Win

by Harlan Coben

Paperback, 2021

Rating

½ (208 ratings; 3.8)

Publication

RANDOM HOUSE UK (2021)

Description

"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"--… (more)

User reviews

LibraryThing member Nancyjcbs
I decided to read this book because Harlan Coben wrote it. That’s all I needed to know. As I opened it and realized that the title Win referenced Windsor Horne Lockwood III, I know I’m in for a ride. I spent much of the past few days with a smile on my face as I followed Win’s adventures and
Show More
justifications.

I was surprised by many of the twists and turns as several crimes were unveiled. My only complaint was that I missed Myron. Win is the secondary character in the Myron Bolitar series but at least he’s present. Win referenced and thought about his best (only?) friend. But please, Mr. Coben, can Myron visit in the next book?
Show Less
LibraryThing member bookappeal
Win is an interesting character when he makes appearances in Myron Bolitar stories but, on his own, he's completely unlikable. Arrogant, self-absorbed, violent, remorseless, annoyingly quippy. The plot is fast-paced and convoluted. Character relationships are not realistic. The dialogue tries to be
Show More
clever (Win likes to respond "as rain" when other characters offhandedly say, "Am I right?") but often ends up obtuse. For example, after a lengthy conversation solely about the victim who lived in the tower of the building, Win asks the security guard, "Did he ever talk to you?" The security guard responds, "The guy in the tower?" Duh. This kind of pointless dialogue occurs too many times throughout the book. Coben always crafts an interesting story but, with Win, it's hard to care about the outcome.
Show Less
LibraryThing member Carol420
I usually just grab new books by favorite authors when they first come out and can beat the other lovers of my favorite series off with a big stick. If that fails…I just somewhat patiently await my turn…but this one??? No way was I waiting and taking a chance on getting it first. I put my name
Show More
on the list for it right up there at the top when I first heard it was going to be Win’s story, almost a year ago. I can in all honesty say that it has easily been one of…if not The most, anticipated reads of the year….perhaps of my entire life! If you’ve read any of Harlan Myron Bolitar series, you know (and probably love) Win…Windsor Horne Lockwood III. At last a book that had Win at its center, and it didn’t disappoint. Win is rich, handsome, cunning, and manipulative and…lethal. Think of him as being a little like Bruce Wayne without the Batmobile. I’m glad Harlan Coben waited to feature Win in his own story. As result he did an outstanding job of writing a twisty, fun thriller that keeps readers on their toes. If this series is new to you I’d recommend giving one or two of the Myron Bolitar books a try first, so you have a chance to become acquainted with Win and his friends before reading his story. Thank you, Harlan Coben, for this treat.
Show Less
LibraryThing member techeditor
I am always happy to be reading another Harlan Coben mystery/thriller. They are never simple; several mysteries are always going on.

WIN is a continuation of Coben's Myron Bolitar series and it’s not. Myron doesn’t even make an appearance. He just gets a few mentions.

If you are familiar with the
Show More
Myron Bolitar series, you will know that Win is Myron’s best friend. Win is always a part of these thrillers, always helping Myron and his endeavors. That’s why throughout this book I was expecting Myron to show up at some critical moment. But no. This one is all Win. It’s the beginning of his own series.

Apparently (I would probably have known this if I had read Coben’s young adult series about young Mickey Bolitar), Myron is now married and living in Florida. This leaves rich, handsome, violent, and unbelievably successful Win on his own. Ordinarily I’d be turned off by the violence, but it is in the name of justice, and Coben somehow makes it fun.

A couple of disappointments: (1) as I already said, this story has no Myron, and I missed him, and (2) I was disappointed in myself for not highlighting each new name. Because Coben’s mysteries/thrillers always include lots of characters, I find that it’s best to highlight each name the first time it appears. This aids my memory when they show up later in the story. I didn’t do that this time, forcing me to search previous text, sometimes unsuccessfully because the names were not highlighted.

So is Myron now retired? At a presentation more than 10 years ago, Coben said he was considering this. I told him that wasn’t a good idea then, and I still don’t think so now.
Show Less
LibraryThing member Beamis12
Win, who has been the intriguing sidekick, for Cobens long running series featuring Myron Bolitar, finally gets his own book. So, we finally get an insiders view of what makes Win who he is, hear his own views and find out why he acts the way he does. This case is personal, involving the wealthy
Show More
family he is part of and features a mysterious theft, a long ago act of terrorism, death and a kidnapping. It sure kept me turning the pages, the pace of this novel and the motivation to have answers made this novel just fly by.

Win is a most unusual character, with his own code of ethics and one that is not bound by legal constraints. I admit the constant mention of his wealth was overdone, but it is this money that allows him much that would send an ordinary man to prison, probably for a very long time. As we know in this country, and others I'm sure, money talks and men walk. So it goes. Now I wonder if this will be the start of a series featuring Win. My guess is yes, and I'm looking forward to that. He's not a person I'd like to meet but he is an interesting character.

ARC from Edelweiss.
Show Less
LibraryThing member DrApple
Win, a frequent character in the Myron Bolitar series, is not all that easy to like, but with Win, what you see is what you get. He is handsome, rich, and very violent. This is an engaging mystery involving 60s radicals, stolen art masterpieces, and a mysterious death in Win's own family. I enjoyed
Show More
it very much!
Show Less
LibraryThing member she_climber
I bought this book June 16, 2020, 9 months before it was released, when I first heard of it's release and who the main character was: Windsor Horne Lockwood III. Win. This book is a Harlan Coben super fan's dream! I first got hooked on Coben's Myron Bolitar series and it's been 5 long years since
Show More
the last installment. We got a brief peak back into his world with Coben's YA series featuring his nephew, Mickey. But I'll be honest, I've griefed this loss. What does Myron Bolitar have to do with Win asks the unindoctrinated? Win is Mryon's uber rich best friend who has some interesting interests leaning toward violence and sex.

This book was, for me, a walk down memory lane. Myron didn't appear but he was mentioned frequently. Win's daughter, Ema, from the YA series does play a role. I could not in good faith recommend this book to anyone who hasn't worked their way through the Myron Bolitar series (you won't be disappointed!). But so much of this book would be missed without that background. You would feel like the new kid hanging out with a group of lifelong friends: not getting half their references.

For those of you who know and love the Bolitar family like I do, by all means, what are you waiting for?? It is an interesting plot line: one of two masterpieces stolen years ago from the Lockwood family is found in the apartment of a recently murdered recluse whose identity is completely unknown to the Lockwood family. Quickly things change as Win starts looking into things hoping to find the missing Picasso as well the way only Win can: with money and serious threats of violence that he does not hesitate to follow through on. Throughout he does keep up his eccentric sexlife, though toned down as he matures. The violence is described and at times graphic. The sex is not. There is before sex and after sex, there is no actual sex.

Did I love this book? Yes, purely from the standpoint of seeing old friends. The story was engaging and interesting. Win is engaging and interesting. But the way that he and Myron would play off of each other with Myron being the good angel and Win being the bad was glaringly missed. Coben tried to bring in Myron's conscience throughout with Win thinking of what Myron would do or say but it just wasn't the same. You just can't break of the band and have it sound the same.
Show Less
LibraryThing member norinrad10
This is an odd book, one that leaves me continually gravitating between 3 and 5 stars. The title of the book refers to the protagonist, Windsor Horne Lockwood III. Win the deadly super wealthy gent has occupied a supporting character role in the long running Coben series featuring Myron Bolitar. A
Show More
role I'm not convinced suits him better.

Much of this book feels as if it was written in the 1990s, a more permissive time. The pages are filled with both sex and violence, much of a gratuitous nature. Win himself represents the type of wealth that once was envied but has become loathed by many in today's culture.

The story on the other hand will sweep you up and having you racing to discover the outcome. Give it to Coben, he can construct a tale.

Characters have a habit of appearing for little reason, other rhan to titulate. Those same characters dissappear with little explanation to why they appeared in the first place. Other characters go undeveloiped despite playing pivitol roles.

With out giving away any spoilers, in the end, I think the decision to keep Bolitar absent from the story ultimately sinks the book. Without the balance of Myron, Win is nowhere near as attractive a hero, or even an anti-hero.

Ultimately the reqder if left continually torn between being repulsed by the title character, and wanting to discover the outcome of it all. Not a comfortable place to be.

Hopefully the next book will reunite the duo.
Show Less
LibraryThing member andsoitgoes
If this becomes a series I won't be pursuing it. Win can not carry a book written this way. Bring Myron Bolitar back. I've never given a Harlan Coben book a 1 star rating, I always look forward to his novels but this one...I didn't even like the story line. So tired of the super rich getting way
Show More
with everything.
Show Less
LibraryThing member Judiex
A stolen paining and a suitcase lead back to an act of domestic terrorism, murder, kidnapping, and rape. All connected to Windsor Horne Lockwood IIIs past.
LibraryThing member PhilipJHunt
I’m surprised it’s taken me so long to find Harlan Coben. Glad I have. He writes mysteries with plot twists right up to the last chapter. Unlike some writers who claim the same genre, Coben plays a deft hand at keeping the reader on track. The main character in “Win” is an unpleasant
Show More
fellow, yet Coben gave me enough of Win’s inner life to make me like him. Or, if not like, forgive.
Show Less
LibraryThing member Twink
Well truthfully, if Harlen Coben wrote it - I want to read it. Even more so when I discovered this latest featured Windsor Horne Lockwood III - aka Win.

Coben has penned a great series featuring Myron Bolitar - sports rep/detective. I know, odd combo, but it really works. And Myron's sidekick is the
Show More
aforementioned Win. Win doesn't say too much in those books, but later entries have given readers peeks into this enigmatic character. Until.....yes, you guessed it, this book features Win as the lead!

Win is hauled in by the FBI and taken to the site of a murder. A missing painting that belonged to his family as well as a suitcase bearing his crest and monogrammed initials has been found at the scene. And Win is now officially a suspect.

Did I mention that Win is incredibly rich? Has his own sense of justice? Is drawn to violence? Is not someone you want to cross? Is unpredictable? Is a man who loves the finer things in life? Yup, all that and more. Oh, and that the exterior belies who is really inside that designer label suit. Which only adds the delicious unknown in predicting where the plot is going to go.

And it heads places completely unexpected - domestic terrorism, with some side stops along they way. We learn more about the Lockwood clan. The plotting in Win is unique and I was surprised by every revelation - and twist. I so appreciated being unable to guess what's next. Coben kept me on my toes, right 'til the last pages.

It was fascinating to get into Win's thought processes, his reasoning and what makes him tick. Scary, but brilliant. His inner dialogue and observations are also darkly humorous and sardonically witty and wry.

Win was such a great read for me - addicting, page turning, unexpected and has just left me wanting another 'Win' book.
Show Less
LibraryThing member gpangel
Win by Harlan Coben is a 2021 Grand Central publication.

Windsor Horne Lockwood III gets his own book!!

A reclusive hoarder is found dead. Among his effects is a leather suitcase with Win’s initials and a painting stolen from his family. Naturally, Win is called in to answer a few questions.

The
Show More
discovery opens a new inquiry into the kidnapping of Win’s cousin, Patricia, as well as a case involving a group of domestic terrorists- most of whom have been missing for decades. Because Win has a personal stake in the case, he begins his own investigation… on his terms…

I was so pleased to learn that Win would get his own series! For those who follow the Myron Bolitar series you are well acquainted with Win. He’s an anti-hero with appalling tendencies, but is a character many of us secretly root for, at least on some level- but have a hard time owning it.

Putting Win front and center without Myron as a buffer is an intriguing idea.

So how well did Win do with his first solo case?

Not too bad. The character keeps his originality, while giving us a better understanding of his family background. My one complaint was that Win went on two long-winded monologues about his sex life- which was at least one too many.

Other than that, the story is absorbing, well-plotted, with Coben’s signature surprises and twists to keep things lively.

Win’s unconventionality is a start contrast to Myron’s boy scout approach, and it’s a big change of pace, but you must admit Win is certainly challenging and adds a level of excitement to the story merely because he’s so unpredictable.

Overall, this story is a good, solid ‘cold case’ drama- one of my favorite crime fiction tropes, is fast-paced with multiple threads tying together nicely.

Win's first solo adventure was certainly interesting. It is fun solving mysteries with such an unusual protagonist- one that unapologetically evokes both disgust and admiration.

I’m very interested in seeing how the ‘Lockwood’ series will progress from here.

4 stars
Show Less
LibraryThing member Jynell
Do you think money buys power?

Windsor Horne Lockwood III sure does. But he doesn't rely just on his inherited wealth - he has turned his body into a fighting machine. Well, that may be a bit extreme... Either way, he exudes power at all levels. When an expensive painting, stolen decades ago,
Show More
appears in the apartment of a dead man, Win is called in and the adventure begins.

First, let me say that I loved the narrator for the audiobook! His voice really brought the character of Win to life and I won't be able to imagine him any other way. Really enjoyable to listen to.

The writing was fabulous. This is my first book of Harlan Coben's but certainly won't be my last. I loved the way he keeps the story moving without unnecessary drama like some books. And I wasn't expecting the ending, which I always enjoy. It wasn't exactly a thriller or a mystery, but it was super good.

Thank you Brilliance Audio for sending me a copy of this to listen to and give my honest opinion.
Show Less
LibraryThing member Mrsmommybooknerd
#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!
LibraryThing member buffalogr
A spin-off of Coben's Myron Bolitar series, this book ARTICULATEs one of Myron's friends. An ultra-rich American, Win dives into a 1960s radical gang and comes up with family problems. There are several new characters: his cousin, an FBI agent and Win's daughter--all intwined in the mystery. I
Show More
really enjoyed this book, thus the rating.
Show Less
LibraryThing member pgchuis
This was amusing and fast paced and the violence in it presented with such panache that it just breezed by me.

Fun.
LibraryThing member edwardsgt
As usual with the author, a convoluted plot with plenty of wise-cracking from WIN as he cracks heads literally and figuratively.
LibraryThing member CasSprout
A disappointment. The first Harlan Coben book that I didn’t like. The main character is a sexist snob. He admits to it, frequently, but that doesn’t excuse it or make it acceptable. And the premise for the plot was ultimately, not very interesting.
LibraryThing member Maydacat
I would have enjoyed this thriller more if only the main protagonist had been less obnoxious! Win is a super rich, talented guy, who takes on the wrongs of the world when legitimate ways don’t work fast enough for him. He is immoral, arrogant, narcissist, conceited, and egotistic. He and his
Show More
family come first, and their superior name and reputation must be protected at any cost. How can you not like a guy like this? Let me count the ways! Well, I don’t have enough time for that now - you can figure it out anyway. The suspense builds throughout the novel, and the mystery is a good one, right up to the contrived and convoluted conclusion. There is more than one mystery to solve, and Win’s patience is wearing thin. He is a man of action, after all! There are some graphic murder descriptions, some torture, some really hurtful fights, and so on. I know many people like this sort of writing and enjoyed this novel, but it was a bit over the top for me. Harlan Coben does write well, but I really didn’t care for his characters in this one.
Show Less
LibraryThing member jpsnow
A suspenseful read but too much like Batman and to dark for me.
LibraryThing member Daftboy1
This is the 1st book starring Windsor Horne Lockwod the 3rd a very rich young man he is friends with Myron Bolitar.
Win as his known likes to right wrongs and investigate things the Police can no longer solve.
He beats up a Basketball star who was assaulting a Lady.

An old painting is found in a
Show More
recluse apartment recluse is dead. Painting belongs to Wins family.
Recluse was a radical in the 1970s Part of the Jane Street 6 who firebombed a bus.
The all went underground, the missing painting is linked to his cousin Patrica who was kidnapped when she was younger, people believed she was a victim of the Hut of horrors when young Girls were murdered. With some more digging it turns out Patrica actually killed her Father as he was the one killing the young Girls she faked her kidnap and ran off with Ry Strauss who was one of the original Jane Street 6. OK book I don't really like Win though he is far to pompous for me.
Show Less
LibraryThing member rmarcin
Win Lockwood is the star of this novel, but there is enough Myron-isms sprinkled throughout the novel to satisfy until, hopefully, a new Myron novel is written. One can always hope!!
This novel follows Win as he acts as a vigilante, but then his FBI friend, PT, asks him for help investigating a
Show More
murder. The murdered man turns out to be a member of the Jane Street Six, and he has a piece of stolen art in his apartment that belongs to Win’s family. Thus begins an unraveling of what happened to the six members of the group, the info on the art heist, and the details of the young women held in the Horror Hut, including Win’s cousin Patricia.
I enjoyed this, and wonder if there will be more novels with Win as the main character.
Show Less
LibraryThing member Carolesrandomlife
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
Show More
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.
Show Less
LibraryThing member nyiper
Really fun, if you can call it that?....to have Win describing his life and what and how he lives it. YES, not really a model of acceptable behavior in a civilized society except....this IS a novel and Coben can let Win be as "?" as he is......Coben lets you feel as though, as usual with Coben,
Show More
that you are listening to who is telling the story...in this case, Win. Will there be more books?? Any more with Myron....or is he now gone because he is officially married and retired from his former lif?. And Win....where to go from here??
Show Less

Language

Original language

English

Original publication date

2021-03

Physical description

9.21 inches

ISBN

1529123852 / 9781529123852

Other editions

Win by Harlan Coben (Paperback)
Page: 0.3175 seconds