SIX YEARS (Harlan Coben)

It's been a while since I've read a thriller.  Lately I've been focusing primarily on women's fiction, because I like the emotional component, as well as historical fiction and traditional mysteries.  Six Years was pretty good.  College professor Jake was devastated when, six years before the novel begins, his soul-mate Natalie dumped him and married another man that she claimed was her old boyfriend, asking Jake to leave them alone.  Jake respected her wish for privacy and closure, but when he finds out that Natalie's husband, Todd, has died he decides to contact her at long last, only to discover that Todd left a wife of twenty years and two sons.  None of them have ever heard of Natalie.  Naturally he sets out to find the truth of what happened to Natalie, meeting obstacle after obstacle and realizing that those he thought he could trust may not be what they seem to be.  Jake displays an admirable ability to think on his feet, outwitting evil gangsters and even killing when necessary to save his own life.  I really liked Jake's integrity, his concern for the safety of his students and his underlying shock and wonder at his ability to kill, even in self-defense.  Overall, I would classify this as a satisfying thriller.  It's quick to read, full of both action and psychological suspense, and Coben does an excellent job of keeping the reader guessing while unfolding the plot logically and cleanly.