Arrow Books Ltd The Boy from the Woods: From the #1 bestselling creator of the hit Netflix series Stay Close

This was the first Harlan Coben book which left me feeling really disappointed - I've loved every other one of his books and have eagerly awaited each new publication. However, this one left me cold - the main reason being that Hester Crimstein, who has worked well as a side character in other novels, is given a much larger role in this one and I feel that the character just isn't able to pull it off. It refers quite often to her penchant for witty comebacks but we really don't see much of them - she just tends to be, occasionally, rude without any wit attached. She copies the characher of Win (who doesn't appear in this book), as she answers the phone with 'articulate' (cringy enough when he does it but completely toe curling in this instance). The solution to the plot was also pretty apparent about half way through and just had to slog through even though the big revelation at the end wasn't actually going to be one. The character of Matthew also seemed to just fizzle out at a certain point without any warning. It just didn't feel up to Coben's usual standards - am hoping his recent success in having his books made into series hasn't distracted him and dulled his skills as a writer of novels. Will still read his next one when it comes out but more than a little disallusioned for now.

I’ve heard of the author before and loved The Stranger not Netflix but have never read his work. I thought this was awful and I don’t know if I’d bother reading anything else by the author. Wilde reminds me a lot about a character I recently read in the novel Hermit which is a much better book. Maybe because Hermit is still fresh in my mind I couldn’t connect fully to this book? I’m annoyed because I pre-ordered it and feel like I wasted my money. I wanted to know more about Wilde’s life after he is found. His life doesn’t seem important so why call the book The Boy from the Woods which suggests his feral childhood is vastly important? It could have been called The Missing Girl. The plot is ridiculous at times. Wilde is a stupid name for the character. He finds the girl and of course she goes missing again. Then shoe-horn in a plot about another missing person and a presidential candidate’s dirty secret. WTF? Wilde is portrayed as having almost super-human abilities to find clues and make deductions that nobody else ever could. Whatever! This was just a jumbled mess of nonsense. I would have DNF’d it but I paid for it and kept thinking surely this will get better.

Harlan Coben always turns in a readable novel. I eagerly await every new release. id like to know the back story of the Boy from the Woods, because the plot line isn’t about him, although he is the title, and yet his situation tugged at me till the last page. I worried I’d missed a novel which might have explained this. Apart from that, I enjoyed the book, as I’ve enjoyed all the rest. I suppose my favourite book is No Second Chance, which had me on the edge of my seat. It was made into a very good French film. Hollywood should make more of his books into movies. If you have been living under a rock, and therefore don’t know Coben’s work, then I recommend you immediately read them.

Enjoyable read, following the characters (about who one gets attached to) leading to a brilliant conclusion.Wilde (the protagonist) is a fusion of Tarzan and Reacher - the go to guy when there is a problem. This is movie material so expect to see a film in the future. Harlan Coben is a respected best-selling writer who produces great plots that hold attention. This is a good addition to his collection

Giving 3 stars for a Harlan Coben book feels wrong. But sadly it’s all it deserved. The book was ‘ok’ but not up to the writer’s normal standards. I found it slow paced, fairly unbelievable and quite boring. I shall add it to my collection and hope the next one is much better. Sorry Harlan 😐