‘Win’ -Harlan Coben
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
⚠️ Abduction, rape, graphic violence ⚠️

“There is no bond like blood, but there is no compound as volatile either.”

Harlan Coben offers the first book in a scintillating new series. The plot was compelling, the characterisation skilled; an overarching theme of perception was prevalent throughout. Which, In turn, prompted many questions, predominantly; what do you believe and moreover, who do you believe?

Windsor Horne Lockwood lll, or ‘Win’ is the perfect amalgamation of ‘Gatsby’ and ‘Dexter’, devilishly charismatic and charming, yet equally as ruthless in his rampage of violent revenge, mercilessly revelling in the retribution of his prey.

Reeking of white privilege and an antihero in his own right, when Win is linked to a murder, he must utilise his expertise to solve a series of complex, chilling and mind-bending connections to the nefarious ‘Jane Street Six’, in order to exonerate himself and protect the Lockwood family name.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House UK, Cornerstone for this ARC.

Win's cousin Patricia was abducted and tortured for months many years ago. Patricia escaped and her kidnappers were never found. Her belongings were never found. The family had also had two priceless pieces of art stolen from them, again the thieves and the art work was never found. Until now. Both Patricia's suitcase and one of the stolen pictures are found in the apartment of a murdered recluse. Win has money and Win has influence. He doesn't however, have answers, but that's about to change.

An interesting book from this author. I have read a few of his before and for some reason I can't quite identify, if I didn't know it was his, I wouldn't have guessed. Having said that, it is still the high quality book you would expect from Harlan Coben. The plot and characters are well written, the style is as usual, easy to read and the ending doesn't disappoint. Perhaps it's the unusual main character that makes the style of writing feel different. No matter, it's not meant as a negative, it's just a bit different, it's a five stars from me and I enjoyed having something a bit different from a well established author. Thank you to Netgalley and Random House UK, Cornerstone for allowing me to preview the book

Absolutely love Harlan Conan books and this one certainly didn’t disappoint. Fast paced, brilliant plot and characters. Would highly recommend this book.

Win is a regular character in the Myron Bolitar series of books by Harlan Coben. This is his first "solo" outing and it was a great read. It took me a while to get used to hearing the story solely from the Win perspective, as we usually see him through the eyes of his great friend Myron, but once the story got going it was the usual Coben rollercoaster of twist and counter-twist, with a whole lot of humour and humanity thrown in for good measure. While I enjoy the plots of these books, what satisfies me most is the characterisation, and the ethical and moral dimension. I love the sense of loyalty and "doing the right thing" that lies behind the main characters' decision making. I really look forward to Win's next outing.

You need your wits about you to follow this twisting thriller, but it all makes sense in the end.
Windsor Horne Lockwood 111, or Win, is privileged, wealthy, a thrill seeking James Bond without a license. Not someone to cross.
When ghosts from his families past turn up, his need to find the truth nearly kills him.
This thriller has so many intriguing twists and turns that you have to keep concentrating/ The clues are all there - but very cleverly hidden.
When tou eliminate the possible, only the impossible remain.

Harlan Coben is an auto buy for me. Another thrilling page turner that kept me on the edge of my seat!

Thank you to publisher and NetGalley for the arc.

Highly recommend this book and all the others written by author.

Pub date:3/18/21

Another fabulous page turner from an auto- buy author for me, Harlan Coben, with lots of action and clever twists and turns. Win is a very interesting hero, very rich and arrogant but very kind, too.

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House UK, Cornerstone for the arc of Win by Harlan Coben.

4 Star Read- Win actually means Windsor Horne Lockwood III. Whom is actually the friend of a millionaire Myron Bolitar. This is first in this new series by Harlan Coben. This thriller is based on a hippy radical group named The Jane Street Six whom are from the 70's. a painting what they call the Vermeer painting has been stolen from the Lockwood family itself, and an suitcase whom belonged to Patricia whom is the cousin of Win himself. The narrator of this story is actually Win himself. This was a very different interesting thriller which intrigues you from start to finish, as it involves things in which i haven't read within a book before, which are FBI involvements as well as Organised crime groups.

4 Stars⭐⭐⭐⭐

I would like to thank Netgalley and Random House UK, Cornerstone for an advance copy of Win, the first solo outing for the eponymous Win, aka Windsor Horne Lockwood III.

When a hoarder is found murdered in his apartment it offers clues to cold cases linked to Win’s family. A Vermeer painting belonging to the Lockwood family and stolen over twenty years before is hanging on the wall and a suitcase with the initials WHL3 is sitting in the wardrobe, the suitcase his cousin Patricia was told to pack when she was abducted not long after the robbery. She escaped after five months of abuse, but her captors, like the thieves, were never caught.

I thoroughly enjoyed Win as it was good to catch up with an old friend in Win, while it’s disappointing there was no Myron, although he isn’t short of mentions. Needless to say that although he is older Win is still the same violent psychopath he always was, although age has perhaps focused his impulses more strategically. The novel is told from his first person perspective and I’m not sure if this is good or bad. Good because it gives the reader a close look at his thought processes and reasoning, bad because said thoughts and reasoning make him unsympathetic, although there’s nothing new there.

The novel opens with Win attacking someone he perceives to be a bad guy, thus setting the tone. It then moves on to the main plot., the discovery of the painting and the suitcase and the revelation that the hoarder has been wanted in relation to domestic terrorism for over 40 years. I won’t go into further detail as the plot is extremely convoluted, pulling together all these strands and more into a story full of twists and turns. As is to be expected with Mr Coben nothing is as it seems, so I found myself continually surprised and hoodwinked. I would never have guessed the solutions, despite the clues being there.

Because Win is unlikeable this novel will not appeal to all readers but I liked it. Win is sort of like we would like to be in some situations, selfish and determined to get his own way. Did I mention he’s rich? No, but he does frequently, citing it as another reason for his violence and lawlessness, because his wealth shields him from consequences. He can wax poetic on the subject, acknowledging the inequality of it but embracing the benefits.

Win is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.

Having read a few of Harlan Coben’s Myron Bolitar books years ago, I was interested in this first book of a brand new series. Featuring Win, or Windsor Horne Lockwood III, as he is more formally known. Win features frequently in the Bolitar series, being the closest friend and trusted ally of Myron. In the book “Win”, Win now takes centre stage.
The book’s plot takes us back to events back in the 70’s, some of which are very personal to Win and the Lockwood dynasty. The discovery of a murdered 70 year old, reignites the investigation, and brings Win, and his wider family, into the case for various reasons. The story features the FBI, as well as some very dangerous characters who would like to see Windsor permanently silenced. All of which results in a fast paced book, great characterisation, with lots of interesting threads, all coming together.
Win is such an interesting character. He is old money, confident, powerful, successful, arrogant, in control, but despite all of that, not dislikeable. He is very aware of his privilege, but doesn’t exude that self entitled whinging that similar characters have.
I find Harlan’s writing so easy to read. Win is a book I didn’t have to concentrate on, I just read it, and thoroughly enjoyed it. I was taken along with Win on his quest for what happened the art, his Uncle Aldrich and Cousin Patricia.
I highly recommend this thriller, it’s an engaging 4* read.

Harlan Coben has yet again provided his readers with another winner. The body of a recluse found alongside a Vermeer painting that was stolen during the abduction of a young girl ( who happens to have been Win's cousin) and an old leather suitcase owned by Win throws him straight into a mystery.. The family connection spurs Win on to investigate the links to his family and the dead man. A fast moving, easy to read book that had me second guessing to the end.. Win may be a little controversial in some of his personal activities but he certainly has a flair and wherewithal to unearth the truth.

Harlan Coben never disappoints and this is a great spin off from the Myron series. Win is a great quirky character and it is interesting to have a plot centered around him and his family. We learn more about his family background. Win does things his way. He is out to get justice for his cousin Patricia's abduction and rape and to recover missing paintings. What happened to cause a family feud and what about the mysterious suitcase? Fantastic twist at the end which I didn't predict.
It does contain references to Myron series but can be read alone. I look forward to reading more about Win and his adventures.

Thank you to NetGalley and Cornerstone for my ARC.

Cleverly constructed tale of family secrets hidden but when a missing artwork is discovered in a seeming hermits flat after his murder a previous terrorist incident is brought back into investigation. A character from previous novels is promoted to lead character here and it works very well. Very violent but hugely entertaining. More to come one suspects!

Wow this book was unputdownable.

As a long time fan of the author Harlan Coben I was delighted to be able to read and review this arc for a new series, starring Winston Horne Lockwood III, known as Win. In a series previously written by Harlan Coben Win appears as sidekick and best friend to Myron Bolitar and their history plays an important part in this story, albeit not essential to enjoy this as a stand alone.

Win comes from a wealthy and troubled family. He takes the law into his own hands and he uses his strength and money to influence people into giving him what he wants and needs. His time in the FBI gives him influence also and in this book we see him with work unofficially for them to look into a mystery from the last which has worrying consequences now for Win and his family, among others.

The writing is very engaging and entertaining. The characters are exceptionally well written and the plot twists and turns keep you interested all the way through. This is hopefully the start of an fabulous new series and I cannot wait to recommend this to everyone.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

5 stars for me and one of the best books I have read in a long while.

What a absolutely brilliantly written novel.
Over twenty years has passed since Win's cousin Patricia was kidnapped and locked in a remote cabin for several months. After her escape Patricia has tried to live a normal life even though her captors were never caught.
Even though on night of her kidnap her father was murdered and from Win's family home two extremely rare works of art are stolen are the cases connected if so by whom?
When a elderly man is found murdered in his penthouse apartment whith one of the stolen paintings and a briefcase belonging to Win the FBI become involved but cant seem to connect the two cases together.
With Win's vast wealth and his own way of achieving justice can he solve a puzzle from twenty year's ago?

It’s been a while since I have indulged in a Harlan Coben novel and was worried I would have forgotten some of the characters and mysteries from the Myron Bolitar series, however this book as a spin off, worked great alongside the series or as a standalone novel. A great mystery that unraveled through sleek and smart storytelling. Coben really is a master at this genre.

My thanks to the Author publishers and NetGalley for providing me with a Kindle version of this book to read and honestly review.
More years ago than I care to remember Harlan Cohen reintroduced me to the joy of reading through the brilliant standalone Tell no one easily one of the best thrillers I have read, that in turn led me to read the Myron Bolitar series, including his mega wealthy violent sidekick Win. The same gentleman of the title of this his latest terrific read. I always liked the character and he is even better in my modest opinion 'Solo' . All you expect of a gripping page turner from this Author, clever descriptive imaginative and witty, surprising with plenty of twists. Please tell me this is the start of a new series.
Completely and utterly recommended.

A recluse is found murdered in his exclusive apartment block along with a Vermeer portrait that had been stolen 20 years before, and a suitcase with initials that belonged to a family of wealth and who owned the Vermeer.
Who was the recluse? Win who is the son of the wealthy family knows who the suitcase belongs to, his cousin who was kidnapped and held prisoner for months the same night that her father was found shot at the family home, always known as the black sheep of the family but why. With his wealth, help of an FBI friend and resources only available to the wealthy Win starts to put together all the pieces which started with six students and a domestic violence demonstration twenty years before. A gripping tale that has you hooked from the start, the pace is relent lace and doesn't stop until the end. Twists and turns all the way just when you think you might have solved it lead you elsewhere. It just goes to show that no matter who you are you don't really know your family and what they are capable of.

I love Harlan Cobens books and this one didn’t disappoint, I read it in one sitting. Highly recommended

This book had a good premise but fell short in parts for me. Some of the characters were unbelievable and unlikeable. That said it was a ok read. I would try another novel from this author though. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to review it.