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Six Years Paperback – July 31, 2018


The bestselling author and creator of the hit Netflix drama The Stranger explores the dangers of obsession in this #1 New York Times bestselling masterpiece of modern suspense.
 
Six years have passed since Jake Fisher 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.
 
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. And soon, Jake’s search for the woman who broke his heart puts his very life at risk as he uncovers the secrets and lies that love can hide....

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Editorial Reviews

Review

Praise for Six Years 

“With
Six Years, the author shows once more how it’s done...furious plot twists...[a] subtle stunner.”—The Washington Post

“While
Six Years is certainly a thriller, it is also very much a love story.”—Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel

“This is Coben's
Vertigo; his masterpiece.”—The Providence Journal

“Don’t wait six years to read what might be Coben’s best since Tell No One.”—Library Journal
 
“Coben pulls off his patented hat trick of putting one word after another in a way that keeps you looking for that next work until it’s way past your bedtime.”—
The Charlotte Observer

“You can always count on Coben for keep-you-up-all-night thrillers, and this one’s no different. It reminded me, in good ways, of last summer’s smash hit Gone Girl, with clever twists and a denouement that’s jaw-dropping.”—The Dallas Morning News
 

About the Author

With more than seventy million books in print worldwide, Harlan Coben is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of thirty novels, including the Myron Bolitar series and a series aimed at young adults featuring Myron's newphew, Mickey Bolitar. His books are published in forty-three languages around the globe and have been number one bestsellers in more than a dozen countries. The winner of the Edgar, Shamus, and Anthony Awards, he lives in New Jersey.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Dutton; Reprint edition (July 31, 2018)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 368 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1524744336
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1524744335
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 10.5 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.47 x 0.98 x 8.19 inches
  • Customer Reviews:

About the author

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Harlan Coben
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With over 80 million books in print worldwide, Harlan Coben is the #1 New York Times author of thirty five novels including WIN, THE BOY FROM THE WOODS, RUN AWAY, FOOL ME ONCE, TELL NO ONE and the renowned Myron Bolitar series. His books are published in 46 languages around the globe.

Harlan is the creator and executive producer of several Netflix television dramas including FOOL ME ONCE, STAY CLOSE, THE STRANGER, SAFE, THE FIVE, THE INNOCENT and THE WOODS. He is also the creator and executive producer of the Prime Video series Harlan Coben’s SHELTER, based on his young adult books featuring Mickey Bolitar. Harlan was the showrunner and executive producer for two French TV mini-series, UNE CHANCE DE TROP (NO SECOND CHANCE) and JUST UN REGARD (JUST ONE LOOK). KEINE ZWEIT CHANCE, also based on Harlan’s novel, aired in Germany on Sat1.

Harlan’s novel TELL NO ONE (NE LE DIS A PERSONNE) was turned into the renowned French film, directed by Guillaume Canet and starring Francois Cluzet. The movie was the top box office foreign-language film of the year in the USA, won the Lumiere (French Golden Globe) for best picture and was nominated for nine Cesars (French Oscar) and won four, including best actor, best director and best music.

Winner of the Edgar Award, Shamus Award and Anthony Award – the first author to win all three – international bestselling author Harlan Coben’s critically-acclaimed novels have been called “ingenious” (New York Times), “poignant and insightful” (Los Angeles Times), “consistently entertaining” (Houston Chronicle), “superb” (Chicago Tribune) and “must reading” (Philadelphia Inquirer).

In his first books, Coben immersed himself in the exploits of sports agent Myron Bolitar. Critics loved the series, saying, “You race to turn pages…both suspenseful and often surprisingly funny” (People). After seven books Coben wanted to try something different. “I came up with a great idea that simply would not work for Myron,” says Coben. The result was the critically acclaimed New York Times bestseller TELL NO ONE, which became the most decorated thriller of the year. Two books later, Bookspan, recognizing Coben’s broad international appeal, named NO SECOND CHANCE its first ever International Book of the Month in 2003 – the Main Selection in 15 different countries.

Harlan was the first writer in more than a decade to be invited to write fiction for the NEW YORK TIMES op-ed page. His Father’s Day short story, THE KEY TO MY FATHER, appeared June 15, 2003. His essays and columns have appeared in many top publications including the New York Times, Parade Magazine and Bloomberg Views.

Harlan has received an eclectic variety of honors from all over the world. In Paris, he was awarded the prestigious Vermeil Medal of Honor for contributions to culture and society by the Mayor of Paris. He has won the El Premio del Novela Negra RBA in Spain, the Grand Prix de Lectrices in France, and the CWA/ITV3 Bestseller Dagger for favorite crime novelist in England. On the other end of the spectrum, Little League Baseball inducted Harlan into their Hall of Excellence in 2013, and Harlan is also a member of the New England Basketball Hall of Fame from his playing days at Amherst College.

Harlan was born in Newark, New Jersey. He still lives in New Jersey with his wife, Anne Armstrong-Coben MD, a pediatrician, and their four children.

Customer reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars
25,260 global ratings

Customers say

Customers find the plot complex, entertaining, and hard to guess. They also describe the writing quality as captivating and hard-to-put-down. Readers describe the pacing as fast and suspenseful. However, opinions are mixed on the writing style, characters, and appeal. Some find the writing well-written and light, while others find it corny and vague.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

1,629 customers mention "Plot"1,177 positive452 negative

Customers find the plot complex, fast-moving, and exciting. They also say the books keep them guessing and are imaginative. Readers also say that the books are reasonably entertaining, but not overly memorable. They mention that the layers are intense and the unraveling is awesome.

"...Six Years was a delight to read. A great protagonist, a believable storyline... do not hesitate to become a new Harlan Coben devoted fan by reading..." Read more

"...Every single plot is so original and so hard to guess that I am glued. This plot like so many others is multifaceted...." Read more

"...The book brings together a diverse cast of characters, a complex storyline, and some suspense-filled events, and weaves them together tightly, like..." Read more

"...My first complaint is the convoluted plot which at some point had me grabbing a piece of paper and pencil trying to map the people, places and..." Read more

1,223 customers mention "Writing quality"1,223 positive0 negative

Customers find the writing quality of the book pretty good, well worth the wait, and fabulous. They also say the storytelling is masterful and oddly satisfying.

"...Six Years was a delight to read...." Read more

"...Overall not my favourite Harlan Coben book but still a really, really good one...." Read more

"...It's one of the best books I've read in the last several years in this genre, and I'm a Robert Parker fan of old, if that says anything...." Read more

"...But when the excitement, mystery and intrigue hits, it's well worth the wait, and makes for a very fine addition to the Harlan Coben family." Read more

213 customers mention "Pacing"151 positive62 negative

Customers find the pacing of the book fast and suspenseful.

"...The good: the book wastes no time getting going, and you’re hooked by the end of the first chapter...." Read more

"...Harlen Coben's mystery/thrillers are always fairly complex but move fast, and I've found all of the ones I've read to be page-turners...." Read more

"...I rate Six Years 3 1/2 stars, the beginning was a little slow and it took some time for the story to find its pulse...." Read more

"...Fast moving and a good story. Thoroughly enjoyable!" Read more

134 customers mention "Readability"96 positive38 negative

Customers find the book hard to put down, easy to follow, and hooks them from the beginning.

"...I recommend this book for a relatively light, easy and entertaining read." Read more

"...That said, Coben is a master and SIX YEARS is awfully tough to put down. Recommended heartily to all HC fans." Read more

"Couldn't put it down. Twists and turns." Read more

"Took me 8 days to read this book as it was not hard to put down." Read more

91 customers mention "Humor"67 positive24 negative

Customers find the humor in the book exciting, engaging, and endearing. They also praise the author as talented and the book as clever.

"...you in the story before you have a chance to walk away, he is funny and witty, rarely dark, and I love all of that...." Read more

"...favourite thing about this book (and all of Harlan’s books) is the ironic tone and razor sharp wit; it makes me laugh and makes me think...." Read more

"...You won't let me do either. This is terribly annoying." Read more

"...THE CHARACTERSEngaging, endearing, and believable. The dialogue is crisp and frequently punctuated with Coben's brand of wit...." Read more

531 customers mention "Writing style"349 positive182 negative

Customers are mixed about the writing style. Some find the story well written, intelligent, riveting, and real. They also say the voice is smooth and dryly humorous. However, others say the writing is corny rather than clever, not believable, and repetitive.

"...Engaging, endearing, and believable. The dialogue is crisp and frequently punctuated with Coben's brand of wit...." Read more

"...The writing is done well and he has a great editor!!! (I get frustrated when I see so many errors and poor grammar in a book.)..." Read more

"...suspension of disbelief in thriller novels, but here it is corny rather than clever.Then there's the hero...." Read more

""Six Years" is typical Coben in that it's well written, and the main character is clever with more depth than is average for the genre...." Read more

332 customers mention "Characters"221 positive111 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the characters in the book. Some find them great, while others say they're not well developed.

"...Six Years was a delight to read. A great protagonist, a believable storyline... do not hesitate to become a new Harlan Coben devoted fan by reading..." Read more

"...The book brings together a diverse cast of characters, a complex storyline, and some suspense-filled events, and weaves them together tightly, like..." Read more

"...Unfortunately, it was not to be. Not only was the main character not well developed, most of the other characters aren't even "seen" in the book...." Read more

"...But as with all Harlan Coban thrillers, the hero is a likable guy you can't help routing for, the excitement never lets up, and the storytelling is..." Read more

152 customers mention "Appeal"58 positive94 negative

Customers are mixed about the appeal. Some find the book clever, interesting, and believable. They also appreciate the highly imaginative, complex, and compelling plotline. However, some find the very end of the book trite, far-fetched, unbelievable, and contrived in places.

"...The very end of the book seemed a little trite, and more something one would find in a story in a '50s women's magazine...." Read more

"...THE CHARACTERSEngaging, endearing, and believable. The dialogue is crisp and frequently punctuated with Coben's brand of wit...." Read more

"...entertaining, but I guess my criticism would be that it's not really surprising...." Read more

"...It's just too compelling and too chilling.NOTE: Six Years contains scenes of violence with guns, fighting, and details of torture...." Read more

Six Years Audiobook Review
2 out of 5 stars
Six Years Audiobook Review
Six year ago Natalie walked out of Jake's life and made him promise not to follow. She was the love of his life and married someone else. Now, Jake reads the obituary of her husband and with those feelings never dimming over the six years, he sets out to find Natalie not knowing the magnitude of things he is going to uncover in his search.This book was ok. I listened to it on Audible, and just kept finding myself not paying attention and having to rewind. I'm not sure if it was the narration or the story, but I may have liked it better had I read the actual book? Maybe it would have held my attention better? Who knows? On to the next one!
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Top reviews from the United States

Reviewed in the United States on March 26, 2013
Six years ago Jake Fisher met the girl of his dreams. Natalie came into his life like an answered prayer. They had a whirlwind romance, and Jake could not imagine life ever being any better and he felt they would be together forever. Then, as suddenly as Natalie had walked into his life, she walked out. Claiming a love for someone else, someone named Todd Sanderson who she had once dated.

Jake, heartbroken and helpless can do nothing as his dreams of a future with Natalie vaporize into thin air. When she marries Todd shortly after, Jake has to see the wedding for himself still not believing that his Natalie was gone. But as he watched her say "I do", and slip a ring on her finger, there is no denying that she has moved on. Before Natalie leaves the chapel she asks Jake to promise to never look for her, to never try to contact her. And helplessly, he promises.

Now, six years later and working as a College Professor, an obituary he stumbles upon on-line captures his eye. Todd Sanderson has died. Suddenly Jake's promise doesn't seem to hold as he vows to go to the funeral and see his Natalie, one more time. Yet the woman who mourns for the loss of her husband is not Natalie, and crazier yet, this woman has been married to Todd for over 20 years.

As Todd tried to go back to where Natalie and he had met to look for clues as to what has happened and where she went people who they knew together act as they do not know him... and the more bizarre it becomes, the more Todd digs in, letting go of a six-year promise, and trying to find the truth...

Holy smokes.... there is nothing like a good read bu Harlan Coben to put your reading mojo on the right track. When I opened this book a few days ago the plan was to read a few pages just to get the feel for what it was about. That was enough to hook me and have trouble putting it down until I turned that last delicious page.

There are so many wonderful reasons I like Coben's writing. I tell people that Stephen King is hard and dark and sometimes far out there, than Dean Koontz is a mellower version of King, a little funnier, still dark.... then there is Coben. Coben grabs the reader and entangles you in the story before you have a chance to walk away, he is funny and witty, rarely dark, and I love all of that.

The woman at the desk had a helmety beehive hairdo last seen on a senator's wife circa 1964. She hit me with a smile so wooden I could have knocked on it for luck.

~ page 389

Six Years was a delight to read. A great protagonist, a believable storyline... do not hesitate to become a new Harlan Coben devoted fan by reading this book. Just remember you can not be president of his fan club, because I am pretty sure that would be me. :D

On another fun note... Six Years was part of a bidding war for rights to the movie and Paramount won and Hugh Jackman will play Jake. Awesome right?
21 people found this helpful
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Reviewed in the United States on February 1, 2014
Six Years is another great read from the author who puts the thrill into thriller.

First Line of Six Years:

“I sat in the back pew and watched the only woman I would ever love marry another man. ”

My Thoughts on Six Years:

I loved it. Harlan Coben is one of my favourite psychological thriller writers and I have read every book that he has written. So it’s pretty safe to say I’m a big fan.

What I am finding is that as I have read so many of his books now though that the characters are becoming very recognisable. You have the nerdy good guy who is fluent in sarcasm and believes in love and family values, the thugs who are fluent in pain techniques and the best friend who is a little on the dodgy side. However even though the characters are familiar, the plot is not.

Every single plot is so original and so hard to guess that I am glued. This plot like so many others is multifaceted. You reach an a-ha moment, swirl it all around in your brain and think ‘I have it’ but there is always more shocks to come. The corkscrew twists are what keep me reading these books; book after book. I just love that the plot is never handed to you on a plate but you need to use your brain to fit it all together, even after the big reveal.

And I love that Harlan’s books terrify me. They are nightmare inducing and for some weird reason I love to scare the pants off myself. The bad guys are literally the guys from your worst nightmares and this book is no different in that respect. Thankfully to offset all the horror is lots of humour. Another favourite thing about this book (and all of Harlan’s books) is the ironic tone and razor sharp wit; it makes me laugh and makes me think.

Overall not my favourite Harlan Coben book but still a really, really good one. If you have never read a book by this author, I would recommend starting with ‘Just One Look’ though as I think that one is streets ahead.

Who should read Six Years:

I’d recommend this one to all fans of psychological thrillers and those who like suspense books that can maintain the suspense. Fans of James Patterson, Tana French and Linwood Barclay should also enjoy this book.

This review and more at [...]
21 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

Javier Algara
3.0 out of 5 stars Menor calidad novelística en comparación con obras anteriores
Reviewed in Mexico on July 23, 2024
La trama se ve forzada.
nathalia
5.0 out of 5 stars Bom livro
Reviewed in Brazil on April 14, 2024
Demorou pra chegar mas chegou, feliz com a aquisição, o autor é perfeito
Tricia
5.0 out of 5 stars 6 years
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 24, 2024
Excellent read - usual standard with twists and turns. Worth a read. Never disappointed with his books.
Garry Emmanuel Kuture
5.0 out of 5 stars Well written love the book
Reviewed in Sweden on January 26, 2024
I’d recommend this book
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Garry Emmanuel Kuture
5.0 out of 5 stars Well written love the book
Reviewed in Sweden on January 26, 2024
I’d recommend this book
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UlliSchnulli
5.0 out of 5 stars Love it!
Reviewed in Germany on July 29, 2020
Harlan Coben is my favorite author.
His stories are great and always with a twist.
I couldn't put this book down.
Loved reading the book!!