Win by Harlan Coben

Windsor Horne Lockwood III, Book 1

Synopsis: From a #1 New York Times bestselling author comes this thrilling story that shows what happens when a dead man’s secrets fall into the hands of 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 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.

Review: It’s been a long time since I had read a Harlan Coben novel, and I was very curious to discover this first volume! I can tell you that I had a great time!

Win Lockwood is a former FBI agent and suddenly his past resurfaces. A painting that was stolen from him years ago has been found in the apartment of a man who was murdered. This man was wanted by the police after having organized an attack. But this death will force Win to find the six people involved in this attack which caused several victims. This story also seems to be linked to the kidnapping of his cousin Patricia and the death of her father Aldrich. Win will have to sort out the truth from the false to understand what happened, but also to lift the veil on the secrets of his family.

This was a great novel with a complex plot. I wondered how it would all fit together and the author really pulled it off because I wasn’t expecting it at all. I was drawn into the story and I must say that I am now very excited to find out what happens next!