The Innocent is the seventh stand-alone novel by American crime writer, Harlan Coben.

[1] Matt Hunter is a seemingly ordinary man in suburban New Jersey with a pregnant wife, Olivia.

In his late teens, Matt tried to break up a fight involving his friend, and wound up unintentionally killing the other fighter.

Now nine years after being released from prison, Matt is a paralegal in his brother's law firm and his life is looking up.

As Matt and Olivia try to buy a house in his old neighborhood, neighbors and local authorities make it clear he is not welcome.