The Innocent by Harlan Coben

Published in 2005, this is an intriguing piece of Harlan Coben’s older work. Coben’s humour, the atmosphere of a place in need of regeneration, the interesting exploration of human nature, the fragility of the American suburban ideal and believable law enforcement evasion are aspects of Coben’s work which clearly became a theme of his work as more books were written. Coben does not not normally reintroduce characters in his books, therefore it is interesting to note the involvement of Investigator Loren Muse, who reappears in his later books. In terms of this individual novel, the opening (a description of a lifestyle all students or graduates can relate to but which takes a drastic turn) draws the reader in. At times the novel appears to have a one-dimensional storyline of a possible affair but there is just enough tension to keep the reader’s focus until the end.