Coben is a writer at the top of his game and this thriller is one of his best yet

Compelling... A fantastically breakneck prison break/fugitive adventure story

It certainly delivers pace and the requisite sugar rush of excitement

Coben is definitely the master of the page-turner. In fact, he says he hasn't done his job if you don't end up reading his books late into the night. And believe me, dear reader, that is exactly what you will be doing with this novel

Coben is recognised as the master of the modern thriller and this is one you absolutely won&rsquo;t want to miss

This has such a superb opening that you&rsquo;ll lock yourself away so you aren&rsquo;t interrupted whilst reading! The master of Netflix adaptions is on fine form

This is a dramatic suspenseful Coben novel&hellip; a fabulous crime novel with a satisfying resolution

An enthrallingly tense read from start to finish

You can&rsquo;t go wrong with Harlan Coben. If you&rsquo;re after the kind of thriller that has you taking the phone off the hook&hellip; and staying up past any reasonable hour in order to keep turning the pages, then he&rsquo;s your man

Harlan&rsquo;s plots never drop below breakneck speed &hellip; By the end my head was spinning, but it&rsquo;s expertly done, a visual tale that will surely be on screen one day. For now, it&rsquo;s a perfect page-turner

David and Cheryl Burroughs are living the dream - married, a beautiful house in the suburbs, a three year old son named Matthew - when tragedy strikes one night in the worst possible way. 
 
David awakes to find himself covered in blood, but not his own - his son's. And while he knows he did not murder his son, the overwhelming evidence against him puts him behind bars indefinitely. 
 
Five years into his imprisonment, Cheryl's sister arrives - and drops a bombshell. 
 
She's come with a photograph that a friend took on vacation at a theme park. The boy in the background seems familiar - and even though David realizes it can't be, he knows it is. 
 
It's Matthew, and he's still alive. 
 
David plans a harrowing escape from prison, determined to do what seems impossible - save his son, clear his own name, and discover the real story of what happened that devastating night. 
______________ 
 
Praise for Harlan Coben ... 
 
'Unbelievably brilliant' RICHARD OSMAN 
'A GREAT writer' JOHN GRISHAM 
'Never lets you down' LEE CHILD 
'Simply one of the all-time greats' GILLIAN FLYNN 
'The modern master of the hook and twist' DAN BROWN 
'One of the world's finest thriller writers' PETER JAMES

Don't Let Go

From the international bestselling author of Home and Fool Me Once. Mistaken identities, dark family secrets and mysterious conspiracies lie at the heart of this gripping thriller. 
 
'The master of the double-twist' The Times 
'Simply one of the all-time greats' Gillian Flynn 
'The modern master of the hook and twist' Dan Brown 
'As moreish as ever' Sunday Times 
______________ 
 
Secrets can kill. But will the truth set him free? 
 
Fifteen years ago, Detective Nap Dumas' twin brother was found dead on the railway tracks near his home. 
 
Most people concluded it was a tragic suicide. Nap did not. 
 
Now, after years of searching for answers, he believes he may have finally found what he's been looking for. 
 
But Nap is a cop who plays by his own rules. 
 
And when the past comes back to haunt him, he discovers secrets can kill . . . 
______________ 
 
Readers can't get enough of Don't Let Go ... 
 
***** 'An absolutely superb, stand-alone thriller to add to his (and my) collection.' 
***** 'Don't Let Go is one of the best books Harlan Coben has ever written.' 
***** 'An ingenious, potent, and disturbing thriller.' 
***** 'All the stars and wow this was one awesome book with a main character that I absolutely loved!!' 
***** 'I highly recommend it to thriller readers young and old and I look forward with baited breath for Harlan's next book.'

Secrets can kill. But will the truth set him free? 
 
Fifteen years ago, Detective Nap Dumas' twin brother was found dead on the railway tracks near his home. 
 
Most people concluded it was a tragic suicide. Nap did not. 
 
Now, after years of searching for answers, he believes he may have finally found what he's been looking for. 
 
But Nap is a cop who plays by his own rules. 
 
And when the past comes back to haunt him, he discovers secrets can kill . . . 
______________ 
 
'The master of the double-twist' The Times 
 
'Simply one of the all-time greats' Gillian Flynn 
 
'The modern master of the hook and twist' Dan Brown 
 
'As moreish as ever' Sunday Times

The Match

Discover the exhilarating Richard and Judy Book Club pick from the No. 1 Sunday Times bestselling crime thriller author 
 
'The absolute master' Richard Osman 
'One of the all-time greats' Gillian Flynn 
'Never lets you down' Lee Child 
'One of my favourites' John Grisham 
'Harlan Coben is the king of a killer twist [...] a highly addictive read.' HEAT 
_________ 
 
He is known simply as Wilde, the boy from the woods. 
 
Discovered living a feral existence in the Ramapo mountains of New Jersey, he has grown up knowing nothing of his parents, and even less about his own identity. 
 
But when a match on a DNA database puts him on the trail of a close relative, Wilde thinks he might be about to solve the mystery of who he really is. 
 
Only, this relation disappears as quickly as he's resurfaced. 
 
Undaunted, Wilde continues his research, becoming caught up in a secret community committed to exposing anonymous online trolls. 
 
Then one by one, people start to die. It soon becomes clear that a serial killer is targeting this secret community. 
 
And that the next victim could be Wilde himself . . . 
_________ 
 
'A helter-skelter of a read!' Lisa Jewell 
'At the top of his game' Peter James 
'Twisty, well characterised, gently satirical' Jake Kerridge 
'Insanely readable' Sunday Mirror 
'Coben is a phenomenon' The Times 
'It really is a page-turning thriller' JAZZ FM 
'The king of tense thrillers is back with a book steeped in jaw-dropping twists.' OK! 
'A superb twist I really didn't see coming' Jackie's Reading Corner 
_________ 
 
Readers love The Match . . . 
 
***** 'A compelling read and one I'd highly recommend to those who like an intelligent plot' 
***** 'It was very entertaining.' 
***** 'The twists/turns are endless and putting it down was always with much angst.' 
***** 'He's a master storyteller.' 
***** 'An easy 5 star review for me. Get a copy of this, strap yourself in and enjoy the ride.' 
 
 
The Match, Sunday Times bestseller, January 2023 
Richard and Judy Book Club pick, December 2022 
Harlan Coben, Number 1 Sunday Times bestseller, January 2024

He is known simply as Wilde, the boy from the woods. 
 
He has grown up knowing nothing of his family, and even less about his own identity. 
 
Until now. 
 
When a match on a DNA database puts him on the trail of a close relative - the only family member he has ever known - Wilde thinks he might be about to solve the mystery of who he really is. 
 
Only this relation disappears as quickly as he's resurfaced. Undaunted, Wilde continues his research, becoming caught up in a secret community committed to exposing anonymous online trolls. 
 
Then one by one, people start to die, and it soon becomes clear that a serial killer is targeting this secret community. 
 
And that the next victim could be Wilde himself . . .

From the number one bestselling author and creator of the Netflix hit series, The Stranger, comes a riveting thriller starring a great new hero, Windsor Horne Lockwood III - or Win, as he is known to his few friends ...

The talented Coben, who likes nothing more than to create mysterious outsiders, does so with great skill and panache

HARLAN COBEN: simply one of the all-time greats

HARLAN COBEN is the modern master of the hook and twist

HARLAN COBEN is one of the world's finest thriller writers

Harlan Coben is one of my all-time favourites and his latest book, Win, is immense

[It's got] everything you want from a Harlan Coben book. It's got violent time, it's got sexy time, it's got a twisty turny plot. It's great, it's fantastic

We can always rely on Harlan Coben to have us enthralled and this new thriller introducing Windsor Horne Lockwood III - aka Win - is no different

The bestselling crime novelist keeps all the plots spinning in his latest caper [...] It is expertly done and the brisk pace keeps the pages turning

As you'd expect from Coben, this is a complex thriller that keeps you hooked with the superb writing, handbrake turns and satisfying conclusion

The usual Coben formula of the cold case that suddenly becomes red hot, deployed as grippingly as ever

____________________________ 
From the #1 bestselling author and creator of the hit Netflix series The Stranger, Gone For Good and The Innocent comes a riveting new thriller, starring the new hero Windsor Horne Lockwood III - or Win, as he is known to his (few) friends ... 
____________________________ 
Over twenty years ago, heiress Patricia Lockwood was abducted during a robbery of her family's estate, then locked inside an isolated cabin for months. Patricia escaped, but so did her captors, and the items stolen from her family were never recovered. 
 
Until now. 
 
On New York's Upper West Side, a recluse is found murdered in his penthouse apartment, alongside two objects of note: a stolen Vermeer painting and a leather suitcase bearing the initials WHL3. For the first time in years, the authorities have a lead not only on Patricia's kidnapping but also on another FBI cold case - with the suitcase and painting both pointing them towards one man. 
 
Windsor Horne Lockwood III - or Win as his few friends call him - doesn't know how his suitcase and his family's stolen painting ended up in this dead man's apartment. But he's interested - especially when the FBI tell him that the man who kidnapped his cousin was also behind an act of domestic terrorism, and that he may still be at large. 
 
The two cases have baffled the FBI for decades. But Win has three things the FBI does not:: a personal connection to the case, a large fortune, and his own unique brand of justice ...

The Boy from the Woods

The brilliant new thriller from the international bestselling author, described by Dan Brown as 'the modern master of the hook and twist'.

Harlan Coben is the absolute master of huge twists and turns.

If you liked The Stranger on Netflix, you’ll love this novel […] The novel is a splendid reminder that Coben is as brilliant at creating wonderful characters as he is at those textbook twists.

Thriller-lovers who just want some adrenaline to lift their spirits should escape with this riveting page-turner from the hugely popular author and screenwriter, Harlan Coben, who not only has more than 70 million books in print worldwide, but also recently brought us the hit TV series The Stranger and Safe on Netflix.

Harlan Coben’s thrillers are like intricately patterned knitting […] He has created a cracker of a hero in the aptly named Wilde […] Hopefully Wilde will return – Coben certainly leaves clues that he will.

One of the world’s leading thriller writers […] That is down to the dark and endlessly twisting turns that his plots take – and his latest book is no exception. Another gripping and twisty thriller.

Dramatic and tightly plotted – the search for the truth is a masterpiece

Exceptional story-telling, well drawn and vivid characterisation and a fast-paced and riveting plotline carry the reader along open mouthed as layer upon layer is peeled back to reveal the truth. I needed this diversion from grim reality and now feel much better for it. Highly recommended.

You’ll struggle to put it down. Coben has a knack for drawing you in and holding your interest, and this book certainly does that

Harlan Coben delivers yet another knock-out story in this fast-paced novel. Meticulously plotted and elegantly narrated, with complex characters and unexpectedly tender twists, it’s much more than just a standard thriller

Coben's hugely immersive books and movies should come with a danger of addiction warning

Coben remains one of the most reliable thriller writers around

Coben is simply one of the all-time greats—pick up any one of his thrillers and you’ll find a riveting, twisty, surprising story with a big, beating heart at its core

Few of Harlan Coben’s thrillers are anything less than gripping, but every now and again he writes one that exceeds his own high standards.

Coben sets his hook deep very early on with a killer premise and then relentlessly reels in his readers as his deftly plotted tale ratchets up the tension and action to a violent, cathartic and ultimately satisfying climax. Each new novel is a textbook lesson in thriller writing’

I pretty much devoured this in one sitting, it being exactly the kind of entertaining and distracting fare that is needed now more than ever.

Coben is a phenomenon - the most reliable of American thriller-writers, the least likely to disappoint ... the true mystery is Coben's extraordinary capacity to keep writing such wonderful thrillers

A zippy, sometimes ambiguous and often thoughtful thriller.

One of the world’s finest thriller writers is at the very top of his game

The modern master of the hook and twist

Harlan’s new book The Boy From The Woods is another skillfully crafted example of his talent at work [...] a page-turning joy to return to.

A true master of the twisty thriller

The crafty Coben knows how to weave a compelling story with intriguing characters, and Wilde is one of his best […]The supporting characters also shine. Once the big reveal happens, it would be the end for most stories, but Coben has just gotten started. The narrative veers into such unexpected directions that even a true thriller aficionado will not see the multiple surprises the ending delivers. Coben's name on the book cover continues to mean quality.

The master of smoke and mirrors fiction

Exceptional story-telling, well drawn and vivid characterisation and a fast-paced and riveting plotline carry the reader along open mouthed as layer upon layer is peeled back to reveal the truth. I needed this diversion from grim reality and now feel much better for it. Highly recommended.

Coben’s USP is how families are torn apart by secrets. He is a clever plotter, too, always pulling the rug from under your feet.

Coben is like a skilled magician saving the best, most stunning trick for the very end.

Coben can always be relied on to generate thrills from the simplest premises

Dramatic and tightly plotted.

Harlan Coben is a master at weaving compelling thrillers, but even by his high standards, The Boy From the Woods sounds like a haunting ride.

Harlan Coben rose to worldwide attention recently for his hit Netflix show The Stranger. Many of you would have already been familiar with his work prior to this. Harlan Coben’s back catalogue is very impressive. We’ve read pretty much every Harlan Coben novel and let us tell you, he never lets you down. If you’re looking for a meaty thriller which is equal parts surprising and well-written, look no further.

From the bestselling author and creator of the hit Netflix drama The Stranger, Harlan Coben, The Boy from The Woods tells the story of Wilde, found thirty years ago in the New Jersey backwoods.

Coben's character creation is superb. Both Wilde and Hester are a joy to discover and each one of the supporting cast are equally well crafted […]The Boy From The Woods is a fabulous read, I devoured it. It's pacy and thrilling, filled with fabulous characters and a plot that is unrelenting. I now know just why Coben is at the top of his field. Highly recommended from me.

Twisty, packed with mystery and intrigue […] Now is the perfect time to read for escapism

Coben is the best-selling author behind the utterly compelling Netflix drama The Stranger, and his latest offering is equally potent […] A gloriously grisly page-turner with some excellent chicanes and twists.

This is another page turner from Coben who every time manages to pull the cat out of the bag and deliver an ending that isn't expected. Sublime.

Coben paints a rich, multi-layered picture of suburban life […] The story is involving, contemporary and Coben expertly peels back the layers with consummate skill to reveal an intricate and twisted tale that’s well worth the read[…] I highly recommend this terrifically unusual and well-paced thriller.

FROM THE BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF THE MATCH AND CREATOR OF HIT NETFLIX DRAMA FOOL ME ONCE 
____________________________ 
Thirty years ago, a child was found in the New Jersey backwoods. 
 
He had been living a feral existence, with no memory of how he got there or even who he is. Everyone just calls him Wilde. 
 
Now a former soldier and security expert, he lives off the grid, shunned by the community - until they need him. 
 
A child has gone missing. With her family suspecting she's just playing a disappearing game, nobody seems concerned except for criminal attorney Hester Crimstein. She contacts Wilde, asking him to use his unique skills to find the girl. 
 
But even he can find no trace of her. One day passes, then a second, then a third. 
 
On the fourth, a human finger shows up in the mail. 
 
And now Wilde knows this is no game. It's a race against time to save the girl's life - and expose the town's dark trove of secrets... 
 
Also featuring the character of Wilde: The Match - OUT NOW 
_____________________________ 
'The absolute master' RICHARD OSMAN 
'A helter-skelter of a read!' LISA JEWELL 
'One of the all-time greats' GILLIAN FLYNN 
'One of my favourites' JOHN GRISHAM 
'At the top of his game' PETER JAMES 
'Never lets you down' LEE CHILD 
'Insanely readable' SUNDAY MIRROR 
'Coben is a phenomenon' THE TIMES

Harlan Coben

How can a man who&rsquo;s already dead be wanted for murder? 
 
This is the question sports agent Myron Bolitar asks himself when two FBI agents visit him in New York. 
 
The man they are looking for is Myron&rsquo;s former client and rival, Greg Downing. Greg&rsquo;s DNA has been found at the scene of a high profile double-murder, and he is now the FBI&rsquo;s main suspect. 
 
But Greg died three years previously, Myron says. He went to his funeral and gave the eulogy. 
 
The FBI are disbelieving, and Myron knows he has to find some answers &ndash; and quickly. 
 
Could Greg Downing still be alive? 
 
The more Myron and his close friend Win dig into what really happened, the more dangerous their world becomes . . . 
 
Secrets, lies and a murderous conspiracy that stretches back into the past lie at the heart of Harlan Coben&rsquo;s blistering new thriller. 
 
____________________________________ 
 
'HARLAN COBEN never ever lets you down' LEE CHILD 
'HARLAN COBEN: simply one of the all-time greats' GILLIAN FLYNN 
'HARLAN COBEN is the modern master of the hook and twist' DAN BROWN 
'HARLAN COBEN is unbelievably brilliant' RICHARD OSMAN 
'HARLAN COBEN is a GREAT writer' JOHN GRISHAM

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Love Netflix's Harlan Coben adaptation? Give one of these thrillers a try...