In this #1 New York Times bestselling thriller from Harlan Coben, a dead man’s secrets fall into the hands of a vigilante antihero—drawing him down a dangerous road.Over twenty years ago, the heiress Patricia Lockwood was abducted during a robbery of her family’s estate, then locked inside an isolated cabin for months. Patricia escaped, but so did her captors — and the items stolen from her … items stolen from her family were never recovered.
Until now. On the Upper West Side, a recluse is found murdered in his penthouse apartment, alongside two objects of note: a stolen Vermeer painting and a leather suitcase bearing the initials WHL3. For the first time in years, the authorities have a lead — not only on Patricia’s kidnapping, but also on another FBI cold case — with the suitcase and painting both pointing them toward one man.
Windsor Horne Lockwood III — or Win, as his few friends call him — doesn’t know how his suitcase and his family’s stolen painting ended up with a dead man. But his interest is piqued, especially when the FBI tells him that the man who kidnapped his cousin was also behind an act of domestic terrorism — and that the conspirators may still be at large. The two cases have baffled the FBI for decades, but Win has three things the FBI doesn’t: a personal connection to the case; an ungodly fortune; and his own unique brand of justice.
more
Dollycas’s Thoughts
We originally met Windsor Horne Lockwood III as a character in Coben’s Myron Boltar series. “Win”, Bolitar’s best friend now stars in his own story and what looks to be his own series if he survives to the end of this thriller.
A murder has occurred on the Upper West Side and the FBI picks up Win because there is evidence in the recluse’s penthouse that points directly at Mr. Windsor Horne Lockwood III. The death may also be connected to a cold case close to Win. His cousin, Patricia was kidnapped over 20 years ago. She escaped but her captors were never caught. Now, with these new clues, Win decides it is time he starts his own investigation. It is past time to dole out a bit of justice and Win is just the man to deliver it.
“Articulate”. Windsor Horne Lockwood III is a flawed character with way too much money and a sense of privilege because of it. He gets away with everything because he has the money and connections to insolate him from any repercussions for things he has done. He has a full-time assistant, a private plane, a keen sense to right wrongs as he sees them in any way he can. An expert fighter he believes he is invincible. His money also gains him membership in an exclusive dating/sex club which enables him to take part in “no strings attached” one-night stands. The man is clearly driven to get to the truth in a case that goes back to the 1970s but there are people out there whose mission it is to make sure he doesn’t get it. But Win likes violence and isn’t afraid to use it. He does have a softer side brought out by only one person and his love and admiration for Myron Bolitar shines within these pages. He also has a troubled soul and some insecurities to deal with. Win is a complicated character and exactly the kind of character I expect to find from this author.
Mr. Coben has written such a complex suspense-filled story. He introduces readers to several diverse characters and entangles them in a multitude of ways throughout the book. At first, I thought I was going to have trouble keeping them all straight but they are dynamically crafted to stand out as the two mysteries evolve. The story is very fast-paced but it is not a book to rush through. There are twists on top of twists and surprises almost around every corner. The final twist brought me to a full stop. It was classic Coben and I should have been prepared. I know to expect the unexpected when I pick up any Harlan Coben book. There is a reason he is my favorite suspense author and I look forward to each new title.
As a fan, I have been waiting for Windsor Horne Lockwood III to have his own story for years and was absolutely giddy when the book went up for pre-order. I have been counting down the days to today, its release date to share my thoughts with you. Don’t panic if you have not read the Bolitar series because this book works perfectly as a stand-alone. If this is your first experience with this author I encourage you to read any and all of his previous titles as they are all excellent.
WIN has set this series off to a fantastic start. Definitely a must-read for suspense lovers. I can’t wait to see what Harlan Coben has in store for Windsor Horne Lockwood III next.
384 pages
4 stars
I’ve decided that I don’t much care for Mr. Coben’s character Win. He is a dog.
That aside this is a very well written and plotted novel. The transitions are smooth and almost unnoticeable. I liked the action and mystery in the book. So taking Win’s personality for what it is worth, this novel is a winner. I loved the surprise ending. I was baffled until then.
Win is a some-time FBI Agent who sometimes investigates cases. When his old boss calls him to put him on a case, Win is somewhat surprised. This is after the FBI hauls him to a penthouse apartment of an elderly man who is a terrific hoarder. The man has been murdered. Does Win know him? No. But the FBI is suspicious. His family’s stolen Vermeer is hanging on the man’s wall and his monogrammed suitcase is in his closet.
Apparently the murdered man was none other than Ry, the leader of a group of domestic terrorists responsible for a bombing and murder some number of years earlier. How did this man end up with Win’s family Vermeer? And where is the Picasso that was also taken?
Win’s cousin, Patricia, was kidnapped twenty years earlier at the same time her father Aldrich was murdered in their home. After months, Patricia managed to escape her captors. What is the connection between the two crimes? Is there one?
Win takes the case and it leads him all over the United States tracking leads. Since he is very clever (as one hears him tell it), he slowly figures out the connections and motives of those involved in the crime.
Along the way, Win makes some of what he terms “grey” decisions. I appreciated this about him. Perhaps it was one of his redeeming aspects.
I want to thank NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for forwarding to me a copy of this great book for me to read, enjoy and review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
Before I start my review…. If you have never ever read a Harlan Coben book – you’ve obviously made a huge mistake in your reading career. Huge. But you can still read this one. Win has been in all 11 Myron Bolitar books, but this is a complete standalone mystery. BUT, if I were you, I would start with book #1 – Deal Breaker ! Please! Win is just too great to miss out on even the slightest mention of him in another book.
OK – here’s my review …
WIN! IS! BACK!
With his own book!
I was so excited to get started with this, I almost didn’t start it at all.
I was just too excited. And afraid. Because once you start it, it will inevitable end. Ugh.
If I had to pick one book-world to read for the rest of eternity … it would be Win and Myron’s world!
Ok… back to WIN. The book.
Win is still his usual waspy legend self. Living his best Manhattan bachelor life.
And now he’s suddenly a little bit of a suspect in a murder/theft combo.
But Win has never seen the dead guy. But what he has seen before, is the 200 million dollar painting on the dead guy’s wall. A painting that was stolen from his grandfather’s study 20 years ago.
What he also recognizes … is the custom-made suitcase with his initials on it – also found in the dead man’s apartment.
What is happening?
And what does his cousin Patricia’s kidnapping two decades ago have to do with things??
LET’S FIND OUT!
I LOVED IT!
WIN FOR THE WIN!
I know! He would Win-roll his beautiful eyes at this.
But it’s true.
I just loved reading this!
I was soo shocked and excited when Harlan announced this book. I couldn’t wait to get my hands on it.
And now that I’m done with it … I’m sad. Why didn’t Harlan write some tiny 134224 more pages???
Ugh.
But still – it was a beautiful story.
Well, not beautiful as in a cute romance or something.
It was a WIN story. With lots of Myron mentionings – but he’s not in this! But he was definitely here in spirit. Win loves Myron and he loves to quote him, Adorable.
The story is great too. Typical Win/Myron/Harlan mystery.
You can guess all you want, but you won’t ever guess what’s happening. So I never even try to guess, I just enjoy reading. And I loved the story. I loved the moments when we see a different Win. We never really heard his thoughts or saw his secret emotional smiles. He loves Myron, Ema, his family and close friends. He doesn’t really have many people in his life. Ugh, I could write so much about poor Win.
But he’s a happy little dude most of the time. He loves life. He loves himself. LOL. Now he just needs to find out what is happening with this case!
And he does of course, but it takes us a while to get there. I wouldn’t have minded a few thousand more whiles though …
I just love Harlan’s books! And this time, with Win having to do it all by himself? Just as amazing as Myron’s books. But I also want them to work together again one day soon! Would next week be good for you Harlan? K. Thanks.
Please Netflix… find the perfect Win & Myron and let Harlan write the script. I so need this!
WiN was the perfect Harlan Coben Mystery! But it was also so much more! I just loved it! Run to your nearest amazon for your own Win – this one is MINE!
Coben is a master of suspense and gritty tales. This one is a page-turner that will keep you on the edge of your seat with all the twists and turns.
Just finished listening to the audible version and the narration is wonderful. I’ve always liked the character of Win in other stories by Harlan Coben, and it was fun to get this story from Win’s POV. The end was quite a surprise.
Win, Harlan Coben’s new novel is a thrill-ride centering Coben’s long-time obscenely wealthy and sophisticated sidekick character, Windsor Lockwood. Readers familiar with Coben’s Myron Bolitar series will be pleased that Coben has made Win the center of attention in this distinctive stand-alone. Win is escorted to the home of a dead guy who happens to have a painting that has been missing from the Lockwood estate for 20 years or so. To make matters more intriguing the dead man also has a suitcase with Win’s initials on it. Is the case part of the unsolved kidnapping of Win’s cousin which also happened 20 years ago? The story comes together in a fine fashion. Coben does a terrific job of distinguishing his characters and making them stand out in a crowded field. Readers will be genuinely pleased and fond of Win and his escapades.
Harlan Coben never disappoints but the last two books have been exceptional. I loved being back in Myron’s world even though he isn’t.
Excellent start to new series
I have enjoyed many of author Harlan Coben’s books over the years but have never read his Myron Bolitar series. I know, I know. Some of you will be aghast. But there is just only so much time in a day and so many books. AND if I had realized that this book was an offshoot of the Bolitar series I wouldn’t have read it so I’m glad I didn’t know.
I enjoyed the character of Windsor “Win” Horne Lockwood III immensely. He is debonair, extremely rich, and has his own idea of what his moral compass should be.
The story revolves around two old unsolved mysteries – one involving Win’s family and one involving a group of extremists. When a man is found dead in a downtown apartment, Win finds that the mysteries are intertwined and he starts his own investigation.
I will definitely be looking forward to the next book in this series. It probably would be a tad better if you’ve read the Bolitar series previously but the author fills in enough gaps so that I didn’t feel lost by not reading those prior books.
I received this book from Grand Central Publishing through Net Galley in the hopes that I would read and review it.
Action-packed, intricate, and twisty!
Win is a sinister, tortuous tale that finally gives Myron Bolitar’s sidekick the hedonistic Windsor Horne Lockwood III centre stage when a painting stolen from his family long ago and his monogrammed suitcase from when he was a teen is discovered in the home of a murdered recluse who may also have ties to the activist bombing group known as the Jane Street Six who inadvertently killed seven people in the early 70s, as well as the infamous “Hut of Horrors” where several women, including Win’s cousin Patricia, was kept and sexually assaulted for several months in the 1990s.
The writing is bold and tight. The characters are self-absorbed, deviant, and deceptive. And the plot is an intense, mysterious tale filled with twists, turns, familial drama, secrets, coercion, manipulation, mayhem, attraction, danger, violence, and murder.
Overall, Win has everything you’ve come to expect in a Harlan Coben novel, as well as an antihero that you will love to hate. It’s absorbing, addictive, and exceptionally twisty, and for this long-time Coben fan, a book that was undoubtedly long overdue, eagerly anticipated, and extremely satisfying.
I loved this book! I have been a fan of Harlan Coben’s writing for a long time. I am always excited when he has a new book hitting store shelves but I was absolutely giddy when I found out that this book was going to happen. Win plays a big pivotal role in Coben’s Myron Bolitar series and has been one of my favorite characters for a very long time. I couldn’t wait to see him take the lead in this book and it was everything that I had hoped it would be. Once I started reading this book, putting it down proved to be impossible.
Win plays by his own set of rules. He is incredibly wealthy which makes it possible for him to do things that mere mortals couldn’t necessarily do. Win has his own moral compass and tends to function in a grey area. When he feels that someone needs to be stopped, he stops them. Win is a man of action and doesn’t always think to include others in his plans which sometimes causes problems.
Win gets a call from the police about a man that has been found dead. The man was a recluse and an incredibly valuable painting that was stolen from Win’s family is also found in the apartment. To add to the mystery, police have also discovered a suitcase bearing Win’s initials, WLH3. Win believes that the suitcase may be connected to the kidnapping of his cousin, Patricia, twenty years ago.
I was captivated by the mystery in this book. I was very eager to learn how everything was connected and I liked the way that Win approached each situation. There were so many different pieces that needed to come together to tell the complete story and I was hooked by each twist and turn. There were a few times that I worried if Win was finally in over his head but I trusted that he would find a solution like the resourceful man I know he is.
I would highly recommend this book to others. Readers of the Myron Bolitar series will be thrilled to see the spotlight on Win but this book will also work well as a stand alone. I cannot wait to read more of Coben’s work in the future.
I received a review copy of this book from Grand Central Publishing.
Fans of Coben’s Myron Bolitar series, launched in 1995, have been anxiously awaiting the return of Windsor Horne Lockwood III, Myron’s best friend. The inspiration for the character was none other than Coben’s own best friend in college — a handsome blond who, according to Coben, belonged to the right golf clubs.
Win indeed belongs to the most exclusive clubs because he has a vast fortune that permits him to travel via his own helicopter and private jet, wear the finest clothes, and live in the storied and historic Dakota apartment building on the corner of Seventy-Second Street and Central Park West in New York City. Win practices many forms of martial arts and meets up with women via an exclusive application that discreetly pairs wealthy partners for no-strings-attached sexual encounters. Win has no interest in a committed relationship, and tenuously embraced the role of father when he learned that he had, as he refers to her, a teenage “biological daughter,” Ema. Win does not want to care about anyone more than himself, and acknowledges that his new role leaves him “teetering and unbalanced.”
Win’s first-person narration is highly effective and entertaining. He finds himself investigating the murder of a man who might be Ryker Strauss, a member of the infamous Jane Street Six, a radical group that advocated violence. More than forty years ago, a misdirected Molotov cocktail injured dozens and killed seven, including the daughter of a well-known mobster. Only one member of the Jane Street Six was ever accounted for. Two years after the attack, Lake Davies turned herself in, but served only eighteen months because she did not actually toss the explosive. Her attorney successfully argued that she was under the spell of Strauss, a Charles Manson-esque leader. None of the other five were ever found. Remarkably, “Girl at the Piano,” an oil painting by Johannes Vermeer worth around $200 million, was found in the dead man’s apartment. The painting was on loan by Win’s family to Haverford College when it, along with Picasso’s “The Reader,” was stolen. The robbers were never caught and the paintings have been missing for decades. How did it end up in a penthouse apartment in the Beresford building? More disturbing to Win is the fact that a suitcase bearing his initials and family crest, a gift from his aunt, was also found in the apartment. No one knows that he gave that suitcase to his cousin, Patricia, years ago.
Patricia survived being kidnapped by two men who murdered her father in their home and then held her captive in a cabin in the woods for months before she finally escaped. She was only one of about ten victims held in what the media dubbed the “Hut of Horrors.” After her ordeal, she established the Abeona Shelters for abused and homeless girls, and has been the recipient of numerous awards for her charitable, humanitarian work. Win’s father and his brother, Aldrich, Patricia’s father, had a falling out — Win never knew why — and Patricia has not set foot on the family estate for more than twenty years, although she and Win have stayed in touch.
Win quickly realizes that, given the fact that his family’s painting and his suitcase were both discovered in the dead man’s apartment, he is a suspect. And he has to figure out how the Jane Street Six attack, the theft of the paintings from Haverford College, his uncle’s murder, and his cousin’s kidnapping are all related. Could Ryker Strauss have masterminded each event?
Win is a fascinating and frequently infuriating character. He enjoys violence, and inflicting pain when, in his judgment, it is deserved. He has no problem taking matters into his own hands, literally, if he is convinced that the legal system will not dispense justice and doing so himself, even though, by his own admission, he sometimes fails to consider the long-range consequences. Such a mistake almost costs him his own life, and jeopardizes his relationship with Sadie Fisher of Fisher and Friedman, the victims’ rights law firm that now occupies the space where Myron’s sports agency was located. He answers phone calls by announcing, “Articulate,” and will use any means necessary to get the information he seeks, including bullying and threatening anyone who is reluctant to tell him what they know. He abhors small talk and having his time wasted. He readily acknowledges that nothing is fair and, accordingly, wealth and privilege enable him to accomplish his goals, using whatever methods he finds expedient. He is exasperatingly arrogant.
In the hands of a less-skilled novelist, Win would just be an egotistical, boorish, and amoral vigilante. But Coben manages to make him surprisingly charming, frequently humorous, and always entertaining. He is an anti-hero that readers will find themselves loving to hate, but cheering for. Because, ultimately, Win does have a tender side and a conscience. He is capable of admitting his mistakes, including his failure to forgive his mother until it was too late. Still, he lives by his own unique moral code that underlies and justifies his actions.
Coben has tautly constructed a compelling mystery, full of his signature surprises, misdirection, and shocking developments. Sure enough, he demonstrates how the various events are intertwined, who was responsible for them, and, perhaps most importantly, why they occurred. But along he way, the action-packed story never slows and keeps readers guessing about how all the loose ends will come together into a cohesive tale of deception and lies. Coben illustrates that Win is right — with great wealth comes the ability to influence, and the perceived need to hide uncomfortable truths that would prove embarrassing and diminish a family’s social standing and power. Because, of course, “families protect their own.” Win chooses what to do with the information he gathers, and his choices may not be the ones readers would make.
Win is sure to be another bestseller for beloved author Coben and, hopefully, only the first installment featuring Windsor Horne Lockwood III. It is an intricately-plotted, clever, and thoroughly engrossing mystery featuring a fully formed, intriguing lead character from one of America’s premiere storytellers.
Thanks to NetGalley for an Advance Reader’s Copy of the book.
I was hooked from the first page to the last!
So many interesting characters, each one with their own story and twisted fate, so many secrets and clues to make it easier to see the whole view of this puzzle.
While I usually don’t enjoy some first person narrative , I think it’s working quite well in this book and I really liked Win . He was trying to find out what happened do many years ago and hear the side of the story from each of them, I had my theories about what’s actually happening but I must admit that I was wrong. The author has a great ability to keep you reading and guessing throughout the story and what will happen next it might be next to nothing what you think it would happen.
Patricia was an interesting character that added a few unexpected nuances; I felt for her and what she has to go through in the past and how she overcome it but there’s something that kept me away from giving her my full trust.
It was my second book by the author and after watching the Netflix series The stranger, I can’t recommend his books enough.
Articulate!!! Oh my goodness, WIN!!!! In the Myron Bolitar books, Win is Myron’s best friend and go to guy. FINALLY, Win gets his own story. Win is brought in by the FBI and his old mentor PT, to investigate a murder of a hermit man in an apartment. In the hermit’s apartment are 2 items belonging to Win, a stolen painting and a suitcase with the family crest and Win’s initials. As Win tries to figure things out, it leads back to many family secrets. Win is one of those larger than life characters and it was amazing learning more about him. I cannot wait for more Win and lots more books in this series! I received an advanced readers copy and all opinions are my own.
ARC received for an honest review
If you have read any of the Myron Bolitar series by Harlan Coben,then you have met the enigma that is Windsor Horne Lockwood III
I was like a pre-teen at a One Direction concert when I found out that we would be getting a Win series.
And I was not disappointed with Win.
This book is just so Win-ny. There is something about that man that over the years just makes me smile big. But we are seeing a side to him that has been hidden before, and I like it.
Throw him in the middle of a murder mystery, and he is at his best. Just when you think you know what is happening, we are thrown another curve ball. So many red herrings that will have you chasing your tail. So just go with the flow and let the story unfold before you.
Now i have finished this book, would it be too much to ask for another book next week, Mr Coben?
Because I need more.
Interesting. Love Harlan Coban books.
#FirstLine ~ The shot that will decide the championship is slowly arching its way toward the basket.
Another win by the master storyteller. This book had everything! It was so good, with twists and turns…action galore. It was a roller-coaster and a new series I cannot wait to continue!
Though I’m usually eager to read anything Harlan Coben writes, I wasn’t thrilled with this one. I didn’t like the character Win and thought the plot wasn’t up to his usual standards.
It’s Coben. It’s Win. The pages turn themselves.
Harlan Coben is one of my favorite mystery, suspense authors. I absolutely loved his new book, WIN. The twists and turns kept me anticipating the next one, only to be surprised again. The portrayal of Win’s character was fresh and charming, despite his inflated ego. Great book!
This book is so well written. I love the many colors of humanity and the way Harlan Cohen writes them. The mystery has many threads that Win needs to unravel which bring some surprises. A very entertaining book!