Was im Dunkeln liegt

Wilde #2

by Harlan Coben

'At the age of somewhere between 35 and 45 - he didn't know exactly how old he was - Wilde found his father ...'

Wilde has grown up knowing nothing of his family, and even less about his own identity . All he knows is that, as a young child, he was found living a feral existence in the Ramapo mountains of New Jersey.

He became known simply as Wilde, the boy from the woods.

Now Wilde has had a hit on the DNA website he has been researching. A 100% match. His father. They meet up, and Wilde soon realises that his father doesn't even know he had a son and is as mystified as Wilde is by his existence.

Undaunted, Wilde continues his research for his family on DNA websites where he becomes caught up in a community of online doxxers, a secret group committed to exposing anonymous trolls.

Then one by one these doxxers start to die, and it soon becomes clear that a serial killer is targeting this secret community - and that his next victim might be Wilde himself ...

Genres: Mystery, Thriller, Fiction, Mystery Thriller, Suspense, Crime, Audiobook

Perfect Paperback

First published March 15, 2022

About the author

Harlan Coben is a #1 New York Times bestselling author and one of the world's leading storytellers. His suspense novels are published in forty-five languages and have been number one bestsellers in more than a dozen countries with seventy-five million books in print worldwide.

His books have earned the Edgar, Shamus, and Anthony Awards, and many have been developed into Netflix Original Drama series, including his adaptations of The Stranger, The Innocent, Gone for Good and The Woods. His most recent adaptation for Netflix, Stay Close, premiered on December 31, 2021 and stars Cush Jumbo, James Nesbitt, and Richard Armitage.

Reviews

[Meredith (Trying to catch up!) · Rating 4 out of 5]

So good!

4.25 stars

The Match is a fast-paced, action-packed thriller about a DNA match on an ancestry site that leads to murder, mayhem, and intrigue.

When Wilde, who made headlines as the boy from the woods when he was found as a child living in the wild in New Jersey, uploads his DNA on an ancestry website in the hopes of finding the identity of his parents, the consequences are beyond anything he could have predicted. Not only does he find a match to one of his parents, but he also matches with another individual who takes him on a dangerous journey that puts those he cares most about in grave danger.

In addition to Wilde, The Match also features Hester Crimstein as well as some other characters who make appearances in Coben’s novels. My previous encounter with Wilde was in The Boy from the Woods, which was not a favorite. You don’t need to read Coben’s other books before reading this one--it reads well as a standalone.

Everything that I took issue with in The Boy from the Woods was made up for in this one. Wilde’s character is fully formed and has some depth, and the mystery is compelling. Even better was that my armchair detective skills failed me. There were many twists and turns and surprises. Even though the identity of the killer is somewhat predictable, I was still surprised by the reveal.

I couldn't put this book down. It filled the void when I didn’t have WiFi, and that says a lot ! The ending was awesome, but it did leave me with some questions that I hope will be answered in the next book featuring Wilde’s character.

I highly recommend The Match to my fellow thriller fans who enjoy action-packed suspense, plot twists and turns, and a bit of over-the-top reality tv drama!

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

[Chelsea Humphrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Wilde had never met his father. Or his mother. Or any family member. He didn't know their names or where he was born or when or how he, as a very young child, ended up living alone in the woods of the Ramapo Mountains, fending for himself. Now, more than three decades after being "rescued" as a little boy-"ABANDONED AND FERAL!" one headline had put it; "A MODERN-DAY MOWGLI!" shouted another-Wilde sat no more than twenty yards from a blood relative and the elusive answers to his mysterious origin."

Friends, after a long anticipated wait, we finally receive answers to all the questions surrounding Wilde and his mysterious past. If you have no idea what I'm talking about, you probably haven't yet read The Boy from the Woods and should rectify that immediately. While this book could "technically" be read as a standalone, I can't say I'd recommend it as such, because there is so much character backstory you'll be missing that does play into a large portion of the plot, and the story will be much more meaningful once you have those deep ties to the familiar friends we've met before. Plus, it's not a long running series that will take you ages to catch up on! That said, if you're worried you may have forgotten what happened in the previous book, not to worry; Coben does a fantastic job of jogging your memory without giving a dreadful info dump that takes up a huge chunk of the beginning of this book.

Welcome back to a world with Wilde, Hester, Laila, Matthew, and Rola! It felt so good to revisit this timeline, and we're dropped back into the story about a year after the previous book ends. Wilde is back in the US and has found a lead on a biological family member. As this meeting happens, things are set into motion that cannot be done, but as per the author's usual M.O., we don't get to see how it all ties together and subsequently unfolds until the very end of the book. This isn't the first book that Harlan Coben has written that involves a plot featuring ancestry accounts online, but I can say it's used in a different way here than it was previously. There's laughter, plenty of suspense and action, and even a bit of a heartwarming love story here, folks. I don't want to give anything away, but I truly had no idea where this novel was going until the multiple big reveals at the end. Do yourself a favor and go ahead and pre-order The Match.

*Many thanks to the author for providing my review copy.

[Maureen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Apart from the occasional flashback, Wilde has no recollection of where he came from before he was found in the woods. How on earth had this little boy managed to survive? He’d been living a feral existence with no knowledge of who his parents were, or how he’d come to be abandoned in the woods.

Now in his forties, it’s taken years for Wilde to take a giant step and put his details into a DNA database, in the hope of finally discovering his true identity, and that of his parents.

A match is actually found - a close relative, but the relative deletes their details immediately. However, Wilde doesn’t give up, but his research results in him becoming embroiled in a secret online community, intent on exposing trolls - and then people start to die - one by one!

A definite page turner, although the family relationships were a little confusing at times, it was nevertheless a terrific read!

*Thank you to Netgalley and Random House UK Cornerstone for an ARC in exchange for an honest unbiased review*

[Holly B · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is second in the Wilde series, but I read it as a standalone.

The author gives a recap of Wilde and how he survived in the woods on his own for years as a child. I guess his name is appropriate, because he was also known as Little Tarzan and the feral boy.

He is grown-up and curious about his background and the circumstances that led to him being abandoned. He succombs to the temptation of one of those online DNA genealogy databases and soon gets a hit. He starts digging up the past and learning about his family ties.

I had high expectations going in, even though it has been a long time since I've read a Coban novel. The DNA aspect and some raving reviews really piqued my interest. A bit far-fetched and confusing at times. Ultimately, it was just an average read for me, just fine.

Thanks to NG and the publisher for my arc. OUT March 15, 2022

[Kaceey · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5*
Curious to know the secrets hidden deep within your family tree? Don’t be so sure…

Book two of The Wilde series. Honestly, I had second-thoughts about picking this one up. Having previously read book one The Boy From the Woods, I considered it just an ok, albeit confusing read.

But come on! It’s Harlan Coben! How could I not read one of his books!?💁🏻‍♀️. (Yes, I’ve read every book he has published). Once again, he’s at the top of his game. Everything missing in the previous book was included here making for an exciting and thrilling read!

Wilde was found abandoned in the woods. No one knows for sure how long he’s been there, surviving on his own. Taken into foster care and equally fortunate, befriended by Hester. Though, no matter what, he always maintains a measure of his loner status.

Wilde decides it’s time to research his past. Maybe find out what actually happened all those years ago. What could have possibly occurred that left him alone, scavenging in the woods. Well… all it takes is a DNA test. And one little MATCH!

But nothing can be that simple…right?!

I devoured this book in only a few sittings, and whole-heartedly didn’t want it to end! I’ve now come to love Wilde’s character. But not to be overlooked, the star of this book of course is Hester! She is a no-bull, take no prisoners kind of a gal! Oh, did I mention behind it all, she also has a heart of gold. Love her!❤️

Already looking forward to Harlan Coben’s next release. Will he continue with this series? Return to Myron and Win? Or perhaps it’s time for another stand-alone? Whatever his direction I’m all in and will be the first in line!🙋🏻‍♀️

Posted to: https://books-are-a-girls-best-friend...

Thank you to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing.

[Paromjit · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the sequel to The Boy From The Woods, from the ever reliable thriller writer, Harlan Coben, it features Wilde, who as a child made headlines as the abandoned feral boy discovered living in the Ramapo Mountains in New Jersey, where he now lives in a ecocapsule in the woods. Wilde returns from Costa Rica, and whilst he has never been curious about his background, he figures it will make no difference to him, he finally succumbs and submits his DNA to an ancestry website, an act that is to bring danger and unexpected surprises into his life. One is from PB, a cousin, reluctant to disclose his identity, a man who is facing a troubling set of circumstances and another that identifies his father as living in Henderson, Nevada, the owner of a construction business, who never knew of his existence, a product of a one night stand in Europe.

In a fast paced, action packed story with short chapters, there are a number of threads, and the return of an excellent supporting cast of characters, such as famous NYC attorney, Hester Grimstein with her cable news show, Grimstein on Crime. There is Laila, the widow of her dead son David, who had been Wilde's best friend, and her 18 year old grandson, Matthew, Wilde's grandson. There is a highly secret vigilante group, Boomerang, dedicated to delivering carefully orchestrated justice to the worst of online trolls, only to find themselves having to confront murders and a serial killer. Wilde finds himself drawn into a twisted quagmire of an investigation into who he is, delving into who his family is, which includes looking into the amoral but lucrative world of ratings driven reality television, helped by his foster sister, private investigator, Rola, and Grimstein.

The experienced Coben delivers a riveting thriller that is hard to put down, packed with suspense and tension, and with plenty of twists. We see the development of Wilde as a character, seemingly trapped into a lifetime of being alone, with an inability to invest emotionally in others on an everyday basis, but cracks begin to appear, he loves Matthew and his relationship with Laila begins to shift into more solid territory, and perhaps even one with long term prospects? This is a entertaining, exciting and engaging read, where Wilde, and we as readers, finally learn the truth of his background and his family. Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC.

[Ceecee · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Joanna Chu (The ChuseyReader) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my second 4 star book for 2022 :').

~ Quick Summary ~

Wilde, the boy from the woods, has no memory of his real family and goes through a DNA website to find out the truth where he is matched.

~ Pick this up if you enjoy/don’t mind the following ~

🕵️ Mystery and being kept guessing

🤯 Suspend belief, it's a crazy story!

❓ A odd mix of events and subplots, there’s quite a lot going on: DNA websites, a vigilante group targeting online bullies, reality tv and fame (hidden in case you like to go in blind).

~ What I Enjoyed ~

This was hard to put down. Over half way the chapters start to end with cliffhangers, it's been a while where I had the feeling where I just need to keep reading!

There was the right amount of drama and mystery. Even though I haven’t read the first book, I liked the characters and enjoyed the complexity in Wilde and his relationships.

~ What raised my eyebrow ~

Usually I’m fine with suspending belief, but it was a really weird mix of subplots and not what I expected.

~ What I wanted more of ~

The start of Wilde's investigation and the end was too short! In fact, I wish the whole book actually focused on that, I thought it was much more interesting. But sadly, that aspect was just an information dump,

[Anna Avian · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5* rounded up.

So far this is my least favorite Coben novel.
Far-fetched, chaotic and confusing at times. There were too many characters and too much going on. DNA drama, a reality show, a murder trial, a serial killer, a bunch of hackers, a bunch of attention seeking "stars", police, FBI, witsec, a vile mob family, siblings, half-siblings, romance and that's probably not even the half of it. I was literally tired of keeping up and towards the end I lost all interest in finding out who Wilde's biological parents were.

[NZLisaM · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s a Match!

Wilde, a name people associate with the Boy from the Woods, as that’s where he was found living alone, with no memory of how he got there, estimated age 6-8 years. Now in his early forties, in a bid to uncover any living relatives and find answers to the mysterious circumstances of his early childhood, Wilde submits his DNA to a genealogy website, and to his surprise, not only receives a match to a second cousin, but also Wilde’s actual father. What Wilde doesn’t anticipate happening is that his search for his biological family will see him embroiled in the murky world of a reality TV dating show, online trolls, cyber-bullying, vigilantism, a missing person case and a hunt for an active serial killer.

Assisting Wilde are all my favourites was the first book (The Boy From the Woods), Hester Crimstein, Laila, Matthew, Sutton, and Oren, and some new faces as well. And, this was mentioned very early on, so I feel it’s okay to reveal that The Stranger (from Coben’s earlier novel The Stranger) also made an appearance. FYI, you don’t need to know who any of these people are to enjoy The Match, as all relationships, ties, and Wilde’s backstory were explained. This one can definitely be read as a stand-alone, and if you want my honest opinion, I’d bypass The Boy From the Woods and read this one instead, as no. 1 just wasn’t that good, unless you really enjoy politics and punch-ups.

I wouldn’t call The Match fast-paced or action-packed, but there was always something happening to further the story, the plot was engaging and thought-provoking, the characters were amazing, and the twists were phenomenal, I even had one gasp out loud moment, and some emotional ones as well. I am also very excited for the next book, as I am liking the direction this series is going. But have no fear, the main mystery was solved, but as expected their were unanswered questions regarding the overall scope of the series. The only thing that bugged me was the endless resources, contacts, easy access, and finances Wilde had, but I guess things could get stale if we wasted time on red tape, so I can live with it.

A successful match!

I’d like to thank, Netgalley, Random House UK Cornerstone Century, and Harlan Coben for the e-ARC.

Publication Date: 17th March, 2022.

[Sujoya - theoverbookedbibliophile · Rating 4 out of 5]

Harlan Coben’s ‘The Match’ continues the story of Wilde, the protagonist of ‘The Boy from the Woods’ who was abandoned in the wilderness of the Ramapo Mountains in New Jersey as a child. Branded ‘feral’ and a modern-day ‘Mowgli’ by the media , he had barely any memory of his life or family before his days in the woods. Almost thirty-five years after being rescued and placed in foster care and with military experience and a career in private security behind him, Wilde, now in his early forties, is searching for clues that would help him find out more about his past and his true parentage.

When Wilde enters his DNA into a genealogy database he is matched with two people- Daniel Carter, a construction business owner in his sixties based in Nevada and a younger man “PB” closer to home who reaches out to him. He attempts to contact both of them in hopes of finding answers to the questions about his true identity that have been consuming him for all his life. However, his meeting in Nevada leaves him with more questions than answers and when Wilde tries to find out more about Daniel Carter, he seems to have disappeared without a trace. “PB” turns out to be a reality television star who is himself embroiled in scandal and absconding, feared dead. Wilde finds himself embroiled in much more than he had bargained for as his investigation leads him to the pretentious world of reality television, a covert group of hackers engaged in cyber vigilantism and a series of murders that has Wilde being questioned by local law enforcement and the FBI. Will Wilde be able to find the killer before more people are murdered? What happened to “PB” and does his disappearance have anything to do with the murders? Who is Daniel Carter and why did he disappear? Will Wilde find his family and get some much-needed closure? With assistance from his foster sister Rola, his late best friend David’s mother and celebrity defense attorney Hester Crimstein, David’s widow Laila with whom he is in a relationship, Laila’s son Matthew and Matthew’s girlfriend Sutton, Wilde tries to connect the dots and figure out how it all adds up as the body count continues to multiply.

'The Match' is definitely an improvement over the first book in the series .To be honest, 'The Boy from the Woods’ ended somewhat abruptly and was a tad disappointing. I’m glad that the author finally gives us a resolution to the mystery of Wilde’s past in this novel. I hope the author develops this character further in future novels. A lot is going on in this story and with the characters but the author keeps it compact and interesting. This is a fast–paced, action-packed and gripping read that kept me turning pages till the very end. Though this is a sequel to 'The Boy from the Woods', this novel can very well be read and enjoyed as a standalone novel.

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Harlan Coben rarely writes a believable story. And The Match is anything but. Yet…I found myself totally engaged in this crazy story and couldn’t wait to see how it would play out.
The story starts when Wilde has found a DNA match to his father. But his father was unaware of his existence. Next, he finds a link to a second cousin. A man who has gone missing. Of course, Wilde becomes engaged in searching for this man, who was a reality star before being brought down and haunted by social media trolls. And then there’s a group of vigilantes who expose those trolls. But now both some of the trolls and the vigilantes are dying.
The story flies by, it’s nonstop action. Yes, it’s convoluted. And the ending gives the reader twist after twist. I give Coben credit that I never saw any of them coming.
I also applaud Coben for actually taking time on character development. Wilde struggles with commitment, but he’s willing to attempt to grow and develop relationships.
Question for others - was Hester in Coben’s Myron Bolitar series? I remember her “articulate” phrase from other books and am thinking it must have been from more than possibly The Boy in the Woods.
I read TBITW but it was so long ago, it was like reading this as a stand alone. And the reader is given enough background that it can easily be read that way.
I listened to this and was less than impressed with Steven Weber. He really doesn’t make any effort to differentiate voices. It threw me every time the chapters would swing to the villian.

[Suz · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just happened to stumble across this new release on audio via BorrowBox at my local library. I was so excited as I think I was number one! I quickly downloaded it and reshuffled what else I had on to jump on to this one with gusto. I heavily use this platform and as I listened to number one via audio I was so pumped for this.

Wilde was the drawing card for this one; I wanted to know more. The story line for this one was a little convoluted and I was very much wanting to hear of Wilde's past. I mean, I guess this is what we got, but some of the main answers were given but I was a little underwhelmed with the big reveal. Even in the dialogue of the was this was presented underwhelmed me somewhat - BUT - I still enjoyed it a lot.

I was still happy to rate at four stars, but did enjoy number one more. I do love how Hester Crimstein is heavily involved with Wilde, and his friendship with her son still reminiced upon and mentioned heavily. There is more to this, and Wilde won't budge. I was a little disappointed in the action of her beau, Oran, when things went awry, and thought that Hester may have been a little more fired up than she was.

I think as I am SO not interested in reality television and the fakeness of Instagram and social media, that the distasteful part of this made me cringe. I know that Wilde also didn't go for this, but he focused well on the job at hand. Which was to find a serial killer involved in the one by one killing of a secret online community.

Wilde has entered his DNA into an online ancestry website and with the help of Laila, her son, and his girlfriend, Wilde was on a timeline to find the killer. It was great re visiting these characters, and to see the chemistry with he and Laila still as strong as ever.

I will be interested to see what my favourite author has for this interesting character that is Wilde, the boy who raised himself in the woods and is a strong and clever man, up there with the likes of Bolitar and Reacher. Someone you can trust, that has your back.

[Morgan · Rating 2 out of 5]

2-1/2*

Wilde (from “The Boy in the Woods”) apparently locates a second cousin and his birth father through DNA.

The story gets bogged down mixing up DNA, reality TV and cyber bullying all in one melting pot of a story.

It’s all a bit dubious and the whole DNA thing is major confusing, in fact I am still puzzled about Wilde and the cousin connection.

I appreciate the cautionary aspect the author has tried to convey about reality TV. (I assume that was his message). If you are a fan of reality TV you’ll love it – or maybe not.

There is an entire chapter of a court room scene with Hester defending a man accused of murder. In the end it has absolutely nothing to do with anything - nothing to do with Wilde, nothing to do with DNA, nothing to do with reality TV. Nothing to do with the story. (??)

I like Coben’s writing style even if the subject matter is not to my taste but I couldn’t manage 3-stars. Sorry Mr. Coben.

[Phrynne · Rating 4 out of 5]

For some reason I never did get around to reading The Boy from the Woods (Wilde, #1) so I was taking a chance reading this follow up as a stand alone. Lucky for me it worked out well and I enjoyed the book very much indeed. Coben gave me all the backstory I needed to understand what was going on.

And there was an awful lot going on! Wilde has at last decided to look for his unknown family and has signed up to a DNA data base. He gets a match which enables him to meet one important relative and things develop from there. He gets involved in the search for a serial killer, investigates some particularly vicious online trolls and has a few unfortunate episodes with the police. There is at the same time another storyline running, about a group of vigilantes whose identity is hidden from the reader. Eventually they become part of the main story and there is a clever twist at the end.

This is a very readable book with some great characters. I especially enjoyed Hester Crimstein and her smart talking during the courtroom scene. I am not sure if we ever found out the jury's verdict. If it was there I must have missed it.

Another successful book from Harlan Coben. He certainly knows how to write them.

[Jonetta · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story resumes following Wilde’s return to the New Jersey Ramapo Mountains after months in Costa Rica, his attempt at domesticity having failed. Before he left, he’d submitted his DNA to a genealogy site and now there’s been another match. The first had been to someone using the initials PB and listed as a second cousin. But this new one is different: the match is to his biological father. And, before he can reach out, the profile to DC disappears. With the help of noted NY defense attorney Hester Crimstein who is also his surrogate mother, he locates the man and Wilde proceeds on a journey that embroils him in the crazy world of reality TV, social media influencers and a strange vigilante group.

I continue to be intrigued by Wilde, the infamous “boy in the woods” who at almost forty is still trying to find his way. As he gets closer to discovering his identity, he has more questions than resolution. Meanwhile, his relationship with his godson Matthew and Laila, the teen’s mother and former wife of his deceased best friend, continues to evolve as he explores his origins. It was all fascinating if not a tangled mess that was a challenge to unravel. It all made for an exciting listening experience that gripped me from the first page.

While you don’t have to have read the first book to appreciate the mystery of this one, I’d encourage you to do so to better understand Wilde and get the weight of his transformation in this one. I love the narrator as he manages to capture his personality perfectly along with so many others, including Hester, my favorite. This story has so many dimensions and the vigilante group called Boomerang was a chilling factor. As with any of the author’s stories, there are a host of red herrings and delicious twists, all providing a reason for me not being able to put this one down until I got my answers. However, there’s still more to Wilde’s story, right Mr. Coben? Please say yes. 4.5 stars

Posted on Blue Mood Café

(Thanks to Brilliance Audio for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.)

[Pat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Harlan Coben is one of my all time favourite authors. I was thrilled to get this arc. This is a follow up book to the The Boy From the Woods which I appear to have completely missed although the Hester Crimstein character rings a huge bell, she must have appeared in other Coben books. It’s not a name you forget easily. Not to worry, it reads fine as a stand alone.

Wilde (the boy from the woods) is now 40-42 years old and is very keen to find any family he may have. He has sent his DNA to a genealogy site and there appears to be a match to his father. Wilde meets with him but the man, Daniel Carter, is very cagey and immediately deletes his accounts. There is also a weaker link to what is probably a cousin or half brother, PB. As Wilde looks into PB he opens a can of worms.

PB seems to be a man called Peter Bennett who rose to fame in a reality TV dating show where he married a woman called Jenn. After a couple of years, and with no child in sight, the couple sank into obscurity and suddenly a scandal was revealed about Peter and he was trolled mercilessly on social media.

Meanwhile, and unrelated to Wilde, an online vigilante group calling themselves “boomerang” which exists to “punish” internet trolls has been asked to look into the trolling of Peter Bennet. It decides to take no action but one of its members provides information to a external party who goes on a killing spree.

How do all these threads fit together and does Wilde end up finding his parents and learning why he was abandoned in the boys as a young boy? You’ll have to read the book to find out! I loved it. It was very entertaining. Harlan Coben has a talent for taking ordinary people and putting them in extraordinary circumstances where their mettle is tested in the extreme. Many thanks to Netgalley and Random House UK, Cornerstone for the much appreciated arc which I reviewed voluntarily and honestly.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

This is the second book in the 'Wilde' series, featuring the former 'feral boy' who lived alone in the woods as a child. Though the novel is a sequel, Coben provides enough information to read the book as a standalone.

*****

After Wilde was found in the forest when he about five or six, the boy grew up in a foster home, and later became a special forces soldier. Wilde now lives in an ecocapsule in the woods, and being an expert in surveillance and tracking, works as a private investigator.



People close to Wilde have urged him to look into his background, and perhaps identify his biological parents, which might explain how Wilde ended up a virtual orphan in the woods. Wilde resisted examining his history for years, but now - at around the age of forty - Wilde takes the plunge and sends his DNA to a site called DNAYourStory.



Wilde gets two hits, a man named Daniel Carter who seems to be his birth father and a second cousin named Peter Bennett, who's a reality TV star. Wilde contacts Daniel Carter, who claims he never knew Wilde existed, and says the boy must have resulted from a one-night-stand.



Wilde then tries to get in touch with Peter Bennett, who appears to be missing. Bennett's siblings fear he may have committed suicide because Peter's reality career - which began on a dating game that led to marriage - hit a giant snag, and Peter's been tormented and doxxed by trolls ever since.



It seems producers of reality shows are manipulative and sneaky, and will do almost anything to boost audience interest.

Wilde thinks Peter might lead him to his birth mother, so he sets out to search for the reality star, whom he hopes is still alive.



In this endeavor Wilde is assisted by his friends, including famous criminal attorney Hester Crimstein and Hester's sheriff boyfriend Oren Carmichael;





Hester's grandson Matthew;



and Wilde's foster sister, security expert Rola Naser.



Wilde's investigations are interspersed with chapters about 'Boomerang', a very secretive group of computer experts/vigilantes who target online trolls.



When a troll is deemed to have crossed the line with despicable/damaging comments, Boomerang takes action, and the 'revenge' is commensurate with the offense, though killing is definitely OFF the table.

As things play out, someone starts murdering online trolls, and some of the victims seem to have a connection with Wilde's inquiries. This puts Wilde on the cops' radar, which is never a good thing.



Meanwhile, Wilde - who was previously involved in a romance with Hester's widowed daughter-in-law Laila - is drawn to the beautiful woman once again.



By the end of the book we know more about Wilde's backstory, and a sequel would seem to be on the horizon.

This fast-paced thriller is a page turner that would probably appeal to many fans of the genre.

You can follow my reviews at https://reviewsbybarbsaffer.blogspot.com

[Bec (becbingesbooks) - sorry, behind with lots of catching up to do · Rating 5 out of 5]

There's a reason Harlan Coben has second to most books on my shelves (to Matthew Reilly), which thinking about it is funny because I tend to lean toward female authors... anyway, this was - like most his other books - AMAZING. Could. Not. Put. It. Down.

This is the second book with MMC 'Wilde' and whilst I'd read the first, I don't recall it clearly because it was ages ago so this could be read as a standalone for sure.

Wilde is looking to maybe find out more about his family after being abandoned in the woods from as long as he can remember and all the while, falls into links to a number of murders.

There are POV changes throughout and done extremely well.

Would recommend this to other crime thriller fans.

⚠️ Please check TWs online ⚠️

[Mike · Rating 3 out of 5]

The second in the Wilde series, The Match by Harlan Coben is a slow burner of a mystery thriller. Wilde is the boy from the woods, who lives in an eco-trailer and prefers an isolated existence. After signing up to an ancestry website, his DNA is matched to a second cousin and later with a man who is possibly his father. As Wilde follows up these links, he is left with even more questions about his past. Then his cousin disappears and Wilde gets caught up with The Stranger, a threatening, illusive figure. Another interesting yarn about Wilde, which helps fill more of his background story and delivers an emotionally tense finale. An enjoyable enough tale but the manifest danger did not quite deliver, so only a three-and-a-half-star read rating.

[Tracy P. · Rating 5 out of 5]

'The Match' (Wilde, #2) is even better (imho) than 'The Boy from the Woods' (Wilde, #1). I highly recommend reading book #1 first since this is its continuation and would be very difficult to understand if you do not.
In this episode Wilde is seeking to find any relatives he may have through an ancestry website. He ultimately reaches out to his most hopeful match - a second cousin - and they have a few very brief communications via email. Everything changes when he reads another -very concerning - message from him, and which Wilde avoided opening until several months after receiving in his inbox. As a result of the content in this message, he ends up in the middle of something dangerous, complex, and more life-changing than he ever could have imagined.
At times I was certain I knew where the plot was going, but then - in true Coben form - was always proven wrong and sent in a completely different direction. The twists/turns are endless and putting it down was always with much angst. The ending was phenomenal and I cannot wait for book #3. This gets my very highest of recommendations and accolades.

[Miya (severe pain struggles, slower at the moment) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this is the second Harlan Coben book I have read, and it was even better than the first. I couldn't put it down! So many questions and twists. Totally threw me off. I really thought I knew what was going on, but I was wrong. Such a fun fast paced read. Perfect for when you need an engaging distraction!

[CarolG · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wilde has grown up knowing nothing of his family. All he knows is that, as a young child, he was found living a feral existence in the Ramapo mountains of New Jersey. He became known simply as Wilde, the boy from the woods. Now Wilde has had a hit on the DNA website he has been researching and has found his father who had no idea of Wilde's existence. Wilde continues his search for family on DNA websites where he becomes caught up in a community of online doxxers, a secret group committed to exposing anonymous trolls.

Firstly, I have to admit that even though it's less than a year since I read "The Boy from the Woods", I don't remember much about it other than the basics but as I read "The Match" pieces of it started coming back to me and I especially remember Hester Crimstein, a crusty lawyer in her 70s (I think), who keeps a protective eye on Wilde. Basically it's not necessary to have read the first book but it might help to fill in the background. I really enjoyed this book, it was a smooth read with many plot lines to follow and I was kept guessing until the end about who was behind everything. I thought the ending was perfect and I really hope there's a third book in the works. I learned a lot about online trolls too and I suspect it's worse now than it was when this book was written. I confess that I didn't know what a "doxxer" was prior to reading this. 4.5 Stars rounded up!

Thanks to the London Public Library for the loan of this book.

[Mark · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is Book 2 of 2 in the Wilde series, previous book ‘The Boy From The Woods’

There isen’t many authors who can write a chaotic, sometimes muddled, often repetitive and at times ( for me ) confusing book AND still make it a goodish read, Harlan Coben is one of those that can, I found this book all the things mentioned yet I still wanted to plough through and get to the conclusion, the more effort I put into the book, the more determined I was!
This book deals with DNA Internet ‘search send and find’ companies and the reality of a ‘match’ being found, dabbles with internet bullying and its consequences and takes a look at reality TV programmes and their effects on participants and viewers and manages to tie it up with Wilde and his search for why he was left as a child in the woods
Coben is a Master of thrillers and so can afford to be indulgent in his writing and he is but this coupled with the afore mentioned sometimes confusing storyline led to a good read rather than one of his brilliant reads, he is such a legend though and commands such loyalty from readers including me that when his next book appears I will be as keen to read it as ever

6/10
3 Stars

[Mandy White (mandylovestoread) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely brilliant!

There is a reason why Harlan Coben is one of my most trusted and favourite authors. His books are always clever and full of twists that keep you guessing right until the very end. A rainy day in Sydney saw me curl up and get lost in Wilde's world and I loved every minute of it.

The Boy From The Woods - Wilde, is back in The Match. He has finally taken the plunge and submitted his DNA to a genealogy website in an attempt to find out who he is and where he came from. When he gets a match to a possible relative, it is the start of very dark and dangerous journey. He will become involved with online trolls, a possible serial killer, a group of vigilantes and a missing reality TV star. What is not to love about that.

This book also features some characters from some previous Coben books, which was a lovely surprise. We learn so much more about Wilde and watch him change his thought and habits. He is a great character, so many layers.

If you haven't read a book by Harlan Coben, why not? You are seriously missing out on some amazing characters and stories.

The Match is published March 16th. Thank you so much to Penguin Australia for sending me one of my most anticipated books for 2021. Easily all the stars.

[Jamie Rosenblit · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wilde is back and dare I say, this is Coben’s best book yet. With some old favorites (hello, Hester Crimstein) reappearing and some newer darlings from Wilde’s last book, we are drawn deeper into the life of the boy from the woods. Mixing elements of DNA tracking sites (a la 23andme), reality TV and vigilante justice, the characters feel like friends and as always, I regret finishing too quickly, knowing that I will need to wait a year for the next book.

This is a follow up to The Boy From the Woods but can definitely be read stand alone as well (you should definitely read both, because they are great, but you don’t HAAAAVE to read TBFTW to read The Match)

Look for this one in March 2022!

Thank you to the author and Grand Central Pub for a review copy. All opinions are my own.

[Cindy Robins · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was filled with gaping plot holes, and the end had me so confused I re-read it three times before accepting it was Coben’s fault, not mine, that I couldn’t follow what went on.

[Barbara Schultz · Rating 5 out of 5]

4 .5 Stars!!!
Wow Wow Wow! What an amazing imagination!
How in the world does Harlan Coben think of these things?

Harlan Coben is one of my fav authors this is book #33 for me. This is Book #2 the ‘Wilde’ series. “The Boy in the Woods” was Book #1. In that story we meet Wilde who actually wasn’t a “boy” as the title indicates; Wilde is in his mid-30s. However, the story does take us back to when he was abandoned; he survived by breaking into empty cabins and summer homes searching for food. When he was rescued he was described as ‘Abandoned and Feral”. There were several subplots in Book #1, all had me curious.

Pleased to see “hot” 70 something, defense attorney Hester Crimsten is once again staying connected. She, of course, has been in other Coben novels. Coben’s wit comes through in Hester.
Hester and Oren are still a couple. Hester states she is much too old to say she has a boyfriend but is fine with Oren being her beau!

As the title indicates, Wilde is trying to find his family. He used a genealogy site and finds Daniel Carter who is a DNA match and believed to be his biological father. When Wilde travels to Vegas to meet him, Wilde is not only a surprise but a shock to Carter as he never knew he existed. However, knowing his age, his Carter states he was in the Air Force at that time and had perhaps 8 one-night stands but really doesn’t remember the women; therefore is no help in finding Wilde’s biological mother.
The DNA site that Wilde is using finds Peter Bennett a cousin on his mother’s side of the family.
Peter Bennett is a reality star on the show “Love is a Battlefield”. I, of course, thought the same as Wilde as in Pat Benatar’s song “Love is a Battlefield” is now a reality show?

Story kept me turning pages as I, too, wanted to know ‘Wilde’s background was he left as a baby or was he abandoned short before he was found when he was six years old. Wilde cannot remember!

Hang in there as we find out the whole truth in this story!!!

Harlan Coben never disappoints!!!!!
Have to admit I was sad when Coben decided to part ways with Myron Bolitar (my favorite character ~ read every novel in that series!).
However, now excited with Wilde!!!

Want to thank NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for this eGalley. This file has been made available to me before publication in an early form for an honest professional review.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for March 15, 2022

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wilde's life was comprised of secrets, lies and most of his time living in complete privacy in the woods. But his determination to discover something about who he was saw him placing his DNA on a website, hoping for a match with his past. In the meantime, a secret group of cyber investigators, who ousted those using the internet in a cruel and inhumane manner - trolls - were shocked when one of their own was murdered. The leader disbanded the group and searched for Wilde. But one by one, more were murdered - Wilde and the group's leader were on the clock. Between Wilde's past, the DNA links to his family, and the killer, Wilde was in danger...

The Match is the 2nd in the Wilde series by Harlan Coben and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Following on from The Boy From the Woods, this one feels like it could be the ending. I hope not - I'm entertained by Wilde's character and would like there to be more :) Intense, gritty with plenty of twists, The Match is a well written thriller which I'm happy to recommend.

[Nadia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Let me start by saying that I wasn't a big fan of The Boy from the Woods. It was the first book by HC that I was not mad about. Fortunately the Match is very good and it can be read as a standalone which I'd personally recommend. 


Wilde, the 'tarzan child' who grew up in the woods on his own, is now 40 years old and finally finds the courage to look for his biological parents. Wilde registers with a DNA site and boom, there's a couple of relatives there. He corresponds with his cousin who is reluctant to reveal his identity as he is well known. When the cousin sends a cryptic message and is not heard from for months, Wilde decides to track him down. What follows is a wild rollecoster ride!


I really enjoyed reading the Match and was going to give it 5 stars but... At the end of the book we learn how Wilde ended up living in the woods on his own and no parents claimed him when he was found. Unfortunately I found the explanation quite weak and unconvincing which was disappointing. Other than that, I had fun with this one!


Many thanks to the publisher for my review copy in exchange for an honest review.