The Boy From The Woods

I've been a fan of Harlan Coben's Myron Bolitar series for a long time because of its wit, action and memorable characters. The Boy From The Woods, his latest book, is a stand-alone thriller that weaves a story about missing teens, political scandal and corruption.

There are two main characters, Wilde (the proverbial boy from the woods) and Hester Crimstein, the septuagenarian lawyer readers will remember from the Bolitar series. Wilde is an interesting addition due to his mysterious past but unfortunately, the details about his childhood are glossed over (possibly to be revealed in future books?). Hester was easily my favourite part of the book. She's feisty, smart and stylish, has razor-sharp wit and takes no guff from anyone. I love that she's tough woman in her 70's - a refreshing nod to female characters over 50. I actually didn't clue in about Hester's connection to the Myron Bolitar series until she answered the phone with 'Articulate!'.

I found the first two-thirds of the book quite gripping and read it pretty much in one sitting. But as the twists unfurled and the overlapping subplots (bullying, abuse, fake news and a US political focus - not my fav) came together, things got a bit muddled in the telling and I found I wasn't quite as enamoured with its resolution.

This was an enjoyable read with Coben's signature funny banter, good twists, and characters I look forward to seeing again. I'm interested to see how future books (I'm assuming there will be more) will include Hester and use Wilde's past as an interesting stepping off point for future story lines.

My Rating: 3.5 stars

Author: Harlan Coben

Genre: Suspense

Type and Source: Hardcover from public library

Pages: 384

Publisher: Grand Central Publishing

First Published: March 17, 2020

Opening Line: Westville, J.J. -- In one of the most bizarre cases in recent history, a wild-haired young boy, estimated to be between six and 

eight years old, was discovered living on his own in the Ramapo 

Mountain State Forest near the suburb of Westville. Even more bizarre, authorities have no idea who the boy is or how long he had been there.

Book Description from GoodReads: In the shocking new thriller from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Run Away, a man whose past is shrouded in mystery must find a missing teenage girl before her disappearance brings about disastrous consequences for her community . . . and the world.

The man known as Wilde is a mystery to everyone, including himself. Decades ago, he was found as a boy living feral in the woods, with no memory of his past. After the police concluded an exhaustive hunt for the child's family, which was never found, he was turned over to the foster system.

Now, thirty years later, Wilde still doesn't know where he comes from, and he's back living in the woods on the outskirts of town, content to be an outcast, comfortable only outdoors, preferably alone, and with few deep connections to other people.

When a local girl goes missing, famous TV lawyer Hester Crimstein--with whom Wilde shares a tragic connection--asks him to use his unique skills to help find her. Meanwhile, a group of ex-military security experts arrive in town, and when another teen disappears, the case's impact expands far beyond the borders of the peaceful suburb. Wilde must return to the community where he has never fit in, and where the powerful are protected even when they harbor secrets that could destroy the lives of millions . . . secrets that Wilde must uncover before it's too late.