Will I be expelled from the crime fiction community if I admit I had never read one of Harlan Coben’s standalone novels before? There’s no reason. I’ve always heard good things about these books, and I’ve read several of the Myron Bolitar books. I just hadn’t read a standalone. The Boy from the Woods might just be a gateway drug, though. It’s that good. I always need a character to root for. In this case, it’s Coben’s new hero, a man named Wilde.

In 1986, a young boy was found in the Ramapo Mountain State Forest near Westville, New Jersey. He appeared to be six to eight years old, living by himself in the woods. He could speak and understand English. He could read, and somehow he managed to survive. No one claimed him. He was never identified. But, he was taken in and fostered by Hester Crimstein’s family, and then he was adopted by another local family.

Thirty years later, Wilde is still most comfortable living in the woods. He has remained close to Hester’s family, though, so when the seventy-year-old criminal defense attorney, a television personality, calls for help, he’s there. Hester’s teen grandson, Matthew, has never asked her for anything. But, one of his classmates is missing, and Matthew is worried about Naomi Pine. For years, she’s been bullied in school. And, Matthew, who’s been hanging with the popular kids, knows something he’s not telling. But, no one expected Hester to call Wilde for help, and to announce the girl’s disappearance on her TV show.

As Wilde learns more about Naomi, he grows more determined to find the missing girl. But, as Wilde and Hester continue to ask questions, their search involves them with a wealthy local family connected to the media and a controversial political candidate. Wilde thinks he knows the answer to the problem. Then, another teen goes missing.

That’s it. This is truly a story with twists and turns. Although there’s so much more to the plot, I won’t reveal anything. It’s a fascinating story that draws in the reader from the first article about Wilde. He’s a complex, intriguing character. He’s a reader who loves his isolation in the woods, but he’s observant and adept at reading people and situations. Wilde attracts women like flies, and he’ll probably attract admirers who read this book as well. My kind of character and hero.

The Boy from the Woods may be the first of Harlan Coben’s standalones that I’ve read, but it won’t be the last.

Harlan Coben’s website is www.harlancoben.com

The Boy from the Woods by Harlan Coben. Grand Central Publishing, 2020. ISBN 9781538748145 (hardcover), 384p.

*****
FTC Full Disclosure – I received the book to review for a journal.