Harlan Coben - The Woods (2007)
Reviewed by David J. Montgomery
Over the past few years, Harlan Coben has carved out a niche for himself in the publishing world with several bestselling novels that you might call "domestic thrillers." The hero of these books is usually a father or husband who gets caught up in some kind of dangerous situation that puts both his life and his family's safety in jeopardy.
They've all been very successful and generally quite entertaining as well. The latest of these is The Woods, and aside from the excellent Myron Bolitar series, it might just be the best thing Coben has written.
Paul Copeland is a County Prosecutor in New Jersey, with a high-profile case on his desk. He's prosecuting two frat boys for raping a stripper, and one of the defendant's fathers is a wealthy and powerful man. He's willing to do whatever is necessary to convince Copeland to give up the case, and is trying to dig up whatever dirt on the prosecutor he can.
Copeland has more than a few skeletons in his closet, dating back decades to the summer he was a camp counselor and two campers were murdered and his sister went missing. He's never told what really happened that night, but against all logic, it appears that someone else knows, and the truth is finally going to come out.
The Woods is filled with dark secrets and gripping suspense. Copeland is a fine character, one of Coben's best, and his plight can't help but move readers.
Posted by David J. Montgomery in Book Reviews | Permalink
