Win

Harlan Coben’s new novel is something of a return to his roots. ‘Win’ is Windsor Horne Lockwood, III, Myron Bolitar’s best friend. Win functions as what I have termed the ‘avenging angel’ character: like Spenser’s Hawk or Elvis Cole’s Joe Pike, an invincible figure who can be turned to in a pinch, particularly a pinch requiring the old ultra-violence. The difference with Win is that he appears unassuming, like Tom Cruise as Jack Reacher, but he has endless wealth, an armory of weapons, deadly martial arts skills and few scruples. His superhero power (he says here) is his wealth and he compares himself explicitly with Bruce Wayne. In his fascination with and demand for premium goods carrying exquisite brand names he reminds us also of James Bond. Though he has never been on her Majesty’s Secret Service he spent a brief period of time in the FBI.Here he gets his own novel and he also gets to narrate it. His relationship with the reader is by turns coy, slightly arrogant, deadly honest, endearing and annoying. He knows that he must be faithful to himself but that may irritate the reader; he says as much in a number of direct addresses, when he breaks the narrative wall between us.The story is very complex (but always intelligible). A body has turned up in an expensive apartment on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. An elderly man has had his throat slit. On his wall is a Vermeer that was stolen from the Lockwood family decades ago. Decades ago Win’s uncle was murdered and decades ago his cousin was abducted and raped for five months before she was able to escape from a tiny shed (the ‘hut of horrors’) in the Pennsylvania woods. Win’s old FBI handler/mentor/friend asks Win to investigate and determine the perpetrator of all of these things. The NYC mob is also interested and, as we soon learn, the case ultimately involves the doings of a domestic terrorist group (the ‘Jane Street Six’) who have been on the lam for a long, long time.I am a sucker for domestic terrorist group stories (having been at Wisconsin for the bombing of Sterling Hall) and this is a fascinating one. Win is determined to get to the bottom of things and when he is thus determined there is nothing that can stop him.The story is set in New York and mainline Philadelphia, with Win shuttling hither and yon on private jets, helicopters . . . whatever it takes. Win has always been a solid, offbeat character, and who doesn’t like the lifestyles of the rich, famous and deadly? The principal theme here is something like ‘being faithful to oneself, one’s family and one’s roots, even when they lead to conflict’ but the real star is the story. Investigations are always more interesting when you’re richer than God and prepared to use that wealth in ingenious ways.Bottom line: a solid Harlan Coben novel but with a familiar protagonist we have always wanted to know better. Whether we love him or not is our problem (Win would be quick to point out).

Loved getting a peek inside Win's view of the world. And nice to see his own character development. Ready for the next one!

Pretty good with twists and turns. Interesting character. It’s my first Harlan Coben book so I’ll wait to read another before more critic.

cant wait to read it

The First Person narrative makes you fell like you’re sitting with a good friend in a comfy high back chair sipping your favorite drink while he tells you another intriguing story - not caring for a moment how much is made up and how much is true. Fantastic read.

For me, this is a tricky one to review. Pros and Cons: the pros were enough to keep me reading and I finished it in a day and a half. So that's not nothing. The pacing was excellent - I am an impatient reader and this was a no-fluff who dunnit that read like an episode of Law & Order SVU. Some things aren't quite plausible but that kinda goes with the territory: when you read or watch a mystery or a thriller, don't you find yourself questioning things or saying, that's not really believable? That would never happen. I do, and I said it during this book a couple times, but it isn't bad enough that I wouldn't recommend this for a long flight: It's not going to knock your socks off but it is very entertaining.For me, The Cons:I didn't know going in that this builds on a previously established set of characters so I kept thinking, who is this Myron guy that Win keeps talking about, bringing him up over and over without ever being in the story! I'm thinking it's his split personality or something! Every time he's mentioned it just made it obvious that this guy is his other murdering personality -- until another character mentions Myron and that ruined that theory. Second, what is up with him answering his phone "articulate"?? Not once, but no less than ten times in the book. Dumb. The author did not need to describe him answering his phone so many times, and with that dumb greeting. Ok, and the brand-dropping got old. I realize it goes to establish that the character is rich and vain, and loves name brands, but I do not care about name brands, and it was overkill, and wasted on me- I don't know or care what brands he wore and it came off as smug and vane. Again, establishes the character, I realize. Thankfully it died down so we didn;t have to hear about the brand of shoes he was wearing or the brand of pen he was writing with, the make of car, brand and color of shirt, etc past about the half-way point. Whew. This character was not very likeable. You don't have to love every character but this guy's ego was something else! One reviewer said that Win would make the perfect date. Huh? As long as you rated at least a 7 on his rich-guy dating app. He wasn't my favorite but I'm not saying I wouldn't revisit the series or try something else written by Coban.

Great story! I couldn’t put it down! I love Harlan Coben and have read many of his novels, and this one is my favorite so far!

Story was interesting, being told by Wim, a 40 year rich guy, who was trained to kill. There were enough twists and turns to keep the story interesting along with a couple sub plots running. The characters were many with some only coming into the story fleetingly. Maybe they were there for a follow on story of Wim.All in all an enjoyable read but not gripping.

Loved the complexity of this book & how your spoken to, reach by the writer within. Nicely set out, captivated & entertained.

A great read , fantastic storyline full of twists with great characters. Hopefully more books with Win as the lead character will follow. Keep up the good work Harlan.

Harlan Coben fails to disappoint. Although it's a long time since I read a book featuring this character, I seem to remember him as a lighter, more reasonable guy than he is now. Wouldn't like to be on the wrong side of him.

Love Harlan Coben books and this did not disappoint. Humerous, clever with great twists. Loved it!