Book Summary

"The Woods" is an exciting and mysterious novel by Harlan Coben that revolves around the personal life of a character named Paul and the events surrounding him. Paul has recently lost his sister and is still consumed by grief over her absence. His sister went to a forest one last time and never returned home, and since that night, despite the passage of several years, the protagonist continues to seek information about her in an attempt to alleviate his sorrow.

In the meantime, a man's body is discovered near Paul's residence, which serves as a catalyst for his search, as he believes there is a connection between this man's body and his sister's death. Harlan Coben has created such a gripping and popular story that, alongside its unprecedented reception from audiences and sales of 60 million copies worldwide, Netflix has also considered producing a series based on it. The narrative of the book does not merely conclude with solving a mystery; it unveils secrets regarding betrayal, love, and family, while also highlighting the impact of past crimes on the lives of innocent people, which adds to its allure.

Readers should be aware that they are engaging with a text that aims to uncover the roots of its events within the home and family, and for this reason, they should patiently progress through it until the end to fully appreciate such a remarkable work.

About the Author

Harlan Coben is an American author born on January 4, 1962, in New Jersey. After completing high school, he attended Amherst College and graduated with a degree in Political Science. Following his university studies, Coben worked at his grandfather's travel agency, and at the age of 26, his first manuscript was set for publication. His continued writing career has earned him awards such as Edgar, Anthony, and Shamus, as well as an invitation to write for The New York Times. Coben has had several series and films adapted from his works, including the Myron Bolitar series and standalone novels such as "Missing You," "The Stranger," and "Hold Tight."

Who Should Read the Book?

It is recommended for fans of mystery and multi-faceted stories to read "The Woods" with focus at an appropriate time.

Book Quotes

The door opened, and two men entered the hall. I guessed they were police. After all, I’m a lawyer in Essex County and work in the crime-ridden city of Newark, so I figured they had to be police. Television staff dress like this too, but the Ridgewood folks do not. We wear comfortable pants or jeans and a t-shirt under our shirts to watch our kids’ sports events. We never dress formally for places like this.

These two were wearing suits in a shade of brown that reminded me of tree trunks after a heavy rain. They scanned the area without a smile. A bad feeling washed over me. Maybe something was wrong. I know most of the police in this area. Even though I hadn’t done anything, my heart was racing.

Greta and her husband, Bob, have three children. Their youngest daughter, Madison, is six years old and a classmate of Cara’s. They helped me a lot. After my wife, Jane, passed away, Greta’s sister moved to Ridgewood. Greta said she had new plans for her life, but I was skeptical. Still, they had been so good to me that I didn’t protest. I can’t imagine life without them.

I had seen this photo millions of times. The media loved this picture because it seemed strangely ordinary. Camille was a babysitter and had a certain charm, but the photo didn’t resemble Camille at all; it showed a nasty girl with devilish eyes and an off-putting smirk that would scare any boy away. My sister was much more beautiful than this photo, but whatever it was, it cost her her life.