I was introduced to mystery writer Harlan Coben years ago when I read his breakout novel “Tell No One.”
I mentioned my fondness for that book in a review I wrote about Coben’s 2018 Netflix series “Safe” (which is terrific — read my review).
“Tell No One” (which, at the time, was a departure from Coben’s Myron Bolitar series) became the blueprint for the author’s string of successful “suburban thrillers.”
Coben's protagonists aren’t secret agents or highly trained special forces operatives. Instead, his novels focus on regular, relatable people like you and me.
His thrillers (other than the occasional entry in the Bolitar series) are standalone in nature.
It’s nice knowing you don’t have to slog through two dozen novels to get caught up. You can read his novels in any order.
I have all of Coben’s novels resting neatly on a bookshelf in our basement. I purchased half of the books in the collection. The rest were passed along to me when my mom died of gallbladder cancer in 2013.
The author has been spending time the past few weeks tweeting about the series adaptation of his 2015 thriller “The Stranger” — set to drop on Netflix on Jan. 30, 2020.
I decided I wanted to read “The Stranger” before watching the series so I could compare and contrast the two.
“The Stranger” tells the story of Adam Price. Price is lawyer who lives in Cedarfield, New Jersey, with his wife Corinne and their two sons, Ryan (a 6th grader) and Thomas (a high school sophomore).
In the opening pages of the story, Price is attending the 4th, 5th, and 6th grade boys lacrosse draft (his son Ryan plays) at the American Legion Hall. A stranger (a man described as having piercing blue eyes) comes up to Adam at the bar and tells him that his wife faked her recent pregnancy.
The stranger informs Adam that he didn’t have to stay with Corinne when she became pregnant — and that her subsequent miscarriage was all a ruse.
“She lied to you, Adam,” the man says. “Corinne. She was never pregnant. It was all a ruse to get you back.”
Adam is both stunned and incensed by the man’s pointed accusations.
He questions the stranger’s veracity and brings up the fact that he saw a sonogram. The stranger replies, “if you really need proof, check your Visa card. Look for a charge to Novelty Funsy.”
Before he leaves the Legion Hall, the stranger twists the dagger a little more. “If I were you,” he tells Adam, “I’d probably run DNA tests on your two boys.”
It is a classic Coben setup — a family man living an idyllic suburban life getting thrust into a swirling conspiracy that is both chilling and instantly relatable.
It's a deceptively simple “what if” concept.
Coben’s strength as a mystery writer is the way he is able to pose a question — a question that throws the protagonist’s life into turmoil — then spend a few hundred pages peeling back the layers as the characters work to find the answer.
He is adept at seasoning his novels with the right dose of “MacGuffins” and “red herrings” to keep you guessing — without making the wait frustrating.
I devoured “The Stranger” in fairly short order. The story weaves in a number of interesting characters, and has you on edge until the somber and satisfying conclusion.
In addition to the thrilling twists Coben is known for, the author also does a nice job exploring Adam’s relationship with his two sons.
It’s the small moments that make the story feel real... like a scene where Adam is trying to figure out what kind of pizza to order his sons for dinner — one wants pepperoni, the other wants buffalo chicken. So he tells them he’ll order the pizza half-and-half.
Both boys worry they won’t have enough to eat, so Adam adds an order of mozzarella sticks and informs his son Ryan there are Chipwiches in the freezer for dessert.
While it might seem like an innocuous part of the plot, the interaction illustrates how much Adam (who is fairly distraught at that point in the story) cares about his sons.
I mentioned earlier that “The Stranger” has been made into a limited series for Netflix.
When it comes to filmed versions of Coben’s novels, the author has found a receptive audience overseas. “Tell No One” was made into a theatrical movie in 2006 by a French filmmaker. It was nominated for — and won — several Cesar Awards (France’s equivalent of the Oscars).
“The Stranger” spans eight episodes and was filmed in Great Britain (where two other Coben series — “Safe” and “The Five” — were filmed).
The book took place primarily in New Jersey. I look forward to seeing if a different locale brings any unique plot dynamics Netflix’s adaptation of “The Stranger.”
Here is the trailer for the series:
While I’m sure there will be a number of creative departures from Coben’s novel, the Netflix series looks terrific. I can’t wait to watch it. Once I do, I’ll have a review.
If you haven’t had the opportunity to read Harlan Coben’s thrillers, I would encourage you to give novels a try.
“The Stranger” might be a good place to start. It embodies all the elements that make Coben’s stand alone thrillers so compelling. Plus, you can check out the new Netflix series after you’re finished with the book.
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