Skip to main content
Chaptra

The AI reading companion for people who take books seriously

AI insights, chapter breakdowns, community discussions — all in one place.

Join free
Book329 pages • 2 hours reading time

The Match

4.8/5
394 readers on Chaptra have this book

About this book

Discover the exhilarating Richard and Judy Book Club pick from the No. 1 Sunday Times bestselling crime thriller author 'The absolute master' Richard Osman 'One of the all-time greats' Gillian Flynn 'Never lets you down' Lee Child 'One of my favourites' John Grisham 'Harlan Coben is the king of a killer twist [...] a highly addictive read.' HEAT _________ He is known simply as Wilde, the boy from the woods. Discovered living a feral existence in the Ramapo mountains of New Jersey, he has grown up knowing nothing of his parents, and even less about his own identity. But when a match on a DNA database puts him on the trail of a close relative, Wilde thinks he might be about to solve the mystery of who he really is. Only, this relation disappears as quickly as he's resurfaced. Undaunted, Wilde continues his research, becoming caught up in a secret community committed to exposing anonymous online trolls. Then one by one, people start to die. It soon becomes clear that a serial killer is targeting this secret community. And that the next victim could be Wilde himself . . . _________ 'A helter-skelter of a read!' Lisa Jewell 'At the top of his game' Peter James 'Twisty, well characterised, gently satirical' Jake Kerridge 'Insanely readable' Sunday Mirror 'Coben is a phenomenon' The Times 'It really is a page-turning thriller' JAZZ FM 'The king of tense thrillers is back with a book steeped in jaw-dropping twists.' OK! 'A superb twist I really didn't see coming' Jackie's Reading Corner _________ Readers love The Match . . . ***** 'A compelling read and one I'd highly recommend to those who like an intelligent plot' ***** 'It was very entertaining.' ***** 'The twists/turns are endless and putting it down was always with much angst.' ***** 'He's a master storyteller.' ***** 'An easy 5 star review for me. Get a copy of this, strap yourself in and enjoy the ride.' The Match, Sunday Times bestseller, January 2023 Richard and Judy Book Club pick, December 2022 Harlan Coben, Number 1 Sunday Times bestseller, January 2024
Language
English
Publisher
Random House
Release date
March 17, 2022
Downloads
Unknown
Cover of The Match

Click "Read now" to open in our Reader with AI features.

Community Discussions

Join the conversation about this book

Discussions

0 discussions

Join

No discussions yet

Be the first to start a discussion about this book!

Sign up to start the discussion

AI-Powered Insights

A clearer way to understand The Match through themes, characters, and key ideas

This reading guide highlights what stands out in The Match through 4 core themes, 3 character profiles. It is meant to help readers decide whether the book fits their taste and deepen the reading once they begin.

AI Reading GuidePreview

About this book

A quick AI guide to “The Match

Get the shape of the book before you commit: what it is about, what mood it carries, and what ideas readers tend to stay with afterward.

~8h readintermediatemysterioussuspensefultense

What the book is doing

Harlan Coben's "The Match" plunges readers into the complex world of Wilde, a man raised in the wilderness with no knowledge of his origins. His life takes a dramatic turn when a DNA match offers a glimmer of hope in identifying a close relative, only for this connection to vanish as quickly as it appeared. Driven by a relentless quest for identity, Wilde finds himself entangled with a clandestine online community dedicated to unmasking internet trolls. However, this pursuit of truth soon spirals into a deadly game of cat and mouse as members of the secret group begin to die, revealing a serial killer operating within their ranks. Wilde must race against time to uncover the killer's identity and solve the mystery of his own past before he becomes the next victim.

Key Themes

Identity and Belonging

Central to Wilde's character, this theme explores what it means to know oneself when one's origins are a complete mystery. It delves into the search for biological family, the impact of upbringing on self-perception, and the fundamental human need to find a place in the world.

Family Secrets and Hidden Pasts

This theme explores the impact of concealed truths within families and how past events, often intentionally buried, resurface to affect the present. It highlights the long-reaching consequences of secrets and the lengths people go to protect or uncover them.

A line worth noting
He was Wilde, a name given, not earned, a placeholder for the truth he sought amidst the shadows of his past.
A good discussion starter

How does Wilde's unique upbringing shape his perspective and abilities in solving mysteries?

Unlock the full reading guide

See chapter-by-chapter takeaways, deeper character arcs, and a fuller literary analysis built around this book.

Unlock full AI analysis for “The Match

Chapter breakdowns, character deep-dives, and thematic analysis — all in one place.

Reader Reviews

See what others are saying

Reviews

Overall Rating

4.8
820 ratings

Based on community ratings

No reviews yet

Be the first to review this book!

Readers Also Enjoyed

Discover more books similar to The Match