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Harlan Coben: Master of Suspense

An exploration of the acclaimed author's life, works, and impact on the thriller genre.

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About Harlan Coben

Acclaimed Author

Harlan Coben, born January 4, 1962, is a distinguished American author renowned for his captivating mystery novels and thrillers. His narratives are characterized by the resurfacing of unresolved past events, often involving murders or fatal accidents, and are punctuated by numerous unexpected twists.

Award-Winning Recognition

Coben is the recipient of prestigious accolades including the Edgar Award, Shamus Award, and Anthony Award, making him the first author to achieve this trifecta. His literary contributions have garnered significant critical acclaim and a vast readership worldwide.

Global Reach

With works translated into 46 languages, Coben's novels have achieved global success, selling over 90 million copies. His ability to craft universally resonant stories has cemented his status as an international literary figure.

Career Trajectory

From Travel to Thrillers

After graduating from Amherst College in 1984, Coben initially worked in the travel industry. It was during this period that he penned his debut novel, the romantic suspense thriller Play Dead, published in 1990. This marked the beginning of a prolific career dedicated to crafting compelling narratives.

The Myron Bolitar Series

Coben established a significant following with his series featuring Myron Bolitar, a former basketball player turned sports agent who frequently finds himself entangled in investigations surrounding his clients. This series showcased his knack for blending sports, suspense, and intricate plots.

Stand-Alone Success and Essays

In 2001, Coben released Tell No One, his first stand-alone thriller since initiating the Bolitar series. This novel, later adapted into a successful French film, heralded a new phase of his career, marked by numerous critically acclaimed stand-alone works. His insightful essays have also appeared in prominent publications like The New York Times and Parade magazine.

Literary Works

Comprehensive Bibliography

Harlan Coben's extensive bibliography spans multiple series and numerous stand-alone novels, each meticulously crafted to keep readers on the edge of their seats. Below is a detailed listing of his published works.

Series Year Title
Myron Bolitar 1995 Deal Breaker
1996 Drop Shot
Fade Away
1997 Back Spin
1998 One False Move
1999 The Final Detail
2000 Darkest Fear
2006 Promise Me
2009 Long Lost
2011 Live Wire
2016 Home
2024 Think Twice
Mickey Bolitar
(1st Myron Bolitar spin-off series)
2011 Shelter
2012 Seconds Away
2014 Found
Wilde 2020 The Boy from the Woods
2022 The Match
Windsor Horne Lockwood III
(2nd Myron Bolitar spin-off series)
2021 Win
Standalone novels 1990 Play Dead
1991 Miracle Cure
2001 Tell No One
2002 Gone for Good
2003 No Second Chance
2004 Just One Look
2005 The Innocent
2007 The Woods
2008 Hold Tight
2010 Caught
2012 Stay Close
2013 Six Years
2014 Missing You
2015 The Stranger
2016 The Magical Fantastical Fridge
Fool Me Once
2017 Don't Let Go
2019 Run Away
2023 I Will Find You
2025 Nobody's Fool

Awards and Accolades

Literary Honors

Harlan Coben's exceptional contributions to crime fiction have been recognized with numerous prestigious awards. His ability to consistently deliver thrilling narratives has earned him a place among the genre's elite.

Work Year & Award Category Result
Deal Breaker 1996 Anthony Awards Paperback Original Won
1996 Edgar Allan Poe Award Paperback Original Shortlisted
Fade Away 1997 Anthony Awards Paperback Original Nominated
1997 Barry Award Paperback Original Nominated
1997 Dilys Award Nominated
1997 Edgar Allan Poe Award Paperback Original Won
1997 Shamus Award P.I. Paperback Original Won
Back Spin 1998 Barry Award Paperback Original Won
1998 Dilys Award Nominated
1998 Shamus Award P.I. Paperback Original Nominated
"A Simple Philosophy" 1999 Anthony Awards Short Story Nominated
1999 Macavity Awards Mystery Short Story Finalist
Tell No One 2002 Anthony Awards Novel Nominated
2002 Macavity Awards Mystery Novel Finalist
2002 Edgar Allan Poe Award Novel Shortlisted
2002 Barry Award Novel Nominated
2002 Audie Awards Mystery Won
2003 Grand prix des lectrices de Elle Crime Fiction Won
The Woods 2007 Crime Writers' Association Ian Fleming Steel Dagger Shortlisted
Hold Tight 2009 International Thriller Writers Awards Thriller of the Year Nominated
2009 Crimefest Awards Sounds of Crime Award Nominated
Long Lost 2010 International Thriller Writers Awards Hardcover Novel Nominated
Live Wire 2010 RBA Prize for Crime Writing Won
2011 Goodreads Choice Awards Mystery & Thriller Nominated
Shelter 2011 Agatha Award Children/Young Adult Fiction Nominated
2012 Edgar Allan Poe Award Young Adult Novel Shortlisted
2014 Rhode Island Teen Book Award Nominated
Caught 2011 Edgar Allan Poe Award Novel Shortlisted
Seconds Away 2012 Agatha Award Children/Young Adult Fiction Nominated
Stay Close 2012 Goodreads Choice Awards Mystery & Thriller Nominated
Six Years 2013 Goodreads Choice Awards Mystery & Thriller Nominated
Found 2014 Agatha Award Children/Young Adult Fiction Nominated
Missing You 2014 Goodreads Choice Awards Mystery & Thriller Nominated
2015 Audie Awards Mystery Nominated
The Stranger 2015 Goodreads Choice Awards Mystery & Thriller Nominated
2015 Hammett Prize Nominated
Fool Me Once 2016 Goodreads Choice Awards Mystery & Thriller Nominated
Home 2017 Audie Awards Thriller or Suspense Nominated
Don't Let Go 2018 Audie Awards Thriller or Suspense Nominated
Run Away 2019 Goodreads Choice Awards Mystery & Thriller Nominated
The Boy from the Woods 2020 Goodreads Choice Awards Mystery & Thriller Nominated
2021 Barry Award Novel Nominated
Win 2023 Mystery Writers of Japan Award Mystery Fiction in Translation/Double Copper Award Nominated
I Will Find You 2024 Audie Awards Thriller or Suspense Nominated
2009 Crime Thriller Awards ITV3 Writer's Award for Favourite Crime Genre Author (Public Vote) Won
2013 Crime Thriller Awards ITV3 Crime Thriller Living Legends Nominated
2017 New Jersey Hall of Fame Arts & Letters Inducted
2019 International Thriller Writers Awards Silver Bullet Award Won

Screen Adaptations

From Page to Screen

Harlan Coben's gripping novels have been widely adapted into successful film and television series, bringing his intricate plots and compelling characters to a global audience across various platforms.

No. Title (English & LOTE) Country of origin Language Episodes Netflix Prime Rating Release date
1 Safe
(English: Safe)
United Kingdom English 8 N-7.2 May 10, 2018
2 The Stranger
(English: The Stranger)
United Kingdom English 8 N-7.2 January 30, 2020
3 The Woods
(Polish: W głębi lasu)
Poland Polish 6 N-6.6 June 12, 2020
4 The Innocent
(Spanish: El inocente)
Spain Spanish 8 N-7.8 April 30, 2021
5 Gone for Good
(French: Disparu à jamais)
France French 5 N-6.3 August 13, 2021
6 Stay Close
(English: Stay Close)
United Kingdom English 8 N-6.9 December 31, 2021
7 Hold Tight
(Polish: Zachowaj spokój)
Poland Polish 6 N-6.2 April 22, 2022
8 Shelter
(English: Harlan Coben's Shelter)
United States English 8 P-6.6 September 22, 2023
9 Fool Me Once
(English: Fool Me Once)
United Kingdom English 8 N-6.8 January 1, 2024
10 Missing You
(English: Missing You)
United Kingdom English 5 N-6.1 January 1, 2025
11 Just One Look
(Polish: Tylko jedno spojrzenie)
Poland Polish 6 N-6.1 March 5, 2025
12 Caught
(Spanish: Atrapados)
Argentina Spanish 6 N-6.5 March 26, 2025
13 I Will Find You
(English: I Will Find You)
United States English 8 N-
14 Run Away
(English: Run Away)
United Kingdom English N-

Personal Life

Family and Residence

Harlan Coben resides in Ridgewood, New Jersey, with his wife, Anne Armstrong-Coben, who is a pediatrician. They are parents to four children. His upbringing in Livingston, New Jersey, included a notable childhood friendship with future governor Chris Christie.

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References

References

A full list of references for this article are available at the Harlan Coben Wikipedia page

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Disclaimer

Important Notice

This page was generated by an Artificial Intelligence and is intended for informational and educational purposes only. The content is based on a snapshot of publicly available data from Wikipedia and may not be entirely accurate, complete, or up-to-date.

This is not professional advice. The information provided on this website is not a substitute for professional literary analysis, career consultation, or advice regarding media adaptations. Always refer to official sources and consult with qualified professionals for specific needs.

The creators of this page are not responsible for any errors or omissions, or for any actions taken based on the information provided herein.