THE INNOCENT by Harlan Coben
Harlan Coben is emerging as one of America's best writers of suspense. His latest book, THE INNOCENT, is one of his best. In this novel he takes a completely innocent man and plunges him into situation after situation of peril. It makes for exciting reading and thorough entertainment.
The early part of Matt Hunter's life was charmed. From birth till he went to college everything was just about perfect. Then everything just fell apart. One night he went to a fraternity party but behaved himself until he tried to break up a fight. At that point a tragic accident occurred and he was charged with manslaughter. The fight had resulted in a death and he was right in the middle of it.
After he got out of prison he didn't think anything good was ever going to happen to him. Then he met Olivia. She was a girl he had known vaguely while he was in college but had never even dated. Now she was back in his life and he fell for her hard. Luckily she felt the same way he did, and also did not hold his prison past against him. They got married and things began to go right for Matt again, until he discovered Olivia might be cheating on him.
Once again Matt's life begins to go downhill. In trying to track down the true story about Olivia he finds himself involved in murder and mayhem. Knowing that he can never go back to prison, he runs from the law rather than asking for its help. He has to find a killer before the police arrest him.
The plot sounds a little far-fetched but Coben manages to keep it all in line. Each event that figures into Matt's life is explained and each time he manages to elude the law and/or the killer it is reasonable. The occurrences in Mat's life are extreme but they are believable and that is what makes the book so readable and so unique.
There isn't an empty space in the book where you can catch your breath or relax. Each page is full of one emotional event after another. Matt is a man on the run and he takes the reader with him wherever he goes. So suck in a lung full of air and hit the road running. When you open these pages you are off on a marathon event that is sure to leave you gasping for breath.
You had also better leave plenty of time allotted for the reading, for once you start this book you will want to stick with it till the every end. Harlan Coben has written a story that enthralls, enchants and engages. It is also reading entertainment of the highest caliber. So get started on this one tonight and have a wonderful reading experience.
THE INNOCENT is published by Dutton. It contains 370 pages and sells for $26.95.