| Title | : | The Heavens May Fall (Detective Max Rupert, #3) |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 1633882063 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9781633882065 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | ebook |
| Number of Pages | : | 270 |
| Publication | : | First published October 4, 2016 |
| Awards | : | Barry Award Best Paperback Original (2017), Minnesota Book Award Genre Fiction (2017) |
Max is still struggling with the death of his wife four years earlier and the Pruitt case stirs up old memories. Boady hasn't taken on a defense case since the death of an innocent client, a man Boady believes he could have saved but didn't. Now he is back in court, determined to redeem himself for having failed in the past.
Vividly told from two opposing perspectives, the story of Jennavieve Pruitt's death disrupts many lives and the truth remains a mystery till the very end.
The Heavens May Fall (Detective Max Rupert, #3) Reviews
-
Allen Eskens is one of those authors equivalent to a fine wine; he just improves with time as each book is even better than the last. I truly feel that
The Heavens May Fall is his best work yet, although it’s getting hard to find areas where he can improve his writing as its dang near perfect. Though this book isn’t technically part of a series, those who have read his previous two novels
The Life We Bury and
The Guise of Another will have a greater appreciation for the characters; there are also a few plot aspects that will spoil some of the previous books’ twists if read out of order so proceed with caution (but the review is spoiler free).
“Fiat justitia ruat caelum. It means do justice though the heavens may fall.”
I think what is truly amazing to me is how the author has crafted books that can be read in a multitude of ways. If you read them in chronological order, you have the opportunity to follow along with these characters in “real time” and experience their journey as they do. Each of these books have just as much potential to be read as a stand alone; while they do carry information that could spoil a few twists you won’t feel lost reading them on their own. I personally picked up
The Guise of Another initially because I did not know the stories connected in any way, but I actually enjoyed reading it first, then doubling back to
The Life We Bury, and finishing up with this one. I know I’m spending a ton of time on this tiny portion of the stories but I feel its important and a highlighting feature of how intricately written these books are.
Speaking of writing style, Eskens has mastered the delicate art of creating beautiful, haunting prose while keeping the reader glued to the suspenseful plot. I seem to get lost in his stories because the settings and scenes are so well done. I haven’t blown through any of his books, as they are something to be savored and enjoyed, but the pacing is so that you could if you felt inclined. This book came in at 297 pages, so really quite slim compared to most, but it packs a punch with no extra fluff to boot. The same narrative is told from 2 separate characters’ POV in alternating chapters which makes the read more interesting. The murderer wasn’t a huge surprise to me, as we are limited to a few characters as options, but that isn’t the real twist in this story; there’s a much bigger “gotcha” in the final pages that is making me very ready for Eskens’ next book, so go into this knowing there is a rather large cliffhanger. I finished this book a week ago and am STILL thinking about how wonderful it was, so hopefully that shows what a truly worthy read this is. Highly recommended to fans of mysteries and crime fiction!
*I’d like to thank the author and publisher for hooking me up with this book in exchange for an honest review. Consider this my desperate plea for the next book as soon as copies are available next year! :) -
The Heavens May Fall (Detective Max Rupert #3)by Allen Eskens (Author), Amy McFadden (Narrator), David Colacci (Narrator), R.C. Bray (Narrator)
In Allen Eskens' third book following Detective Max Rupert, we have Max coming head to head with his good friend, retired attorney, Boady Sanden. Both Max and Boady are honest, hard working characters in Eskens' books and the conflict in this story will tear their friendship to shreds. Max is the lead detective on the murder of Jennavieve Pruitt and her husband, Ben Pruitt, is the main suspect in her murder. Ben was Boady's law partner until Boady retired and Ben took over his practice. Now Boady is defending Ben for the murder of his wife.
The story is told from the perspectives of both Max and Boady and although I thought that Ben was guilty, based on the case that Max was building, when we go to Boady's perspective, knowing how strongly he felt about Ben's innocence, my feelings about the case start swinging the other way. Then there is the court case and Boady, doing his job as a defense lawyer, must destroy Max, in order to save his client. This is an emotional story that digs to the depth of Max's grief about his wife being killed by a hit and run driver. Boady knows where to strike and he does it.
I'm not giving anything away to mention Boady's attack of Max because that's how the story opens. Then it goes back to when Jennavieve's body is found and works to that court case and past it. This is a character study of two men that we already know, two honest men who have been longtime friends. Eskens does a great job of showing a murder case from two different directions and it hurts to watch two favorite characters become enemies, as they fight for what they believe.
Published October 4, 2016 -
This is one of those rare times when the ending came together in such a way, it managed to neutralize my distaste and somewhat enhance my lackluster experience.
A few years back, I read
The Life We Bury with a book club and the only thing I managed to hold on to was that I liked it—no specific details or any aspects of the plot to draw from, just that lingering feeling. Hundreds of books later, can you hold it against me? For some unknown reason, despite remembering anything of substance, I let that 'like' sway me. Before I even cracked the cover, I had labeled this as one I was going to enjoy . . . oops.
Let’s start with the positives though, shall we? The case itself is kind of interesting—a wife is brutally murdered and her husband has what appears to be a solid alibi—even though it’s been done and overdone and redone. In steps one of Minnesota’s top investigators, Max Rupert to unravel the case. He has the overzealous prosecutor in one ear demanding a case against the husband be substantiated and the new evidence revealed in the unsolved hit-and-run of his own wife screaming in his other; what’s a guy to do? There are also a host of dynamics at play here—Max’s history with the accused husband, Ben; Ben’s friendship of sorts with his former business partner and now hired gun, Boady; and Boady’s friendship with Max, which only serves to put them all in a sticky situation.
What didn’t work for me was the author’s writing style or more pointedly, his lack of finesse. I found his writing to be extremely dry, teetering on the very edge of boring, to be blunt. I think I’ve boiled it down to
Allen Eskens' lack of varied transitions, meaning when there's no dialogue involved, he typically starts his sentences with either a proper noun or pro-noun. My point being, a little variety would have gone a long way.
My bigger issue though was with the development of the story itself. Again, this might have to do with my failure to connect with the author's style, but the characters felt so one-dimensional. The words were there and I could conjure up my own devastation at the thought of having to face Max or Ben’s reality, but it’s not like the emotions were seeping off of the pages for me to lap up. There were also quite a few things that struck the ridiculous chord—the utter lack of investigation, the timeframe of the trial, the outcome based on the evidence and some of character's reactions throughout—which stymied my enjoyment quite a bit.
That ending though . . . whew, didn’t see it coming. My mind was set on one conclusion, so for that to happen . . . color me shocked. Duped. Gotten. Now the question becomes, do I toss aside my lengthy list of issues and continue on with the next book? Decisions, decisions.
*Thanks to the Traveling Sisters—Brenda, Jan and Berit—for another engaging experience and fun discussion. And for tolerating my Negative Nancy . . . again. ♥ -
“That’s the thing about the truth; the truth doesn’t change. Only a lie will change over time.”
― Allen Eskens, The Heavens May Fall
As your friendly book reviewer, I swear to tell the whole truth and nuthin' but the truth! And I wanna tell you this book is sheer perfection.
I honestly don't know why it is so difficult to come across these perfect books. Bahahaha...
Allen Eskens is an author I just discovered for myself one month ago. I read his first novel, THE LIFE WE BURY, and it blew me away. I read his next one, THE GUISE OF ANOTHER, and was decidedly less blown away. But, I really like the way Eskens writes and I feel so attached to his characters that I picked up this third book. I'm so happy I did.
Eskens writes in a clean, no-nonsense manner. His books are set in frigid Minnesota and his unadorned writing style reflects that chilled climate. But, that doesn't mean the story is cold. On the contrary, the plot is hot hot hot.
I call this a perfect novel because it is first and foremost a character driven story. A must for me. The main characters are multi-layered and as deep blue as a subterranean sea. Our guy, Max, is a heartbroken, hardworking detective and he kills me! I want everything to work out for him. His wife was killed by a drunk driver and he has never given up looking for that murderer.
But, wait a minute, he's going against an equally appealing defense attorney, Boady, his old friend. He once saved Boady's life. And now he is pitted against him in a big murder trial. I adore this juxtaposition, this is how Eskens pulls at every heartstring you have, a unique good guy vs. good guy frame-up.
And yes, there is a dead body. A real whodunnit mystery that will have you flip flopping all over the place. Just when you think you have it figured out....you don't. The ending just happens. It feels real and not contrived. I LOVE IT!
Last, but not least, the novel is a true police procedural with satisfying courtroom scenes. All the realism you true crime aficionados crave. ME, ME, ME!
It's perfect.
And there's one more! The newest Eskens novel is THE DEEP DARK DESCENDING. I can't wait to dive in. -
O.K. here is an audiobook that I at first rated a 4 but upon reflection bumped it up to a 5.
This is now the fourth book I have read or listened to by this author, the newest being "Nothing More Dangerous".
Since this is an older book and there are many reviews I will concentrate on what I liked about the audiobook.
The narrators were great!!! This story was intricately plotted, had many, many changes and shifts in gear but even listening to the audible version it flowed perfectly. This is an author who is now at the top of my list of mystery writers.
He does it all right. His characters are deeply described, the plot is original and insightful and I really didn't see the end coming. I had a few flashes in my mind as to the true nature of one of the characters but I didn't guess the ending, which is great!
Even though I'm reading backwards through his books, and I do think he keeps getting better, this one is worthy of 5 stars.
I would recommend this listen to anyone who enjoys a great mystery!! -
I had high expectations for The Heavens May Fall and found it to be an interesting story, but I didn't love it. A few times I really wanted to put it down because I wasn't captivated like I was with The Life We Bury.
It's still a good mystery with many twists! The Life We Bury was just way better to me.
3*** -
The Heavens May Fall is by far one of the BEST crime/thriller/mystery books ever!! Nope, I'm not exaggerating! I felt like a bystander, just seeing it all play out, the scene of the crime, courtroom, all of it!!
"Let justice be done though the heavens may fall." -
This was another excellent reading experience with the Traveling Sisters Brenda, Melissa, and Berit. One of us didn't like it quite as much as the rest of us but the discussion was fun and interesting, as always!
You can find the sisters excellent blog with reviews at:
https://twogirlslostinacouleereading....
Eskens packs quite a punch in this book, and he does it under 300 pages. I love his characters, especially Detective Max Rupert. Max's wife was killed in a hit-and-run incident 4 years prior, and he is still grieving. The case remains unsolved, adding to his emotional pain. Max's friend, attorney Boady Sanden, is fighting his own demons after the death of a former client, a death he felt he could have prevented.
Then a case comes along that threatens Max and Boady's relationship. The wife of a prominent attorney is murdered in her home. Max thinks the husband, Ben, is guilty, while Boady, working as the defense attorney, is certain his friend is innocent. This puts Max and Boady on opposite sides in the investigation and courtroom.
Part police procedural and part legal/courtroom drama, there were plenty of twists that kept me guessing throughout. In an Eskens book, you know the character development will be excellent, and this book is no exception. There's quite a lot going on with the characters, and all of it is compelling. Eskens is quite the storyteller and I felt like I knew these people. I may have had a few quibbles on several things not caught by Max but I thought it highlighted how he was off his game due to grief and distractions over issues that came up related to his wife's death. Ultimately, I cared so much for the characters I didn't focus too much on this minor point.
Despite my constant guessing and trying to figure out who was guilty, Eskens still managed to stun me with a brilliant surprise at the end. I'm very impressed at how the author led me down a path to make me feel one thing and then flipped the tables on me. Kudos to the author!
The set up is perfect for his next book, Deep Dark Descending (which I read out of order) and I highly recommend it as well!
Edited to add: I read the author's book 1, then 4, then 3. While each works ok as a standalone I'd really recommend reading them in order for the character development. -
OK it is official I am a terrible detective!!!
This book is a police procedural/legal thriller with a strong focus on characters..... for me the most important thing about books is the characters, I can forgive a lot if I am invested in the characters.... The author did a very good job of making me feel for these characters... I could feel maxes profound grief almost to the point of discomfort at times.... I could empathize with Boady, put in such a terrible position while still wrestling his own demons.... The men are on opposite sides of this particular case, so their relation ship dynamics were quite interesting.... what are you willing to risk in the name of justice?
let justice be served, though the heavens may fall
The ending to this book had quite the twist, that I definitely did not see coming!!! If you are looking for a fast-paced, action-packed, thrill a minute book then this is not the book for you... but, if you’re in the mood for a slow-paced mystery with some good characters, I would recommend....This was a Traveling Sister read with Mellisa, Brenda, and Jan... we weren’t always on the same page with our opinion of this book, but I really believe this added so much to the experience, I always love to read different points of view...Sure it is absolutely wonderful when everybody is in love with the book you are reading, but wouldn’t it be boring if it was always that way? This is my long rambling way to say I truly enjoyed reading this book with you all!
narration: the narration was very good, I always love duel narration, however I wish the male voices were a little different from one another, I wasn’t always sure who was speaking💛
You can find all the fabulous Traveling Sisters reviews on Norma and Brenda’s blog
https://twogirlslostinacouleereading.... -
A woman is brutally murdered in her own home and then her body is moved to an alleyway. Max Ruppert investigates the crime and is convinced the husband did it. His good friend, Boady Sanden, represents the husband. I loved how the dual perspectives worked and kept the tension up. With each change in perspective, I bounced back and forth, believing first one and then the other.
“Do justice, though the heavens may fall.” This isn’t a fast paced story. Instead, it’s more a character study of the two opposing individuals, each haunted by ghosts in their past. Main characters that were friends, but the friendship quickly falls apart.
For those that like police procedural and courtroom dramas, you get a bit of both here. And the legal drama is especially well done. I really felt like I was with Boady for each decision. And the ending was amazing. I didn’t see that coming at all! I was so sure I knew who the murderer was, but I was totally wrong.
I read Esken’s first book, The Life We Bury, so long ago I barely remember it. So, I can assure you this works fine as a stand alone. Although I will not wait so long before starting the next in the series.
I listened to this and the two primary narrators both did great jobs. So glad I’ve already got the next book in the series to listen to. -
Absorbing and spellbinding, Eskens kept me in his clutch throughout this complex mystery.
I think what this author does so well is to write intricate plots with interesting characters, many of which are connected to previous works. Characters introduced in The Life We Bury and then later in the follow up, The Guise of Another, weave in and out of this novel and never feel forced. The total effect is a narrative that feels literary while riveting the reader to the page.
And kudos to Eskens for his thoughtful titles, this one is no exception. In his own words:
The Heavens May Fall comes from a Latin phrase, fiat justitia ruat cælum, which means let justice be done though the heavens may fall. It represents the conflict between doing what outside pressures dictate and doing what one knows to be the right thing. The notion is that we should do what we know to be the right thing even if it brings personal destruction. It is a theme that resonates throughout the novel.
That’s literary noir at its best and I can’t wait to get to the next two in the series. -
In this 3rd book in the 'Detective Max Rupert' series, the detective and his good friend - defense lawyer Boady Sanden - are on opposite sides of a case. The book can be read as a standalone.
*****
When the body of Jennavieve Pruitt is found in a Minnesota alley, wrapped in a child's quilt, Detective Max Rupert catches the case. The spouse of a murder victim is always a person of interest, so Rupert immediately focuses on Jennavieve's husband - criminal defense lawyer Ben Pruitt. Moreover, the detective would especially like to pin the murder on Ben because of a personal grudge.
When interviewed, Ben says he flew to a lawyers' conference in Chicago on the day of the murder. However Rupert thinks Ben got a car in Chicago, drove to Minnesota (a 6-hour-trip), killed Jennavieve, dumped the body, and drove back to Chicago. Rupert also believes CCTV tapes from toll booths will show this.....but the tapes will take weeks to check out.
In the meantime, a neighbor of the Pruitts claims she saw Ben enter the family home on the night of Jennavieve's death. That, plus the fact that Jennavieve was a wealthy heiress, is enough to convince Rupert that Ben is guilty - and he advises the District Attorney to get an indictment even before he has any CCTV evidence.
(Note: Don't these mystery writers watch television? EVERYONE who's watched lawyer/cop shows knows eyewitness testimony is unreliable. This plot point strikes a false note. 😏)
The prosecutor, who's angling for a judgeship - and being pressured by Jennavieve's influential sister - gets Ben indicted, and the trial starts shortly afterward.
Ben convinces his former law partner Boady Sanden - now a law professor - to take his case. Boady is an excellent defense attorney, so game on. Out of necessity, Ben grants temporary custody of his eight-year-old daughter, Emma, to Boady and his wife - who do their best for the little girl.
The rub in all this is that Boady Sanden is also a close friend of Detective Max Rupert, who's angry at Boady's 'betrayal.' Rupert gets even more furious during the trial, when Boady suggests that the Rupert did a poor job investigating Jennavieve's murder because he'd acquired new evidence about his wife's hit-and-run death four years ago. Boady insinuates that Rupert was looking into his wife's case (which is against police department regulations) instead of looking for Jennavieve's 'real killer.' There's some truth to this allegation, since Rupert is consumed with finding the driver that hit his wife.
In any case, the trial proceeds, and that's all I can say.....except that there are several twists after this, some of which aren't credible (to me). Still, this is an interesting mystery, suitable for whiling away an afternoon.
You can follow my reviews at
https://reviewsbybarbsaffer.blogspot.... -
A woman's body wrapped in a child's bedspread is found unceremoniously dumped in front of a full trash receptacle. It is clear from the outset that she has been murdered somewhere else and moved. The wheels of investigation begin to turn. The rules and ethics of law come into play, and what can or should be done in the name of moral rightness. Those scales of justice can be tricky, and the lady who holds them cannot see to make sure they always balance.
I am a sucker for a good police procedural and drama in the courtroom, and this one has both. An intriguing murder mystery, fine characterizations, and a satisfying ending. Reading Eskens is as easy as running a hot knife through butter. -
4 Stars.
Brilliant. Haunting. Stellar.
“The Heavens May Fall” is a fast-paced mystery, police procedural and legal thriller that pulls you in and grabs hold of you till you finish the last page.
This is the story of Detective Max Rupert and Boady Sandens (both of whom were briefly featured in Allen Eskens prior novel “The Life We Bury”). Max Rupert and Boady Sandens are good friends and have been there for each other through thick and thin – as demons haunt them both. Here, that friendship is tested, as Max is called in to investigate the death of Jennavive Pruitt, the wife, of Ben Pruitt - Boady Sanden’s former law partner. Once Max is accused of the crime, Ben Pruitt asks Boady to represent him. Though Boady knows it will affect his friendship with Max, he believes in Ben’s innocence, thus he agrees to take the case.
The Heavens May Fall is told from two different POV’s (Max and Boady) with a surprise POV towards the end of the novel for you “Life We Bury” fans. The pacing of this novel is easy, breezy and simply enjoyable. While this is a mystery, it is a true character driven novel and I found the characters of Max and Boady to be flawed, human and beloved – all for different reasons. One has lost everything, while the other has lost faith in himself.
This is a novel that tugs at your heart strings. The demons that haunt these men end up haunting you.
As for who killed Jennavive Pruitt? Well, I did say that this was a brilliant mystery, a police procedural and a legal thriller, didn’t I?
Allen Eskens has done it again. He is slowly becoming one of my favorite authors. I now need to go back and read or listen to “The Guise of Another” which features another character from this novel. Needless to say, I can’t wait.
Published on Goodreads and Amazon on 5.9.17. -
Let Justice be done, though the Havens may fall
Detective Max Rupert is investigating a murder where he strongly believes that the woman's husband killed her. His good friend, Broady Sanden, is convinced that the woman's husband is innocent. Will this case destroy their friendship? What will this case cost both men?
While investigate the case Max is still coping with the Murder of his wife. He cannot investigate her cold case as it is against police procedures. Will his grief and desire to know the truth about his wife's case get in his way of investigating the current murder case he is investigating.
Both men make strong cases as to why Ben Pruitt either killed or did not kill his wife, Jennavieve. Both have have a past with Ben. Ben is an attorney who had a legal practice with Broady Sanden at one point. Max was cross examined by Ben and Ben was subsequently reprimanded for using a false document to discredit Max's testimony. I really enjoyed the way both of their perspectives were told in this book. This book is part crime story, part mystery, part drama, part suspense story. The nice part is there is nothing really graphic or disturbing in this book so almost everyone can read this book and not feel squeamish or be put off by the subject matter.
I find it extremely easy to get sucked into Allen Eskens's books. There is something so delicious about the way he writes. I find myself getting sucked into his characters world and feel I am not longer reading the book but an observer in these characters intricately written lives. His characters are believable. They are multi dimensional and likable. Even the unlikable characters are likable in an unlikable kind of way. Perhaps my last sentence did not make sense but I think if you read this book, you will see my point.
This was another captivating book by an Author who does not disappoint.
Find all of my reviews at
www.openbookpost.com -
Traveling Sisters Review by Brenda with JanB, Melissa and Berit
The Heavens May Fall is the third book written by Allen Eskens and is not exactly part of a series however his books do seem to follow a pattern and have recurring characters from his past books. My first book I read was The Life We Bury and I was first introduced to some of the characters in that one. I really enjoyed The Life we Bury and suggest starting there. The second book written is The Guise of Another and I haven’t read that one yet. Allen Eskens fourth book The Deep Dark Descending follows this one and I read that one with my Traveling Sisters and we all really enjoyed it. They can be read as a standalone however for readers who like to read in order of characters appearance I suggest starting with The Life we Bury and reading them in order.
The Heavens May Fall starts off a little slow at first as we get some background into our main character Max’s grief over losing his wife in a hit and run accident a few years before. Eskens digs deep into his overwhelming grief, loneliness, and guilt over not keeping her safe. It became a little intense and a bit tough to take all at once and that brought out an interesting discussion on grief for us.
The story is cleverly told from Max and Boady’s POV and through their voices we see opposite sides to their stories involving a murder case they both are involved in. Both are damaged and flawed and we see how they are forced to confront their own personal conflict. The tension builds in the murder trial between Max and Broady and it cleverly tests their friendship. It all became about the characters for some us and we loved the dynamics between the characters however it did feel like it was a bit lacking in character development that could have been from not reading all of the books. Lila from The Life We Bury appears in the story and we really enjoyed her involvement in this story.
Allen Eskens does a great job keeping us guessing with this cleverly crafted plot with twists and turns we didn’t even realize were happening until the shocking and brilliant ending that made for a fantastic final discussion for us. I highly recommend!
All of our Traveling Sisters Reviews can be found on our sister blog:
https://twogirlslostinacouleereading.... -
I just devoured this book, my second Allen Eskens adventure. It swept me along on a never-ending tide of suspicion, allegations and counter-allegations.
Excellent reading, and an author I am going to seek more from. *:D -
“Let justice be done
Though the heavens may fall”
--Seneca
In this 3rd offering featuring police detective Max Rupert, a wealthy woman is murdered and the chief suspect is her husband (duh!). Eskens moves the POV from Max’s investigation to that of defense attorney Boady Sanden, and back again as each side prepares for the eventual trial, and then the trial itself. Allen Eskens’ experience as a defense attorney provides considerable authenticity to the trial strategies pursued by the prosecution/defense.
The author’s writing style is straight-forward—a ‘just the facts’ style using ‘show-don’t-tell’ character development. There is little narrative to distract the reader from the main questions posed by Eskens regarding justice and ethics. He uses the quote from Seneca as the basis to explore the notion that we should do the right thing even if it brings personal destruction. Does the law do an adequate job protecting the wrongful conviction of the innocent?
Enjoy the surprise ending! Recommend. -
Damn, damn, damn, damn, damn!!!!!
One of those books that you cannot put down. Where the phrase of 'letting out a breath I didn't know I was holding' becomes a fuxkin reality! I WAS ON EDGE!!!!
And that ending is just cruel and rude, tbh. Give me more!!! *wails until the end of time* -
Allen Eskens, a superb talent at building suspense— returns following
The Guise of Another (2015) and
The Life We Bury (2014) with his third strong novel, THE HEAVENS MAY FALL, (2016) featuring three characters from his previous bestselling books with a gripping murder case told from two perspectives.
The nice blend of legal drama, crime, mystery, and suspense with a twisty plot to keep readers turning the pages! I love how he keeps his characters alive (they are not done 'not by a long shot').
Interview with the author
Summary of Characters
The Heavens May Fall, features co-protagonists, who were secondary characters in The Life We Bury. Max Rupert, the homicide detective from The Life We Bury, is investigating the death of Jennavieve Pruitt and is convinced that her husband, Ben, committed the murder. Ben is a friend and former protégé of Boady Sanden, the law professor from The Life We Bury. Boady comes out of retirement to defend Ben and is convinced that his friend is innocent.
If you recall from the previous books, Boady and Max are friends in The Life We Bury, and this case test that friendship to the limits.
Also, each man has a personal demon to confront as the case builds. Ben is in the middle of these two former friends. With the case leading to the trial, we hear from Max's POV- convincing us Ben is 'guilty.' Boady's POV, Ben, is 'innocent." You have to read to find out which one is correct.
Minneapolis homicide Detective Max Rupert and his defense attorney, Boady Sanden are no longer friends. Max wanted Boady to know that lines had been crossed, and it would forever sever the connection they once shared.
He didn’t need notes to take him back to that morning. He remembered it all too well. It was a broken morning, torn apart by the memories that visited him every year on the anniversary of his wife’s death. He had promised he would protect her and never let anything happen to her. They were going to grow old together.
It has been four years to the day since he broke that promise. As the months turned to years, he found a way to live with the sadness and grief, but he never learned to live with the guilt.
Her death had gone unsolved. Not his case. He was the husband, and the husband can’t be involved in the investigation. He was locked out, and the hit-and-run-driver got away.
Presently Max has a new case on the anniversary of his wife’s death. A woman, an ally. He was reminded of his wife. The woman wore a pair of earrings with diamonds. After tracking down the buyer of the earrings, it pointed to the criminal defense attorney, Benjamin Lee Pruitt.
She was found naked and dead in a bookstore parking lot. A socialite. Philanthropist. Daughter of Emerson Adler. She runs several foundations, but her main focus was a wetlands preservation group. Ben’s wife.
Max Rupert is convinced that Jennavieve Pruitt was murdered by her husband Ben. They also have a daughter Emma, ten years old. Whoever killed Mrs. Puritt had used Emma’s bedspread to haul her out of the house. Is he on the run with his daughter? Was she surprised, or did she know her attacker?
“He may never be able to bring his own wife’s killer to justice, but this man squandered a gift. He killed his wife, a woman who loved and trusted him. Pruitt threw away that which Max would kill to have back.“
If he could bring Jennavieve Pruitt, the justice denied to his wife; she might help him find some small measure of peace. He knew this bordered on fantasy, maybe even crazy, but deep inside he hoped it to be true.
Ben turns to Boady to represent him even though he is no longer an acting attorney, but has kept his license. Ben thinks Max is coming after him, and he knows no one is better than his friend to have on his side; Digging the truth out of a mess of lies. Ben knows if Rupert doesn’t find the real killer, he will come after him.
Boady is not sure his wife will approve of his involvement. He was his former law partner, and he was Emma’s godfather. She will be worried due to the Quinto case, that nearly killed her husband.
Professor Boady Sanden thinks that Ben, now his client, is innocent. Ben was in Chicago at an NACDL convention (National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers), on white-collar crime, and was unaware of the whereabouts of his wife and daughter. Boady did not believe Ben would ever hurt his wife.
Max, as the lead investigator, combined with the anniversary of Jenni Rupert’s death- things start unfolding and become intense quickly. Max and Boady are on opposite sides. Add Jennavieve’s sister, Anna Adler-King, in the mix, who has her motive for murder and for getting Ben, her brother-in-law charged with the crime.
A prenuptial agreement. Death over divorce? The family business. What else? Motive? Hang on; there is much more. (A good book does not give up all its secrets at once).
Boady is caught in the middle between his friendship with both Ben and Max. Boady had taught Ben about the game of chess. Boady had been one of the best at playing that game as relates to moves by the prosecution and tuning out distractions.
We also catch up with Lila Nash we met in the first book—Boady had been working with Lila’s boyfriend, Joe Talbert, when trying to exonerate a man who they believed had been wrongfully convicted on one of Lockwood’s murders. If it had not been for Max Rupert, both Lila and Joe would have been killed that night.
Lila went back to school and Boady returned to his world of academia. That was three years ago and she chose a law career. She is astounded the connection of Ben to both Boady and Max. Lila, of course, owes Max a great debt, but she agrees to help Boady.
For the second half of the book, we turn to Max, when he receives a mysterious letter about his wife’s death. She was murdered, and someone has proof. Can the case be reopened? Could it be a prank?
The other investigator was retired, and the file was closed as a hit-and-run. He was not allowed to touch the file and Parnell’s replacement didn’t have Jenni’s case on his list. He is on high alert, thinking of discovering the identity of the killer.
Emma’s dad is on trial for murder. A note. Max’s wife was murdered. The motive involved Max and his job as a cop? Max is distracted with the new happenings in his wife’s case; however, now he has to pull double-time—Did Pruitt have time to drive back from Chicago the night his wife was murdered? Rupert’s brother Alexander was gone as well as his wife.
The action and drama heat up in Part 3 as we head to trial and get to catch up with Boady, Lila, and Max, as the suspense continues with Anna and Ben. Who stands to gain more with Jennavieve out of the way? Is Boady blinded by his past with Ben? Is he a monster, murderer, a sociopath?
A plan B. Will these two old friends, join forces by the end of the book?
Esken fans will devour the legal drama, and the intricate multi-layered mystery suspense; Combined with the cold case of Max’s wife adds intensity as the events unfold racing to the explosive ending. With numerous twists and turns, Eskens knows his way around the courtroom (criminal defense attorney for twenty years), a pro at keeping readers guessing.
Character-driven, with a twisty plot - strong dynamics between Max and Boady, both struggling with demons from their past, and trickling over to the present. A test of loyalties and friendships. An ideal choice for book clubs and further discussions.
The last 25% percent of the novel will keep you turning into the wee hours of the morning, for a satisfying conclusion with the crafty reveal. Fans of the author and readers of the previous two books will enjoy revisiting the characters, combined with the author's legal expertise, making his third installment another bestseller hit!
I enjoyed reading all three books, each unique and impressive. Recommend reading them all and looking forward to seeing what’s coming next! (yeah, a revenge story, Max, and more.)
Quote from the Author: " Next, I am writing a revenge story that is all about Max Rupert. I’m having a lot of fun with that idea right now. After that, I want to write the sequel to The Life We Bury and then, hopefully, a novel that will be the backstory of Boady Sanden. As you can see, I have a very over-active imagination—now if I could just learn to type faster. "
Read More
The Guise of Another (2015)
The Life We Bury (2014)
A special thank you to Edelweiss and Seventh Street Books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
#JDCMustReadBooks -
4.25 engrossing stars
This one was a perfect blend of courtroom scenes and a crime to solve all with well-developed characters. I loved that characters from his earlier books make an appearance in this one. I like the setting of Minneapolis too.
We follow Detective Max Rupert as he works on the murder case of Jennavieve Pruitt. He has a history with Jennavieve's husband Ben from a previous case. The police believe that Ben murdered his wife, but they are struggling to find the clues to convict him.
We also have the return of Boady Sanden, a retired attorney and now law professor. Ben asks Boady to represent him at trial. My loyalties were conflicted in this one. Max is convinced that Ben is guilty, he just needs to find the proof. However, Boady has a long relationship with Ben and feels he is innocent.
Max is still grieving his murdered wife and is frustrated that her killer has not been found. A new clue turns up, distracting him from this case.
I meant to put this one down and do some other things, but I found myself just reading and I was rewarded with a thrilling conclusion. I'm excited that there are two more of these in the series for me to read and I hope future ones will be written. -
There comes a point every book involving a trial when the verdict is about to be revealed. It is at that point that I have to cover the page with my hand and lower it line by line as I read so my eyes don’t skip right to “guilty” or “not guilty.” No matter whether I favor the prosecution or the defense, my mind wants to suffer the tension along with everyone in the courtroom, even though my heart wants to know immediately.
Defense attorney turned Professor Boady Sanden is caught between a rock and a hard place. The rock is his friend and former partner, Ben Pruitt, who is accused of murdering his wife and is asking Boady to defend him. The hard place is another friend, Detective Max Rupert, who is lead investigator on the Pruitt case. There is some bad history between Pruitt and Rupert. All three of these men are wonderfully developed and realistically human.
Then all post-verdict hell breaks loose. Never did I see that coming.
It’s been a while since I couldn’t set a book down. I‘ve even been falling asleep while reading. Not with this book. I’m glad I’ve got the next book, The Deep Dark Descending, in my hot little hands right now. -
Allen Eskens has become one of my favorite authors and I hope to have all of his books completed by year-end. This one is part police procedural, part mystery and legal thriller. The audio was very good, with one voice for Detective Max Rupert's chapters and another for the defense attorney's. Max sounded incredibly similar to the guy that introduced Dragnet episodes, which at first seemed hokey but then I enjoyed it. It just fit.
The ending employed one of my absolute favorite legal concepts, and with that I'm being purposely vague to avoid any spoilers. Suffice it to say, I loved the twist it gave. It also left a part of the plot dangling unmentioned/unresolved, otherwise I think I would have gone for the full 5 stars. -
I liked this book very much. The writing is strong and has great depth of character which is my kind of book. It reminds me a little of Brian Freeman.
Normally I'm not big on the choice of writing style, the narrative voice vs in scene showing. Not that there isn't in scene parts in the book there is just more summary telling that I prefer. It works because of the authors great skill in holding the readers attention.
In this sort of story with this point of view structure there always has to be a point of view cheat, (most always anyway). I understand the concept (I would explain it here but it would be a huge spoiler) and I go along with it as I did here because the writing and prose and depth of character is so strong. I was definitely in for the ride and an author can't ask for more. Even so the reveal at the end was a little bit of a let down because of it.
Eskens does a masterful job of juggling two plot lines and really holds my interest throughout the book as I waited to see how they would dovetail together in the end. When they did I was a little disappointed because the secondary plot line wasn't motivated strongly enough (Motivation, Action, Reaction) and depended too much on coincidence.
Five stars for voice (the "everything in writing") and character, four stars for execution of plot and story arc.
I would definitely recommend this book to all my friends and I have already purchased The Guise of Another. What better endorsement.
David Putnam Author of The Bruno Johnson series. -
This book was between 2 and 3 stars for me. I read this author's
The Life We Bury and I absolutely loved it, so when this book came up as the 'daily deal' on audible, I bought it hoping it would hold the same 'likability' for me. I wanted to like this one, but it had some problem areas for me.
Stop here if you don't want to read any spoilers. I don't think I gave anything away, but I don't want to ruin anything for anyone.
I liked the MC, detective Max Rupert. I thought the author put a lot of thought into the creation of this character. He was detailed nicely, (so was Ben). I also liked Boady. I just wish the same detail and attention went into the story line. There were holes....big ones. Having raised teenagers, my mind is geared to questioning like a bulldog that won't give up. And this detective and others in the story, let so many things go right on by. I kept thinking, "I can't believe they are going to let that one go." Then a little further into the story, I'd think that exact same thing again. This happened a few times. The characters were artfully dodging all the potholes in their path. It felt a little too convenient. The little bits of information seemed too important to let go. Later, all of these holes come into play like a huge unveiling, but it was so anti-climatic. So all in all, this legal thriller didn't really work for me.
I thought the title was clever. It comes from a legal phrase. But it's use in the book was too much. I think once it is explained (maybe twice), then let it go.
These are little things, but it spoiled the book for me. I listened to the audio and I had a hard time with some of the voices for a couple of the characters (the D.A. especially.) Maybe I would have enjoyed this more if I had actually turned the pages. So 2 stars. -
Another really good mystery/legal thriller that my Mystery book club is reading this month. Some of the group was introduced to this author earlier in another book group and we really enjoyed him. This is sort of a series with the same characters appearing differently in each story. So it kind of focuses on different characters but still brings back others you are familiar with. This story had a big "twist" at the end which made it extra intriguing and I am still thinking about the ending and trying, in my mind, to make sure I know what realy happened. Definitely recommend if you enjoy a good mystery.
-
A taut, gripping, page-turner, this police procedural, legal thriller, mystery and psychological suspense is sheer magic for fans of this multi-varied genre. Told by two separate perspectives, the reader is willingly plunged into a riveting murder investigation that revolves around members of the law profession and the homicide department. The writer skillfully increases tension and holds the reader hostage in a breathtaking tale with twists and turns to the very last page. Mr. Eskens is a talented writer who understands his audience and keeps them guessing to the end. The writer has a remarkable talent of characterization; he provides intimate details of each narrator that whets the reader's curiosity. This book focuses on Rupert and Boady, and the reader forms a personal attachment to both but in various ways. I enjoyed reading this novel.
-
Another triumph for this author ! If you want to read a simple (no nonsense) mystery thriller then I would highly recommend this book and the other 2 other book in this series (not a series but they are centered around one main character) . His was of writing characters and plots are perfection , he makes no use of fancy twists, mysterious appearances and/or supernatural tricks, he just delivers a good book , and it’s sad that that has become a rarity among modern fiction.
-
It had a high bar to clear, IMHO. And it is an average read for the genre. But I have to admit that I was disappointed at my lack of compelling embedding to any of these people, despite LOVING the former books. The first 2/3rds are nearly a slog in that they are murder/crime, investigation at a tedious and snail's pace or pitch to proving or disproving a possible drive to Minneapolis and back from Chicago done in under 12/13 hours with a murder committed in the midst at the far end.
Now please!! Know that these highways in this novel are in prime high summer & they are NOT under construction and this condition is a possible assumption. AND all the Illinois tollways locations have CD's worth of tollbooth photos and "proofs" available to send to MN in under 1 day of the husband being arrested upon suspicion. LLLOOOLLL! Not even within fiction fantasy could any of this be true. Not even within 10 years ago's distance or 15 years priors. Let alone in post 2009. It would take you at least 4 hours to get mid-Wisc. And this is staying at the Marriott in downtown Chicago too. They only way he could have done it was in an airplane? Maybe not even then because where would he have landed to get the transfers that quickly. Meig's is gone-plowed under during the dead of night.
So even if the entire would have held a tense field of possibles (perps for both crimes) and with intersect plot that reverberated, I would have had IMMENSE difficulty with the "case" ground issues that are plotted on this one.
Broady is interesting throughout the entire. Max seems here such a facade, with a flatness to him, despite his internal turmoils of grief even after 4 years of widower hood.
Really and truly do appreciate this author's writing word craft; that's what makes this particular review difficult. But you HAVE TO get some of the realistic situations of where/ what much more correctly to any reality for the crux of this level of action and genre as it is presented within 2017. After the others of his in comparison; this one was certainly a real downer in interest line, tone, intensity of pace and dialogue. And the twists at the end just about equaled to pull it into a 3 star range. But nowhere in the neighborhood as good as his previous, especially when you could find questionable tidbits and blank spot non-explanations for what I thought were LARGE red flags in clumps. Doubt if Allen knows kids much, is my guess?
Maybe next time? This book I had trouble picking up again for the entire middle half and it got shoved back in the pile three times, at least. Lawyer against lawyer talk and money pulling some punches? Not a fan of that lawyer redundancy quoting of the titled phrase origin either for this "thriller" designation. Or of the city machine "cabal" of politics/board member/in crowd- not even within fiction. -
Audio - 5 +++ Stars
Story - 4 Stars
