I'm a fan of Harlan Coben - I've read a lot of his work and seen some of his miniseries on Netflix; I also read a lot of mysteries and thrillers - so much so that I forgot that I had already read the first in this series, 'Fool Me Once,' so when the book referenced the previous story, I looked it up to find this out. Needless to say, 'Nobody's Fool' stands well enough on its own that reading the previous book in the series isn't necessary.

This is, however, my first Coben book consumed via audiobook format. I don't know if it was due to listening to Coben this time or if it was just the way Coben wrote the main character, former detective Sami Kierce, but I kept thinking "SHOW, DON'T TELL!" - the writer's adage about not being obvious and verbose about the story. The narration didn't help much either; I found it hard to pay attention at times, so I would have to re-listen to parts frequently.

The story itself was genuine Coben: it may seem like that other mystery you read, until the convoluted twists get their grip on you and keep unfolding until the entire story is complete. With 'Nobody's Fool,' we learn about Kierce's past, and are taken from his current-day life in New York to his post-college graduation in Spain, where he woke up next to the love of his life - she covered in blood and he holding the knife.

I can't promise if a third in the series is published that I will remember this one without a prompting, but I can say that it was definitely worth the read - Coben's books are always a good time!

3.5

This one had a lot going for it, a disgraced cop, a mysterious figure from his past suddenly back from the dead, and a chase full of secrets, regrets, and old wounds. Right from the start, I was pulled into the story. The mystery was solid, layered enough to keep me guessing, and for the most part, really satisfying.

Here’s where it got tricky - I didn’t vibe with the main character. For someone who's front and center in every chapter, I never felt connected to him. I listened to this one on audio while I read along with the digital, and honestly, I didn’t care for the narrator. That might’ve had something to do with my disconnect, but even aside from the performance, there was just something missing in his character for me.

The standout for me was the crime class. Those characters were so much fun, and I wanted way more of them. Every time they showed up, the story had this spark that I wish had been present throughout. If there’s ever a spin-off or more time spent with that group, I’d be all in.

One thing to note, you don’t need to read the first book to understand this one. There are a couple of cameos and little easter eggs for returning readers, but nothing that affects the main plot. It stands on its own just fine.

Overall, I was intrigued, and I liked the mystery enough to stick with it. But between not clicking with the main character and feeling like something emotional was missing, it didn’t completely land for me. Still, mystery/thriller lovers may enjoy the ride, especially if they get along better with the main character than I did.

Thank you to NetGalley, Grand Central, and Hachette Audio for a gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this book, kept me guessing until the end. Lots of twists as usual. I didn't realize it was 2nd in a series but it didn't matter, still loved it and could be a stand alone. Great till the very last page.

I'll admit that I didn't read the first book, but I really enjoyed the Netflix series so was excited to see the second book in the series. I don't feel like I needed to have read the first though to pick up this book. There were so many twists that left me guessing what would happen next. I did find myself drifting at times will listening to the audio, which made me feel like it could have been a bit shorter, cutting out some bits. I still recommend it though and really enjoyed it!

Thank you to Harlan Coben, Hachette Audio and Netgalley for this ALC in exchange for my honest review.

Mystery thriller kept me guessing.

It's been awhile, Harlan Coben -- I've not read him for awhile but I did read the first in the set featuring Sami Kierce so I thought I'd circle back and see about this because the premise sounded interesting. That being said, I didn't remember much about #1 and I think this works as a standalone as any significant backstory is included.

Sami Kierce, kicked off the police force due to egregious behavior, is now a private investigator reduced to doing odd jobs for a law firm that he owes. He's doing a side gig as a night class teacher on criminology. One night he's with his pay per class students when someone enters the room through a side door. When he looks over, he's stunned to recognize her. But, thing is, this is Anna, a woman he met in Spain over 20 years ago while he was backpacking Europe with friends. And the other big thing is that he thought he had killed her. Thus begins a crazy hunt to find her as she runs out the door and vanishes. He needs closure and answers.

This was fast paced and hard to put down. The answers that Sami finds aren't necessarily the ones he wants, or believes. There's another side plot about Sami's ex fiance who was murdered (he's remarried with a baby now) and the killer's release from prison but that wasn't nearly as compelling as the main story line. I liked this despite not really caring that much for Sami and I was afraid of how it was all going to end. Surprisingly, there were some twists and the conclusion seemed a bit rushed.
I'm assuming there might be another in this series as there were some unresolved issues.

I was able to listen to the audio book while also following along in the e-book ARC, both provided by the publisher. The narrator, Vikas Adam, did a fantastic job of bringing the characters to life. His tone, accents, and dramatic flair were excellent and his performance really enhanced my enjoyment of the book.

Harlan Coban never disappoints! I've enjoyed every one of his books and always get so excited when a new one is released! His books always have lots of mystery, suspense and twists. He's good at keeping readers guessing!
Loved this one!

Sami Kierce, a former detective, makes ends meet by taking on private investigative cases and teaching night classes to aspiring detectives. When someone he thought dead under tragic circumstances crosses his path, he digs into his past to find answers, enlisting the help of his students.

NOBODY'S FOOL is the second in this series by Harlan Coben, but it was able to stand up on its own, as there are context clues to allow readers to enter it with sufficient information, even if they, like I, did not read FOOL ME ONCE. Kierce's longest-held secret comes to light, and he must trust his wife to believe in him and follow it through to its conclusion.

It is quick and fast-paced, and narrator Vikas Adam convincingly portrays a gruff detective as well as a broad enough range to convey a host of characters. 

(Thank you to Hatchette Audio and Grand Central Publishing for providing this audiobook for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.)

Sami Kierce is an ex police officer who is now working as a private detective as well as teaching a class on it. When his ex girlfriend comes to one of his classes then flees he finds himself chasing her down. Even though he is happily married with a young son he can't help but follow her. The last time he saw her she was in bed next to him covered in blood, dead.

This is the second book in the Sami Kierce series. I haven't read the first book but that didn't detract from the story as it can be read as a standalone. Sami is an interesting character. I found him hard to like at first but once I got into the story, I started to understand him a lot more. I enjoyed the array of side characters in the novel. They were all so different. Not all of them were necessary to the story but they definitely added some humour! All of the characters were voiced brilliantly by the narrator. The pacing was perfect and he managed to fully embody each character to make them unique.

The mystery was full of suspense. It focused mainly on the disappearance of a woman from 20 years ago and how Sami was intertwined in that. There were also several threads running in present day and they all tied together in the end. I felt like I took the twists and turns right along with Sami and there were some truly shocking moments that I didn't see coming!

Another fast-paced book from Harlan Coben. The audio book version was very well narrated, making it easy to identify and engage with the characters. I’d definitely recommend this audio book for thriller fans.

A twisty thriller full of lies, misdirections and shocking reveals that was good on audio and sure to delight Coben's legions of fans. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early audio copy in exchange for my honest review. I found it entertaining and fast-paced.

Dear Nobody's Fool,
You felt like a return to the Harlan Coban I fell in love with. Your story was twisty and fast paced, and I enjoyed getting to know Sami Kierce better. You kept me on my toes as Kierce struggled his way through his past. While you were not a deep and complex book, I really enjoyed diving into you and digging into the mystery of Sami's past in Spain.

I had mixed feelings about this one. I enjoyed the story for the most part, but I felt a bit disconnected from the characters and found my attention drifting at times—possibly due to the narrator. I wasn’t particularly excited to pick it back up, which made it harder to stay engaged. That said, the story itself was still intriguing overall, and I’m glad I stuck with it.

Sami Kierce has been fired from his job as a police officer, so he’s making ends meet by teaching a Private Investigator course. During class one night, a woman walks into the room - and she’s the girlfriend Sami has thought was dead for 22 years. He simply can’t let this go and sets out to discover the truth of what really happened back then.

I did not read the first book in this series (but I have seen the tv show) and I think this can definitely be read as a standalone. There’s enough background that I felt like I knew what was going on throughout the book. I thought everything was really well done and I enjoyed the two concurrent mysteries. I think I’ll probably go back and read book one and then I’m hoping for a book three!

The audio was excellent and I highly recommend!

This was a thriller! Just when his life is in a decent place with his wife Molly and son Henry, Sammy Kierce is hit with an unsolved dilemma from his past. The pace is fast, current and past events colliding in the present as he tries to keep his life intact and solve a cold case from his own life. Great writing and an ending that was unpredictable make it a great read! Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Harlan Coben delivers another twisty, fast-paced thriller in Nobody’s Fool. When former detective Sami Kierce spots a woman in his class—one he last saw 25 years ago, dead—he’s thrust into a tangled web of murder, money, blackmail, and fame.

Three storylines weave together seamlessly, with plenty of suspense and surprises along the way. The cast is colorful, the pacing sharp, and the ending satisfying—though the door is left wide open for a sequel.

I listened on audio and found the narration lacking, but the story itself was thoroughly entertaining. If you enjoy smart thrillers with unpredictable twists, this one’s a solid pick.

I loved the first book in this series, but it had been ages since I had read it. I have not watched the show either. I did not feel lost or confused at all. There was a moment when something from the last book clicked, but I think this book stands alone well. I enjoyed this story a lot. Great characters and good twists. I read a lot of mysteries and I did not figure all of this one out. Great narrator!

I did not initially catch that this was the second in a series, but I did not feel like I was missing anything in order to enjoy this mystery. I will go back and remedy this faux pas by reading the first soon, however. Kierce does appear to be destined to be a detective, rather than a doctor...and this decision is solidified in this installment as he investigates a case wrapped up in his own life. I felt Coben handled the unfolding mystery with lots of details very well. The characters were well-defined and the plot made sense throughout. Some of the ending twists were unexpected, but overall how they are laid out and revealed was very clever. I've watched shows of Coben's work but now will commit to reading more of them.
The multicast narration was spot-on. I was surprised with the voices at first because I really thought Coben was British after seeing some of his shows, but this series is set in New York, near where he is actually from.
Thanks to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for this ARL. All opinions are mine.

Intriguing and suspenseful, Harlan Coben weaves another thriller with events spanning more than two decades. You be willing be guessing until the very end!

What an adrenaline-fueled police procedural this was! Coben proves once again why he’s the master of twisty thrillers and intricately woven narratives. His storytelling is consistently gripping, intelligent, and utterly addictive—full of tension and jaw-dropping surprises. I love watching Netflix bring his books to life, and I wouldn’t be surprised if this one is next in line for adaptation!

Although this novel brings back Detective Sami Kierce from Fool Me Once, Coben himself acknowledges that it isn’t truly a series, as reading the first book isn’t necessary to fully grasp this one.

Another winner from Harlan Coben - twisty, entertaining, and written in a distinctive voice. Love the humor weaved into the suspenseful story. Narrator for the audiobook did an excellent job bringing the story to life. I didn’t realize this was second in a series but easily works as a standalone book.