Nilufer Ozmekik's Reviews > The Boy from the Woods

This is whirlwind, complex, action-packed and definitely wilder crazy train ride that I expected to take a full tour! Including: Political scandal, secret tapes, school bullying, disappearing teenager, a man’s stunning story who has been found in the woods, fighting to gather the pieces of his past.

This seems like a complex mix and Mr, Coben juggling too many balls at the same time but thankfully he doesn’t drop any of them and we get our answers for each detailed mysterious factors to finish the remarkable puzzle.

We’re introduced another mysterious character named Wilde. That’s why they call him anyways because decades ago he was found in the woods, trying to survive by himself, suffering from night terrors and a memory of auburn haired beautiful woman (could she be his mom? We have no clue!) His only friend was David who died in a car accident that he was driving that car. He stayed connected with David’s family including his mother Hester Crimstein who is kickass lawyer and famous TV personality, his grandson Malcolm and he’s having a secret affair with David’s wife.

But he likes to be distanced from people, live in a Ecocapsule house reminded us of a sc-ifi project), suffering from OCD, foster cared, having a sister he can call for urgent times, excelled in his studies, worked at special secret missions at the military and now he’s working as a private detective.

After a long introduction about our character, let’s move on the plot: Malcolm tells Hester a girl from his school named Naomi is absent and he worries about her well-being. He is tight lipped at first but Hester realizes the girl is outcast, got bullied at school and her father is heavy drinker. So Hester decides to check on her by visiting their house and Naomi’s father denies her absence. Something seems fishy! So Hester calls Wilde to help her. Everything starts with missing girl story who is being bullied by powerful, elite, popular school boys. Wilde finds out the girl was hiding in the basement. They easily connect because Wilde knows well how to be outcast and to survive in the real and metaphorical jungle.

But a few days later, the girl really disappears and this time, her father wants to hire Wilde to find her. And a kidnapper sends human fingers. Yes! I have to stop here. You want to ask me to “articulate” (This is the signature way of Hester’s answering her calls which I already start to answer like her!) but my lips are sealed . No more beans will come out! (I don’t like beans anyways!)

This is fast, action-packed, smart, entertaining reading with Mr. Coben’s talented, sarcastic story-telling skills. And we have cameo of Simon from Run Away. Hester also mentioned my favorite Harlan Coben character: Myron Bolitar (She didn’t call his name. She mentioned him as a star basketball player friend!) And Malcolm and Crash talked about their favorite drink yoohoo (Myron’s favorite drink!)

I know Wilde’s open-ended story makes you think, we already said goodbye to him. But I’m not so sure. I think we gotta prepare ourselves to read more Wilde series because after my Myron Bolitar obsession, I think the author gave us a unique, layered, mysterious and charming Tarzan meets young Marc Singer from Beastmaster kind of Alpha male character. So I’m looking forward to read more and learn about his secret past!

I went back and forth between 4 and 5 stars. I enjoyed the action packed, exciting, moving development and captivating pacing. The only problem is there are too many materials in this book to write three different more books. So many plots and subplots, crowded characterization exhaust our brains (I already lost five more cells which were fried after reading those exciting but also complex chapters!) but I have to admit, the author connected each piece of the puzzle meticulously.

At least there are no plot holes or illogical explanation or nonsense revelation. I wish we learned more about the background of Wilde but the author has big plans about him. I can sense it. Let’s give 4.5 and round them up to 5 and waiting for the next chapter!

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