The Match

The Match is the second book in the Wilde series by one of my favourite suspense authors, Harlan Coben. The story picks up after The Boy From The Woods (but could be read as a standalone) and follows Wilde who, as a child, was found living alone in the woods ('a modern-day Mowgli', if you will) who continues to have no idea where he came from.

Until now.

After Wilde submits his DNA for testing, he gets a hit on the site saying he has matched with someone. This takes him on a journey to find out who he is and how he came to live as a feral child in the woods so many years ago. 

But the story isn't just about Wilde's familial ties. There is a lot going on in this story which is a mishmash of subplots (DNA sites, reality TV, vigilantism, murder). It sometimes felt convoluted, but Coben once again uses short chapters (which I love) to keep the tension going and I liked that readers get to know Wilde a bit better. My only beef is that the big ah-ha moment surrounding Wilde's parentage was a bit lackluster.

This was a good suspense read with twists and an interesting main character who still has a bit of mystery about him. I love that Hester Crimstein, NYC lawyer who has a penchant for snappy retorts and always has Wilde's back, makes her return. Gotta love a strong, smart woman who is also a hoot and a half. 

Harlan Coben remains one of my must-read authors. I love his writing style that pulls me right into his story that has tension, bits of humour and an unforgettable cast. This is a page turner of a read. Is it a tad unbelievable? Sure. Is it entertaining? Hell, yeah.

My Rating: 3.5 stars

Author: Harlan Coben

Genre: Suspense

Type and Source: Hardcover from public library

Series: 2nd in Wilde series

Publisher: Grand Central Publishing

First Published: March 15, 2022

Book Description from GoodReads: Wilde has grown up knowing nothing of his family, and even less about his own identity. All he knows is that, as a young child, he was found living a feral existence in the Ramapo mountains of New Jersey.

He became known simply as Wilde, the boy from the woods.

Now Wilde has had a hit on the DNA website he has been researching. A 100% match. His father. They meet up, and Wilde soon realises that his father doesn't even know he had a son and is as mystified as Wilde is by his existence.

Undaunted, Wilde continues his research for his family on DNA websites where he becomes caught up in a community of online doxxers, a secret group committed to exposing anonymous trolls.

Then one by one these doxxers start to die, and it soon becomes clear that a serial killer is targeting this secret community - and that his next victim might be Wilde himself