What a fabulous read ,you know with a Harlan Coben book you are not going to be disappointed and I definitely wasn't. I didn't realise this was book 2 in the Wilde series but it is a great standalone .This is an exciting story full of mystery and intrigue, an exciting thriller full of secrets and unexpected twists .The characters were interesting ,altogether a brilliant read .Thanks to NetGalley for my ARC .

Really loved the focus on Wilde- learning more about him was a great aside to the main plot of the story.
I also liked the DNA profiling side of the story...it is something that has been used a fair bit in fiction recently and often really badly with genetic impossibilities front and centre but in this case it is well written, well described and completely logical.
At times the plot got a bit confusing but the pace is good and keeps you turning the pages to find out the truth behind the familial links, the 5 minute fame and subsequent trolling angle and the vigilante justice being meted out.
overall a good read.

Unfortunately I didn't realise this was a follow up when I started it so I definitely had a sense that I was missing some background. It's possible to read it and you'll still get the plot but I felt there was more to know about Wilde and the people in his life. Nevertheless I really enjoyed him as a characters and the mystery was as engaging as any Harlan Coben tends to be. Found it a little confusing to follow at times with all of the characters, but it's a decent read.

I have only read a couple of books my Harlan Coben but I'm a huge fan of the tv adaptations of his books. I realise this is the second book in the Wilde series but I read it as a standalone and didn't feel like I was missing out because I hadn't read the first.

I enjoyed this book and it was a quick pleasant read but I think the reviews may have been slightly hyped up due to the buzz around the author's recent Netflix success. At some points it felt unnecessarily confusing and slightly far-fetched and I would have like the ending to have been longer and less rushed than it was. Nevertheless, it was an enjoyable read and I will continue to pick up a HC book when I see it.

This is the second book in the series to feature Wilde, but it can be read as a stand alone. The story of Wilde continues as he searches for his parents who left him in the woods as a child. He is curious to find out about his circumstances and resorts to going on an online DNA site to try and find out some answers. I found the pace to be slow and a bit confusing at times, with the ending all tied up too quickly. I really enjoyed the first book, but this one not so much. Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.

The Match - Harlan Coban
Wilde#2
4.5 rounded up.

There's a very good reason why I've read a lot of Harlan Coban's books - he writes darned good thrillers! I stayed up very late with this one because its so engrossing and I'd suggest up there with some of his best.

Wilde is the modern day Mowgli, "Little Tarzan", abandoned as a small child and fending for himself in the Ramapo Mountains. He's the "Boy From The Woods". Now, in his early forties he wants to find his family and via a DNA website and with the help of his much loved foster sister he traces his father. This is the start of a very exciting thriller with cleverly woven plot strands featuring DNA, a vigilante group, murder and mayhem (obviously, this is Coban!) with a 'Reality TV' scandal thrown into the mix. It's told from several perspectives which I can tell you keeps you on the edge of your seat trying to figure out the plot permutations. It's very well written, it's slick, the pace is spot on and there isn't one moment when your attention wanders.

The characterisation is excellent, with a few deft strokes the author seems to be able to paint a personality picture. Wilde is fascinatingly complex and very likeable and its great to see Hester Crimstein cropping up again too.

The author shines a light on several things to ponder over, such as Justice which lies at the heart of this, for instance, if the law isn't able to mete it out, is it right for others to take up the mantle? The DNA angle is clever too and keeps you on your toes trying to figure out what it all means and how it aligns. Another integral element is the fakery of so-called Reality TV which is about as real as ...(substitute any famous 60+ with a 30 year old face!). Chuck in some vile trolling and you'd think these plot strands would be a mess - absolutely not in these skilled, experienced writing hands. It all connects cleverly, with tension, twists and turns aplenty, it's a rollercoaster suspense read with multiple secrets and lies. The ending is a surprise (well played sir) and a really good final moral conundrum. Yes, its a very compelling read and one I'd highly recommend to those who like an intelligent plot.

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Random House UK, Cornerstone, Century for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.

The Match by Harlan Coben

It's another Wow from this author , you can guarantee a brilliant read from him, a real page turning thriller.
This time we enter the world of DNA testing , to hopefully find your family and it's history after not being brought up by them.
Lots of twists and intrigue to keep you reading til the last page. A winner.

I have read several book s by this author and was looking forward to this one. However, unfortunately it was long winded, slow and a difficult storyline to follow. I found the book complicated as it entailed a lot of characters being cross referenced by DNA. Although I finished the book I found it hard to remain interested and for that reason only award 3 stars.

I think that this novel is my favourite Harlan Coben novel to date - It goes at breakneck speed through the usual twists and turns, and surprises you with its ending and leaves you wondering what is next for the main character.

The story revolves around Wilde, a great character first introduced in The Boy From The Woods, and part of the story is his quest to find out why he was abandoned in the woods at a young age. Parallel and linked plots are intriguing covering secret and sophisticated online vigilante groups, DNA testing and a serial killer who is very close to home.

I could not put this book down and was very sad to finish it. I hope there is a Wilde book 3 to look forward to.

A reliably page turning thriller from the master of the twisty plot, Harlan Coben. A man who grew up not knowing about his family background decides to reach out to relatives on a DNA testing website. This reveals two potential matches and a whole load of mystery, with unpredictable results. Entertaining and engaging in equal measure.

I loved this book so much. Seeing reappearing characters, and the usual twist and turns that you come to expect from this author. Putting it all together, it is a enjoyable book that is hard to put down.

I have read many Harlan Coben books and this like all of his other story lines had many twists. The story revolves around Wilde a character who grew up alone in the mountains and who wants to find out his parentage. After innocently submitting a DNA sample to an online site he then triggers off a multitude of sub plots that involves a possible serial killer and places Wilde in danger. This is a page turning read with great characters typical of a Coben story and I suspect we may hopefully see Wilde appear in more books.

Harlan Coben continues with his series featuring Wilde, the Boy from the Woods. Wilde is seeking his family history and with the advent of DNA websites follows a lead of connection to his DNA that may, just may, explain how he came to be found living wild in the woods as a young child. Twists and turns a plenty as we delve into the world of reality tv where the truth is irrelevant and a good story and favourable opinion is all that matters. Excellant novel from this wonderful writer.

Harlan Coben is a very solid writer and "The Match" is no exception. It is somewhat of a sequel of "The Boy in the Woods" so I do wonder if the Wilde character will now have his own series. Will Wilde be as popular as Myron? Only time will tell. The story follows Wilde's desire to find out who his relatives are an unwittingly gets caught up in a crime plot. It is very clever, using the device of the DNA matches how the story pans out. Looking forward to reading more books with Wilde in them.

Myron Bolivar has long been one of my favourite fictional truthseekers, but I may have found his successor in Coben's latest literary creation who goes by the name of Wilde. In this, the second novel in a new series, Wilde is determined to establish where he, the former feral child previously found abandoned in New Jersey, come from. A DNA website provides him with two matches, and in his quest to meet the two men who might be his father and his cousin, Wilde flies out to Nevada. Soon, his personal quest develops into something larger and much more dangerous, however, when a threatening vigilante group called 'The Boomerangs' surfaces.... A true Coben masterpiece full of suspense, fast about-turns, and multiple subplots, The Match is truly recommended. I would like to thank the publishers and NetGalley for their kind donation of a free ARC that allowed me to porduce this unbiased and honest book review.

Wilde, the 'Boy from the Woods' is on another (unanticipated) mission. He's ready to discover more about his parentage and has entered his details into a DNA website. The result of course, is not straightforward and the resulting train of events leads him into mysteries he never thought he'd be part of. With the help of Rola, his old investigative friend they find themselves embroiled in the world of reality TV, influencers and conspiracies. Wilde acts from a sense of morality and tries to help a distant relative who has since vanished. The FBI and even a US Marshall become involved and Wilde's search upscales quickly.

Exciting and fast paced, as always but I'm left reeling a bit from all the implications and percentages resulting from the DNA website indicating family connections, and exactly how people are related to each other in the story.

However, Wilde remains a hugely interesting, likeable character as in the previous books - Is he beginning to think about settling down? This book gives us some answers but leaves a lot unsaid/unsolved - I'm already eagerly anticipating the next instalment.

Harlan Coben does not disappoint. Gripped from the first to the last page. The quest for family, reality star manipulation, and a child who grew up in the wild. The threads of the story are interwoven seamlessly.
If I wasn't already a fan I would be after this book.

My first Harlan Coben book (hard to believe as my kids have been recommending him for years!) and it certainly won’t be my last. Great storyline with the lead character having been found living in woods as a child and is consequently known as Wilde. He’s now grown up and has signed up for a DNA website to try to find his relatives……..and there begins the tale!

I really enjoyed the author’s style of writing and the originality of the story. (Okay maybe a slight take on Mowgli but very tenuous!) I like to see the world of social media revealed in all it’s seediness, subterfuge and egomania and this book does exactly that.

Without giving too much away, I would have liked to hear one character’s point of view at the end as I’m still unclear about their motivations and innocence/guilt. That is my only criticism.

A clear five stars from me and the joy of knowing I have loads more of this renowned author to read!!

My thanks go to the author, the publishers and Netgalley for an advanced e-reader copy. However, this review is entirely my honest opinion.

Harlen Coben is one of my favoured authors and I actually love Wilde as a character. However, as I end the book I just had quite a few unanswered questions so I can’t say this was most favourite novel.

Wilde makes a return and afterall spending some time trying to make things work in Costa Rica je returns to his ecocapsule long before Matthew, Layla, Rola and Hester are aware. He’s quickly drawn into a new family drama involving his past where he has the opportunity to discover his heritage but it doesn’t quite go to plan as he seems to disturb some existing operations. Throughout the story we unravel more about those related to Wilde and how it came about that he was abandoned in the woods.

Gah, I don’t know; I’d love to love this but there’s just not enough realistic narrative for me to go with it. Don’t get me wrong - I enjoyed it but I just couldn’t ride with it, if you know what I mean.

This is my first Harlen Coben book, and as I understand it, a follow up to a previous book. I wasn’t aware of its predecessor, but found it didn’t matter too much, as this is ok as a standalone.

After a very slow start, the plot did more quickly, though the genetics/DNA results and family connections were at times confusing.

The author certainly has a style of his own, and I’m not sure I would read another of his books. I did think this one was ok, a bit predictable, the mother/son denouement very odd (where was Dad?), and the continued use of “the vile man” a bit off putting.

If you are a HC fan I think you will love it, but not really for me.

Thank you NetGalley.