Harlan Coben never fails to deliver. This story slowly wraps the reader into the story wherein the main character, a former policeman dismissed from the force sees a women he believes he murdered in bed with him while on vacation years before on holiday. This coupled with his haven seen a women he believes is her but also might be a woman missing for years.
A clever and compelling read.
Thanks to the author for this and all past works as well as to publisher and NetGalley.

Thank you to Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley for this ARC.

Harlan Coben has been a favorite author of mine for years. Once again, he has created characters you can relate to & care about. The story sucks you in from the beginning and takes you through a rollercoaster of a story that is gripping and full of twists. As usual, Mr. Coben does not disappoint!

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Hurricane Warning! This book sweeps you up in a storm of twists, leaving no safe harbor for the reader. Expect unpredictable gusts of suspense, waves of chaos, and a final revelation that hits like a rogue tide.

📖 The Book’s Voyage:
Sami Kierce’s life has been adrift since a backpacking trip to Spain turned into his worst nightmare—waking up next to his girlfriend’s lifeless body, with no memory of what happened. Now, twenty-two years later, he’s an exhausted private investigator, teaching sleuthing classes on the side when Anna—the woman he thought was dead—walks into his classroom. And then? She disappears.
What follows is a breakneck chase through the murky waters of memory, deception, and a past that refuses to stay buried. Coben masterfully steers readers through a twisting mystery that seems utterly impossible—until Kierce, sharp as ever, finds his way to the truth.

⚓ Final Docking Thoughts:
This was an absolute thrill ride—fast-paced, high-stakes, and completely immersive. I devoured it like a sailor lost at sea, finally spotting land. Nobody’s Fool is perfect for readers who love their mysteries tangled, their stakes high, and their endings oh-so-satisfying.

🌊 Would I sail these waters again? Absolutely. Coben proves once again why he’s the captain of the twisty thriller genre.

This is a Harlan Coben book, of course I enjoyed every page of it. That could be my entire review, honestly. Seriously, if you like quick, thriller, twisty reads, Coben books always deliver. This one is no exception to that rule.

First off, I haven't watched the Netflix series for the start of Sami Kierce's story and didn't feel like I was missing anything major. His backstory was filled in where it was needed from that series. As a new main character, I really liked Sami's point of view. He's different from other Coben MCs and it always amazes me that he can make these deep characters that are all so different. Sami is a ex-cop, not by choice, and is now teaching a class about private investigation. He's had a rough life and that definitely plays into his personality a lot. When he was a young adult, he had spent some time in Spain with a girl, Anna, who died, who he possibly killed. Or so he believes until she shows up at his class one day.

It is so hard to write a review for a Harlan Coben book without any spoilers so I'll try to be vague. Sami's investigation into Anna and his backstory is a good ride. There's not as many twists but lots of blanks that need filled in. But once the twists start, they just twist and twist some more. It has a few "but wait, there's more" moments and my jaw was on the floor at the end. I do hope we get more of Sami Kierce in books, I love his inner voice and how he just wants the truth of things.

I’m always up for a fast-paced mystery, and after hearing so many good things about Harlan Coben, I couldn’t resist requesting an ARC of his latest book, Nobody’s Fool. This book definitely lived up to the hype! It was not only fast-paced but kept me on my toes, with twists and turns that kept me guessing until the very end.

The story follows ex-detective Sami Kierce, who wakes up in Spain next to his fling, Anna, only to find her fatally stabbed and surrounded by blood. Fleeing the country, he tries to put the past behind him—until Anna reappears years later at a criminology class Sami is teaching. With the help of his students, Sami embarks on a mission to uncover the truth behind a decades-old mystery, all while working tirelessly to figure out what really happened to Anna.

I was hooked from start to finish, and this book has definitely made me eager to explore more of Coben’s mysteries in the future! Thank you Grand Central Publishing and Netgalley for the ARC!

Wow! Coben is at his best from the get go. Lose the thread at your own risk. The story twists and turns with full blown characters and plot which at first seems a little far fetched but threads together at the end, At times the characters and evolving plot evokes Raymond Chandler and film noir. Without any ifs and buts will recommend.

Sami Kierce from Fool Me Once is back in the new novel from Harlan Coben - Nobody's Fool.

"While he was backpacking as a young college student, Sami fell in love and got involved with a young woman. And now after twenty years she's shown up in the night class in NYC that he teaches. But that can't be right. Last time he saw her, he woke up next to her holding a knife and covered in blood - her blood. He left and never went back. What's going on?"

You can always count on Coben to add a lot of layers and misdirects. You can never be sure what is really going on and what's the truth. So many surprises and twists in this story. You might gues one or two but there are plenty of "Wait - what?!?" moments.

Coben does it again with another wild story. Be sure to add this to your summer beach reading list.

Exactly what yous expect from the author - likeable characters, witty banter, and a fast paced twisty mystery. Ending left open for future installments, which is am sure I would read.

This is my first Harlan Coben book, believe it or not. He's written so many books, and I read a lot of thrillers, so I don't know how I haven't read any of his before. It definitely won't be my last, though!

This detective, disgraced ex-cop Sami Kierce, is certainly an interesting character. He grapples with an unresolved past all while trying to muddle through a complicated present. His class of amateur sleuths gives me vibes of Only Murders in the Building. The pacing is on point, and the twists keep me guessing.

Thank you to Grand Central Publishing for providing me with a complimentary Advanced Reader Copy through NetGalley. All opinions are my own. Expected publication date is March 25, 2025.

Nobody’s Fool is sharp, fast, action packed and utterly gripping.
Sami Kierce thought he left his past behind—until a ghost from 22 years ago walks back into his life. What follows is a fast-paced, mind-bending mystery packed with secrets, suspense, and that signature Coben twist that left me SHOCKED. Every chapter had me saying “just one more” until it was wayyyy past my bedtime.

✨ If you love:
✔️ Jaw-dropping twists
✔️ Unsolved mysteries coming back to haunt
✔️Action-Packed
✔️ A thriller that keeps you guessing

Then you NEED this book on your TBR!
📚🔥

I love Harlan Coben’s and this was a wonderful next book in the series. I will definitely recommend to others! Great suspense read.

This book could easily be read as a standalone but this is the second book about Detective Sami Kierce. I like him as a character and I was excited to see him again. When he was fresh out of college he took a trip to Europe and met a girl and his life would never be the same. He woke up feeling like he’d been drugged with a knife and blood everywhere. He ran but has never forgotten the girl he has believed he killed. Now with his life again taken a turn for the worse he is drowning in debt and is disgraced after a mistake cost him his career and reputation. This doesn’t stop him from teaching detective skills to a group of young people and one day a woman joins the class who looks like Anna, the girl he met in Spain. He chases her and finds a mystery he wasn’t expecting. This book twisted between several mysteries and I really liked it a lot. I listened to the audiobook and I liked the narrator a lot, he really brought the main character to life. I gave this book 4.5 stars rounded up because it was a very enjoyable story.

This book was a pleasant surprise.
I thoroughly enjoyed it, as it was a quick read and a good time.

Former detective Sami Kierce is getting his life back together. He’s married, has a son, and is teaching a community college class on investigating. But a familiar face from his past turns his world upside down. A woman from his post-college European sojourn resurfaces – a woman he thought was dead.

Following her trail, Sami stumbles upon an even greater mystery. He becomes entangled in an unsolved kidnapping from 20 years ago, finds himself at the wrong end of a gun, and starts working for a very wealthy family. The more Sami digs, the more questions he has. He’ll use his detective skills and his band of wannabe-sleuth students to confront the memory that haunts him the most, but will what he uncovers give him peace?

The plot of this book was very intriguing, and the twists and turns throughout kept me guessing. I enjoyed the mix of characters involved – from the elite family who hires Sami to the eclectic group of amateur detectives in Sami’s class, there are lots of enjoyable individuals in play. This is my first time reading a Harlan Coben book, but I’ll definitely pick up another thriller of his. After reading this I learned there is another story featuring Sami Kierce, but I never felt that I was missing anything from not having read the first book. A fast-pace, twisty thriller that is sure to entertain!

does Harlan Coben create anything that isn't a complete masterpiece?? seriously this man is brilliant. i absolutely devoured this book. probably close to the top of my favorites from him after Tell No One. 5/5 stars!!! even better on audiobook too.

Review of Nobody's Fool by Harlan Coben.

How wonderful it is to be entranced by another Harlan Coben tale! Somehow, I missed the first book (Fool Me Once) in this series starring Sami Kierce, but not to worry, Nobody's Fool stands beautifully on its own.

Sami Kierce is a memorable character and one easy to root for. A former detective, Sami is now the loving husband of Molly, the doting father of infant son Henry, and a private investigator who teaches night classes to quite a mixed bag of students. One night, he looks up to see a woman standing at the back of his class. When he spots her, she flees, and he takes off running after her. He swears it was Anna, a girl he fell in love with twenty-two years ago during a backpacking trip abroad to Spain after college graduation. Anna, the girl he woke up next to one morning - he covered in blood and holding a knife, she dead beside him.

Kierce immediately starts to investigate, giving his class assignments that help him learn the truth.

There is much to like about this book:
- Coben's intricate plot hooked me from the start and kept rolling out surprises until the very end.
- The characters are well-drawn and complex making them relatable whether you like them or not. - Sami seems to speak to the reader as he discloses the past, works through the investigation, and shares what he uncovers. I don't know how to explain it, but it's very effective.
- I loved the class - what a hoot!
- As things come together, there is ample opportunity for the reader to ponder what they would have done if placed in the same situations as the various characters.

A very entertaining read that I recommend highly.

My thanks to Grand Central Publishing for allowing me to access a DRC of this novel via NetGalley. Publication is 3/25/25. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own and are freely given.

Another excellent read by Harlan Coben. Following the story of Kierce, who is down on his luck after losing his job on the police force, we are pulled into 2 possible murders and a kidnapping. I was kept guessing throughout the story as I tried to figure out how they might be connected and what happened to Victoria Belmond. Reaching the conclusion and the way the author ended the story definitely left me wanting more. Can’t wait for the next one!

Nobody’s Fool by Harlan Coben – 4/5 Stars

I’m a huge Harlan Coben fan, so I had high expectations for Nobody’s Fool – and it definitely didn’t disappoint! It’s a fast-paced, twisty thriller with lots of heart.

The story follows Jake, who’s forced to face some uncomfortable truths after his estranged father passes away. What starts as him dealing with a family death quickly turns into a full-on unraveling of secrets, lies, and a ton of unexpected twists. Honestly, it’s the kind of book that makes you feel like you’re always on the edge of your seat, constantly second-guessing everything.

Jake is a really well-written character – he’s flawed, but you can’t help but root for him as he tries to make sense of everything. And the side characters really brought something to the story too. Everyone has their own mysteries, and that added a lot to the suspense.

The pacing was great. Coben keeps the chapters short, which makes it hard to put the book down (I definitely lost track of time a few times!). Some of the twists were a little predictable for thriller fans, but honestly, they still hit hard. The suspense just kept building until the very end.

I also really liked how Coben explored themes of trust, betrayal, and redemption. It wasn’t just about the mystery – there were real emotional moments that added to the story’s depth.

My only minor complaint is that, at times, the plot felt a little rushed. A couple of the twists felt a bit over the top, but honestly, I was so caught up in the story that I didn’t mind too much.

Overall, Nobody’s Fool is a solid thriller that fans of Coben (or anyone who loves a good mystery) will definitely enjoy. If you like books that keep you guessing and have emotional depth, this one’s worth checking out!

Dollycas’s Thoughts

Former Detective Sami Kierce is now teaching night classes. It is there that his past from 25 years ago hits him right in the face. A woman he was afraid he killed just walked into his class. He met Anna while he was backpacking in Spain with friends in 2000. His friends moved on and he stayed with her until he woke up one morning with a knife in his hand, covered in blood, and Anna dead.

The woman runs from his classroom as soon as he sees her. That moment in Malaga is heavily etched in his memory. Could Anna truly be alive? Is he hallucinating? What really happened that night? He can’t let it go. He has to find her. But he may regret tracking her down. Should the past remain in the past? Could it be dangerous? Will someone else die? Could Sami be killed? Is he putting his wife and young son in jeopardy?

Fool Me Once was released on March 22, 2016. It quickly became a favorite Coben thriller. While I remembered much about the story, I was thrilled that Netflix adapted it and released it in an 8-episode limited series last year which I binge-watched a few weeks ago. This not only made the story fresh in my mind, but it also put faces on Sami and the characters who join Sami Kierce in Nobody’s Fool.

Sami went through a lot in Fool Me Once, he is no longer a detective but works as a private investigator and teaches a night class in criminology with some very interesting students. He is still in contact with his ex-partner Marty and is married to Molly with an infant son named Henry. Life wasn’t great but they were getting by when his past walks back in his life. Molly and Henry are good for Sami, they keep him grounded as chaos starts to surround him. Their love is palpable and Molly is a treasure. Sami is a smart man with a good heart and when he starts something he intends to finish it, no matter where the clues lead. All the characters in this story are complex and well-crafted. Their interactions feel true and I enjoy the humor and sarcasm I have come to expect in Mr. Coben’s stories.

Mr. Coben never disappoints. Nobody’s Fool is full of plotlines twisted together with tons of action and suspense. Kierce has his class working a cold case after the guilty party was released from prison on a technicality. They have also convinced him to let them help with the Anna matter. As much as you try to figure out where the author is taking his characters and us readers, my advice is to just hold on and enjoy the ride because there are twists upon twists, turns upon turns, surprises, and edge-of-your-seat moments that only Harlan Coben can provide. I have to say the unexpected ending threw me for a loop. I had to pick my jaw up off the floor. Wow! Just WOW! Then stay tuned for the cliffhanger.

Nobody’s Fool is a fast-paced suspense thriller that blew me away. Another extraordinary story from Mr. Harlan Coben. I hope NetFlix picks this one up too. I already felt like I was watching all the drama, tension, and suspense unfold before my eyes so I would love to see what they would do with it. I also hope we don’t have to wait another 10 years for another Detective Sami Kierce book because I am very intrigued to see where life takes him next.

Look for Nobody’s Fool on my Best Reads of 2025. I encourage you to preorder your copy today!

This is one fast reading thriller I could not put down. Harlan Coben hits it out of the ballpark once again! I love his writing style and loved the shocking ending! Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this advance copy. To be published March 25, 2025.