The Boy from the Woods
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- Type：Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
- Create Date：2020-03-19 04:10:19
- Update Date：2025-09-07
- Status：finish
- Author：Harlan Coben
- Environment：PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle
Editor Reviews
01/13/2020
This subpar thriller from Edgar winner Coben (the Myron Bolitar series) pairs an improbable lead with an improbable plot. In 1986, a boy, who looks to be between six and eight years old, is found living on his own in the woods near Westville, N.J. Flash forward 34 years. The boy is now known simply as Wilde, “a beautiful man with his dark sun-kissed complexion, his build of coiled muscles, his forearms looking like high tension wires.” Wilde is also a genius and a brilliant PI. His detective skills are called upon after his late best friend’s mother, celebrity lawyer Hester Crimstein, learns from her teenage grandson that a bullied classmate of her grandson, Naomi Pine, has disappeared from her Westville home. Naomi’s father falsely claims that his daughter went to visit her mother, raising suspicions of foul play. Naomi’s story is somehow connected with the presidential aspirations of Sen. Rusty Eggers, a nihilistic tyrant viewed by some on the left as even more of a threat to America than Donald Trump, a hard-to-swallow plotline that Coben does nothing to make feel plausible. This gifted author is capable of better. 7-city author tour. Agent: Lisa Erbach Vance, Aaron M. Priest Literary. (Mar.)
Reviews
SheTreadsSoftly
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The Boy from the Woods by Harlan Coben is a very highly recommended thriller with an unconventional investigator named Wilde. Thirty years ago, Wilde was found as a six to eight year-old boy living feral in the woods near Westville, N.J. He had no memory of his past and still doesn't know where he came from. He uses his exceptional detective skills and insight working as a private investigator with his foster sister - when he wants to. When Hester Crimstein, a well-known attorney with a television show, is asked by her grandson Matthew to look into the disappearance of a classmate, Naomi Pine, Hester immediately talks to Wilde. Wilde has a connection to her family and Matthew is his godson. Wilde uses his unique skills to find Naomi the first time she disappears. When she disappears a second time, it seems that there is more going on under the surface in the community of Westville and Naomi's disappearance may be connected to some powerful people. Wilde knows that Crash Maynard, teenage son of TV producer, Dash Maynard, relentlessly bullied Naomi. When Crash disappears too and a ransom note is sent to his parents, Wilde needs to find out if the disappearance of Naomi and Crash is connected or if there is something else at play. Wilde is an interesting, unique, well-developed character. His backstory may seem a bit incredible, but it was believable in the plot and setting Coben sets up for us in The Boy from the Woods. Hester Crimstein always makes a splash as a memorable character, and that is still the case here. There is also a romantic subplot starting for her. Most of the teenagers were just standard teenage characters - bullies, good kids, outcasts - but then standard characters are so because it is the reality. The plot and subplots are plentiful as the investigations are underway and they are all fun to follow. Wilde is probably a bit more interesting to follow if only to experience his powers of observation as his investigation is underway, but Hester has her own strengths. There were several surprises in the plot, with one being a complete surprise. Politics rears its ugly head in the plot and novel, which I hope is just a fluke and not going to become a ongoing occurrence. All in all The Boy from the Woods is a compelling novel. It may start out a bit slow, but once it picks up the pace you won't want to put it down. Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of Grand Central Publishing
Caroles_Random_Life
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This was fantastic! I have been a Harlan Coben fan for a very long time. Since finding his work, I have worked my way through his backlist and always eagerly await each new release. I was really excited to start reading this book and had pretty high expectations. Coben did not disappoint! I found this to be quite the page-turner and was completely entertained until the final page. This book is a stand-alone but readers who are familiar with Coben's books will recognize one of the key characters, Hester Crimstein. I was delighted to see Hester step into the spotlight. She has been a great character that would show up for a scene or two in various other books but she really shined in one of the leading roles in this book. There were a few nods to other books and characters that Coben fans will appreciate as well. Hester is a criminal attorney who is well known as a result of her television show. When her grandson asks her to look into the disappearance of his classmate, Naomi Pine. Hester enlists the help of a man she has known since he was found in the woods as a boy, Wilde. Wilde knows the woods like no one else and tends to look at things in a unique manner and quickly finds himself very involved in the things going on in his small town. I found this book to be quite exciting. There were several different threads that wove their way throughout the story and I enjoyed seeing how everything fit together. I love the way that Coben is able to keep me guessing until the very end and this book was no exception. I do have to say that a couple of things felt a little too convenient but that would be my only complaint and it is very minor. I would highly recommend this book to others. I had a great time with this book. I thought that the characters were well done, the mystery was captivating, and there were plenty of twists and turns to keep things interesting. I cannot wait to read more of Coben's work and hope to see more of Hester and Wilde in future books. I received a review copy of this book from Grand Central Publishing.
Ratbruce
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