Book Review: Six Years by Harlan Coben

Six years have passed since Jake Sanders watched Natalie, the love of his life, marry another man. Six years of hiding a broken heart by throwing himself into his career as a college professor. Six years of keeping his promise to leave Natalie alone, and six years of tortured dreams of her life with her new husband, Todd.

But six years haven’t come close to extinguishing his feelings, and when Jake comes across Todd’s obituary, he can’t keep himself away from the funeral. There he gets the glimpse of Todd’s wife he’s hoping for . . . but she is not Natalie. Whoever the mourning widow is, she’s been married to Todd for more than a decade, and with that fact everything Jake thought he knew about the best time of his life—a time he has never gotten over—is turned completely inside out.

As Jake searches for the truth, his picture-perfect memories of Natalie begin to unravel. Mutual friends of the couple either can’t be found or don’t remember Jake. No one has seen Natalie in years. Jake’s search for the woman who broke his heart—and who lied to him—soon puts his very life at risk as it dawns on him that the man he has become may be based on carefully constructed fiction. (Goodreads)

I have not read all of Harlan Coben's books but the ones that I have have all been outstanding. Maybe it's because I don't overdo myself with one author or maybe it's because he is a kick ass writer. I'm just darn glad I signed on to review this one. I have signed on to review maybe 3 books this year because I'm just plain sick of the obligatory must-review-by-this-time mantra. My life just doesn't support that and I get plain cranky. But Harlan Coben?! I had to say yes.

I've said this before, Coben is the master of having the extraordinary happen to the ordinary. You can relate to his stories, his characters. I pray to goodness that none of his jacked up plots would ever happen to me, however.

His plots are fast paced and full of twists. His characters are fleshed out enough that you feel invested in them yet you don't get their whole entire back story. Every thing you get has a purpose. Just enough info to lure you in and try to figure it all out.

Six Years is a stand alone thriller and one that I was a tad bit terrified at at times. I even texted my fellow mystery loving friend, Cheryl, that she must read it as I was curled up in my bed late one night spooked.

There are a few story lines I enjoy in thrillers. First, the "I Forgot My Memory and I don't know who I am" plot and the "This really happened. Why don't you believe me?!"plot.  They both drive me nuts but I like it. It's suspenseful and aggravating and I just want it all to be solved!

Six Years had the "This really happened. Why don't you believe me?!!!" plot line. Nobody believes Natalie really existed. He can't find any trace of her. People he KNOWS he met in the past suddenly don't remember him. Places he went with her don't exist anymore. It's creepy and I loved it.

Kudos to Coben for delivering another thrilling tale. If you are new to his books, I would start with Tell No One but this one is good too! That one blew me away and got me hooked.

Author Website:
Harlan Coben

Challenge:
A-Z Mystery Author Challenge

Happy Reading and as always, thanks for stopping by!

red headed book child