Harlan Coben discussion

What do you think the meaning of the last sentence of 'The Woods', "I wonder if we will drive off together or IF THESE WOODS, AFTER ALL THESE YEARS, WILL HAVE CLAIMED ONE LAST VICTIM."
I keep shivering when I read that, and I'm wondering what does Cope mean by saying this. Because "the one" could mean Lucy or Cope himself. If it's Lucy, could he mean he will kill her? If not him, who then? If the old suspect is dead and the psycho one is in jail, who else could be the one to "claim" the last victim?
I don't know, I just think this one has "other" meaning, especially since it's put at the very end of the story.
What do you think?

It's a little bit absurd. I think Cope was really mad & disappointed with Lucy. Anyway, I don't think he's gonna kill Lucy. He is sane man :)

When I read it I just thought by victim he did not necessarily meant killing someone, but screwing someone's life. Like screwing all their future plans together because he would be unable to forgive her, and so living miserable lifes.

the ending left me feeling a little confused or empty because I had enjoyed the book but leaving 'the love of his life' at the end and wondering if she would come back to the car or become another victim seemed very odd. Whilst I appreciate Jorge's view that it might have just meant Lucy was a victim of a screwed up life I suspect it was more than that, because, as evidenced by her drinking she'd already been there. My first take was Paul was wondering if Lucy would suicide at his abandoning her (would she feel judged?) I would have liked Paul to be much more forgiving given Lucy was a 17? yr old who didn't know she was helping a killer. I'd also have thought that any one of Gil, Camille, both their mums or Lucy could have more fortitude 20 years ago and Wayne wouldn't have gone on to kill others.