Reviews - Nobody's Fool | The StoryGraph

383 reviews for:

Nobody's Fool

Harlan Coben

4.01 AVERAGE

aitchfrost's review

5.0

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

Utterly enthralling from the very first word to the last. This is packed with energy, suspense, mystery and clever little twists. I loved the complexities of all of the characters and was definitely invested in the lead who was investigating which made it even more compelling. There are lots of instances of the vulnerabilities of being human, family loyalties, deception, secrets and lies, so much to get your teeth into. This is definitely a book where your own world needs to stand still for a while so that you can power on through the strands which eventually come together and lead you somewhere you did not realise you were going. All of the clues were there but you’re not necessarily looking in the right direction to see it.
The ending was sublime and I’m eagerly hoping there might be a follow up as my mind is still whirring away. Thank you a very enjoyable read.

katie_liz's review against another edition

4.25

In typical Coben style, Nobody’s Fool is a gripping thriller packed with twists and misdirections to keep you guessing.

The writing was engaging and fast paced, and I blew through this book in no time. Coben twists together seemingly unrelated storyline’s to a satisfying conclusion. I loved the Sherlock Holmes references and the way Kierce’s class were to him the equivalent of Holmes’s street urchins. The cast of characters were rich and layered, and it was comforting to see the disgraced Kierce still had people minding his back.

The narration brought the diverse cast to life, infusing the story emotion and drama. The gravelly voice of Keirce had all the feel of an old school detective radio play, heightening the sense of suspense.

Thank you Hachette Audio for an advance copy of this book. Opinions expressed are my own.

dbotica's review against another edition

3.75

Nobody's Fool is a continuation of the Sami Kierce series, whose first installment was Fool Me Once. It was also adapted into a miniseries for Netflix if you're wondering why it may should familiar to you. A year after the events of Fool Me Once, Sami is a disgraced detective forced to take on jobs as a PI for a law firm while teaching night classes for a few bucks to people obsessed with crime. After his breaking protocol in his last case led to the release of his fiancee's killer, Sami is already mentally on thin ice. While teaching his class, he spots a face of someone he thought was dead. Someone he might have killed in his 20s on a trip to Spain. Anna.

In his effort to find more, he wonders if Tad Greyson's release and Anna's reappearance could be connected. The story definitely kept me on my toes, but there was admittedly a lot going on with the two storylines. I really loved the Pink Panthers (Sami's "best" students), though. They had a lot of character development so even though they were supporting characters, I felt like I knew about them so they adequately added to to the story.

I shouldn't have been surprised after Fool Me Once, but THE. PLOT. TWISTS!!! I was completely unprepared. My jaw literally hung open. All in all, I enjoyed Nobody's Fool. I do wonder if there will be a third book. If so, I'll pick it up. I think this would be another great contender for a Netflix miniseries as the continuation of Fool Me Once.

Thank you to Grand Central Publishing and Netgalley for a free advanced copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

whatyazread's review against another edition

2.0

fast-paced

scknitter's review

5.0

mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

Once again Harlan Coben has hit it out of the ballpark with a novel that features Sami Kierce, a disgraced ex-policeman, who is trying to make ends meet and support his wife and infant son by teaching classes in criminology for would be amateur detectives. Even though Sami is no longer a detective his instincts and ability to analyze seemingly unrelated facts are still amazing. This is a novel of what ifs. There are so many ways that everything could have been different but as you are fed facts bit by bit you will perhaps understand why things happened as they did. It goes back to something that happened 20 years earlier when Sami was in Spain with college friends, and it also involves the murder of his fiancee 18 years earlier. Sami also appears in Coben’s previous novel Fool Me Once, but this is easily listened to as a stand alone. Thanks to NetGalley for an ALC.

readby_paulina's review against another edition

4.0

That was A LOT 😅

Between both cases, all the characters, and all the twists and turns - this book is gonna hold your attention to find out what happens. Although I did predict a lot of it, I enjoyed the journey Sami went on to solve everything. Although there were bits that I did not expect and it had me shocked!!

I really felt for all the characters, there was a lot of heartache among them. I was worried how Sami’s tragedies/past might affect his investigation but he surprised me with how resilient and persistent he was!

I enjoyed the narration of this audiobook. The writing made for a more theatrical narration that helped build a picture in my mind of what was happening. As well as conveying all the emotions of each character. From sadness to trepidation to love, the narrator really helps to set the tone of the scene. You really get to know how Sami is feeling and what he’s thinking. From the love for his wife and son to his eagerness for the truth. The truth in which also gave Sami some needed closure.

Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for the ARC!

klashmore4's review

4.0

I listened to an advance copy of this audio book. I liked the narrator and the story was excellent, but that’s what we expect from Coben, right?

I loved the twists and turns all the way to the end. Everything is wrapped up satisfactorily, yet it was one heck of a ride.

ccreadsss's review

4.25

challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: N/A

Nobody's Fool by Harlan Coben centers around the life of a man named Jake Fisher, who is still haunted by the death of his fiancée, Natalie. She died years ago, under mysterious circumstances, and Jake has spent all this time trying to move on, but he can't shake the feeling that something isn't right. When he discovers that Natalie’s death might not have been an accident, Jake gets pulled back into her complicated past. As he digs deeper, he uncovers secrets that not only challenge his memories of her but also put him in dangerous situations with people who want to keep the truth buried. It’s a gripping, fast-paced thriller that explores love, loss, and betrayal.

Nobody's Fool is a classic Harlan Coben novel that blends suspense, mystery, and emotional depth. Coben’s writing draws you in with complex characters and keeps you on edge with twists and turns. What I really appreciate about this book is how it keeps you questioning everything. Jake’s journey feels very real, and the emotional stakes are high because you can understand his desire for closure. At times, the story feels like a rollercoaster with unexpected reveals that make it difficult to put down.

One thing I especially enjoyed was the pacing—Coben does a great job of balancing action with the more introspective moments that make you really feel for Jake. The dialogue is sharp, and the narrative keeps you guessing about who to trust and what’s actually going on. The ending is satisfying but still leaves you thinking about the story long after you’ve finished.

If you're a fan of psychological thrillers with plenty of twists and an emotional punch, Nobody's Fool is a must-read. It shows Coben’s skill at crafting a tense, unpredictable narrative while exploring deeper themes of love and betrayal.

Favorite Quote:

"the truth can be more painful than the lie"