Review of The Woods by Harlan Coben
Another year… another Harlan Coben thriller. Again, the theme is murder and disappearance in the past.
Some might say that he’s flogging a dead horse. I don’t think so. Although I do have some criticisms, for the most part this is another excellent, page turning thriller which delivers its fair share of thrills and spills.
Paul Copeland is a prosecutor for Essex County in New Jersey. His wife has died of cancer in the recent past and his sister disappeared from a summer camp 20 years ago along with her boyfriend and two other friends who were found dead at the time. Paul himself was a team leader at the camp.
Then Paul is asked by some New York cops to try and identify a body they’ve recently found. Paul identifies it as one the supposed victims from the camp all those years ago. This makes him think, maybe his daughter isn’t dead. This sets the ball rolling.
Meanwhile, he’s embroiled in a court case in which he’s prosecuting 2 rich kids accused of raping a black stripper. This forms the major subplot of the book and in itself is well told.
Some of Coben’s characters from earlier books appear in this one. Loren Muse, an investigator and the siren, Cingle Shaker.
Another year… another Harlan Coben thriller. Again, the theme is murder and disappearance in the past.
Some might say that he’s flogging a dead horse. I don’t think so. Although I do have some criticisms, for the most part this is another excellent, page turning thriller which delivers its fair share of thrills and spills.
Paul Copeland is a prosecutor for Essex County in New Jersey. His wife has died of cancer in the recent past and his sister disappeared from a summer camp 20 years ago along with her boyfriend and two other friends who were found dead at the time. Paul himself was a team leader at the camp.
Then Paul is asked by some New York cops to try and identify a body they’ve recently found. Paul identifies it as one the supposed victims from the camp all those years ago. This makes him think, maybe his daughter isn’t dead. This sets the ball rolling.
Meanwhile, he’s embroiled in a court case in which he’s prosecuting 2 rich kids accused of raping a black stripper. This forms the major subplot of the book and in itself is well told.
Some of Coben’s characters from earlier books appear in this one. Loren Muse, an investigator and the siren, Cingle Shaker.
All in all, the book is well paced and taut with the usual Coben humour. This brings me to my only criticism. Paul Copeland comes across as Myron Bolitar. Why? Is Mr Coben losing the plot and mixing up his characters? Never mind, that doesn’t take away from the story
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