Fool Me Once

After being captivated by the Netflix TV series adaptation of “Fool Me Once,” I was compelled to explore the original novel by Harlan Coben. My motivation stemmed from a sense that the series, while entertaining, might have glossed over nuances and complexities inherent in the source material. This assumption proved partially correct; the book indeed offers a deeper dive into the intricacies of the plot which the adaptation had trimmed or altered for dramatic effect.

Harlan Coben's “Fool Me Once” masterfully maintains a gripping sense of mystery that propels the narrative forward at an exhilarating pace. The storytelling is taut, with just the right amount of twists to keep the pages turning without resorting to the overly sensational additions found in the TV version. The book balances plot development with character depth, making for a reading experience that was both engaging and satisfying.

In conclusion, while the Netflix series introduced me to the story, the novel provided a more fulfilling and complex experience, resonating with a richness that the adaptation could only hint at. “Fool Me Once” is a testament to Coben's ability to craft suspense that is not only entertaining but also intellectually stimulating.

Really good book.

What a fun and interesting Audiobook. The narrator was amazing for me and I loved the story. I did predict some of what would happen but that didn't take away from this at all.

The writing flows well and the pacing was perfect. Will definitely be reading and/or listening to this author again.

I'm not sure this was a bad book, it just wasn't my kind of thing. I read it for the 12 in 12 Challenge and probably wouldn't have picked it up otherwise. If you like military characters with questionable morals and mysteries with big twists, this is the book for you! I just couldn't stand the MC and thought the final twist was a bit too much.

Another good one. Ending tough but understandable.

This book, like most Harlan Coben books I've read (with the exception being the Boltair series), was all over the place. The (not surprising) twist comes from Coben trying to confuse the reader throughout the entire book. Despite that, it was still a good read though I could have done with a different ending.

Did not foresee that twist at all.

I took a risk after being disappointed with Coben's last book or two. This one was pretty decent - a page turner for sure. With so many implausible events, however, it seems he continues to write to the blockbuster movie buff and not to the reader who pays close attention to details. I think I am outgrowing him and that is so sad. I used to love reading his work.

I read this book because a friend of mine whose opinion I respect recommended it.

I'm glad I did.

But I will say that throughout most of this story I kept thinking, “Something's not right, something's not fitting.” as I projected out what I thought would be the outcome. The end was a great twist/not a twist resolution that was in front of you all the time, but you (OK, I) just didn't see because I had already placed certain people/things into a predetermined box of roles and occurrences. I like it when a writer and story make you see some preconceived biases that color your thinking and make you realize that you need to look at things from a wider variety of perspectives.

I really enjoyed this one. Lots of twists and turns, and the one at the end had me going WHOA. I did not see that coming.



This would have been a 5 star read for me, but I didn't like how the author wrapped it up. Overall though this is definitely worth a read.