Forsaken Country by Allen Eskens Narrator: Brian Troxell
Series: Detective Max Rupert #6
Published by Hachette Audio, Mullholland Books on September 20, 2022
Genres: Mystery, Suspense
Length: 11 hours, 9 minutes
Format: Audiobook
Source: Library
Goodreads
Amazon, Audible, Libro.fm, Barnes & Noble, Apple
Max Rupert has left his position as a Minneapolis homicide detective to live in solitude. Mourning the tragic death of his wife, he's also racked by guilt—he alone knows what happened to her killer. But then the former local sheriff, Lyle Voight, arrives with a desperate plea: Lyle’s daughter Sandy and his six-year-old grandson Pip have disappeared. Lyle’s certain Sandy's ex-husband Reed is behind it, but the new sheriff is refusing to investigate.
When Max reluctantly looks into their disappearance, he too becomes convinced something has gone very wrong. But the closer Max and Lyle get to finding proof, the more slippery Reed becomes, until he makes a break for the beautiful but formidable Boundary Waters wilderness with vulnerable Pip in tow.
Racing after the most dangerous kind of criminal—a desperate father—and with the ghosts of their own pasts never far behind, Max and Lyle go on the hunt within a treacherous landscape, determined to bring an evil man to justice, and to bring a terrified child home alive.
I loved The Life We Bury which was the start of the Detective Max Rupert series, but he is barely present. I think now it may have been renamed as the start of the Joe Talbert series. Well on Goodreads, it is the start of both series which are intertwined in some parts. For the past couple of years I thought we had finished with Max Rupert, not really knowing what happened to him, and moved on learning about Joe and Lila. I’m so happy to be back and continuing with Max.
As you may be able to tell from my introduction, this isn’t really a set of series to jump in at the end, I would start from the beginning. I think reading in the order published may be best as it is mostly chronological. This author does not disappoint; I was thrilled to be first in line at the library to read this story. I There are some really tough, horrible things which happen, to Max, to Joe and to Lila. I felt with them all along.
Forsaken Country is the continuation of Max’s story after he left Minneapolis, and being a homicide detective. He’s living in his family cabin, up by the Boundary Waters. A sort of friend, Lyle comes to him when his daughter and grandson, Pip, go missing. Max really doesn’t want to get involved but he has met them. He finds he is concerned with the facts and the sheriff doesn’t seem inclined to investigate. So Max and Lyle start figuring it out.
Max, and Lyle get onto the culprits who take off into the wilderness, and it’s the start of winter. Things are very dangerous in multiple ways. I really enjoyed the smart investigation Max does. He’s out of practice and doesn’t know the wilderness but he isn’t stupid. He hangs on in bad moments because Pip is only 6. Pip isn’t stupid either.
I loved the world and setting in Minnesota where I lived for 35 years. The “police procedural” and legal aspects are things I always find interesting. The characters were realistic, some very flawed, but oh so real. I felt for them. We get everything from Max’s point of view and it was like coming home to an old friend for me.
Narration:
The narrator was new to me and new to this series. I don’t know if it is the time between books or the choice of talented narrators but they have all worked for me. The voices of the characters were distinct enough and had appropriate tones for male and female, and the child. I listened at my usual 1.5x speed.
Listen to a clip: HERE
About Allen Eskens
Allen Eskens is the USA Today-bestselling author of The Life We Bury, The Guise of Another, The Heavens May Fall, the Deep Dark Descending and The Shadows We Hide. He is the recipient of the Barry Award, Rosebud Award, Minnesota Book Award, and the Silver Falchion Award and has been a finalist for the Edgar Award, Thriller Award, and Anthony Award. His work had been published in 21 languages and his debut novel, The Life We Bury is being developed for a feature film.
Allen lives with his wife, Joely, in greater Minnesota and is represented by Amy Cloughley of Kimberley Cameron and Associates, and is published by both Seventh Street Books and Mulholland/Little Brown.
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I read all types of books but my favorites are urban fantasy and romantic suspense.I like some romance and some action / adventure / mystery in everything.I like sex in my books but please, only between TWO people.Intimate conversation is equally important to the sex in a book.It lets me see the characters.The other thing I enjoy is humor.
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Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
- 22-COYER
I can’t wait to get back to this series. Wonderful to see you loved it, Anne💜
I do love it. It doesn’t hurt that the setting is Minnesota. But the writing is excellent.
I haven’t heard of this series, thanks for introducing me.
I would definitely start at the beginning but I’m OCD like that. I hope you get to try it and enjoy it.
Gotta love when a book takes place where you lived/live. Makes it feel a little more special.
yes, although I’ve only lived in Iowa, Minnesota and North Carolina I have visited many places so I feel connected to a lot of places.
Neat how the series converged and you got to revisit a favorite detective and on your old home turf.
I really enjoy these two interconnected series. There’s even a related stand-alone.
I haven’t read this one, thanks for letting us know about it.
This one’s brand new and I was first in line at the library. I’d start at the beginning of the series but I’ve really loved them.
Good to know it’s best to read this series in order! Max sounds like a great character.
There’s two interconnected series. They are both incredible.
I love these type of stories. Thanks for putting the series on my radar.
I hope you enjoy it. It’s one of my favorites.
Reading a book that is set in a place I’m familiar with is so fun. I’m glad you’re enjoying this series.
yes I’ve lived in Iowa, Minnesota and now North Carolina. But I’ve traveled many places too so I enjoy a bunch of setting.
Very cool that these series are interconnected and that the characters are well developed and easy to care for. That’s what always makes a procedural more entertaining for me.
Yes every book he has written connects in this world. They include some of the best books I’ve read. I highly recommend them.
Oh it looks good! You made me curious!
These are great stories but I would read in order to understand what happened. All the series are interconnected in the world.
I do enjoy a good police procedural so I should request the first book from the library. Glad to hear it was a hit!
There are 3 interconnected main characters with 2 series and a standalone here. The detective, the journalist and a lawyer. Everything by this author is excellent and I have read everything. The beginning is The Life We Bury.