The Stranger
by Harlan Coben
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" #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 show more 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"-- show lessTags
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From Amazon:
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 show more 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.
My Thoughts:
I wasn't entirely convinced by the stranger's motivation for messing with people's lives, but the world is full of people who are motivated by odd beliefs so it was easy to set those doubts aside. The ending comes as something of an anti-climax, in part because the reveal of the main bad guy is fairly obvious, and in part because the actions of a supporting character at the end of the novel struck me as fairly unlikely. Despite a mildly disappointing ending, I enjoyed The Stranger. The pace is brisk, the characters are likable, and after all it IS Harlan Coben. show less
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 show more 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.
My Thoughts:
I wasn't entirely convinced by the stranger's motivation for messing with people's lives, but the world is full of people who are motivated by odd beliefs so it was easy to set those doubts aside. The ending comes as something of an anti-climax, in part because the reveal of the main bad guy is fairly obvious, and in part because the actions of a supporting character at the end of the novel struck me as fairly unlikely. Despite a mildly disappointing ending, I enjoyed The Stranger. The pace is brisk, the characters are likable, and after all it IS Harlan Coben. show less
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 show more 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. show less
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 show more 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. show less
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...
Possibly one of my new favourite authors!
This was another bookclub read and believe me I was happy to go back to an easy to read fast-paced thriller after having to really think through the literary nuances of our last book (well written - but not my thing). I was slightly dubious as we chose this one after consuming the champers and I had not read any Harlen Coben before. (Shameful as it turns out.)
It's fast paced, easy to read, with enough show more twists that the ending is not obvious til..well, you get to the end! I read it pretty much in one sitting (with a couple of hours sleep when my husband insisted I turn off the light!)
You feel like Coben is telling a number of separate tales, leaving you to wonder how they could possibly be relevant to the main story line, but by the end he has superbly woven them together in a way you don't see coming.
Interestingly, I see a lot of reviewers who say they are Coben fans not really liking this book, and preferring others. If this is where his "bad" starts I just can't wait to get into the rest of his catalogue!
Ultimately this book left me with the question...
In the end, are some secrets best left buried? show less
Possibly one of my new favourite authors!
This was another bookclub read and believe me I was happy to go back to an easy to read fast-paced thriller after having to really think through the literary nuances of our last book (well written - but not my thing). I was slightly dubious as we chose this one after consuming the champers and I had not read any Harlen Coben before. (Shameful as it turns out.)
It's fast paced, easy to read, with enough show more twists that the ending is not obvious til..well, you get to the end! I read it pretty much in one sitting (with a couple of hours sleep when my husband insisted I turn off the light!)
You feel like Coben is telling a number of separate tales, leaving you to wonder how they could possibly be relevant to the main story line, but by the end he has superbly woven them together in a way you don't see coming.
Interestingly, I see a lot of reviewers who say they are Coben fans not really liking this book, and preferring others. If this is where his "bad" starts I just can't wait to get into the rest of his catalogue!
Ultimately this book left me with the question...
In the end, are some secrets best left buried? show less
After meeting "The Stranger" in a bar, Adam's life changed in a flash. A young, white, skinny, geeky-looking guy in a baseball cap told Adam a MAJOR secret about his wife (Corinne). Adam's gut was telling him that the stranger's words had a ring of truth to them. Now, Adam is forced to deal with something he never imagined. The stranger claims that the proof was in what seemed to be a harmless credit card charge, which Adam was able to find... then he confronts his wife, and she doesn't deny it. When they agree to meet for dinner to discuss it, she doesn't show up, but sends Adam a text asking for some time apart. Adam understands her needing time but what about their two boys, ages 16 & 12? Adam now wonders where she would go, but he show more has no idea and he's not sure if he should involve the police. This isn't like her. she is no longer answering her phone or texts. Finally, he focuses on the identity of "The Stranger". I wondered why he didn't do this to begin with. He finds that The Stranger is someone who finds terrible secrets about a people via the web, then that person has two options...to either pay to have the secret kept or choose not to pay & have the secret revealed. Was it a simple case of blackmail or something far more sinister? Adam soon finds himself tangled in something far darker than his wife's deception. I have always liked Harlan Coben's books, but I didn't like the outcome of this one...hence the 4 stars. show less
Any book that I cannot put down until I am finished automatically get 5 looks! This book will not change the world, will not bring about a soul change for the reader, and will not make you rethink the trajectory of your life. But, it will keep you on the edge of your seat and make you forget everything else for the hours that it takes you to read it.
Just released, I find that the summaries for this book (at the time of this review) are incorrect (they reference "Hannah" instead of the correct "Corrinne" as the wife's name, maybe a last minute edit before publishing). However, that small fact makes me think I am on the cutting edge of reading this one!
I could have used a little more background and family life of the periphery show more characters, as they factored in a little more as the story wore on, but it didn't detract from the rollercoaster ride that this book turned out to be. A nice, formulaic thriller, perfect for the beach, a rainy day, or a "palate cleanser" after a deep, dark read. It will grip you at the beginning and leave you satisfied at the end.
Highly recommended. show less
Just released, I find that the summaries for this book (at the time of this review) are incorrect (they reference "Hannah" instead of the correct "Corrinne" as the wife's name, maybe a last minute edit before publishing). However, that small fact makes me think I am on the cutting edge of reading this one!
I could have used a little more background and family life of the periphery show more characters, as they factored in a little more as the story wore on, but it didn't detract from the rollercoaster ride that this book turned out to be. A nice, formulaic thriller, perfect for the beach, a rainy day, or a "palate cleanser" after a deep, dark read. It will grip you at the beginning and leave you satisfied at the end.
Highly recommended. show less
The threads connecting the plot points were thin at best, and I just can't get behind a book where the defining moment happened, sight unseen, about a chapter in. That's not fair. Why did I spend all this time reading it when I was just going to be disappointed anyway, and nobody could have done anything to prevent it?
I'm also slightly resentful that I felt an insatiable need to find out what happened, so I stayed up too late reading when I should have been enjoying the king-sized bed at my in-laws' house and allowing someone else to tend to my child.
I wish this had been better.
I'm also slightly resentful that I felt an insatiable need to find out what happened, so I stayed up too late reading when I should have been enjoying the king-sized bed at my in-laws' house and allowing someone else to tend to my child.
I wish this had been better.
The Stranger Again
Review of the Brilliance Audio Abridged audiobook (March 24, 2015) released simultaneously with the original Dutton hardcover
I wasn't paying close enough attention when I snapped up several Audible titles towards the end of July 2022 during a sales offer. Harlan Coben's The Stranger seemed like an easy choice as Coben's 'everyman stuck inside a mystery' style is usually the sort of reliable suspense thriller to keep me engaged during long car rides. I had completely forgotten that I had actually already read it 7 years ago when it first came out.
I also realized that this was the Abridged edition from back in a time when they still did those (I think the gradual change of audiobooks from more bulky cassette tapes and/or show more CDs to digital audiostreams has been the end of that). At 5 and 1/2 hours it is about 2/3rds the length of the full audio of 9 hours and 45 minutes. That certainly accelerates the suspense and makes for a speedier solution and conclusion to this story of why various people are being approached by the title character and being told some sort of devastating news about their family. It also makes the reveal to be a little more absurd as well. Still a diverting listen though and George Newbern's reading was excellent. show less
Review of the Brilliance Audio Abridged audiobook (March 24, 2015) released simultaneously with the original Dutton hardcover
I wasn't paying close enough attention when I snapped up several Audible titles towards the end of July 2022 during a sales offer. Harlan Coben's The Stranger seemed like an easy choice as Coben's 'everyman stuck inside a mystery' style is usually the sort of reliable suspense thriller to keep me engaged during long car rides. I had completely forgotten that I had actually already read it 7 years ago when it first came out.
I also realized that this was the Abridged edition from back in a time when they still did those (I think the gradual change of audiobooks from more bulky cassette tapes and/or show more CDs to digital audiostreams has been the end of that). At 5 and 1/2 hours it is about 2/3rds the length of the full audio of 9 hours and 45 minutes. That certainly accelerates the suspense and makes for a speedier solution and conclusion to this story of why various people are being approached by the title character and being told some sort of devastating news about their family. It also makes the reveal to be a little more absurd as well. Still a diverting listen though and George Newbern's reading was excellent. show less
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Author Information
121+ Works 91,818 Members
Harlan Coben was born in Newark, New Jersey on January 4, 1962. After receiving a political science degree from Amherst College, he worked in the travel industry in a company owned by his grandfather. He writes the Myron Bolitar series and Mickey Bolitar series. His other works include Gone for Good, The Innocent, The Woods, Hold Tight, Caught, show more Stay Close, Six Years, Missing You, The Stranger, Fool Me Once, Home, and Don't Let Go. Tell No One was turned into the multiple award-winning 2006 French film Ne le Dis à Personne. He was the first author to win the Edgar Award, Shamus Award, and Anthony Award. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
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W Labiryncie Kłamstw (10)
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Common Knowledge
- Canonical title
- The Stranger
- Original title
- The Stranger
- Original publication date
- 2015-03-24
- People/Characters
- Adam Price; Corinne Price; Thomas Price; Ryan Price; Bob Baime; Kristin Hoy (show all 15); Tripp Evans; Eunice Rinsky; Heidi Dann; Suzanne Hope; John Kuntz; Michael Rinsky; John Kuntz; Johanna Griffin; Marty Dunn
- Important places
- New Jersey, USA; Cedarfield, New Jersey, USA
- Related movies*
- The Stranger, miniserie 2020
- Epigraph*
- De vreemde komt opeens tevoorschijn
De vreemde fluistert iets in je oor
De vreemde maakt je leven kapot - Dedication
- In loving memory of my cousin
Stephen Reiter
And in celebration of his children
David, Samantha, and Jason - First words
- The stranger didn't shatter Adam's world all at once.
- Quotations
- Oh my soul, be prepared for the coming of the Stranger.
Be prepared for him who knows how to ask questions.
There is one who remembers the way to your door:
Life you may evade, but Death you shall not.
~T.S... (show all). Eliot - Last words
- (Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)'You just have to believe that she'd want to.'
- Blurbers*
- Flynn, Gillian
- Original language
- English
*Some information comes from Common Knowledge in other languages. Click "Edit" for more information.
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