[The Innocent] [By: Harlan Coben] [January, 2009]

Matt Hunter's life derailed in a single, devastating moment years earlier when a bar fight went tragically wrong, sending him to prison and shattering his future. Now released and painstakingly rebuilding his existence, he has found steady work and married the woman of his dreams. But when mysterious photographs of his wife with another man arrive anonymously, Matt finds himself pulled back into a nightmare that threatens to destroy everything he has fought to reclaim. As he desperately searches for answers, he discovers that his past and present are connected in ways he never imagined, and that someone with intimate knowledge of his history is orchestrating his downfall.

Scott Brick delivers a masterful performance that captures both Matt's vulnerability and his underlying strength as he navigates increasingly dangerous territory. Brick's precise pacing builds tension methodically, allowing Coben's intricate plot to unfold with maximum impact while his nuanced character voices help listeners distinguish between the large cast of suspects and allies. The narrator's ability to convey paranoia and desperation makes the audio format particularly effective for this psychological thriller, as listeners experience Matt's mounting dread in real time through Brick's compelling delivery.