• Six Years

  • By: Harlan Coben
  • Narrated by: Scott Brick
  • Length: 10 hrs and 34 mins
  • 4.1 out of 5 stars (10,787 ratings)

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Six Years  By  cover art

Six Years

By: Harlan Coben
Narrated by: Scott Brick
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Publisher's summary

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. Whoever the mourning widow is, she’s been married to Todd for almost two decades, 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, 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 a carefully constructed fiction.

Harlan Coben once again delivers a shocking novel that deftly explores the power of past love and the secrets and lies that such love can hide.

©2013 Harlan Coben (P)2013 Brilliance Audio, Inc.

What listeners say about Six Years

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  • GH
  • 03-20-13

Obsession, mystery, and you're hooked!

You’re at a wedding, except it's the wedding of the love of your life to someone else. Coben spins obsession and suspense early in the fantastic new novel: Six Years. I had this novel on my pre-order list for a while and thanks to travel I was able to listen to the whole thing in almost one continuous stream. The story unfolds in layers and the character development is excellent and starts from the first sentence. You can’t help but see the flaws in Jake Fisher. Coben sets you up, gives you clues, offers false starts and little hints that keep you on the edge and wondering and speculating.

The novel is performed by Stott Brick. He is one of my favorites! Of my favorite performances is his narration of the Pendergast series by Preston and Child. He does exceptionally well within this genre and he doesn't disappoint.

This novel is going to please anyone who likes a good solid "search for the truth". There is no technology in this mystery, but you won’t miss it. I wouldn’t recommend it for the teen to young adult crowd, it’s not the subject matter, the story line won’t likely appeal. I give this a solid must listen, at 10 hours, it will hold you interest and then some.

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172 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

Worst Coben Book Ever Worst Scott Brick Narration

What disappointed you about Six Years?

I agree with Lynn, Gail and Malia. Malia said: "Drop the soapy love obsession. It got old after the first few times; I found myself saying, all right already. And I really wished the guy would quit getting beat up. I wanted someone I could cheer on; instead I found myself joining the other characters who told Jake, DROP IT ALREADY!!"

That is a very good summary. I was hoping Jake would get beaten up again or even killed. I hated this obsession book.

I am also getting tired of Scott Brick. Lynn said: "Usually (I) like Scott Brick but the overly dramatic and breathless narration on this is really annoying. I... dislike the main character intensely and do not know whether it is the story or the narrator because the narration is so extreme."

The book had a snail's pace progress and Scott Brick dragged that out even longer. I just kept wishing this book would end. I almost stopped reading it a number of times but I had already invested so much time. Plus I wanted to be able to truly rate the book and felt that if I had not listened all the way I could not accurately rate it.

The ending was easy to guess. I knew who the "killer" was by about half way through.

This is easily Coben's worst book ever. I have decided to stop buying his stuff unless it's a Myron Bolitar novel.

Has Six Years turned you off from other books in this genre?

No just more stand alone Harlen Coben books

How did the narrator detract from the book?

I used to like Scott Brick. Now I find that he is way over the top with his breathless narrations and long pauses and very slow reading. I am going to avoid his books for a while.

If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from Six Years?

Every long sappy introspection by the main dopey character.

Any additional comments?

Avoid this book!!!

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90 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

A Thrill Ride!

This book will grab you, throw you back in your seat and make you hang on for dear life because it is going to be a heck of ride! This was so hard to put down because it didn’t let up for a minute. It is very hard to write a review with no spoilers and not so much gushing.

This is my favorite Harlan Coben book yet this had so many twists and turns that when you think you know what is going on it changes, yes, I was right on a few things but there were more aspects that left my jaw dragging on the ground. There were times when you have to roll your eyes at Jake, or maybe that’s just me because I am about as unromantic as they come. And there were times when you wanted to yell NOOOO at him as he charged from one dangerous situation to another (I actually did yell this once luckily I was in my car by myself!). I really liked that Coben even had me wondering about Jake’s sanity for awhile I was beginning to wonder myself if Natalie was real or if it was a figment of his imagination, but that is what made this book so great even the reader starts questioning Jake. Okay I need to stop here because everything else I am thinking of writing is spoilerific but man do I want to discuss this book with someone who has read it!

The narration by Scott Brick was as always fabulous, he is the voice of Harlan Coben for me. I will always listen to his stand alones on audio because Scott Brick brings the characters to life for me with, just right narration, nothing over the top but great character diversity so you always know who is talking.

If you haven’t figured out yet I loved this book, if you are looking for a thrill ride full of twists and turns you need to read this book!

4 ½ Stars

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83 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Too Much Drama

Usually like Scott Brick but the overly dramatic and breathless narration on this is really annoying. I am almost finished with the book and find that I dislike the main character intensely and do not know whether it is the story or the narrator because the narration is so extreme.

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70 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Mr. Coben has gotten waaaay too popular.

I started reading Harlan Coben's work about twenty years ago. He was very good then. His first character was an ex-basketball player and now an agent for players. His name was Myron Bolitar. An outrageously Jewish name for a guy who probably had maybe one or two fellow Lantsmen (fellow Jews) in the NBA. Myron was LOL funny. His best friend was a cartoonish rich guy named Windsor Lockehorne something-or-other, a guy who leapt tall buildings with a single bound, lived in a penthouse on the Upper East Side, etc. Myron, at 35, lived with his parents in New Jersey. There were several other supporting cast members in this fictional family. The books were a whole lot of fun. As a result, Harlan Coben is now a phenomenon. You can go to your local bookstore and watch a televised bookstore talk about his latest book, which is this one. The publishing industry lives for guys like Harlen, who makes them rich. Unfortunately, Harlen has now pulled way too many rabbits out of this hat. I sure wish Myron would return, but it ain't gonna happen.
A Myron-like character stars in this book, Six years. I had stopped reading Coben's books quite a number of years ago. Now I understand why. I did listen to the first download and to half of the second download. I just could not get myself to finish it. It's good writing, I suppose, and it will sell like hotcakes (I bought it, didn't I?). But I just did not get interested enough to want to find out what happened to Jake's lost love, Natalie. Jake is the Myron-stand-in. Part of the problem, as many Audible listeners will surely appreciate, is Scott Brick. With Scott, you either love him or hate him. I absolutely loved him in The Ice Limit, which is within my top five all-time favorite audiobooks. Scott regularly amps up the excitement to such insane decibels that you can't hear yourself think. And here we are. Scott's tendency to scream even while he is whispering is just too much, as it is in many other works of his. BTW, he too has become an Audible superstar, and thus he is all over the place. I won't bore you with the plot. If you like these two guys, then have fun. I'll take Tim Hallinan and Victor Bevine, or Edoardo Ballerini and almost any writer over Harlen and Scott, hands down. Harlen already has another one in the pipeline. I think I'll skip it.

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69 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

Below Average Even for Coben

I've read all of Coben's books and while I never expect too much, I hope for an enjoyable, light read dealing with normal people who are suddenly thrust in to intense, often bizarre situations full of twists and turns before culminating in a place unimagined at the beginning of the story...ergo fun to experience. In his previous books, even if I thought the overall story was a bit of a "miss", I always identified with the protagonist(s) and could imagine being there with them. I think only a love sick pre-teen could identify with the ludicrous actions and idiotic love-sick declarations with which the character implied justified as "rational motivators" for his insane, uber-selfish actions throughout the story. It was also odd that Coben foreshadowed...even spotlighted each upcoming "surprise twist" to the extent that the reader knows what is going to happen before it does. Why? Also, in this case, one of my favorite narrators, Scott Brick can't be accused of over-dramatizing his reading of this particular story. Surely, no human alive has ever really held internal dialogue with the silly pathos as this guy does over and over and over again in this story. It is so corny it is almost funny and SNL skit worthy. I'm not saying not to read this if you are a Coben fan. There are enough nuggets evocative to his good work to perhaps make it worth your credit. It's just akin with the adage, with friends like the main character, who needs enemies? He is as awful as the bad guys.

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58 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Interesting Concept But Weak Character

I have enjoyed many of Harlan Coben's novels - and Scott Brick is an accomplished performer. Furthermore, the concept of Six Years seemed to have a lot of promise. Though the plot was intriguing, unfortunately, the character was not. For a big, strong ex-bouncer turned poly sci professor and critical thinking devotee, the protagonist was a study in contradiction. Scott Brick's interpretation of the character further emphasized these contradictions. Given the issues with the main character, I found it difficult to immerse myself into the story.

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54 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

Over the Top - and not in a good way

More like a bad young adult romance. The characters are much too simplistic, and the main characters "insights" fairly banal. Much too much made of a really very simple plot. I know Scott Brick is a favourite narrator for many - but I grew tired of his overly dramatic style. Too be fair, the novel seemed overly dramatic - so perhaps he was true to the material.....

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  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Unbelievable story, overly dramatic narration. Ugh

What would have made Six Years better?

I loved the plot concept and thought I would enjoy this. I am easily entertained, however, even I couldn't suspend disbelief enough for this one. Everyone is against him in this story. No one believes him. I find it impossible to believe that any conspiracy includes everyone from the bakery owner to the college president to the church pastor, etc. This story needed more realistic reactions, more characters who trust the main character isn't an idiot, and more clues early on into why this mystery is happening. Make us care and believe enough to stick with it.

How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?

Maybe a narrator who read this less dramatically would help. Maybe the novelist could have introduced one or two characters who supported and trusted the main character more. It's an unbelievable "him against the world" set-up.

Who would you have cast as narrator instead of Scott Brick?

Everyone has their favorite narrators. I have enjoyed Scott Brick in other books, but this time he came off as melodramatic and dripping with fake suspense tone.

What character would you cut from Six Years?

Not sure but probably one of the ones who is unbelievable as conspiring against the main character.

Any additional comments?

I rarely write reviews because I am easily entertained and listen to audio books almost all day every day. I found this so bad that it compelled me to write a review warning others against selecting this one. Sorry to the author and narrator. I know you both have other great work out there but this one was a waste of my Audible credit.

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  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

Super Slow

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?
Decent characters. I found Jake almost ridiculously obsessed and really, Natalie wasn't even someone you'd understand being "crazy in love with"; she just wasn't interesting. And how does the reader believe Jake's love when the man risked Natalie's life by not dropping the whole thing? I'm sorry but it's not love when you don't care if you put her and all she loves in danger just because you need to be with her.

What do you think your next listen will be?
I haven't given up on Harlen. He's one of my faves, but if books are a window into the author's soul, I fear for his wife and family.

What didn’t you like about Scott Brick’s performance?
He made Jake seemed crazed, not in love.

If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from Six Years?
I would have told Harlen to come up with a real reason for Jake to not drop it. This wasn't love, it was obsession. I rarely skip any chapters in Harlen's books; in fact I can't remember doing so, but this had me skipping whole chapters!

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33 people found this helpful