Harlan Coben never disappoints with his novels. This is another shining example of excellent talent leading you through intrigue and mystery with a shocker of an ending! Impossible to put down!

Harlan Coben often populates his books with idiosyncratic characters and this is no exception. I did not realise it was a follow on from ‘The Boy From The Woods’, and whilst the story worked ok as a stand-alone, it would definitely be better to read the aforementioned first,
Wilde is trying to track down his family via ‘Find Your Relative’ Commercial DNA data bases, and ends up drawn into the sordid side of reality television and social media, whilst simultaneously getting into hot water with the police and the FBI.
Meanwhile a killer seems to be using their hacker skills to target trolls….
I like Harlan Coben, and this book falls somewhere between the larger-than life slightly whimsical Myron Bolitar stories, and his grittier work like Stay Close.
I mostly enjoyed the book, liking it enough to want to read The Boy From The Woods to get the backstory.
However I found the story a bit confusing at times, and several aspects of the ending I found, again, confusing. There’s clearly going to have to be another in the series.

After many years of not knowing who his biological relatives are, Wilde finds his Father through a DNA site. He only has a few flashbacks to piece his past back together and has been told that he was found living in the woods as a young boy. Will this revelation of finding his father give him the answers he's been looking for and unlock the mysteries of his past?
I didn't know this was part of a series and read it as a stand alone which was fine, definitely works as a stand alone.
A fast and pacy read

Free courtesy of Netgalley

Another Triumph for Harlan Coben, full of twists and turns to keep you thinking and guessing who has done what.

Wilde was found in the woods as a young child, on his own and nobody knows how he got there. As a grown up he is still a bit of a loner but has a handful of people he trusts. He enters his DNA into a website searching for his family, this is when all the trouble starts.

Embroiled in the mystery of his missing famous cousin, and meeting his dad for the first time, he is sucked in to how all this fits together. When a serial killer starts killing people connected, Wilde uses his "people" to try and figure out what's going on.

I loved this book, couldn't put it down, I had no idea, who had done what until it was revealed. I would suggest anyone who has watched any of the TV shows that have been made of Harlens books to give this a read. You won't be disappointed

Generally a good author , this dragged a bit for me. I hadn't read the first book but I don't think it matters. The overblown DNA details were unnecessary.. Not a bad read but I prefer some of his other books. The ending was really quite far fetched. Finding this book by the pool on holiday would keep you entertained.

This is the second book in the ‘Wilde’ series by author Harlan Coben. I have personally found Coben’s novels a little hit or miss lately but this one was much more to my taste and a very good follow up to ‘The Boy from the Woods’.

Wilde’s identity, his family is a mystery to him, he knows that as a child he was fund in the mountains of New Jersey but no more than that. Then suddenly a DNA match on an online ancestry database offers the possibility of learning the truth to his past. A DNA match that appears to be his father and Wilde can’t resist going to meet him. The meeting is far from what he had hoped for and rather than answering his life long questions it gives him more. In desperation Wilde approached another match, a second cousin who disappears before any contact can be made.

This is a little different to many of the books I have read recently and was a very enjoyable read.

I would like to thank both Netgalley and Random House for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

“The Match” follows the continuing story of Wilde, the boy found in the woods. Full of twists and turns right until the end Harlan Coben is back to his best. Is the ending satisfying or a cop out? I can’t decide and that is one of the positives of this book. It also raises questions about the popularity of DNA testing. A thorny subject at best.
Thank you to Netgalley for the chance to read this advance copy.

It’s a Match!

Wilde, a name people associate with the Boy from the Woods, as that’s where he was found living alone, with no memory of how he got there, estimated age 6-8 years. Now in his early forties, in a bid to uncover any living relatives and find answers to the mysterious circumstances of his early childhood, Wilde submits his DNA to a genealogy website, and to his surprise, not only receives a match to a second cousin, but also Wilde’s actual father. What Wilde doesn’t anticipate happening is that his search for his biological family will see him embroiled in the murky world of a reality TV dating show, online trolls, cyber-bullying, vigilantism, a missing person case and a hunt for an active serial killer.

Assisting Wilde are all my favourites was the first book (The Boy From the Woods), Hester Crimstein, Laila, Matthew, Sutton, and Oren, and some new faces as well. And, this was mentioned very early on, so I feel it’s okay to reveal that The Stranger (from Coben’s earlier novel The Stranger) also made an appearance. FYI, you don’t need to know who any of these people are to enjoy The Match, as all relationships, ties, and Wilde’s backstory were explained. This one can definitely be read as a stand-alone, and if you want my honest opinion, I’d bypass The Boy From the Woods and read this one instead, as no. 1 just wasn’t that good, unless you really enjoy politics and punch-ups.

I wouldn’t call The Match fast-paced or action-packed, but there was always something happening to further the story, the plot was engaging and thought-provoking, the characters were amazing, and the twists were phenomenal, I even had one gasp out loud moment, and some emotional ones as well. I am also very excited for the next book, as I am liking the direction this series is going. But have no fear, the main mystery was solved, but as expected their were unanswered questions regarding the overall scope of the series. The only thing that bugged me was the endless resources, contacts, easy access, and finances Wilde had, but I guess things could get stale if we wasted time on red tape, so I can live with it.

A successful match!

I’d like to thank, Netgalley, Random House UK Cornerstone Century, and Harlan Coben for the e-ARC.

Publication Date: 17th March, 2022.

This book kept me up all night because I couldn't put it down! The plot of The Match continues the exploits of the lead characters from The Stranger and The Boy From the Woods to a point where their stories intertwine. The novel begins with a DNA search whose repercussions take the reader into the fabricated world of reality television. Along the way we are reintroduced to a number of Coben's familiar people including lawyer Hester Crimstein and her family. As a Coben fan, I felt invested in the outcomes for all the characters which added to the my enjoyment and the sense of suspense. The novel is well-paced with no dips in the momentum. I would recommend it to anyone who likes fast paced crime fiction.

I've finally got my hands on a Harlan Coben before it becomes a hit series!

I haven't read the first book in this series, which I plan to rectify tout suite, but I don't think it hampered me in any way from enjoying the Wilde ride!

Wilde has been satisfied with his lot for most of his life. He may have been found abandoned in the woods, unaware of who he was or how long he had been alone but he managed to find his way. He became more than the feral boy, Tarzan Boy. But when he finally decides to seek out his family - using an online DNA ancestry site, he unleashes a world of problems.

He may have found a parent but he also seems to have unlocked a bevy of deep, well-hidden secrets.

I loved the relationship between Wilde and Hester, it was almost parental-child. But more intriguing is the relationships he has with his late friend's wife and college-aged son. He was so busy trying to keep secrets, not rock the boat and allow everyone their space that he never noticed that Hester and Matthew were well aware of what was actually going on LOL.

There were plenty of twists/turns and red herrings. My day job really should have helped me decipher who was the "bad guy" earlier than I did. (I do work in law enforcement) although not an officer - that's my defence and I'm sticking with it!)

Although this is the 2nd book with the main character Wilde, it works as a stand alone book. From the title you would not guess that matching dna would be part of the plot. As usual with Harlan Coben books the story moves along at a pace with no chance to get bored with the story and everything sounds very feasible.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House, Cornerstone for the advance copy of this book.

I have been a fan of Harlan Coben for a while and none of the previous novels have failed to impress but The Match is my new favourite.

Wilde as a young boy was found wondering in the woods and with no one to claim him as theirs, he grew up in a foster family. As an adult he submits his DNA into an ancestry site and starts a chain of events that no one could have predicted.

From the moment I started reading I was hooked and invested into finding out what was going to happen next. I like Wilde as a character and even though it’s fiction, I was rooting for him to discover the truth throughout.

A five star read!

Very good however some of it was a bit confusing I wish I would have read the first one first it’s about Wilde who lived in the wild he never knew who his father or mother was now as a man has put his dna in a database which has dire consequences.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an early copy.

I am a long time fan of Harlem Coben and am in awe as to how he continues coming up with fresh storylines that keep you immersed. This is no exception, the sequel to The Boy from the Woods. The ‘feral’ boy now grown up sends his DNA to one of the sites available that may tell him about his origins. Immaculately written, a walk through DNA results, on line trolling revenge, and a look at reality TV shows before the answers appear. I really enjoyed it.

Although this is the second book by Coben to feature lead character Wilde this works as a stand alone for readers who haven't read the first.

This is a strong premise and there are twists and turns aplenty, but the pace is slowed down by explanations of DNA matches, which feel over complicated, and the final payoff is a little lacklustre.

A solid enough thriller, but not vintage Coben.

The match by Harlan Coben is the second in the (Wilde) series regarding the boy from the woods. I wasn’t aware of this until I started reading and it sounded like the other book I have read.
Wilde is now a man and still doesn’t know about where he comes from so decides to join a DNA online database to see if there is anyone out there that he is related too especially his father. Why did he abandon him and let him fend for himself for all of them years? So, when he gets a match and goes to find close relative, he gets involved in a secret community who gets rid of online trolls, murder and reality TV Stars.
Thank you, Random house for a copy of The Match. This story is a continuation of Wilde’s story. It is a bit slow at first, but then it comes clear. It has an intriguing plotline full of secrets and lies that will keep you wanting more. 4 stars from me.

Another excellent novel from Harlan Wilde from The Boy In The Wood (though I've not read yet) gets a hit from a DNA database about his father. A well rounded novel good characters just what you expect from Harlan Coven.
Thanks to Random House and Netgalley for a review copy.

I didn't realise that this was a sequel until I was already halfway through, but it honestly didn't matter. The book was very fast-paced and you don't need to know the details from the previous book to enjoy this.

The Match was the first book I've read by Harlan Coben, and it definitely won't be the last!

Thanks to Harlan Coben, NetGalley and RandomHouse UK for this copy.

Yet another excellent read from Harlan Coben.

Wilde, the boy from the woods, is now a man, but still knows nothing about his past. A hit on a DNA database is going to change all of that. Of course, things don't go smoothly, to say the least.

There are several parallel strands to this intricate plot. Wilde's ties to his foster family and his relationships with attorney Hester Crimstein and her family. A secret group of hackers determined to bring karma to the worst of online trolls. And the star couple from a reality tv show. Wilde has to find his way through several worlds he knows little about to chase the truth of his own history.

This is both a compelling mystery and a biting commentary on the world of reality tv with its fleeting fame. The writing is good, the characters entertaining and the ending is compelling.

The Match by Harlan Coben
I give this book 4.25 stars

He is known as Wilde, the boy from the woods.
He has grown up knowing nothing of his parents, and even less about his own identity.
Until now.
When a match on a DNA database puts him on the trail of a close relative he becomes caught up with a secret community committed to exposing anonymous online trolls.
It soon becomes clear that a serial killer is targeting this community and that the next victim could be Wilde himself ...

Another excellent read by an author l admit to being a big fan of.This follows on from The Boy in the Woods but could be read as a standalone. (I actually enjoyed this one more)
A well crafted and immersive plot, Coben never writes a predictable story.The twists and intrigue kept me hooked and turning the pages.Wilde is a strong complex character who tells his own story while also getting involved with a serial killer. and reality star. Hester also deserves a mention.
If you haven’t read anything by this author…….why not!
With thanks to Netgalley, Harlan Coben and Random House UK, Cornerstone, Century for my chance to read and review this book