The Innocent by Harlan Coben Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of The Innocent
Book Review: 4 1/2 stars
Summary: 4 Stars
Out of jail after a conviction for manslaughter (he was just trying to stop a fight), Matt Hunter suddenly finds himself suspected of multiple murders.
As always, Harlan Coben provides great entertainment in his latest thriller. A fast moving, twisting thriller I was very satisfied reading.
Highly recommended.
Book Review: A complex and sophisticated story with one too many twists...
Summary: 4 Stars
Nine years ago, Matt Hunter innocently tried to break up a fight--and became a killer. Now, after serving his time in a state prison, he is an ex-con who takes nothing in life for granted. He's married to a beautiful woman, Olivia, and they are expecting their first child and are closing on a house in the suburbs. Everything is perfect...until Matt receives a shocking picture and video from Olivia's cell phone. In quick succession, three murders are committed; and for Loren Muse, county homicide investigator, all evidence points to the ex-con-in-residence: Matt Hunter. Once again, Matt finds himself in a position where he must prove his innocence...
I wanted to give Harlan Coben's THE INNOCENT 5 stars. I really did. There were a lot of things I liked about the book. The characters were well-developed and likable. The pages just flew by for me. Coben's intricate, sophisticated style of alternating between intertwined parts of the same story gave THE INNOCENT a quick, thrilling pace; the storyline was intelligently complex but never complicated. I enjoyed the pop culture references in the narrative; and I applaud Coben for his unique approach in this sprawling novel that travels from urban New Jersey to the strip clubs of Reno, Nevada.
And while I can appreciate a good twist that makes you gasp out loud at the end of a novel, I do believe there is such a thing as having *too many* surprises--and, in my opinion, this novel does. The incredible coincidences that occur in the final few chapters are almost laughable and entirely unbelievable. While the rest of the novel was very well-written and, as I already mentioned, incredibly intricate, the ending just seemed amateurish and contrived and, well, thrown together. Coben tried too hard to wrap everything up all nice and neat--and, in so doing, ruined the whole effect of the book for me. But I still can't give this less than 4 stars...I really enjoyed the rest of the book--I just wish the ending would have been more thought-out.
Book Review: A good book but an average Coben
Summary: 3 Stars
I'm a true fan of Coben's work. His new book is filled with suspense and the characters are attaching: an inextricable story and high risk situations for Matt Hunter and his wife...
However, at the middle of the book, if you have read the previous Harlan Coben's novels, you'll guess a lot of the hidden stuff that should be high surprises... The book is good, but not as much as "Tell no one" or "Gone for good".
I'd give a 4th star for the Myron Bbolitar short story at the end of the book: this bonus is a nice surprise and gave me the nostalgy of all the "Myron and Win" books...
Book Review: Almost good
Summary: 3 Stars
I agree with reviewer Anne Masterson in her summary that
it entertained for about three quarters of the book and
then collaped into some unrealistic hook-ups that didn't
make much sense and were not believable. I have read
all of his books and always look forward to his latest.
Book Review: An exquisitely crafted thriller / mystery
Summary: 5 Stars
Harlan Coben is a total master of his craft. In "The Innocent" Coben weaves a very complex plot, populates with believable characters and, at the end, leaves you disappointed that the book has drawn to a close. You want more. More of Matt Hunter, who accidentally killed someone in a college brawl. More of Loren Muse, the intelligent, conflicted investigator who thinks Hunter is involved with current murders. More of Olivia Hunter, Matt's pregnant wife who wants nothing more than an ordinary life. And more of all the characters Coben creates.
He is that good.
The story is not simple. Coben's plotting reminds me of a gnarly tree: it starts at the bottom with a trunk and than branches off with some of the branches intertwining with others. Stories and characters overlap, but not to point of confusion.
Coben is a master. In "The Innocent," he has written a superb mystery thriller. Ordinary people thrown into extraordinary circumstances and doing what they must to survive --- if the bad folks don't kill them first.
Superb.
Jerry