The Innocent by Harlan Coben Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of The Innocent
Book Review: Incredible, Fast-paced, Well-written Thriller!
Summary: 5 Stars
Matt Hunter went to prison nine years ago after a brawl at a frat party that went bad. Now an ex-con, he lives in New Jersey with his newly pregnant wife. After she leaves on a short business trip, he gets a call on his cell phone from his wife. It's a picture of a man waving at him. Then a minute later, he receives another call. This time, it's video footage of a woman who looks like his wife in a blonde wig sitting on a hotel bed. Is his wife cheating on him? She won't return his calls, and then he notices someone is following him. Thus begins an outstanding thriller. It's fast pace never lets up, and the reader is always caught off guard. Revelation after revelation and you're still stunned. But, as with all Harlan Coben thrillers, it all fits nicely into place in the end. This is truly one of the best thrillers I've read. It's right up there with my favorite thriller of all: Coben's "Tell No One." Highly recommended!Book Review: Like All Coben Books, You Can't Put it Down
Summary: 5 Stars
When he was younger Matt tried to help out a friend in a fight, the other guy wound up dead and Matt went to jail. When he got out he studied law and his brother Bernie got him a job as a paralegal in his firm and after Bernie died, they kept Matt on. He marries and his wife Olivia is pregnant. Olivia goes to Boston on a business trip, but before she leaves the couple buys matching cell phones. And today, cell phones do so much more than just let you talk to someone who is far away. Matt learns this the hard way when he gets some disturbing images of his wife on his phone.
Then a mysterious someone starts tailing Matt, but not for long, because he winds up dead and the authorities think Matt looks good for the crime. Matt's been on the wrong side of the law before so he doesn't like how things are working out. He believes he has to solve what's going on himself, so he and Olivia are on the run in true Coben style. Matt is a great character, Olivia is too, but I especially liked Matt's long time acquaintance, turned cop Loren Muse and how she evolved in the story. In a way, this book is like all Harlan Coben books, you can't put it down. That's a good thing.
Book Review: MISTAKES ARE MADE, MISFORTUNE FOLLOWS
Summary: 4 Stars
Some mistakes can change your life forever. In "The Innocent" the past comes back with a vengence to haunt the lives of ex-convict Matt Hunter and his pregnant wife Olivia.
Nine years ago Matt went to prison for manslaughter, convicted for an accidental death that occurred when he attempted to help a friend. While his friends were in college, Matt was serving his time in prison. Now a free man and happily married, Matt will do anything to protect and maintain his new life.
Suddenly a series of events put Matt and Olivias "happily ever after" in jeopardy. First, an admired and well loved nun is murdered, then Matt begins receiving anonymous and compromising photos on his cell phone and suspects he is being followed by a mysterious stranger. He enlists the help of a female detective friend to help unravel the mystery. Unfortunately dead folks begin popping up all over the place and all of them seem to be connected to Matt in one way or another. The local and federal authorities think him a likely suspect to pursue and, worst of all, it seems that sweet Olivia has a few secrets of her own she hasn't shared with her hubby.
What M. Night Shymalan did with unexpected plot twists in his movies, notably The Sixth Sense and Unbreakable, Cobin does with his books. Both men ably tell compelling tales about the interaction of fate coupled with the choices we make in life. The Innocent seems to prove that no one is completely innocent.
Book Review: Mediocre Writing, Interesting Plot
Summary: 3 Stars
Harlan Coben's novel, The Innocent, was recommended to me as an entertaining, page-turner. That is about it. It reminds me of a work that was solely intended for film production. Like a movie, this book was merely amusing. It lacked the intricate language that other authors encompass in their works. In addition, the character development was mediocre. One of the greatest statements about the development of characters came from Steven King's On Writing. King writes that one should try to give subtle details about a character. Coben's descriptions are so vague and direct that it retracts from the fluency of the novel; however, the plot and quick pace counterbalance the negatives of the book.
Essentially, the book is about a young man, Matt Hunter, who innocently attempts to defend his friend by breaking up a fight and ends up a killer. From then on out, he is regarded as dangerous to those around him by the very same people he grew up with. When his pregnant wife is called away on business, he receives one phone call that will smash his life again.
Another problem I encountered with this book was that it was extremely predictable. There was only one occasion where I did not know what was going on, but for the most part, I was going with the motions and following the characters through their obvious predicament. I think that if Coben limited the amount of twists and focused on developing the characters and integrate fewer coincidences, the book would be even more pleasurable.
The plot is apparent and makes up for the ordinary writing. Coben provides an adequate amount of twists and turns which keep the reader attentive. Every chapter, a new complication arises which simultaneously brings up another question to be asked. How many coincidences are evident in The Innocent? I believe that there were too many coincidences in the novel. And every concurrence was solved by another concurrence. It made the novel hard to read near the end, because it again resembled a movie. Every t was crossed and every i was dotted.
I cannot lie about the readability of this book. Despite the fact that it is written is common language that is neither artistic nor original, the novel had very nice flow. I read the entire novel in three sittings of several hours each. The primary rationale that I continued to read the book was that it had an appealing storyline. It has plot elements ranging from nuns with breast implants to accidental murder to adultery. The incorporation of all the previous aspects provides an excellent foundation for the novel.
Nevertheless, The Innocent is a compelling book. It is not a classic or contemporary masterpiece by any means, but it is a powerful book that should give the reader something to think about. It is a fantastic story, in spite of the ordinary language. In summation, Harlan Coben's novel is a success, because the plot is unique and the smoothness of the novel allowed it to be easy to read.
Book Review: Mini-Review: "The Innocent" by Harlan Coben
Summary: 4 Stars
I am a bit of a snob when it comes to choosing what books I will read. I don't pay much attention to what is on the "Best Seller" lists. I am usually not interested in reading what everyone is reading on the beach this summer!
Generally, I choose what to read by following two main criteria. First, I will read a book by an author whose work I have already read, enjoyed and who I respect. Second, I will read a book recommended to me by someone whose tastes in literature I respect. As a result, I don't often read what is currently popular. So, I was a little taken aback last week when on several occasions - while riding on the "T" in Boston and while dining in restaurants - people noticed the book I was reading and stopped to say: "He is one of my favorite authors; that is a great book." The book I was reading was "The Innocent," and the author is Harlan Coben, "modern master of the hook-and-twist," according to author Dan Brown.
I do not want to give away any of the delicious plot twists of this page-turner, so I will limit my comments to a few hors-d'oeuvres. Here is the scenario:
A nun turns up dead in a convent in Newark, New Jersey, and suspicions are aroused when it turns out that she had breast implants! Just who was Sister Mary Rose? A man who has served time in prison for involuntary manslaughter finds himself accused of a crime he did not commit. His wife appears to be having an affair and her "lover" seems to be flaunting it in front of the husband. An orphaned girl tries to find her birth mother, a Las Vegas stripper who was murdered years ago - or was she? Let the games begin!
From these "base" and basic ingredients, Coben concocts a zesty ragout that guarantees surprises in every bite.
Ultimately, believe it or not, this suspense novel evolves into a very moving story about unconditional love, redemption and second chances.
I have read the book twice. What does that tell you?
Enjoy!
Al