Harlan Coben
Harlan Coben was born on January 4th, 1962 and is currently 64 years old. Harlan Coben was born in Newark, New Jersey, USA. Coben attended Amherst College where he Studied Political Science.
Harlan Coben is known for writing in the Mystery, Thriller, and Young Adult Fiction genres.
Harlan Coben has written 18 standalone novels, starting with Play Dead in 1990. The most recently released novel was Gone Before Goodbye, which was released in 2025. There are no upcoming standalone novels by Harlan at this time.
Harlan Coben has also written the Myron Bolitar series which has 12 books including Deal Breaker and Drop Shot.
Don't Let Go was listed as one of the
Best Suspense Thrillers in 2017 by
The Real Book Spy calling it
"a fast-moving plot make this a white-knuckle read that's nearly impossible to put down". It also made their list of
Best Plot Twists of the year. In 2019
Run Away made their
Top 5 Suspense Thrillers list.
Harlan Coben: Awards & Accolades
Harlan Coben has won multiple awards including: The Crime Thriller Awards ITV3 Writer's Award for Favourite Crime Genre Author, in 2009 and the International Thriller Writers Award Silver Bullet Award, in 2019. Harlan Coben was also nominated for the Crime Thriller Awards, ITV3 Crime Thriller Living Legends, in 2013.
Coben's books have also won multiple awards, Deal Breaker won the Anthony Award, Best Paperback Original, in 1996. Fade Away won the Shamus Award, Best P.I. Paperback Original, in 1997 as well as the Edgar Award - Best Paperback Original in 1997. Back Spin won the Barry Award, Best Paperback Original, in 1998. Gone Before Goodbye won the Audie Award, Best Mystery, in 2026.
The following novels by Harlan Coben were also nominated for these awards:
- Deal Breaker: Edgar Award, Best Paperback Original (1996).
- Fade Away: Barry Award, Best Paperback Original (1997). Dilys Award, Best Mystery Novel (1997). Anthony Award, Best Paperback Original (1997).
- Back Spin: Shamus Award, Best P.I. Paperback Original (1998). Dilys Award, Best Mystery Novel (1998).
- A Simple Philosophy: Agatha Award, Best Short Story (1998). Macavity Award, Best Short Story (1999). Anthony Award, Best Short Story (1999).
- Tell No One: Hugo Award, Best Novel (2002). Anthony Award, Best Mystery Novel (2002). Macavity Award, Best Mystery Novel (2002). Edgar Award, Best Mystery Novel (2002). Barry Award, Best Novel (2002).
- Gone for Good: Nero Award, Best Mystery Novel (2003).
- The Woods: Crime Writers' Association Award, Ian Fleming Steel Dagger Award (2007).
- Hold Tight: CrimeFest, Sounds of Crime Award (2009). CrimeFest, Sounds of Crime Award (2009). International Thriller Writers Award, Best Thriller Of The Year (2009).
- Long Lost: International Thriller Writers Award, Best Hardcover Novel (2010).
- Caught: CrimeFest, Sounds of Crime Award (2011). Edgar Award, Best Mystery Novel (2011).
- Live Wire: Goodreads Awards, Best Mystery and Thriller (2011).
- Shelter: Agatha Award, Best Children’s/Young Adult (2011).
- Stay Close: Goodreads Awards, Best Mystery and Thriller (2012).
- Seconds Away: Agatha Award, Best Children’s/Young Adult (2012).
- Six Years: Goodreads Awards, Best Mystery and Thriller (2013).
- Found: Agatha Award, Best Children’s/Young Adult (2014).
- Missing You: Goodreads Awards, Best Mystery and Thriller (2014).
- The Stranger: Goodreads Awards, Best Mystery and Thriller (2015). Hammett Prize, Best Crime Novel (2015). CrimeFest, Sounds of Crime Award (2016).
- Fool Me Once: Goodreads Awards, Best Mystery and Thriller (2016).
- Home: Nero Award, Best Mystery Novel (2017).
- Run Away: Goodreads Awards, Best Mystery and Thriller (2019).
- The Boy from the Woods / Wild: Goodreads Awards, Best Mystery and Thriller (2020).
- Gone Before Goodbye: Goodreads Awards, Best Mystery and Thriller (2025).
Harlan Coben: Lists & Other Mentions
- Six Years was a BBC Radio 2 Book Club April 2013 Pick.
- The Boy from the Woods / Wild was a Richard & Judy Book Club 2020 Autumn Pick.
- The Match was a Richard & Judy Book Club 2022 Winter Pick.
- I Will Find You was a Richard & Judy Book Club 2023 Winter Pick.
- Nobody's Fool was a Richard & Judy Book Club 2025 Winter Pick.
- Gone Before Goodbye was a Richard & Judy Book Club 2026 April Pick and the Reese's Book Club October '25 Pick.
- Fade Away: Time Magazine: The 100 Best Mystery and Thriller Books of All Time Selection in 2023.
- Tell No One:
- New York Times: 50 Best Thrillers of the 21st Century in 2026.
- NPR: Top 100 Killer Thrillers Selection in 2010.
- Promise Me:
- Wall Street Journal: #1 Hardcover Fiction Best Seller in 2006.
- Barnes & Noble: #1 Hardcover Fiction Best Seller in 2006.
- Hold Tight:
- New York Times: #1 Fiction Best Seller in 2008.
- Wall Street Journal: #1 Hardcover Fiction Best Seller in 2008.
- Long Lost:
- New York Times: #1 Fiction Best Seller in 2009.
- Barnes & Noble: #1 Hardcover Fiction Best Seller in 2009.
- Caught:
- New York Times: #1 Fiction Best Seller in 2010.
- Wall Street Journal: #1 Hardcover Fiction Best Seller in 2010.
- Barnes & Noble: #1 Hardcover Fiction Best Seller in 2010.
- Live Wire:
- New York Times: #1 Fiction Best Seller in 2011.
- Wall Street Journal: #1 Hardcover Fiction Best Seller in 2011.
- Barnes & Noble: #1 Hardcover Fiction Best Seller in 2011.
- Stay Close: Barnes & Noble: #1 Hardcover Fiction Best Seller in 2012.
- Six Years:
- New York Times: #1 Fiction Best Seller in 2013.
- Barnes & Noble: #1 Hardcover Fiction Best Seller in 2013.
- Missing You:
- New York Times: #1 Fiction Best Seller in 2014.
- Barnes & Noble: #1 Hardcover Fiction Best Seller in 2014.
- Fool Me Once:
- New York Times: #1 Fiction Best Seller in 2016.
- Wall Street Journal: #1 Hardcover Fiction Best Seller in 2016.
- Barnes & Noble: #1 Hardcover Fiction Best Seller in 2016.
- Home: Barnes & Noble: #1 Hardcover Fiction Best Seller in 2016.
- Don't Let Go: Barnes & Noble: #1 Hardcover Fiction Best Seller in 2017.
- Run Away:
- Barnes & Noble: #1 Hardcover Fiction Best Seller in 2019.
- Dead Good Books: 100 Best Crime Books Of All Time Selection in 2020.
- The Boy from the Woods / Wild: New York Times: #1 Fiction Best Seller in 2020.
- Win: New York Times: #1 Fiction Best Seller in 2021.
- The Match: New York Times: #1 Fiction Best Seller in 2022.
- I Will Find You:
- New York Times: #1 Fiction Best Seller in 2023.
- Wall Street Journal: #1 Hardcover Fiction Best Seller in 2023.
- Think Twice: New York Times: #1 Fiction Best Seller in 2024.
- Gone Before Goodbye: New York Times: #1 Fiction Best Seller in 2025.
Harlan Coben: TV/Movies Based on Books
Harlan Coben has had multiple books made into TV mini-series for Netflix. His novel "Hold Tight", published in 2008, was released on Netflix in April of 2022. It is a 6 episode series in Polish.
The 2012 novel "Stay Close" was released as an 8 episode TV series for Netflix in December, 2021. It is in English, and stars the likes of Cush Jumbo, James Nesbitt and Richard Armitage.
The 2002 novel "Gone for Good" was released on Netflix in August 2021. It is 5 episodes long, and is in French.
The 2005 novel "The Innocent" was released on Netflix as an 8 episode mini series in April 2021. It is in Spanish.
"The Woods", a standalone novel written in 2005 by Harlan Coben, was released on Netflix in Polish in June 2020 as a 6 episode series.
"The Stranger", released in 2015 as a novel, was converted into a TV mini-series for Netflix on January 30, 2020. It stars Richard Armitage and Hannah John-Kamen.
"Just One Look" was a 2017 series released on French based on the 2004 novel. "No Second Chance" is a 2015 French mini series released based on the novel.
Harlan Coben has also written TV series that are not based on his novels, for Netflix. They include "Safe", which is an 8 episode UK drama series starring Michael C. Hall from "Dexter" fame, and The Five, which was a 10 episode UK crime drama released in 2016.
The novel "Tell No One" by Harlan Coben was converted to the big screen as a movie in 2006. it is in French, and stars Kristen Scott Thomas and Francois Cluzet.
Related Authors
Fans of Harlan Coben also enjoy these authors:
- Linwood Barclay, author of the Promise Falls Series.
- Alex Finlay, author of: Every Last Fear.
- Adrian McKinty, author of the Detective Sean Duffy Series.
- Elle Cosimano, author of the Finlay Donovan Series.
- Jane Casey, author of the Maeve Kerrigan Series.
- J.K. Rowling, author of the Harry Potter Series.
- Holly Jackson, author of the A Good Girl's Guide to Murder Series.
- Jeneva Rose, author of the Perfect Series.
- Megan Miranda, author of: All the Missing Girls.
- Karen M. McManus, author of the One of Us Series.
Harlan Coben: F.A.Q
When was Harlan Coben Born? How old is Harlan Coben?
Harlan Coben was born on January 4th, 1962. Harlan Coben is currently 64 years old.
Where was Harlan Coben Born?
Harlan Coben was born in Newark, New Jersey, USA and is American.
What awards has Harlan Coben won?
Harlan Coben has won the following awards: ITV3 Writer's Award for Favourite Crime Genre Author at the Crime Thriller Awards (2009) and the Silver Bullet Award at the International Thriller Writers Award (2019).
What book awards has Harlan Coben won?
Deal Breaker:
Anthony Award: Best Paperback Original (1996).
Fade Away:
Shamus Award: Best P.I. Paperback Original (1997),
Edgar Award: Best Paperback Original (1997).
Back Spin:
Barry Award: Best Paperback Original (1998).
Gone Before Goodbye: Audie Award: Best Mystery (2026).
What was the first book Harlan Coben wrote?
The first book written by Harlan Coben was Play Dead, published in 1990.
What was the most recent book Harlan Coben wrote?
His most recently released work was Plot Twist on September 8th, 2026.
What is the most popular book by Harlan Coben?
Based on the number of readers on Book Notification, the most popular Harlan Coben book is
Deal Breaker. Here are his most popular books and their average ratings:
- Deal Breaker (8.25)
- Drop Shot (8.44)
- Fade Away (8.23)
- Back Spin (8.41)
- One False Move (8.35)
What genres does Harlan Coben Write?
Harlan Coben primarily writes in the Mystery, Thriller, and Young Adult Fiction genres. His work includes sub-genres such as Psychological Thriller, Crime Thriller, and Private Investigator Mystery.
Are there upcoming new books by Harlan Coben?
Harlan Coben does not have any upcoming books with a set publication date within the next few months at this time.
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How many books has Harlan Coben written?
Harlan Coben has written 41 books across 12 series and categories, excluding contributions to anthologies.
- 2 books in the Detective Kierce Series
- 3 books in the Mickey Bolitar Series
- 12 books in the Myron Bolitar Series
- 2 books in the Wilde Series
- 1 book in the Windsor Horne Lockwood III Series
- 18 Standalone Novels
- 1 Short Stories/Novella
- 1 Non-Fiction Books
- 1 Picture Books