Fool Me Once

Maya always woke up at exactly 4:58 a.m. Some claimed that she had one of those internal alarm clocks, but if she did, it could only be set for 4:58 a.m. and it couldn t be turned off, even nights she stayed up late and craved a few extra minutes of sleep, and if she tried to set the internal alarm even a few minutes earlier or later, it switched back to the default setting of 4:58 a.m.

This has started during basic training. Her drill sergeant had a wake-up time of five a.m., and while most of her fellow recruits would groan or struggle, Maya had already been awake a full two minutes and was ready for the drill sergeant s imminent and rarely pleasant arrival.

Once Maya had fallen asleep (read: passed out) last night, she had slept soundly. Oddly enough, whatever demons possessed her, they rarely came out in her sleep no nightmares, no twisting of the sheets, no waking up in a cold sweat. Maya never remembered her dreams, which could mean that she slept peacefully or that whatever happened in those dreams, her subconscious was merciful enough to let her forget them.

She grabbed her hair band from the night table and pulled her hair back into a ponytail. Joe had liked the ponytail. I love your bone structure, he would say. I want to see as much of your face as possible. He also liked to play with the ponytail and even, on some occasions, gently pull it, but that was another matter altogether.

Her face flushed at the memory.

Maya checked her phone for messages. Nothing important. She swung her legs out of bed and padded down the hallway. Lily was still sleeping. No surprise there. In the genetic internal alarm department, Lily was more like her father: Sleep until you absolutely have to rise.

It was still dark outside. The kitchen still smelled of baking, obviously the handiwork of Isabella. Maya didn t cook, bake, or otherwise engage in culinary activities unless forced to. Many of her friends were big-time into cooking, which Maya found

Harlan Coben is the #1 New York Times and international bestselling author of more than thirty novels, including I Will Find You, The Match, Win, Fool Me Once, Stay Close, and The Stranger, as well as the award-winning Myron Bolitar series. Coben has more than eighty million books in print in more than forty languages worldwide, and several of his novels have been made into Netflix series. The winner of Edgar, Shamus, and Anthony Awards, he lives in New Jersey.

Praise for Harlan Coben and Fool Me Once

Coben is simply one of the all-time greats pick up any one of his thrillers and you ll find a riveting, twisty, surprising story with a big, beating heart at its core. Gillian Flynn, bestselling author of Gone Girl

[A] stellar standalone...Coben is like a skilled magician saving the best, most stunning trick for the very end. Publishers Weekly (starred review)

Coben hits the bull's eye again...masterfully paced plotting...a tale guaranteed to fool even the craftiest readers a lot more than once. Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

Coben proves his thriller mastery once more. Entertainment Weekly

Harlan Coben, master of the suburban thriller, has written another compelling and twist-filled tale with Fool Me Once. The unpredictability of the story will keep readers literally turning the pages to try and figure out what is really going on. Even those savvy enough to figure out some of the ending will not uncover everything, and the whopper of a payoff not only will have jaws dropping, but also demonstrates Coben's skill as a writer. Associated Press

Coben has done it again with this fast-paced, smart thriller. Library Journal (starred review)

Harlan Coben has long been the master of the jaw-dropping twist. But in Fool Me Once, he knocks our legs out from under us as well.... [It] just might be his crowning achievement. Providence Journal 

This was one of Coben s greatest unexpected endings! Suspense Magazine

Harlan Coben is a master of his craft and a wizard with words.... Fool Me Once is him at his best and there is no shame in having him trick us one more time. In fact, most of us will be begging him to fool us again and again and again. Jackie K. Cooper, book critic, The Huffington Post