Last year, he released "Shelter, " the first book in his new young-adult series, which stars teenage sleuth Mickey Bolitar, Myron Bolitar's nephew.

WSJ: Harlan Coben Floods the Zone

Mr. Coben, who had written seven Myron Bolitar novels by then, quickly ascended to the ranks of best-selling crime novelists such as Michael Connelly, David Baldacci and Janet Evanovich.

WSJ: Harlan Coben Floods the Zone

He jokes that his big break came with his first few Myron Bolitar novels, a mystery series starring a Jewish sports agent in New Jersey who solves crimes on the side.

WSJ: Harlan Coben Floods the Zone