The Woods

By: Harlan Coben

Narrated by: Scott Brick

Length: 12 hrs and 31 mins

Publisher's summary

NOW A NETFLIX ORIGINAL SERIES!

The bestselling author and creator of the hit Netflix drama The Stranger takes listeners into the heart of family loyalty in this twisty thriller that proves that the darkest secrets are often closest to home.

Paul Copeland, a New Jersey county prosecutor, is still grieving the loss of his sister twenty years ago - the night she walked into the woods, never to be seen again. But now, a homicide victim is found with evidence linking him to the disappearance. The victim could be the boy who vanished along with Paul's sister. And, as hope rises that his sister could still be alive, dangerous secrets from his family's past threaten to tear apart everything Paul has been trying to hold together....

©2007 Harlan Coben (P)2007 Brilliance Audio

Critic reviews

“[The Woods] might just be the best thing Coben has written...A gripping story, filled with fine characters and dark secrets.” - Chicago Sun Times

“A lively, fast-moving entertainment, jam packed with the bizarre plot twists that are his stock in trade.” - The Washington Post

“Another surprising and emotional story that will remain with the reader long after the last page is finished. One of Coben’s best.” - Library Journal

well done could not stop listening

another well crafted book he's out done himself can't wait for the next book to come.

Good story, bad sound quality

What made the experience of listening to The Woods the most enjoyable?

Harlan Coben and a good story with a many twists and turns. I was casually listening, so didn't really see the end twist coming in this one. Scott Brick's narration is his usual. If you like him (and I do) you will like this one. The glaring negative is the sound quality. Did you guys record this on a 1970 portable cassette tape machine?

Any additional comments?

Sound engineers, you might want to test the quality of your capture early on. Any teen with an iPhone could have made a better quality recording than this. That aside, it is a good tale that is generally believable. Scott Brick does his usual good job.

A page turner right to the end, but not believable

If you could sum up The Woods in three words, what would they be?

intelligentcoyjaded

Who was your favorite character and why?

Hmm. I'd rather tell you that I don't like the way all the females in the story were not only flawed, but either synical, spinsters or lied. The only woman in the story that was worthy of admiration was the dead wife.

What does Scott Brick bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

His narration is incredible. Pregnant pauses, aceents and real emotion as if he were really the characters themselves.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Harlen Coben clearly has been disappointed by women.

Any additional comments?

This book was a page turner and had me capitvated until the end. And then, I found myself let down. I found it not at all believable that the love interest kept the secret that she did. The character was damaged but beloved by her students. I don't believe the ending.

Meh

It was interesting, but not particularly intricate or detailed. The characters were rather flat and the plot was fairly straightforward. So meh.

Gripping

It was difficult to stay away from this audiobook. I would stay up late needing to find out just a little bit more...just one more clue. But that's typical with a Coben book. He's a master author of suspense, and he sure doesn't let you down with this one.

mystery gone right

I enjoyed this book wasn't a book you guessed the ending right away. The audio was not as great as it could have been.

Unexpected

This book had a very unexpected ending. It kept me interested the entire time.
I liked how twisted it was and realistic at the same time.

One of my favs......

Great book in which to immerse yourself! Like 2 mysteries in one....both satisfying. First time I have read Coben, but not the last.

A really good mystery!

It was a little slow to start, but this turned out to be a good one! very good suspense!

Okay

Any additional comments?

First you have to totally suspend belief in the story line. It is VERY lame, but it is still interesting to listen to. Some of the characters got on my very last nerve. Lucy is the main one I did not like. I could not connect with her at all. I very much like the defense attorney, "Flair". He was an interesting and engaging character - good lawyer. The main character is "Cope" and I liked him very much. He is the county prosecutor and an excellent lawyer. I also liked Cope's investigator, Muze or Muse. She is a great character. The beautiful Indian woman who "works" at the Indian Restaurant and another beautiful private detective used by Cope (her name is Shaka or something like that) are two more of my favorite characters. This story is centered around four teenagers who went into the woods - two bodies were found buried and two bodies were never found. One of the ones not found was Cope's sister and the other a male teenager. Did the missing teenagers die? If so, where are their bodies? The other story going on is the trial of two wealthy white frat boys charged with the rape of a 16 year old black drug using, prostitute, stripper and single mother. Cope is the prosecutor and is strong in his belief that the young woman was raped. He is trying the case while dealing with new developments in the twenty year old case of the teenagers who went into the woods. Maybe Cope should have left the dead in peace. The reader is excellent. Enjoy, but be prepared for a really far fetched plot and a sickening Lucy.