The Stranger

Written by Harlan Coben

Narrated by George Newbern

#1 New York Times bestselling master of suspense Harlan Coben delivers his most shocking thriller yet, proving that a well-placed lie can help build a wonderful life—and a secret has the same explosive power to destroy it.

The Stranger appears out of nowhere, perhaps in a bar, or a parking lot, or at the grocery store. His identity is unknown. His motives are unclear. His information is undeniable. Then he whispers a few words in your ear and disappears, leaving you picking up the pieces of your shattered world.

Adam Price has a lot to lose: a comfortable marriage to a beautiful woman, two wonderful sons, and all the trappings of the American Dream: a big house, a good job, a seemingly perfect life.

Then he runs into the Stranger. When he learns a devastating secret about his wife, Corinne, he confronts her, and the mirage of perfection disappears as if it never existed at all. Soon Adam finds himself tangled in something far darker than even Corinne’s deception, and realizes that if he doesn’t make exactly the right moves, the conspiracy he’s stumbled into will not only ruin lives—it will end them.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Brilliance Audio
• Release date: Mar 24, 2015
• ISBN: 9781455876136

Harlan Coben

Harlan Coben is an international No.1 bestselling thriller author. He is the winner of the EDGAR, SHAMUS and ANTHONY AWARDs - the first to receive all three. His books are published in 40 languages, with over 75 million copies in print worldwide. Both his standalone thrillers and series featuring the indomitable Myron Bolitar have been No.1 bestsellers in over a dozen countries, gracing the lists of the SUNDAY TIMES and the NEW YORK TIMES. His novel TELL NO ONE was turned into the smash hit French film of the same name, and received the highly coveted LUMIERE (French Golden Globe) for best picture as well as four CESARS (French Oscar). Harlan lives in New Jersey with his family. Find out more at www.harlancoben.com or follow him on Twitter @HarlanCoben

Reviews for The Stranger

[Michelle · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Secrets, lies, and pretense lead to a definite surprise ending!

[Lisa Schweitzer · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This book wasn’t terrible but wasn’t the greatest either. There were parts that were far fetched and reminded me of s a Life Time movie. I really didn’t care about or connect with the characters. Usually I’m rooting for the main character but this time I really didn’t care.

[Sharon Winningham · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Fast paced storyline! Really enjoyed this one and will definitely be reading more from this author

[tina1969_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Adam Price has the perfect life, a beautiful wife and two boys. He meets a stranger in a bar who shatters that perfect life, his wife it seems has a secret.I haven't read many Harlan Coben books in the past so its made a change to come away from my usual reads. This book is a crime that's a bit different. I found that as soon as I started to read this book I was drawn into the story instantly. There was enough for me to care and to want to finish the book. I found the book very easy to read. The story however at times I felt was a little confusing. It does at the end all come together and all is explained. I did want to see the whys and hows so I needed to stick with until the end. The story had some suspense to it and a few twists. At times the book reminded me of Linwood Barclay. I would read more by Harlan Coben in the future as I found this read nice and easy.

[Mark P. Fisher · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Delightful. Interesting. Kept me to the end.
The abridged audio version is well paced.

[eadieb-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I enjoyed this latest installment from Harlan Coben. Once again, his writing and plot keeps you hooked until the end. His characters seem like people you know and are very believable. If you are a fan of Coben's writing, then don't miss this one as Harlan hardly disappoints!

[doug mayblum · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Preposterous . Plot was ridiculously contrived. Waste of time.

[nyiper · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Yes, another page turner by Coben but I found myself having to check back every now and then to keep straight who was who. Sigh.....I didn't really like the ending but then again, what could you expect under the circumstances in the story. I had to hunt to find this older book as I work to read all of his stand alone novels although I keep waiting for possibly another Myron Bolitar book???

[ppival-665867 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Well THAT was certainly a roller coaster!

[mrdee0 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Enjoyable read. Ending a bit sad-didn't expect the ending...

[jldarden · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I have read a couple other Coben books and this suffers from the same malady as others. The plot ends up being over convoluted. Too many threads and people involved. It strains credulity. I did like the story and the characters though someone I did not expect ends up dead.
Ok for what it is and I do have one more Coben on my tbh pile I can compare.

[dara85 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A stranger tells Adam that his wife faked a pregnancy. Adam, who felt he and his wife, Corinne were always honest with each other, verifies that the stranger was correct. Adam confronts his wife and she puts him off and says they will talk about it later. Corinne then disappears and Adam thinking she does not want to talk to him, does not get concerned until he learns she missed work, which she rarely does. He then spends his time trying to find Corinne and trying to figure out where she could have gone.

[lcmcsr-812737 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I watched the Netflix series and then read the book. While each stand on their own, I found the differences striking. The book fleshes out the scenes meticulously and compels the reader to continue turning pages regardless of life's pressure to complete household chores. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

[zmagic69 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A overall good book not terribly plausible especially towards the end but the author clearly had a good idea, I think he just didn’t totally know what to do with the idea.
People are being blackmailed for this they have done on the internet, then people start to get killed.

[susan.macura · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This book started off very slowly. I almost put it down unfinished. However, the action started picking up though the twists did not always make sense, nor did they really tie in together all that well. Despite some weaknesses, it was an interesting concept - the danger of keeping secrets. Secrets are hard to keep, especially in today's interconnected world.

[nwieme-1 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

I love reading Harlan Coben's books but this one disappointed me. I have to say I had to keep reading to unravel the "mystery" but it was lame. I like his writing - and as mentioned- it kept me reading, but lame, contrived - I just didn't connect or believe anything in the story.

Too little was known about most of the characters to even care.

I'll wait for the next one. Maybe Myron will return and all will be well.

[joyceclark · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I picked up this book because we've been enjoying the TV series. Really enjoyed it - fewer subplots than the TV series, which makes sense since Coben wasn't trying to stretch it out over many episodes. I found it suspenseful, and was actually surprised when all the pieces came together at the end. Will definitely try another Coben novel.

[jennifer6hettenbach · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I will admit when I read the blurb on this book even before I bought it I thought it had more to do with the wife and less with everyone elses secrets. I guess I thought it would be a kind of "you don't really know who you are married to" kind of thing so on that point I am a little disappointed. It is well written and keeps you guessing so there is that. This is the first of his books that I have read so I will give him another shot is something peeks my interest, but I will take the blurb with a grain of salt.

[jekka-986711 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

As appropriate for the genre, this was a fast and engaging read with an interesting plot and plenty of twists. I do wish that some of the action scenes had been a little better fleshed out - it felt like a monumental build up for an action sequence that ended up being a little anticlimactic. Still a decent read, would recommend to fans of the thriller/mystery genres.

[jfe16 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Adam Price, his wife, Corinne, and their sons, Thomas and Ryan, make their home in Cedarfield, New Jersey where, like every other family living “the American Dream,” the boys go to school and play ball while the parents have jobs and work to maintain the comfortable lifestyle to which they’ve become accustomed.

One afternoon, a stranger, one who makes a practice of revealing someone’s dark secrets to others, approaches Adam Price and quietly provides him with some information that ultimately upsets his home and, he believes, causes his wife, Corinne, to leave for a few days. But then she vanishes . . . there’s no response to telephone calls or text messages and Adam is worried. He needs to find her. He wants her home, wants to smooth things over; their boys want their mother home, too. He’s determined that his family will not become a casualty of the stranger’s seeming desire to destroy lives.

Certain their marriage can survive Corinne’s secret, Adam continues his search not realizing that everyone he holds dear is now at risk.

The characters in this absorbing tale are well-developed although it seems rather strange that a prestigious lawyer like Adam is so naïve. He’s decent and likable, a character most readers are sure to find empathetic. The others are realistic, supported by a strong sense of place and, for Adam, a strong sense of purpose.

As Adam searches for answers, the unfolding plot takes some unexpected twists, taking the story in some surprising directions. As Adam pursues the truth, several other subplots play into the telling of the tale and bringing a police captain from Ohio into the New Jersey mystery.

The only downside here is that the explanation for the stranger’s behavior requires a rather large dose of suspension of disbelief on the part of the reader. In addition, the reason for Corinne’s secret behavior is rather flimsy and may become the cause reader eye-rolling. Nevertheless, it’s a complex, twisted tale that mystery-lovers are sure to enjoy.

Recommended.

[carlathelibrarian · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

It was supposed to be easy money, no one was supposed to get hurt, they were only exposing liars and deceitful people, weren't they. The stranger and his friend reveal secrets to people that rock their world. Some are blackmail and some they are paid to reveal, but things go horribly wrong.

When Adam Price is told that his wife faked her pregnancy and miscarriage by "The Stranger" he wants to know where and how he got his information. All he tells him is how to find the evidence to prove what he told him is true. Does he believe the stranger or trust Corrine. Will this revelation destroy his family and ruin life for his two boys? One lie revealed leads to another secret in this nail biter. It was hard to put it down until the last page was turned.

[rmarcin-630843 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Interesting story about secrets and the lengths we will go to protect our family from being exposed. I did think that the main character did some things that were a little far fetched, but I still enjoyed the novel.

[buffalogr · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The book starts off slow an boring....soccer moms an suburbia, what could be more boring? But the intensity increases as the reader proceeds. There are a lot of characters, the prime one is Adam, who's wife disappears. Most of the book involves Adam trying to Find Corine. The teen age boys play a small teen part, which adds to the realistic feel. Then, about half way through, the story grabs you and the book is unstoppable.

[justagirlwithabook · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This was my first Harlan Coben book recommended to me by a friend, and it was pretty entertaining (entertaining enough that I went out and bought a few more that I stumbled upon in a used book store ... that I have yet to get to). It was fairly suspenseful and a bit of a 'who-dun-it' plot line but I enjoyed it overall.

[shannon.dolgos · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

When the stranger approached Adam, he revealed a secret that didn't shock Adam to the core...

When Adam confronts his wife Corrine with the information, she doesn't deny it, but worse...she confirms it is true. She begs Adam to give her time to explain...and then she disappears.

Adam tries to comfort his boys, but doesn't know what to tell them. Frantic, he begins to search for the stranger and his wife.

Some secrets should remain secret, and some secrets will kill you.

[shannon.doutt · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

When the stranger approached Adam, he revealed a secret that didn't shock Adam to the core...

When Adam confronts his wife Corrine with the information, she doesn't deny it, but worse...she confirms it is true. She begs Adam to give her time to explain...and then she disappears.

Adam tries to comfort his boys, but doesn't know what to tell them. Frantic, he begins to search for the stranger and his wife.

Some secrets should remain secret, and some secrets will kill you.

[techeditor_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Once again Harlan Coben has written an unputdownable novel.

As always, Coben gives us a multilayered story that is actually story upon story upon story. That's what makes it unputdownable, but that also makes for lots of characters' names to remember. So pay attention and don't read it too fast.

The main story is about Adam and Corinne. A stranger has revealed to Adam a secret Corinne has kept from him for a couple of years. After he confronts her with it, she disappears. Now the mystery(s) begins.

Every one of the stories involves a devastating secret and usually blackmail. They are all intertwined, and each builds on Adam's mystery. Each also keeps the reader trying to guess the solution. But I've never been able to guess the solution to Coben's mysteries. I didn't guess here, either.

[bookczuk · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Harlan Coben, once again, doesn't disappoint.

[kerilynned · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

If you love a good mystery story that has a lot of characters who are all somewhat connected than you will enjoy this book! It has really great pace and keeps you guessing at to how everyone is actually connected. I was a tad disappointed with one aspect of the story but it was still a really good read. This is the first book I have read by this author but I am sure to read more now!

[asomers_8 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I haven't read any Harlan Coben books for quite awhile. After reading this page turner, I think I need to go back and catch up on some of his work over the past couple of years. Of course I enjoyed the many references to local New Jersey towns.