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Cover of I Will Find You

I Will Find You

Written by Harlan Coben

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306 pages, about 6 hours of reading

Fiction

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About this book

The tense and twisty thriller and No. 1 Sunday Times bestseller from the creator of hit Netflix series Fool Me Once and Missing You. 'This thriller is one of his best yet' Sunday Express 'The master of the modern thriller' Glamour David and Cheryl Burroughs are living the dream - married, a beautiful house in the suburbs, a three-year-old son named Matthew - when tragedy strikes one night in the worst possible way. David awakes to find himself covered in blood, but not his own - his son's. And while he knows he did not murder his son, the overwhelming evidence against him puts him behind bars indefinitely. Five years into his imprisonment, Cheryl's sister arrives - and drops a bombshell. She's come with a photograph that a friend took on vacation at a theme park. The boy in the background seems familiar - and even though David realizes it can't be, he knows it is. It's Matthew, and he's still alive. David plans a harrowing escape from prison, determined to do what seems impossible - save his son, clear his own name, and discover the real story of what happened that devastating night... Readers are loving I Will Find You: 'A thrilling roller-coaster ride' 5-star reader review 'Harlan at his absolute best!' 5-star reader review 'Couldn't put it down' 5-star reader review 'Bravo on another fab story' 5-star reader review 'Such an amazing writer' 5-star reader review Praise for Harlan Coben: 'Unbelievably brilliant' RICHARD OSMAN 'A GREAT writer' JOHN GRISHAM 'Never lets you down' LEE CHILD 'Simply one of the all-time greats' GILLIAN FLYNN 'The modern master of the hook and twist' DAN BROWN 'One of the world's finest thriller writers' PETER JAMES Loved I Will Find You? Check out Harlan’s latest gripping thriller Think Twice! I Will Find You, Number 1 Sunday Times bestseller, January 2024.

Reading guide

Themes, characters and key ideas in I Will Find You, written by Chaptra AI.

  • about 8 hours
  • intermediate
  • dark
  • mysterious
  • suspenseful

Harlan Coben's 'I Will Find You' is a gripping thriller centered on David Burroughs, a man wrongfully imprisoned for the murder of his three-year-old son, Matthew. Five years into his sentence, a shocking photograph emerges, suggesting Matthew is still alive. Fueled by an unyielding paternal love and a desperate need for truth, David orchestrates a daring escape from prison. He embarks on a relentless quest to locate his son, clear his tarnished name, and unravel the intricate web of deceit surrounding the devastating night that tore his family apart, confronting a conspiracy far deeper than he could have imagined.

“"They took everything from me. My son. My freedom. My name. But they didn't take my hope."”

Key themes

Parental Love and Sacrifice
The most dominant theme, explored through David's unwavering belief in his son's survival and his willingness to risk everything—his freedom, his life—to find him. It showcases the primal, unconditional nature of a parent's love and the extraordinary lengths one will go to protect their child, even when facing insurmountable odds and societal condemnation.
Truth and Deception
The entire narrative hinges on the search for truth – what truly happened the night Matthew disappeared. The theme explores how easily truth can be manipulated, hidden, or distorted by external forces and personal agendas. It delves into the layers of deception that surround David's family and past, forcing him to question everyone he once trusted.
Justice and Injustice
This theme is central, focusing on David's wrongful conviction and the subsequent need for him to seek his own form of justice outside the flawed legal system. It questions the reliability of evidence, the impact of public perception, and the devastating consequences of systemic failures. The book explores whether true justice can be achieved when the system itself has failed.

Worth discussing

How does David's unwavering belief in Matthew's survival drive the narrative, and what does it reveal about the nature of parental love?

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