Allen Eskens

I was delighted to find a new book by Eskens, having devoured most if not all of his others. This one is a departure.

Hana Babic is a librarian in Minnesota who looks the way many people think librarians look: a bit frumpy, not caring about style. Her look is a deliberate attempt to hide her real identity and her real past.

When a detective tells her of the murder of her close friend, Hana knows she has work to do, to protect her own identity along with her friend's eight-year-old child.

Hana show more was previously Nura Divjak, a teen in Bosnia, when Serbian soldiers found her mountain town and slaughtered almost everyone in it. Unintentionally, Nura finds herself in a band of Bosnian rebels, and soon becomes one of them, going on missions to save others from what happened to her own family.

She is so good at her work that she earns a name and a reputation, and the Serbs claim that she has committed war crimes. To escape a justice system slanted against her, she makes her way to Minnesota and changes her name. She comes with her close friend and ally Amina. When Amina is killed Hana-Nura knows someone is onto her. But she can't tell the kind detective, for he will feel impelled to turn her in.

Thus begins her own pursuit of the criminals and her reluctant avoidance of involving the detective in her search.

Hana is obviously not a typical librarian, yet she stands for truth and transparency, as do most librarians. It just has to be on her terms. show less

Once I discovered Allen Eskens back in 2015, I started recommending him to everyone I knew. Since that first book, Eskens' writing has only got better and better. (Which is saying a lot as that first book was really good!)

His latest (and eighth) book is the newly released, Forsaken Country. For those of you who know his works, you'll be just as excited as I was to find that Max Rupert is at the heart of the book.

In this latest, former Homicide Detective Max begins to question his self show more imposed solitude. Why? Well, Lyle, a retired lawman, comes to Max with a desperate plea for help. His daughter and grandson have gone missing - and the local sheriff has already made up his mind that she's run away and closed the case. Max has his reasons as to why he finally agrees to take a look at the case. Those who have read previous books, will know why he is so reluctant. New readers, there's certainly enough backstory to fill in the 'what came before'.

Oh my gosh, I could not put the book down. The plotting is brilliant. The action is non stop and had my stomach in knots. What to do? Yes, I stayed up very late until the last page was turned. I had to know the ending before I could sleep.

Eskens' characters have depth and introspective voices. Max's losses, love, pain, determination and struggle to be in the world again ring so true. On the flip side, there is an antagonist that will make your skin crawl, but again he rings true. There's a second antagonist had my sympathy by the end chapters. Each of these three have a voice with their own chapters.

What else is there to say - it's a fantastic book. And a very easy five stars. I can't wait to see Eskens' next book. show less

You know that little frisson of excitement you get when you start to read a new author and realize you've found someone who is good, really good? I had that feeling when I read Allen Eskens' award winning debut novel, The Life We Bury, in 2014. (my review) The next book, The Guise of Another was just as good. (my review) On re-reading my review, I see that Max Rupert, was my favourite character in TGOA and that 'I'd love to see him in another book, even in a peripheral role."

Well, I got my show more wish! Detective Max Rupert is the lead character in Esken's just released third book, The Heavens May Fall.

Jennavieve Pruitt is found dead, her body dumped in an alley. But the original crime scene is her own bedroom. Jennavieve's husband, attorney Ben Pruitt was out of town, that day. But, Pruitt has a history with the police, specifically with Rupert. Despite his claims of innocence, Rupert likes him for the crime. This is the case that Rupert pulls on the anniversary of his own wife's unsolved murder.

Lawyer Boady Sanden is a friend to both men. When Pruitt asks him to represent him - even before any charges have brought - Sanden hesitates....he had to walk away from the law six years ago for personal reasons. But in the end he agrees.

Eskens has crafted another great plot, giving the reader the best of two genres - police procedural and legal reads. The final reveal of whodunit at the end, complete with a nice little twist was great. The ongoing search for Rupert's wife's murderer provides a nice sub-plot.

But Eskens takes things a step further in his novels. His characters have depth and introspective voices. The Heavens May Fall is told from two perspectives - that of Max and Boady. The reader sees the investigation and trial from two different viewpoints. But what we also see is the inner turmoil of each man, their search for personal peace of mind against the search for justice. Friendship and loyalty are also pitted against justice.

I always enjoy coming across the origins of a book's title as I read. In this case...

"Fiat justitia ruat caelum - do justice though the heavens may fall. If a person is ever presented with the choice, that person must always do what is right even though it may bring on great personal loss."

Eskens himself is a defense lawyer. That credibility, combined with his impressive writing chops, makes for some great reading. The Heavens My Fall could absolutely be read as a stand-alone. But do yourself a favour and pick up the previous two as well. You won't be disappointed. show less

Why do so many writers make their villains cartoons? The drooling Drago is off the charts with his cruelty, efficiency and humorlessness. Right down to the scar. Oy. I skimmed and skipped a lot of his doings and because he was written with zero subtlety or flair, I didn’t miss a thing.

Alexander wasn’t believable at all. He’s immature and simple. Too simple and emotionally unaware to be a cop, never mind an undercover. Compare him with Frank Mackey from Tana French’s books and show more you’ll see what I mean. Alexander doesn’t have the wit, guile, suspicion or manipulativeness to succeed there. He lets Ianna play him like a violin. Your live-in boyfriend of three years is suddenly killed and you display no grief, pain, anger, despair or any other normal emotion and instead throw your oh-so-perfect body at me? Of course! I’m so manly and irresistible that this is completely normal. Suspect her, me? Why no. Of course not. Some cop. Not to mention his terrible “investigation” into Putnam’s death. The keyring shouldn’t have popped out of nowhere, he should have had it, the bank box key and the stupid thumb drive in his possession in the first day. Bah.

But here’s a funny thing. During the wind up as I was getting to the end I wished out loud that everyone would die at the end of the book (Max aside) and guess what...they do! Yay! I have another Eskens book that I got on the cheap, and I’ll read it eventually, but not soon. Ugh. show less