Product Description

Matt Hunter's life has already been blown away once. At the age of twenty, he got into a fight outside a party and accidentally killed someone. That momentary lapse of reason cost him four years in gaol, and a small sliver of his soul. But when he got out he set about rebuilding his life. He carved himself a job as a lawyer and married a beautiful woman. The break in the road seems to have only made him a stronger person. However, when he receives a strange video message on his mobile phone and he realises that a very bad man is following him, his new existence is suddenly under threat. Why is this ex-con on his tail, and who really is this woman he has married? Suddenly Matt can't trust anybody - least of all those he loves...

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #212359 in Books
• Published on: 2005-04-11
• Original language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• 384 pages

Amazon.co.uk Review
Like Harlan Coben's other recent novels of suspense, The Innocent starts in the green suburbs of New Jersey and takes us off into the dark heart of the secrets and lies that often lie at the centre of American life. Matt has rebuilt his life after a brawl that left him serving four years hard time for manslaughter. He has clawed back some of the dreams of his young manhood--in particular, Olivia, the girl he met once, dreamed of and then found again. Now someone is sending him phone images of Olivia, in a blonde wig, with another man... Local cop Loren is trying to find out who smothered a teacher at the local convent, and why the dead nun had breast implants; over-the-hill stripper Kimmy is visited by the daughter of a long-dead friend...

This is a plot as well constructed as a good watch, yet as unpredictable as a fairground ride, but what gives Coben's books their unique quality is the fact that his writing always has heart. We care about even the most minor and venal of his characters, because Coben knows that often, what divides heroism from crime is the consequences of one bad day. ---Roz Kaveney

Carla McKay, DAILY MAIL, 22 April
"This is familiar Coben territory -- dark, twisted and gripping."

Review
"Harlan Coben always has a good tale to tell, and he knows how to present it with elegance, pace and loads of tension." (Matthew Lewin THE GUARDIAN )

"The enjoyably intricate plot takes several turns before we are fooled for the last time and the villains and motive are revealed. A book to read in one gulp." (Susanna Yager THE SUNDAY TELEGRAPH )

"A typically brilliant offering from Harlan Coben, with the storyline gripping you from the first line... another excellent thriller that you will be unable to put down. Highly recommended. Absolutely vintage Harlan Coben." (www.crimesquad.com )

"This is familiar Coben territory -- dark, twisted and gripping." (Carla McKay DAILY MAIL, 22 April )

"Unpretentious fun." (DAILY TELEGRAPH, 18 June )

"Another smash hit" (Janet Devlin THE BELFAST TELEGRAPH, 23 April )

"A narrative that springs a non-stop series of surprises on the reader and scabrously witty dialogue.." (Barry Forshaw DAILY EXPRESS, 3 June )

"Coben's forte is the creation of complex plots, peopled with characters that the reader likes and identifies with. He has a great talent for keeping the reader guessing as to what is really going on -- and turning the pages to find out." (DEADLY PLEASURES, Spring 2005 )

Customer Reviews

Yet Another Page Turner From Coben
Harlan Coben never lets me down. Everything I've read from this author so far has really kept me guessing and turning those pages. That is the sign of a truly great writer of fiction.

I've read some not so favourable reviews of Harlan Coben novels, some stating that his books are too unbelievable and contrived. But that's the nature of the genre and fiction in general. "Fiction" means 'not real'. It also equates to stories being larger than life and rather neatly panned out. If they were too like real life, many stories would probably be rather dull and boring. Fiction books are like movies. They are the same thing, only in written form rather than visuals and sound.

It's all about entertainment and Harlan Coben delivers this, without fail, every single time.

How To Keep Your Man: And Keep Him For Good

Real Life Dramas - Volume One: 1

Darren G. Burton

Another great Harlan book.
This book was great i loved it!
I really felt sorry for the main character he goes through a hell of a lot in this story.
There were plenty of twists and turns which i hadnt guessed.
Only one thing slightly disappointed me, and that was the ending. The last twist i'd actually guessed half way through the book. The final few chapters could have had a bit more effort put into them. Im not complaining though as i did thoroughly enjoy, and will continue reading Harlan Coben's books.

One of My Favourite Thriller Writers

Harlan Coben continues to prove that he is one of the best thriller writers around at the moment. A page turner is a much used phrase but in this case it is really appropriate. The author's books are always so well structured and his character's well rounded. He is obviously comfortable with his style and ability and this transmits itself to the reader making the reading of his books sheer pleasure from start to finish. Coben has now got a string of best selling crime novels behind him and all I can say is that I hope he continues to write for many years to come. The author lives in New Jersey with his wife and four children.

This particular book seems to have attracted a mixed bag of reviews and to a degree I can understand why, but the fact the reviews are mixed tells its own story. It is very difficult as a reviewer to criticise a book or an author too much, as your thoughts on the book are personal to you. This does not mean that others who read it will also dislike it. In fact they may think totally the reverse and love the book..

I personally found the book an entertaining read, yes in parts the plot did stretch the imagination a little, but it is after all a work of fiction, a fantasy, there to entertain rather than educate. All I can really add is if you have read Harlan Coben before, you will probably enjoy the book immensely and if you haven't but like thriller writing, give it a try.