Crime, Mysteries & Thrillers discussion

This is the thread to discuss The Stranger by Harlan Coben.
The discussion leader is Mary

I'm still trying to decide whether I'm gonna read this. Coben seems to be hit or miss with me. I read a bunch that I liked early on but the Myron Bolitar books I tried I could not finish. He just seems a bit too formulaic to me, sorta how I feel about Brad Melzer.

Anyone else?

I did read it, and reviewed it both here and for my blog. Did not like it. It was my first Coben, after years of hearing so much about him, and I was like ... "Huh?!" (after my review appeared on Amazon, a few people wrote and said to NOT judge Coben by this book, to still read him). Have copied my review in below, from my blog (it's short, and spoiler-free), I didn't like the main character and thought the book had a great premise but then went nowhere exciting with it, plus didn't like the main character. REALLY drawn out, too.

"Over the years I'd heard so many great things about thriller writer Harlan Coben, yet The Stranger was my first try at reading him. The novel opens in upper-middle class New Jersey, where attorney Adam Price leads an ideal life with his daughter Corinne and their two sons ... until a man - a stranger - approaches Adam in the local American Legion, revealing a dark secret Corinne has supposedly been keeping from her husband; a secret that hangs obsessively over Adam like a noose and will prove to change his life forever. As Adam deals with his dilemma, we learn Adam isn't the stranger's only victim, and when Corinne disappears and Adam starts snooping around, the bodies begin to pile up and a more sinister meaning behind all that's going on slowly emerges. An okay premise, potentially, but I was truly disappointed in The Stranger. Adam Price, as the lead, isn't fleshed out very well as a character - to the point I found myself unable to emotionally connect with him on any more than a superficial level - and the plotting felt equally thin, as well as unrealistic (also beware of plot-holes!). Even the ending, which I hoped would be a high-octane nail-biter, instead came off rushed and poorly written. I'd like to try Coben again, for sure ... am just sadly disappointed this was the one I started with. ** "

I am definitely a Harlan Coben fan. I've read all of his books and I have never been disappointed. I haven't read this one yet though that's why I picked it because it was on my reading list for this month. The thriller I read last month was Defending Jacob and it was going to be my pick but the group had already read it.

Not a fan of Coben so I'm going to skip this one, but I will follow the thread to see what others think.
Happy reading everyone :-)

Mary wrote: "I am definitely a Harlan Coben fan. I've read all of his books and I have never been disappointed. I haven't read this one yet though that's why I picked it because it was on my reading list for th..."

Yeah, the responses my review has gotten have been pretty uniform when from Coben fans, basically saying, "I agree, this wasn't a good one but don't let it put you off his work - he's brilliant!"

Library has it but it got a waiting list hope they can get me a copy soon. i love all his books

I've only read Six Years so far, and I much appreciated how everything in the plot, even the tiniest of details, somehow came into place in the end - really inspired me to write a proper mystery novel one day.
I'm planning to read The stranger, I'll let the group know how it goes!

I've just started this. It's my first Coben book and so far I'm enjoying it.

Glad to hear it! I have some commitments to handle but should be starting it soon! A friend of mine just finished it and she said it was very suspenseful.

Donald wrote: "Mary wrote: "I am definitely a Harlan Coben fan. I've read all of his books and I have never been disappointed. I haven't read this one yet though that's why I picked it because it was on my readin..."

A friend of mine read it and said that it was very good and suspenseful, that's why I actually picked it for the group. That's what makes reading fun though every one thinks differently about the same book. I was a little disappointed in Michael Connelly's The Burning Room and a lot of people loved that one, so you can't really go by peoples opionion but your own.

Hi everyone. It's been awhile since I've read a mystery and this month looks like a beginning. I'm going to pick up my copy at my library and then I'm going to dig into the book. I've never a book from this author and I've saw many good and bad comments from this author so I hope this will be a good one. Can't wait to see what to the discussions bring.

Mary wrote: "Donald wrote: "Mary wrote: "I am definitely a Harlan Coben fan. I've read all of his books and I have never been disappointed. I haven't read this one yet though that's why I picked it because it w..."

Yes, I had heard SO much about him over the years, I was determined to like this book ... but, for the reasons stated in my review, it never came together for me, was very bland and not very thrilling, and that includes the lead character. I have book and movie groups on FB, and you're right - always intriguing how two people can read the same book or watch the same film, and have totally diverse opinions! My thing is, though, if that The Stranger is representative of most of Coben's work, I don't think I'll try him again.

Hi everyone,

I just finished The stranger and I'm really looking forward to discussing it! So no spoilers for now, I'll just say that I agree with what was said in some previous comments: quite different from other Coben books.

I had only read Six years before, and I had found it really suspenseful. I had also admired Coben's way of building on each detail: everything has a meaning, everyone has their role.

The stranger didn't sound like a thriller, but more like a psychological/social analysis on what secrets do to people - still interesting, but something else.

I finished it last night - it was a fast read and I thought it was enjoyable. I like the point Annalisa made about secrets - and that was probably my favorite part of the book - reading how people reacted to the threat or the event of secrets being revealed. I didn't feel like this one was worse than the other Harlan Coben I've read, although it has been awhile since I've read his work. I did think some passages were a little preachy (about home and family being a safe place), which I don't remember from previous books of his.

Well, as I said, if The Stranger is an example of good Coben (and about five people on Amazon, at least, said it wasn't, though it seems people here disagree), then I won't be reading any more of his work.

I actually read it and was pretty disappointed. This is not the Harlan Coben that I know by all the other books he wrote. I really felt someone else wrote it. So Donald I agree with you and please don't give up on this author because he really is good. I'm sorry that this is your first time reading him, because this one I feel is crappy.

Mary wrote: "I actually read it and was pretty disappointed. This is not the Harlan Coben that I know by all the other books he wrote. I really felt someone else wrote it. So Donald I agree with you and please ..."

Well, that's what I mean - got so many people on Amazon telling me more along the lines of what you said, and that I should definitely NOT give up on Coben, but on here it's like the opposite, for those who've read it, so was like ... HUH?! Thanks for the feedback as well, Mary.

To me it was a book written to the ladies. I can see how they may like it. The books that I read have to be a lot more suspenseful than that. I love thrillers and if they don't scare me or give me an adrenaline rush and make me turning the pages, I don't like them. It took me forever to read because I was reading so many other good books. I do not think there are a lot of men that would like this book.

For those of you that did not care for this one, please don't give up on Harlan Coben. I gave 5 stars to these books. Tell No One and Gone for Good.
This author is brilliant.

Mary wrote: "For those of you that did not care for this one, please don't give up on Harlan Coben. I gave 5 stars to these books. Tell No One and Gone for Good.
This author is brill..."

Mary, I'm a fan of Coben's Myron Bolitar series although I've only read a handful. Have you read? What do you think, if so? I've not read any of Coben's standalones, though I've had Tell No One on my tbr for far too long. The French movie version is one of my favorites - have watched several times.

This was my first Coben and I really enjoyed it. Given the number of comments that don't think is one of his better books, I am keen to read more of Coben's book. Wondering whether I should go for another stand alone or start a series. Any suggestions?

Suzy wrote: "Mary wrote: "For those of you that did not care for this one, please don't give up on Harlan Coben. I gave 5 stars to these books. Tell No One and Gone for Good.
This au..."

Yes I have read every book in the series, and thought they were really good. I've liked every book of his and thought they were all awesome but didn't care for The Stranger so much.

Gary wrote: "This was my first Coben and I really enjoyed it. Given the number of comments that don't think is one of his better books, I am keen to read more of Coben's book. Wondering whether I should go for ..."

I've read every book in the series and enjoyed them all. They are all great books. I mentioned the stand alones because those two books are what I gave 5 stars. The series I gave 4 stars and close to 5 stars.

I agree that a majority of Coben's books are terrific.

The Stranger, while not the best certainly is better than some books and I am a fan

I agree with Kevin, while not Harlan Coben's best, it was better than most of his books.