I’m not sure which rock I’ve been living under, but I just read my very first Harlan Coben novel! My sister’s book club read The Stranger a while back and they all enjoyed it. I’d heard Mr. Coben’s name, obviously, but never thought to add one of his titles to my library. That all changed several weeks ago in the Atlanta airport when I decided I wanted a paperback instead of my Kindle for my beach trip. I randomly grabbed Nobody’s Fool and was completely hooked before takeoff.
Before I get to the synopsis, I want to share that while reading this novel I realized I seldom read male authors. I think Project Hail Mary is the last book I read by a male author (Andy Weir), which I didn’t love. I guess I assume I relate more to women and female lead characters, but Mr. Coben’s got me rethinking everything. Sami is one of my favorite leading characters in a long time. Flawed, but learning from his mistakes. Confident, but humble.
Now onto the synopsis:
In this stunningly twisty thriller from #1 New York Times bestselling author Harlan Coben, a secret from former Detective Sami Kierce’s college days comes back to haunt him.
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, the body of his girlfriend. Anna. Dead. He doesn’t know what happened. His screams drown out his thoughts—and then he runs.
Twenty-two years later, Kierce, now a private investigator, is a new father who’s working off his debts by doing low level surveillance jobs and teaching wannabe sleuths at a night school in New York City. One evening, he recognizes a familiar face at the back of the classroom. Anna. It’s unmistakably her. As soon as Kierce makes eye contact with her, she bolts.
For Kierce there is no choice. He knows he must find this woman and solve the impossible mystery that has haunted his every waking moment since that terrible day.
His investigation will bring him face-to-face with his past—and prove, after all this time, he’s nobody’s fool.
Nobody’s Fool
A wild plot twist and complex characters had me staying up reading way too late most nights. This is a story men and women will both enjoy, which I can’t say for many of the books I read. Grab it here: https://amzn.to/42EQjgh
I think I’ll download The Stranger next as my sister said it grabbed her attention immediately. It’s also a Netflix series now. However, as you know, the book is always better.
