Tell No One
by Harlan Coben
Characters
David Beck
Elizabeth Porter Beck
Shauna
Linda Beck
Hoyt and Kim Parker
Jeremiah Renway
Rebecca Shayes
Arturo
Chloe (dog)
Hester Crimstein
Peter Flannery
Helio Gonzalez
Sheriff Lowell
Nick Carlson, FBI
Tom Stone, FBI
Roland Dimonte, NYPD
Kevin Krinsky, NYPD
Lance Fein, assistant DA
Timothy Harper, medical examiner
Vic Letty, CableEye
Griffin Scope
Larry Gandle
Eric Wu
Tyrese
Brutus
Discussion questions
1. Loyalty is a strong theme in the book. Sometimes loyalty to one person means betraying another. Give examples of such conflicts in the story. Are these lies and cover-ups justified, in your opinion?
2. Trust is another of the novel’s themes. The protagonist, David Beck, must decide who he can trust with the news that his wife might still be alive, and other characters must choose how to react to his unusual behavior. Give examples of trust rewarded as well as misplaced trust. How do these instances further the plot? Do they reflect upon society as a whole?
3. Give examples of foreshadowing in the book. How do these episodes influence the reader’s anticipation of events to come? How does this alter your experience of the plot?
4. At one point David Beck says that he has become a better person due to the suffering he went through after the death of his wife, yet still acknowledges it as a painful event he wishes he had not endured. How is suffering portrayed in the novel? It is something most people avoid when possible, but does it have a proverbial “silver lining”?
5. Elizabeth’s father, Hoyt Parker, ultimately sacrifices himself so David and Elizabeth can be together. What are his motives for this action? Why didn’t he act sooner? Does his action redeem him for his past misdeeds? What other characters are in need of redemption? Do they achieve it, and if so, how? Are their actions enough to atone for their past crimes and mistakes?
6. On a similar note, many characters come to regret past actions and decisions, often made in situations where their loyalty and trust were torn. Does the book have anything to say about such regrets? How do the characters deal with their remorse and guilt and move forward?
7. How is law enforcement portrayed in the book? How does this compare to the portrayal of the criminal element? Do you think these depictions are accurate?
8. Did you find you had to suspend your disbelief at certain points in the narrative? Was this difficult? Did it effect your ability to be drawn into the narrative?
9. Do you think this book has anything to say about society as a whole? If so, what?
“I can tell you that the themes I love best involve family - the ties and bonds we all know. I enjoy stories where the past reverberates and sends shock waves to the present. I enjoy novels about old secrets and missing people who may still be alive, about loss, about redemption.”
— Harlan Coben
Film adaptation
Tell No One (2001) was made into a French film ("Ne le dis a personne") by director Guillaume Canet in 2006.
About the author
Harlan Coben (b. Jan. 4, 1962) is the author of 18 mysteries and thrillers, nine of them featuring former basketball player turned sports agent Myron Bolitar. He has won an Edgar Award, a Shamus Award, and an Anthony Award (all prizes for mystery and detective writing). He lives in Ridgewood, New Jersey, with his wife, a pediatrician, and their four children. He is friends with author Dan Brown (Angels and Demons, The Da Vinci Code), whom he met when both were students at AmherstCollege.