Fool Me Once by Harlan Coban

Pages: 392
Method: Kindle
Rating: 4/5

I decided to read this book because I had heard some hype behind the Netflix adaptation. I am pretty adamant that almost every book is better than its media adaptation so I try as often as I can to read the book before I watch anything created from it. So far, it has served me well and with this book, I’m not actually that tempted to watch the show because the book was that enjoyable. 

The first notable aspect of my review is that I enjoyed the female main character (FMC). Oftentimes, I find myself increasingly annoyed by FMC’s as books progress, but with this character, she seemed rational, grounded and logical throughout the majority of the story. Part of that was due to her being a former military pilot but considering how crazy the situation was, I thought she handled it very well.

I had a deep appreciation for the way that the author was able to reveal new information without making it obvious what was actually going on. I imagine it is difficult to balance how much you reveal to the reader versus how much you reveal to the characters. This balance affects a reader’s emotion and investment in the story, as well as informing their guesses as to the truth of the mystery.

I did have theories as I read but continued to build and expand my overall sequence of events until one specific moment about 80% of the way through the book when my theory solidified. I won’t tell you because I am convinced that everyone should have their own unique experience and theories, but I will tell you that I was very close to being right, except for one detail.

Finally, while the story was intense and nail-biting, there were moments of philosophical thought that made me stop and think as well as some moments of friendship and humor that I always appreciate in a heavier story. What do you find breaks tension the best for you? Humor, facts/reality, or something else?