The Innocent by Harlan Coben Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of The Innocent
Book Review: Excellent!
Summary: 5 Stars
Another excellent book from Harlen Coben.
Finished the book in 2 days and kept me up til 5am until the birds outside the window told me that I absolutely had to have some shuteye in order to function the next day.
His stand alone books usually start with some unbelievable premise, such as seeing your long dead twin brother drive by, or a note from your drowned ex-girlfriend asking to meet you tonight, or your loving wife suddenly disappearing after getting a phone call in the middle of dinner. In fact these jump start beginnings have been so good that a host of other authors have been copying them. (Or it may be that some other author invented this, I just don't know.)
Anyway, without giving away any of the story, I would say that this book is good because:
1) Coben has an easy writing style and that the book is easy to read. It does not require a lot of thinking, you just follow along. He knows how to write for an audience, unlike some authors.
2) The characters are likeable and fairly realistic. It is very important that the characters are well fleshed out and likeable.
3) Plot is exciting, you eagerly follow along, unlike some books where you keep reading in the hopes that something exciting will come in the next 50 pages.
Dislikes:
1) Dislike chapters jumping from one subplot to another. It's annoying when you want to find out what happens to a character. The chapter ends, and instead of continuing, you have to read the next chapter about something else and then get back to that subplot. That's what kept me up to 5am as I kept wanted to follow both subplots.
2) Too many twists to end the book. For example, you find out it's the police chief who was the murderer. Then 2 pages further on you find out, no, it was actually the chief's assistant who had a beef with so and so and was the actual murderer. Then 2 more pages further on, no it was actually the chief's assistant's daughter who was raped and was doing it for revenge and ad infinitum...... After 2 or 3 twists you no longer care who really was the murderer you just want the twists to end......
3) Dislike the new larger paperback format. Publisher charges $2 more for a book with extra large margins; print size and everything else the same. It mocks the reader in the front that it's "specially designed for comfortable reading". How? Because the book is so tall, you can't just use one hand to keep it open like a normal paperback can. Basically you need 2 hands to keep the book open so you can read it. Highly annoying. It should have said "specially designed by the publisher for more profit." Everyone immediately write the publisher to complain.
Summary: All in all a highly enjoyable book. 8 hours of my life I didn't mind losing. Harlen Coben's parents should have had twins, then we would have double the number of books to read.
Book Review: Excellente!
Summary: 5 Stars
Another excellent book from Harlen Coben.
Finished the book in 2 days and kept me up til 5am until the birds outside the window told me that I absolutely had to have some shuteye in order to function the next day.
His stand alone books usually start with some unbelievable premise, such as seeing your long dead twin brother drive by, or a note from your drowned ex-girlfriend asking to meet you tonight, or your loving wife suddenly disappearing after getting a phone call in the middle of dinner. In fact these jump start beginnings have been so good that a host of other authors have been copying them. (Or it may be that some other author invented this, I just don't know.)
Anyway, without giving away any of the story, I would say that this book is good because:
1) Coben has an easy writing style and that the book is easy to read. It does not require a lot of thinking, you just follow along. He knows how to write for an audience, unlike some authors.
2) The characters are likeable and fairly realistic. It is very important that the characters are well fleshed out and likeable.
3) Plot is exciting, you eagerly follow along, unlike some books where you keep reading in the hopes that something exciting will come in the next 50 pages.
Dislikes:
1) Dislike chapters jumping from one subplot to another. It's annoying when you want to find out what happens to a character. The chapter ends, and instead of continuing, you have to read the next chapter about something else and then get back to that subplot. That's what kept me up to 5am as I kept wanted to follow both subplots.
2) Too many twists to end the book. For example, you find out it's the police chief who was the murderer. Then 2 pages further on you find out, no, it was actually the chief's assistant who had a beef with so and so and was the actual murderer. Then 2 more pages further on, no it was actually the chief's assistant's daughter who was raped and was doing it for revenge and ad infinitum...... After 2 or 3 twists you no longer care who really was the murderer you just want the twists to end......
3) Dislike the new larger paperback format. Publisher charges $2 more for a book with extra large margins; print size and everything else the same. It mocks the reader in the front that it's "specially designed for comfortable reading". How? Because the book is so tall, you can't just use one hand to keep it open like a normal paperback can. Basically you need 2 hands to keep the book open so you can read it. Highly annoying. It should have said "specially designed by the publisher for more profit." Everyone immediately write the publisher to complain.
Summary: All in all a highly enjoyable book. 8 hours of my life I didn't mind losing. Harlen Coben's parents should have had twins, then we would have double the number of books to read.
Book Review: Fast paced and fun, if a little absurd.
Summary: 4 Stars
Harlan always delivers a readable action packed story. This one was no exception although the end was just a tad over the top to the point of preposterous. Still I was entertained. There's nothing better then an afternoon with Coben and your couch.Book Review: GOOD TILL THE END
Summary: 3 Stars
I was really into this book until the end. I get very annoyed when a book is exciting and suspenseful and then in the end beyond belief. My big question at the end was how did Sister Mary Rose know where the daughter was to contact her in the first place. (I had guessed who she was early on.) Maybe I missed something along the way - I did go back to see if I had, but could find nothing.
I definitely enjoy Coben's style and wit. However, this is the second book I have read of his where the ending just didn't stack up to the overall book. However, I might try one more, as he is an entertaining writer.
Book Review: Great first 2/3's and then a little messy
Summary: 4 Stars
I'm not going to repeat what everyone has already written, but I have to say that for 350 pages, Coben had me on the edge of the seat reading like I was in thrillers heaven. Then things started to unravel and then artistic license began to creep and then unbelievability evolved into "you gotta be kidding me".
But okay, it's a thrill ride that doesn't stop - not even for the parts that are too coincidental to be possible. Take it to the beach or on a plane and when you're done, you won't remember it, but you'll have passed away a couple of hours without looking up from the pages.