Harlan Coben is a reliable author if I am looking for a well-paced thriller with a taut plot, unexpected twists, and witty asides that have me chuckling. That said, The Stranger begins intriguingly but slowly. The exposition and introduction ties in well with the overarching plot, though, so while patience is required at the start, it pays off in the end.

Once the pace picks up, The Stranger is an engaging read that unfolds swiftly. This is a plot-driven story, therefore the characters are not fully fleshed and developed. Even so, I did not feel as if I were reading caricatures. The characters are distinct enough to satisfy me, given the genre. The writing style is straightforward and unadorned, and the sly humor I enjoy in Mr. Coben’s work was present in this book as well.

I was surprised at the emotional depth of this story. There is a distinct, poignant theme throughout The Stranger: the gift of family and the lengths to which one will go to keep them safe. The various threads of the story lead to the inevitable clash of a climax before a twist that is as shocking as it is harrowing. All of these elements made The Stranger one of my favorite reads from the author.