He knew he wanted to incorporate those elements in a story because they provide “great drama.” And, after all, writing a book set in the present day requires referencing and examining “the world we live in.” That led him to contemplate Instagram, social media influencers, and online trolling. He admits being fascinated by reality television, which is not real at all, but is, rather, scripted and manipulative. In an effort to spend tine with his adult children, he watched a reality television program with them - one of the dating shows. However, Coben first comes up with a story and then decides which character will tell it. To that end, Coben says he always knew how Wilde ended up in the woods - even though he didn't reveal Wilde's history to readers in that book - and planned to eventually tell the story.

What if, thirty-five years later, he still doesn't know where he came from?” Coben executed his vision flawlessly and The Boy from the Woods became an instant bestseller that left his fans clamoring for the continuation of Wilde's story. There is evidence that he's broken into houses to get food, and he is a little bit feral. He asked himself, “What if a little boy came out of the woods and had no idea where he lived before? He has no idea who his parents were, but insists he has been living alone in the woods. Happily for his legions of international readers, he has now penned a sequel to The Boy from the Woods in which he introduced the character of Wilde.Ĭoben explains that the inspiration for the story struck as he was hiking through the Ramapo Mountains in New Jersey with his family and spotted a little boy about six years old on a parallel trail, wandering alone. Was his cousin's downfall a long time coming? Or was he the victim of a conspiracy as cunning as it is complex?Īnd how does it all connect to the man once known as The Stranger, a treacherous fugitive with a growing following whose mission and methods have only grown more dangerous with time?īest-selling author Harlan Coben consistently delights readers with fast-paced, action-packed stories replete with shocking plot twists. So Wilde reaches out to his last, most desperate lead - a second cousin who disappears as quickly as he resurfaces, having experienced an epic fall from grace that can only be described as a waking nightmare. But meeting the man provides more questions than answers. A failed bid at domesticity confirms what he's known all along: He belongs on his own, free from the comforts and constraints of modern life.Ī DNA match on an online ancestry database brings Wilde closer to his past than he's ever dreamed, and finally gives him enough information to track down his father. After months away, Wilde has returned to the Ramapo Mountains of New Jersey. Bestselling author Harlen Coben follows up The Boy from the Woods with the match.

Tell no one harlan coben book summary