The Woods by Harlan Coben
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Book Reviews of The Woods
Book Review: Shark Infested Waters Lurk Within These Woods!
Summary: 4 Stars
When it comes down to it, Harlan Coben is nothing less than one of the best. With me it gets fun, simply because I tend to find little pet peeves of mine. Yet I keep coming back to Coben eventually, and he keeps getting better. "The Woods" is no exception, because he really gets twisted in this one. And when you think it doesn't get worse, that somehow he's done, Harlan Coben cranks the knife one more twist! And for dealing with "The Woods," Coben seriously drifts into shark infested waters, and is out for blood.
Paul Copeland sure loved his sister, and he still thinks of her twenty years to this day. But that's just the beginning, because he is a widower, and he has a high caliber case. And that's when things start getting weird, and things start going back to the past. And it digs into a family past, one that Paul Copeland now isn't so sure of. But it also means that his sister just might be alive. And things do start to get creepy. The people you thought you trusted become suspects, and the plot only thickens! Simply allow yourself to get lost in these WOODS, and see if it doesn't play with your head. It might.
Coben put together one heck of a page turner. And he didn't peeve me off too bad this time, but he got me wound up a little bit. And that's ok, it just doesn't always impress me to the fullest. But "The Woods" as a whole did convince me to recommend this mystery in the making! If you happen to be a shark, you may be licking your chops. There is blood to be tasted, and it may not leave too much room for dessert! Good work, Mr. Coben!
Book Review: The Lengths Parents Will Go
Summary: 4 Stars
The Woods by Harlan Coben is an excellent and timely book about the lengths parents will go to to protect their children. Paul Cope, prosecuting attorney is working on a high profile case and has finally found the key that will win justice but his life is being torn apart by the rich parents of the boys accused. They dig up old and new dirt on Cope and members of his immediate family.
Each chapter brings more problems. The police show up while Cope is at his six year old daughter's play. They want him to come with them to identify a body. He doesn't recognize the name of the dead guy but the cops say the dead guy seemed to have known him. He had clippings about an incident from Cope's past with him. Cope looks at the body and had no idea who it is. Then, on second thought, he asks to see the arms of the dead guy, Manolo Santiago. Yes, Cope says, I know who it is.
Bits and pieces about the murder at a summer camp that happened twenty years ago resurface. It was a year where Paul Cope was a camp councilor and his sister disappeared and was assumed murdered. Two victims were found, two never were. Manolo Santiago the boy who was with Cope's sister Camille that night. If he only died now, what about Cope's sister. Could Camille still be alive?
An excellent, well written story with a memorable and remarkable cast of characters.
Book Review: Another great read by Coben
Summary: 4 Stars
I always enjoy Harlan Coben's books. I especially liked this one in part because the main character, Paul Copeland, is so likable and real. He is a strong character, but definitely has a heart. The story is a complex one, but easy enough to follow. Unlike some thrillers, some of the outcome is not easily predictable. At the time that he's exploring the likely death of his sister along with three other teenagers 20 years ago, he's also prosecuting two college students accused of rape. He persists in his prosecution despite strong pressure to offer a generous plea agreement. However, when circumstances involved in the apparent death of his sister come to light, he is forced to see shades of grey in the behavior of many people he cares about. The same is true when his brother-in-law embezzles money from the charity he set up in memory of his deceased wife. The end is ambiguous and you're not certain what will happen. But, I like to think because of Paul's humanness and the strong feelings of the people involved, that it works out in a positive way. I also thinks this tends to be Coben's style - or maybe I just want it to work out well. Anyway, I would definitely recommend this book as a fast and interesting read.Book Review: Stand-alone thriller delivers despite flaws
Summary: 4 Stars
I read this book in one night, which testifies to its quickly paced plot. However, there are a few implausibilites and shallow characters (Lonnie, for example) here. Coben's thriller puts a 20-year-old mystery concerning the disappearance (and presumed murder) of Paul Copeland's sister Camille back into his focus even as he valiantly tries to defend a stripper accusing frat boys of rape (shades of Duke University).
Lucy Silverstein Gold is an old friend/lover of Paul's and she is also haunted by a summer they spent together at a camp that her parents ran. Two campers were brutally murdered by a serial killer, Wayne Steubens, who is up for parole. Two other campers disappeared and are presumed dead but without physical evidence, Paul's ready to believe that his sister's still alive.
This book reminded me more of the TV show "Cold Case" than anything else and as I read, and the plot holes became more discernable, I began fantasizing about a Cold Case/Law & Order crossover. This is the first Coben book I've picked up and assuredly it won't be the last.
Book Review: Excellent thriller, plot driven, well written.
Summary: 4 Stars
The Woods is a wonderful thriller about facing the past. Sometimes the past needs to stay the past.
The story is fast moving and enveloping. The characters are well written and deep. Each character is well written and deep. Even those that are secondary or minor characters seem to come alive in a way that only a great author can do.
It is also the first person narrative that I could get through. Though I usually detest books written in this voice, Mr. Coben pulls it off through excellent exposition and witty commentary.
The negative, which I guess can be viewed as a positive, is that sometimes Coben keeps you hanging on with some scenes that are longer than they should. He usually does this with sidebars and often times long drawn out dialogue. But in a thriller it keeps you turning the pages, instead of just giving you the answer he makes you hold on for as long as you can until he gives up the goods.
Overall, this is a well written exciting story. A real page turner.