In this tale of romantic obsession, college professor Jake Fisher has fixated over the break-up of his whirlwind affair with an artist called Natalie six years ago. The couple had met, fallen in love instantly, vowed to get together - only for Natalie to make a sudden u-turn and return to an old flame, leaving Jake bereft. Harlan Coben has made a lucrative career from dismantling premises like this page by page, adding insights that may or may not stand further scrutiny. Learning that Natalie's husband has died suddenly - and weirdly - Jake tries to make contact, in part to rekindle lost passion, but also to find out why they aren't celebrating their own six-year anniversary. Only the woman Jake sees at the funeral isn't the belle of his ball. And Natalie's sister seems even more confused by his enquiries. Has Jake dreamed the whole thing up? Or are there more plots within plots than the average cemetery? Coben is a rather better thriller writer than romantic novelist:
Six Years is gripping if not always convincing. Still, the end is worth the effort.
