Crime, Mysteries & Thrillers discussion

Hello fellow Crime, Mystery & Thriller readers,

Welcome to our discussion about The Boy from the Woods (Wilde #1) by Harlan Coben, your discussion leader is Leena.
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about spoilers

Please note: If you have not finished reading the book spoilers are permitted in this discussion from the start. If you would like to use the spoiler formatting it can be found on the top right of the comment box in the "(some html is ok)" menu.
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Summary

Thirty years ago, Wilde was found as a boy living feral in the woods, with no memory of his past. Now an adult, he still doesn't know where he comes from, and another child has gone missing.

No one seems to take Naomi Pine's disappearance seriously, not even her father-with one exception. Hester Crimstein, a television criminal attorney, knows through her grandson that Naomi was relentlessly bullied at school. Hester asks Wilde-with whom she shares a tragic connection-to use his unique skills to help find Naomi.

Wilde can't ignore an outcast in trouble, but in order to find Naomi he must venture back into the community where he has never fit in, a place 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.

Harlan Coben’s books are such a pleasure to read, all of them, including THE BOY FROM THE WOODS. Even better, Coben does not shy away from including characters who are capable, smart, and gutsy senior citizens. This is unlike most other popular fiction, as if anyone over 40 could not be interesting.

No spoilers: the boy from the woods, Wilde, is a grown man now, looking into the disappearance of a teenager at the request of the teenage son of Wilde’s best friend, the now-deceased son of Hester. You’re probably already familiar with Hester if you’ve read any of Coben’s other books, especially those in his Myron Bolitar series. She is the lawyer who has made appearances in Coben’s books for years. In THE BOY FROM THE WOODS, Hester is now a senior citizen and one of the main characters.

As usual in Coben’s books, THE BOY FROM THE WOODS has so much going on. Another teenager, same age, same school, also goes missing. Hester and Wilde both become involved in these cases, which are first one thing, then another, then another. Somehow, a politician who works with the father of one of the missing teenagers is also involved, and that’s another story. There are twists and turns and more to the stories right to the end.

I wonder if I missed something, though: what about the guy in Sing Sing?

THE BOY FROM THE WOODS is a standalone book. I’ve read suggestions that Coben make this the beginning of a new series with Wilde. But it looks to me like Coben made that unlikely. Still, he did leave something about Wilde hanging in the wind. That's not like him.

Hi, Beth,
There really is a Wilde #2, titled The Match.
I just finished reading The Boy from the Woods and had to re-read the last chapter (disbelief?). I'm having mixed feelings about reading #2 ...

Im like 40% in and my attention is wandering. Somehow i dont seem to be connecting with anything here,neither the charachters nor the plot. Personally, they all seem kinda juvenile.
Im also getting tired of the lone wolf game played by Wilde and Leila. Hector has serious boundary issues and has breached the line here ( Laxman Rekha) as we Indians call it.

Im done reading and I really enjoyed it. This one just escalates and then theres no holding back. i liked the climax which was mature and realistic. Ive got his bk 2 and waiting to read it.

I read the book and I really liked it

I just finished. I found it just so, so. I dont know I dont like stories justice isnt done.

Yes that really was the surprise element for me. Usually, I would have hated this ending but in this case it seems so much more probable. For me both Wilde and Hester as characters and their personal sense of justice and prevaling injuctice really worked.

I enjoyed The Boy In the Woods after struggling at first to get into it. I grew to really like the main characters and was pleased to enter their universe again in The Match. I thought the Match was good but a little weaker. The storyline of discovering backstory of main character stretched credulity in buying into it. By the end I must admit I was a bit confused as to who's who.

So glad to see there’s a follow up to this book! Thanks for letting me know.