Not a fast-paced, page turner, but it didn’t drag; a good Saturday afternoon read. While I thought parts of it were predictable, there was an, “I didn’t see that coming” moment. Overall, I enjoyed the book and would try another of Allen Eskens’ titles. The narration was also good. ( )

outstandingly well organized and plotted for a first novel. Held interest, characterization was good. I was a bit put off by the sheer volume of rape in this book. Knew that the initial victim was raped. Stop reading here if you haven't read book yet and are for some reason looking at this. The convicted murderer turns out to have witnessed a series of rapes. One could argue that this is necessary to the plot as it illuminates why he behaves the way he does. Having the next door neighbor to the protagonist also be a rape victim was laying it on a bi thick. I'm thinking this is a mistake of someone writing their first novel and feeling every character needs a "twist," so I'll probably give him another try ( )

I had received this book a while ago and put it aside. While it sounded interesting, I wasn't quite ready to read it yet. Recently, a friend had read it and she gave it a great review so I decided to give it a try. I should have read this sooner!

This book is about Joe Talbert, a University of Minnesota student who is assigned to write a biography of someone who has lived an interesting life. Joe chooses to write his biography about a man (Carl Iverson) who is in a nursing home after being medically paroled from prison where he had been serving time for thirty years for the murder of a fourteen-year-old girl. Carl agrees to tell Joe his story - he says it will be a "dying declaration". A story where Carl vehemently denies any involvement with the murder.

During the course of writing the paper, Joe meets another student, Lila, who lives in his apartment building. She gets drawn into the story and starts to help Joe. Also, during this time, Joe has problems arising with his mom and autistic brother that he has to deal with. As Joe and Lila dig deeper and deeper into this mystery, they discover that they need to enlist the help of the police.

It is a relatively quick read, it flows nicely but keeps the suspense. I definitely recommend this book. ( )

Joe is in college and must interview an elderly person for his English class. He visits a nursing home to request access to a patient. They assign him Carl Iverson, a convicted murderer, who was released from prison as he is dying from cancer. Joe interviews Carl, and Carl's friend, Virgil, swears that Carl didn't do it. Along with his apartment neighbor, Lila Nash, and his autistic brother, Jeremy, they attempt to investigate the crime, putting themselves all in danger.
I loved the impetuousness of Joe, and his dedication to justice. I look forward to reading more of the series. ( )

The Audible version of this book was read beautifully. ( )

What an immersive story of a college student attempting to clear the name of an accused rapist/murderer before the said convict dies of cancer.
Thru the story the reader finds each major character has buried something awful from their past and all feel guilt yet seek redemption.
I would have given this book 5 stars except the stupid decisions made by the college student and the big reveal twist was also ridiculous. Nonetheless, the story held my attention, a true suspenseful thriller. ( )

3.5 stars ( )

This is such a clever story! I purchased the book two years ago (at an author event) but hadn't gotten around to reading it even though I'd heard nothing but great things about the book.

Joe Talbert is a college kid trying to make his way on his own. His dad is out of the picture and his mother is dependent on Joe to be the adult, her younger son's disability checks, and alcohol.

In Joe's search to write a short biography of a stranger's life, he connects with Carl Iverson, a man dying from cancer in a nursing home after spending thirty years in prison for murder.

The story is about more than Joe's search for the truth of Carl's conviction. It's about trust, character, family, and doing what's right...even if the past claws at you to keep that from happening.

It's a complex, layered, heartfelt, and cleverly written novel.
( )

While there are many parts of this story which require readers to really set aside believably, the story is fascinating and the pace is excellent from start to finish. I listened to the audio book version of this and the narrator was 5 stars EXCELLENT! If you enjoy a good mystery and appreciate character development and a story that flows well, this is for you!

CAVEAT: For those who are triggered by sexual violence - this story might not be for you as there is a great deal of it in the narrative. ( )

4.5/5

“I had come to Hillview looking for a hero and instead I'd found a villain.”

Joe Talbert is a student at the University of Minnesota working on an assignment for his English class. He visits Hillview Manor, a nursing home for the elderly, intending to make acquaintance with an elderly person on whom he could base his assignment - a biographical account of a person’s life highlighting all its significant moments. Once there, initially discouraged on account of most of the residents being in poor health or unable to converse much, he is pointed in the direction of Carl Iverson, convicted rapist and murderer incarcerated for thirty years and recently paroled to the nursing home, terminally ill with cancer and with not much time left to live.

“He would certainly have a story to tell, but was it a story I wanted to write?”

With no other alternative in sight, Joe decides to proceed with Carl, who agrees to meet with him, as the subject for his assignment. When they meet and Joe learns more about Carl, he finds it hard to reconcile this terminally ill, decorated Vietnam War veteran (honorably discharged) with the same man who brutally raped and murdered a fourteen-year-old girl in 1981. He is encouraged by Carl’s ex-army buddy Virgil to dig deeper into the case and with the help of Lila, his neighbor and fellow student who is also dealing with traumatic incidents from her past, he researches Carl’s case after being granted permission to study the case files by Carl and the public defender's office. Carl expresses that he is willing to give Joe his “dying declaration” and when prodded admits that he was innocent of the crime he has been serving time for. On his part, Joe is struggling between holding a job at a local pub, paying for and attending classes, dealing with a selfish and alcoholic mother who is also bi-polar and caring for an autistic younger brother, Jeremy, who his mother mostly neglects but whose Social Security benefits she greedily collects. His interactions with Carl, who encourages him to open up about his own life as he shares details of his, enable him to confront his own demons and past trauma while trying to make sense of his own life and priorities. As Joe and Lila delve deeper into the details surrounding Carl’s case, they uncover much more than had bargained for and and their research soon turns into a full-fledged investigation into the crime and Carl’s conviction- an investigation that comes with its own set of consequences.

As a debut novel, The Life We Bury by Allen Eskens is beyond impressive. Easy flowing narrative, simple straightforward prose and superb characterizations make this an engaging read. Both Joe’s and Carl’s characters have been crafted with so much depth and balance that they seem real to you. Both Joe’s and Carl’s backstories are also very well developed. Joe’s bond with Jeremy is depicted with utmost warmth and compassion. Lila is portrayed as an intelligent and strong young woman with her own traumatic past who though initially convinced of Carl’s guilt does not let that get in the way of helping Joe in his investigation. The plot is not completely unpredictable and some parts are clichéd but the presentation of the story in its totality is extremely well executed. I immensely enjoyed the audio narration by Zack Villa and think that it went very well with Joe’s PoV. This is my first experience with this author’s work and I’m surely going to follow up with the remaining books in the series.

“We are surrounded every day by the wonders of life, wonders beyond comprehension that we simply take for granted. I decided that day that I would live my life—not simply exist. If I died and discovered heaven on the other side, well, that'd be just fine and dandy. But if I didn't live my life as if I was already in heaven, and I died and found only nothingness, well… I would have wasted my life. I would have wasted my one chance in all of history to be alive.” ( )

Eskens is a new author for me. I'm all about series plus I gave a second look at this cover and title. The Life We Bury gets going quickly and offers a variety of appeal for me. The story has meaning. It has raw reality. The character, Joe has a reason to interview someone from an older generation. The reason soon becomes a need. The read has a good bit of suspense. WARNING: There are numerous triggers and I don't usually bother with a book if I know that in advance. I was able to skim past the intenseness of those triggers and was rewarded with a good read that carried it's weight of topics well. ( )

[b: The Life We Bury|20758175|The Life We Bury|Allen Eskens|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1437077793s/20758175.jpg|40090621] by [a: Allen Eskens|7832387|Allen Eskens|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1402189882p2/7832387.jpg] was a surprise to me.

This is an Amazon Audible that I chose for my second month as a monthly member.

The cover is a lure, and the description gives subtle teasers. "Joe takes a writing assignment for an English class, and gets more than he bargained for..." That is the short version of definitions.

Listening to a book is an interesting means of travel. I read to getaway. When listening to a book, I am doing tasks as well. It looked simple. I thought I was just pulling a sled out for a "scary ride"...but oh, no.

There are twists and turns that kept me off balance, while snagging my heart.

I know dysfunction in families.

I have known the "Responsible Child - Family Hero" in alcohol fueled families. I have watched them battered and ruined. Joe Talbert gets nothing easy. He does not expect it to be. With the angst and viciousness that he faces from his mother. He never fails to be kind to his special needs brother.

My respect for Joe Talbert grows throughout the story. A writing project turns into a life changer for everyone touched by a heinous crime. The crime, all figured out decades earlier, cries out for real justice.

Had I never listened to [b: The Life We Bury|20758175|The Life We Bury|Allen Eskens|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1437077793s/20758175.jpg|40090621] I would have missed a treasure of literature. This novel is multi-layered and complicated. It is not an easy story.

This is excellent work. ( )

I really enjoyed this. Great characters that were very realistic to me and the mystery was just thrilling and twisty enough to keep me turning the pages. I appreciated the depth of the story and although a bit corny at places I did like the message it delivered. Would make a great TV movie - it reminded me of 80s thrillers like Jagged Edge and Sleeping with the Enemy. ( )

Very fast paced mystery. Recommend. ( )

2.5 stars ( )

Lots of drama incorporating Vietnam terrors. Too many intense dramas. ( )

Lots of drama incorporating Vietnam terrors. Too many intense dramas. ( )

If you are looking for an entertaining, fast-paced summer beach read, this book fits the bill. Unfortunately, there's nothing especially original here, but it is a page turner. Joe Talbert is a college student who has a project to write a biography for one of his classes. He chooses to write about an elderly convicted murderer/rapist, Carl Iverson, who is no longer in prison because he is dying of cancer. As it turns out, Joe realizes that justice may not have been served in this case, and most of the book is a mystery/thriller type tale in the race to determine if Iverson was the killer or not before Iverson dies of cancer. There are some tangential storylines about Joe's dysfunctional family and Iverson's time in Vietnam. All in all, the story is well told and the pacing is good. There is some sexual violence, but it really isn't told in a graphic manner. If you like the genre, it might be worth picking up. If you are looking for a literary bent, it's just not there. ( )

Allen Eskens hits all the important elements of great storytelling with this book. Characters with depth, heroism, brotherly love, wit, romance, suspense, the momentum explodes toward the end including rapid fire curve balls from out of the blue. Add to that a constantly evolving plot and standing up for what you believe in, this is definite winner on all accounts. Classified as a mystery, it brings in elements of drama, crime, and overcoming challenge to mention a few. Having read his most recent book prior to this book, I plan to read his others. Do yourselves a favor and add him to your must read list! ( )

This book starts off with a great premise: a college student, Joe Talbert, must complete a course assignment to interview an older person and write about his or her life. His subject is a convicted murderer, Carl Iverson, who has served 30 years in prison and been released to a nursing home due to end stage cancer. When the characters of Joe and Carl are introduced, I felt they had depth and looked forward to how they would interact. I also found the relationship between Joe and his brother, Jeremy, who has autism, very touching. I admired Joe for desiring to better himself through gaining a college degree, despite great obstacles (particularly his bipolar, alcoholic mother). I thought this book was going to be a great read. Unfortunately, at about the half way point, it devolved into a generic detective story with a predictable plot and many fortuitous coincidences. Joe became some combination of a superhero and MacGyver. Overall I didn't like this book, but felt it had some redeeming qualities (which pretty much sums up my definition of two stars). As a warning, this book contains triggers for those sensitive to graphic violence or rape. ( )

This book kind of surprised me; I didn't expect it to be so engrossing and suspenseful, even after reading a bit of it. It was interesting, but moved along a bit slowly to start. It was also pretty sad, with a few especially abhorrent people. The convicted murderer/child-molester who, after spending 30 years in prison for murdering a young girl, and released to die of cancer in hospice care, surprisingly was not one of them. The worst person, to me, was the mother of the narrator and an autistic teenaged boy. Her son had worked hard most of his life, and was working hard to put himself through college, yet she felt he was being selfish by not staying home to support her and her bad habits. She didn't care for him or his brother, and only cared about the social security she got for his care. She also defended her boyfriend for beating the autistic son.

Anyway, it was pretty sad for a while, but then it started getting interesting, slowly but steadily, until I couldn't stop reading. Even then, it upped the suspense more and more until the satisfying conclusion.

If you decide to read this one, which you should, don't give up too soon. ( )

bit more than 3, not quite 4 :) ( )

I really enjoyed the main characters, but I'm pretty sure he developed the story from a plot wheel and the ending was straight out of a hallmark channel moving. ( )

Joe Talbert has a college assignment to interview someone. He chooses a man in the nursing home who served in Vietnam. Joe learns his story and the two become friends. ( )

The Life We Bury by Allen Eskens kept me interested from beginning to end. The story began with a credible premise: a college student, Joe Talbert, must write and essay about the life of another person. The people in Joe's life compose a small cast of characters, his autistic brother and his alcoholic mother. Neither seemed suitable to him for the assignment so he finds a subject in a "rest home" who lives his final days in the pain of pancreatic cancer and the memories of the previous thirty years which he spent in prison. He had gone to prison for a brutal crime he said he had not committed. In listening to the 'subject' of his paper, Joe comes to believe that the dying man, Carl Iverson, had not committed the crime and Joe sets out to clear his name.
Along the way, Joe must deal with his alcoholic mother, his dependent brother, his jobs, his college classes and his interest in a young woman he met, Lila, but who seems to have little interest in him, at least at first.
Each one of those elements comes together as important components in the story. Each one seems credible and realistic adding greatly to the suspense and plot line of the novel.
I think a good suspense novel ought to rivet the reader to its pages, drive him to want to read more and engage him completely in the storyline. The Life We Bury does all of that. I hated every time my eyes could read no more or those where other obligations took me from the book.
I do not usually read book series by authors and even with favorite authors, read only a few of the books they create. In this case, I am very anxious to read the next book in the series and any others by author Allen Eskens. I feel like reading this book and perhaps more in the series rewards me for taking the time to read and to invest in a book. ( )