I read a lot of thriller/crime novels. I'm not a huge fan of Harlan Coben but decided to try this one out. It was not anything special in my opinion, but very similar to many other authors in this genre. Overall, I enjoyed it. It did take me a while to get through it, but that's probably more on me because I was so busy.

Compelling Writing Style Marred By A Convoluted, At Times Slow Moving Plot That Strains Credulity!

Without getting into detail about the plot, Nobody’s Fool is a thriller that follows disgraced ex-detective Sami Kierce as he unravels a decades-old mystery after coming face-to-face with a woman he thought was dead. More about the plot can be found in the Amazon and Goodreads Book Descriptions and in the other reader reviews.

The focus of the reminder of this review is on what I hope will be of help in deciding if Nobidy’s Fool is a book for you.
Basically, my overall 3 star rating is driven largely by Coben’s 4-5 star ability to write in a style that captured my attention from the first page and held it captive for the large majority of the rest of the book.. In my opinion, this is quite a feat since, while I found the storyline of Nobody’s Fool to be entertaining, it was subpar due to its often being convoluted, and implausible to the point that it went beyond my ability to suspend disbelief. In addition, all of the characters were very thinly developed and lacked depth; with little description provided of the main character, Sami, Kierce, other than that he is quite short and of Pakistani descent. Further, the characters participating in Kierce’s detective course who he recruited to help in his investigation were totally unrealistic to me..

Nonetheless, despite my issues with the plot and character development, I found it good enough to finish due, as I said, to Coben’s captivating writing style. It is not, however, a book that I recommend you rush out to read unless you are the type of thriller reader who is willing to cast aside credulity and well-developed characters in favor of a very gripping reading experience.

Not one of his finest books. I found the story a little slow and unbelievable. Every thing just seemed a little too convenient. Some of the characters were great, but they all seemed to lack depth for me. I have definitely read better books by him

Sami Kierce has been kicked off the police force. He's now working as a private investigator and teaching night school in New York City. He really needs more to support his wife and new baby. One night he recognizes a woman in the back of the classroom who he last saw 22 years ago. Before he can talk to her she's run away.
Twenty-two years ago Sami was backpacking across Europe with other recent college graduates. He meets a beautiful woman named Anna. They grow close quickly. He tells the others to go ahead since he wants to stay on the Costa del Sol with Anna whom he sees as a girlfriend. One morning, after a night of excessive drinking, he wakes up covered in blood and Anna with a knife in her chest. With the help of his father, Sami runs away and doesn't pursue higher education goals.
He becomes obsessed with finding Anna. The mystery of his past has haunted him. This search becomes much more complicated quickly. Sami wants answers without putting his family in harm's way.
Sami faced prejudice over time since he wasn't the typical police officer. At the same, he isn't entirely blameless. He is a sort of anti-hero in many ways. We don't know quite as much about his wife though she does play an important role.
"Anna" and other secondary characters actually play the most pivotal roles. The many twists revolve around them. If you are expecting the typical Harlan Coben "gotcha" ending, you won't be disappointed. I always know I can count on those with all of the author's novels.This novel is actually #2 in the Sami Kierce series. The first on FOOL ME ONCE gives more background on Sami. I can see NOBODY'S FOOL being a Netflix series in the foreseeable future. I do hope this one will be set in the U.S. Of course, foreign settings in other Netflix settings have worked well as adaptations.
I first discovered Harlan Coben through his Myron Bolivar series. Myron was a favorite protagonist with his smart aleck attitude. As long as Mr. Coben keeps writing books, I keep reading them.

I'm a fan of Harlan Coben and always enjoy his latest novel. In true Harlan fashion, it's a fast-paced, gripping, and suspenseful read. You won't be disappointed!

This book got me hooked and I could not stop listening! I kept guessing and thinking one thing then it would turn out to be another! I love books that just suck me in from the start and keep me enthralled until the very last sentence. This book did just that. You get an answer for something and then another question pops up like umm what? You wonder what is going to happen next. Another great read by Harlan Coben and I hope there will be another book to answer the question the book ended on!

I really enjoyed this one! It had the suspense and twists you’d expect from Harlan Coben, but what made it especially fun were the characters—some of their one-liners actually made me laugh out loud.

There was a lot happening plot-wise, but somehow it never felt overwhelming or confusing. Coben kept everything moving at a solid pace, and even though I managed to predict part of the ending (*pats self on back*), there were still plenty of surprises that caught me off guard.

Overall, it was a fast-paced, entertaining read with a great mix of mystery and humor—and although it’s the second in a series, it can definitely be read as a standalone.

Thank you to NetGalley & Grand Central Publishing for the eARC!

I have read other books by Coben, and while I enjoyed this one, it wasn't one of my favorites. It is the second book in a series, but it could likely stand alone. There is a lot packed into this storyline, and at times, it felt like too much, making it hard to keep things straight at times. As expected, characters are well developed, and there are numerous unexpected twists.

Action-packed. Suspenseful. Entertaining. Intriguing. WTF?!? Just a few words that came to mind while reading Nobody’s Fool. Mr. Harlan Coben… you knocked it out of the park, sir! The wit and humor interwoven throughout the serious plot is *chef’s kiss.*

While I typically enjoy stories that are told with multiple POVs, this one is told strictly from Kierce’s POV, as if he’s speaking directly to us. To be honest, that’s the only POV that matters. The character development of Kierce is fantastic; at times I loved to hate him. Throughout the story I felt as though I were right there with him. He feels like just a regular guy, but with a serious backstory.

The story itself is full of twists and turns with an ending that truly blew my mind. I simply could not get enough of this book and I am craving more of Sami Kierce!!

Thank you NetGalley and Random House UK for the complimentary copy in exchange for my honest review.

3.5 stars!

I have read quite a few Harlan Coben books and I have enjoyed them all. This one was no exception! It pulled me right in and kept my attention the entire time. I was not super shocked by all the "twists" but when you read thrillers on a regular basis, that is to be expected. It was a very quick read for me as I read it in a little over a day. The characters were fun as well! Definitely recommend if you are looking for a quick read and you enjoy a good thriller/mystery. And with the way it ended, I am hoping we will be hearing more from Sami Kierce.

Thank you to Grand Central Publishing for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Haven’t read a book by him I don’t like! Fast paced and full of twists and turns that leave you in shock! Never a dull moment!

As usual Harlan Coben wrote a fantastic book! He’s a must buy author for me. Once I picked it up, I couldn’t put it down!

Thank you NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for an ARC in return for an honest review!

I wasn't sure I wanted a second Sami Kierce book, but that was silly of me. Harlan Coben almost never disappoints.

This book was so much fun. It had action, humor, and plenty of plot twists. Coben added a lot of depth to Sami's character with the backstory and I will absolutely read the next one (hoping there will be a next one?!).

Nobody's Fool by Harlan Coben is a mystery/thriller book and I enjoyed reading it. The buildup of the story was a little slow but halfway through, it got unputdownable. The suspense and the twists were very interesting.
I got the ARC from Grand Central Publishing via Netgalley. All opinions expressed are mine.

4.5⭐ rounded up

Waking up next to the bloody body of the girl you were seeing is frightening, especially when you're on summer break in Spain. And 20 years later, it still haunts you. Then she walks in your classroom, turns and runs away.

Coben knows how to hook you, but give up trying to figure it out until he lets you. Sami Kierce, an ex-policeman, still an investigator and teacher of classes on the subject was featured in one other Coben thriller. Here, he has a cadre of his students helping him, his own version of the Baker Street irregulars. Hopefully, we will see them again. At the same time, the man convicted of the murder of Sami's fiancee is getting released from prison. Is there a connection between the cases. Read to find out. Thanks to netgalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is my first time reading this author and I loved this book so much that I immediately bought the first book in this series of 2. Sami Kierce is a very complex character, as are the mysteries in this book. He is a former police officer, now a private detective.
He experienced trauma as a young college graduate. While backpacking through Europe, he met a young woman named Anna. He spent a week with her, only to wake up one morning to find her covered in blood, and the bloody knife in his hand. This experience has haunted him throughout his life. He is currently teaching a sleuthing class at night school. He sees a woman at the back of the class who looks like Anna. As they make eye contact, she runs out of the classroom. Is it possible that she is alive? This sets many things in motion, leading to an unexpected ending. I couldn’t put it down.

Also reviewed on B&N (1IrishEyes430) and Kobo (IrishEyes430)

What is there to say about any Harlan Coben books, they are all captivating! Had me invested from the start, and I really enjoyed the book!

Disgraced cop Sami Kierce had a traumatizing experience as a young man while on vacation. The experience comes back to life over 20 years later and takes him on different adventure. This is my first Harlan Coben book. I was only familiar with him from the books turned Netflix series. I am usually of the belief to read the book before watching the move/show etc. but Harlan was not on my radar then. This was a fun read that kept me guessing. Thank you NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for an advanced copy of this book. Now I need to put all of Harlan Coben's books on my TBR.
#NetGalley
#NobodysFool

Harlan Coben does not miss, and Nobody’s Fool is another prime example of his thriller mastery. From the very beginning, this story grabbed me by the collar and didn’t let go. We follow Detective Sami Kierce—already grappling with deep grief—who finds himself thrust into a chilling investigation that forces him to dig up a past he desperately hoped to keep buried. Just when you think you’ve figured out who’s pulling the strings, three more twists show up to knock your theories off the table.

The story is layered with emotional tension, unexpected reunions, and a villain that knows exactly how to strike where it hurts most. Coben’s pacing is surgical, unraveling just enough to keep you gasping without ever losing momentum. Sami is the kind of flawed, complex lead that makes a thriller stick with you long after the last chapter. And if you’re anything like me, you'll be side-eying every new character until the final page.

This book wore me out in the best way. The twists were so good I caught myself whispering “ain’t no way” more than once. Sami’s emotional arc hit hard. Watching him wrestle with grief, regret, and the ghosts of the past while trying to stay ten steps ahead was intense. I love when a thriller makes me feel something and keeps me guessing. And this one? Did both flawlessly. If this ends up becoming the next Harlan Coben x Netflix collaboration, I will be seated, snacks ready, and locked in.

NetGalley, Grand Central Publishing, and Harlan Coben for the advanced reader copy of this jaw-dropping thriller.

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Let me know when you’re ready to slot in entry #003—or if you’d like to go back and elevate another past review for your growing digital shelves! 💎📚

Harlan Coben is a must read for me! I love every single of his books!

Sami Kierce is a young backpacker in Malaga, Spain, in 2000 and he’s having a blast with a few friends. While at a night club he meets Anna. He lets his friends go ahead and he ends up spending as much time with Anna as possible. After a night of fun Sami wakes up and he’s covered in blood, with a knife in his hand, and the body of a Anna beside him. To make matters worse he has no memory of what had happened. Not sure if he killed her or if he’s involved in some sort of frame up. Either way he runs and flys home but the nightmare stays with him.

New York City, 2025 and Sami is now a former detective who spends his evenings teaching classes, he’s married and has a new baby named Henry. He’s still haunted by the fateful day of Anna covered in blood. One evening while teaching his class he looks up and notices a woman in the audience and is sure it is Anna. Their eyes meet and she immediately runs away! Can this woman who he thought was dead for the last 25 years actually still be alive? Sami is determined to uncover the truth and to solve the mystery that has haunted him. The jaw-dropping ending shocked me!!