(⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️½)
Nobody’s Fool was my fourth Harlan Coben book—and hands down, my favorite. It kicks off with a jaw-dropper: twenty-something Sami Kierce wakes up in a Spanish hostel, covered in blood, with his girlfriend Anna dead beside him and no clue what happened. So he panics and runs. Fast forward 22 years—he’s now a struggling PI, new dad, and night school teacher in NYC. And one evening, in walks Anna. Alive. Or is she?

That’s the moment this twisty thrill ride really takes off. Coben juggles multiple timelines and threads—a decades-old kidnapping, a released killer, and a deeply personal mystery—with sharp dialogue and a healthy dose of dark humor. Sami’s a hot mess of a protagonist, but he’s also smart, funny, and impossible not to root for.

There’s a lot happening, but Coben keeps it all moving at a pace that makes the pages fly. The audiobook narrator nails the tone, especially the sarcasm and tension, making the experience even better.

With heart, grit, and a whole lot of surprises, Nobody’s Fool proves Coben still has plenty of tricks up his sleeve. If you only read one of his standalones—make it this one.

** Thanks to NetGalley, Grand Central Publishing, and Hachette Audio for ARCs of the eBook and audiobook in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

This was an amazing read again by Harlan Corben. He has such great twist and turns that you don’t expect. If you need a read that’s gonna keep you up all night this is the one.

Twisty, full of action, and heart-pounding. But I wouldn't expect anything less from Harlan Coban. I was kept on the edge of my seat and couldn't stop turning pages, I needed to know what happened next. Vikas Adam did a great job narrating and really bringing the story to life. I highly recommend listening to the audio while reading.

Nobody's Fool by Harlan Coben

This is a character from another book which I lovedddd… Sami was the detective on the case in Fool Me Once but you can read this book easily as a standalone. He is now a PI and while he is teaching a class he spots someone he thought was dead… The sighting has caused an avalanche… One that will change the direction of Sami’s life.

What a wild ride. The pace was brilliant.. I love Harlan Coben and this one was top notch… The narrator…. Wasn’t brilliant but I did get used to their voice after a while and settled in for this amazing story.

I think the best part of the whole story was his crime class. Not so much the mystery but that class haha I would join. I thought the story was good, don't get me wrong, I didn’t see the twists coming.

4 stars

I thought the narration was great and fit perfectly for the scorned detective vibe.
This was a wild ride! I really hope the crazy twist at the end leads us to a sequel.

Wow! What a ride! This thriller is intense, heart-wrenching, highly intriguing, and absolutely gripping. Sami is a brilliant lead — sarcastic, sharp, and impossible not to root for. He’s the kind of character you just can’t help but love. The side characters add depth and intrigue. The Sherlock-style investigation is thoroughly captivating. The plot is tightly constructed, packed with mystery, suspense, action, and jaw-dropping twists. Vikas Adam delivers a stellar performance with distinct, expressive voices. Impeccable production quality. A must-listen — I HIGHLY recommend it!

Nobody’s Fool (Detective Sami Kierce #2) by Harlan Coben 👨‍🏫👨‍🏫👨‍🏫

I would like to thank NetGalley, Grand Central Publishing, and Hachette Audio for providing me with an advance e-galley and an advance audio-galley in exchange for an honest review. Look for it now in your local and online bookstores and libraries.

I liked this book, but I was super confused by one thing. This is the second book in a series, but it had absolutely nothing to do with the first book. There’s not even a Sami Kierce in the first book (Fool Me Once). I don’t get, and it was annoying. It can definitely be read as a standalone. The audiobook was standard fare. I enjoyed it.

“Everyone has hopes and dreams, I thought, which also means that everyone has a backstory. Every human you meet is a novel different from every other.”
— Harlan Coben, Nobody’s Fool

This was yet another masterpiece from Harlan Coben! The audiobook of Nobody’s Fool had me hooked from the very first second—narration on point, pacing flawless, and that trademark Coben twisty suspense? Absolute perfectiomn!!!

I’ve loved everything Harlan Coben writes, and I mean everything. I seriously cannot get enough. The man knows how to craft a story that keeps you guessing until the very end, and Nobody’s Fool is no exception. I hope they make this one a Netflix series also!! The narration made it even more immersive. Every character felt so real, and the emotional weight of Sami's journey was delivered with just the right nuance. I highly recommend anything that Harlan Coben writes, so this will be no exception.

I really enjoyed the story. I think the mystery was interesting and well-paced. However, I didn't like the audiobook narrator, as he spoke every sentence in the same way with the same intonation and in this weird "scary" manner...

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.