The Innocent by Harlan Coben

A twisty novel with many layers and characters who have very complex lives. I tried to tell someone else the plot - and found I couldn't. It was too complicated. I liked the opening prologue with second-person perspective, explaining how the central character found himself in an unfortunate situation with a tragic outcome. It could have very easily gone another way, but it didn't, and our main man ended up in prison.

Nearly a decade later and he is settled into a job and happily married. In a parallel storyline, a nun is found dead with links to strippers and there's a police officer who went to school with the protagonist...

The opening of the book sets the idea that nothing is always as it first appears, which is the case for most of the characters so the story always keeps the reader guessing. It is a true thriller with plenty of action and guns (well, it is set in America), vulnerable women who end up as strippers in seedy clubs and some dodgy police officers - although we don't know which of them are to be trusted. 

A fast-paced read with a few stereotypes and the women are always judged by their level of attractiveness. The end ties everything up neatly although a few connections and coincidences are a little far-fetched. Nevertheless this is a powerful and suspenseful book, great for those who like plenty of action and something to really sink your teeth into.

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Published by Orion on 19 March 2009.