The life we bury: a novel

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English

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Contributors
Eskens, Allen Author
Villa, Zach Narrator
ISBN
9781616149987
9781494593889
9781616149994

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Also in this Series

  • The life we bury: a novel (Max Rupert novels Volume 1) Cover
  • The guise of another (Max Rupert novels Volume 2) Cover
  • The heavens may fall (Max Rupert novels Volume 3) Cover
  • The deep dark descending (Max Rupert novels Volume 4) Cover
  • The shadows we hide (Max Rupert novels Volume 5) Cover

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Similar Series From Novelist

NoveList provides detailed suggestions for series you might like if you enjoyed this book. Suggestions are based on recommendations from librarians and other contributors.
A grieving cop in Minneapolis (Max Rupert) and an alcoholic private eye in New York (Mathew Scudder) may be deeply flawed, but their sense of duty lends them the strength to pursue justice in these hardboiled mysteries. -- Mike Nilsson
Set in Minneapolis (the spare Max Rupert novels) and England (the gritty P.I. John Craine mysteries), these brooding hardboiled mysteries both star grieving investigators whose spouse's murders remain unsolved. -- Mike Nilsson
These series have the genre "mysteries."
These series have the genre "mysteries."
These series have the genre "mysteries"; and the subjects "detectives" and "police."
These series have the genre "mysteries"; and the subjects "detectives," "widowers," and "single fathers."
These series have the genres "mysteries" and "thrillers and suspense"; and the subjects "detectives" and "police."
These series have the genre "mysteries"; and the subjects "detectives" and "police."
These series have the genre "mysteries."

Similar Titles From NoveList

NoveList provides detailed suggestions for titles you might like if you enjoyed this book. Suggestions are based on recommendations from librarians and other contributors.
These books have the appeal factors suspenseful, moving, and first person narratives, and they have the theme "living with invisible disability"; the genre "thrillers and suspense"; the subjects "murderers" and "secrets"; and include the identities "autistic" and "neurodivergent."
These books have the appeal factors first person narratives and multiple perspectives, and they have the theme "coming of age"; the subjects "brothers," "autism spectrum disorders," and "autistic children"; include the identities "autistic" and "neurodivergent"; and characters that are "complex characters."
No book but the world - Cohen, Leah Hager
In these moving, character-centered novels, part of the mystery arises with the question of responsibility for a crime, and part of it involves secrets in the characters' backgrounds. Sympathetic younger adult protagonists make the plots even more compelling. -- Katherine Johnson
These books have the appeal factors angst-filled, stylistically complex, and first person narratives, and they have the theme "coming of age"; the subject "growing up"; and characters that are "complex characters."
These books have the appeal factors moving and first person narratives, and they have the subjects "dysfunctional families," "autism spectrum disorders," and "family relationships"; include the identities "autistic" and "neurodivergent"; and characters that are "complex characters," "sympathetic characters," and "flawed characters."
The Life We Bury revolves around a crime committed years earlier, while Safe Keeping involves a recent killing, but both heartwrenching novels portray the gradual revelation of old secrets, while complex family dynamics enrich the character development and intricate plots. -- Katherine Johnson
These books have the appeal factors moving, stylistically complex, and first person narratives, and they have the theme "coming of age"; the genre "debut title"; the subjects "secrets," "brothers," and "fathers and sons"; and characters that are "complex characters" and "flawed characters."
These books have the appeal factors moving, stylistically complex, and nonlinear, and they have the subjects "dysfunctional families," "autism spectrum disorders," and "autistic children"; include the identities "autistic" and "neurodivergent"; and characters that are "complex characters" and "flawed characters."
The year of the gadfly - Miller, Jennifer
These fast-paced, gripping mysteries are also thoughtful coming-of-age stories where young protagonists uncover the unsavory pasts of men they look up to -- a teacher in The Year of the Gadfly and a Vietnam War hero in The Life We Bury. -- Anthea Goffe
These books have the appeal factors suspenseful, moving, and first person narratives, and they have the genre "mysteries"; the subject "secrets"; and characters that are "complex characters," "sympathetic characters," and "well-developed characters."
These books have the appeal factors suspenseful, intensifying, and first person narratives, and they have the subject "secrets"; and characters that are "complex characters," "sympathetic characters," and "well-developed characters."
NoveList recommends "Matthew Scudder mysteries" for fans of "Max Rupert novels". Check out the first book in the series.

Similar Authors From NoveList

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These authors' works have the appeal factors intensifying and first person narratives, and they have the genre "thrillers and suspense"; the subjects "grief," "librarians," and "loss"; and characters that are "well-developed characters," "complex characters," and "sympathetic characters."
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Published Reviews

Booklist Review

The premise of this gripping thriller isn't entirely believable a college student transforms himself into a supersleuth but in the rush to turn pages, readers will be glad to give debut author Eskens the benefit of the doubt. University of Minnesota freshman Joe Talbot visits a nursing home looking for someone to interview for an English assignment in which he must compose a brief biography of a stranger. Carl Iverson, who spent 30 years in prison for rape and murder and is now dying of cancer, isn't what Joe had in mind, but he accepts the challenge and, soon enough, sets out to prove the man's innocence. Meanwhile, his alcoholic mother is incapable of caring for Joe's autistic brother, leaving Joe faced with sacrificing his education to protect his brother. Eskens jumps effectively between both plots, as Joe and his neighbor, a young woman with her own troubled past, are drawn into Iverson's case and begin uncovering details that some would prefer to keep buried. The tension builds to an all-stops-out finale that works on every level. Thriller fans should keep their eyes on Eskens; he's a comer.--Ott, Bill Copyright 2014 Booklist

From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
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Publisher's Weekly Review

Joe Talbert, the hero of Eskens's masterful debut, has worked hard to earn the money to leave home and pursue an education at the University of Minnesota, but his alcoholic mother, who's unable to provide proper care for his autistic brother, keeps demanding his money and time. Joe's life takes a harrowing turn when he visits a nursing home in Richfield, Minn., in search of a subject for a class assignment-to write a person's biography. Joe chooses one of the only patients not affected with dementia, Carl Iverson, who, he soon discovers, was convicted decades earlier of the murder and rape of a 14-year-old girl. Recently paroled after serving 30 years of a life sentence because he's dying of pancreatic cancer, Carl agrees to tell Joe his story. Prodded by Lila Nash, his attractive college student neighbor, Joe immerses himself in the crime and Carl's trial. As Joe learns more about the events of the murder, he is faced with several threats to his own safety, yet refuses to give up his pursuit of the truth. More complications ensue, until the novel's satisfying resolution. Agent: Amy Cloughley, Kimberley Cameron Agency. (Oct.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

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Kirkus Book Review

A struggling student's English assignment turns into a mission to solve a 30-year-old murder.Joe Talbert has had very few breaks in his 21 years. The son of a single and very alcoholic mother, he's worked hard to save enough money to leave his home in Austin, Minnesota, for the University of Minnesota. Although he has to leave his autistic younger brother, Jeremy Naylor, to the dubious care of their mother, Joe is determined to beat the odds and get his degree. For an assignment in his English class, he decides to interview Carl Iverson, a man convicted of raping and killing a 14-year-old girl. Carl, who maintains his innocence, is dying of cancer and has been released to a nursing home to end his life in lonely but unrepentant pain. The more Joe learns about Carla Vietnam vet with two Purple Hearts and a Silver Crossthe more the young man questions the conviction. Joe's plan to write a short biography and earn an easy A turns into something more. Even after his mother is arrested for drunk driving and guilt-trips Joe into ransacking his college fund to bail her out, he soldiers on with the project, though her irresponsibility forces him to take Jeremy into his care. But it's his younger brother who cracks the code of the long-dead murder victim's secret diary and an attractive neighbor, Lila Nash, who has her own agenda for helping Joe solve the mystery, whatever the risk. Eskens' debut is a solid and thoughtful tale of a young man used to taking on burdens beyond his yearsnone more dangerous than championing a bitter old man convicted of a horrific crime. Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
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Booklist Reviews

The premise of this gripping thriller isn't entirely believable—a college student transforms himself into a supersleuth—but in the rush to turn pages, readers will be glad to give debut author Eskens the benefit of the doubt. University of Minnesota freshman Joe Talbot visits a nursing home looking for someone to interview for an English assignment in which he must compose a brief biography of a stranger. Carl Iverson, who spent 30 years in prison for rape and murder and is now dying of cancer, isn't what Joe had in mind, but he accepts the challenge and, soon enough, sets out to prove the man's innocence. Meanwhile, his alcoholic mother is incapable of caring for Joe's autistic brother, leaving Joe faced with sacrificing his education to protect his brother. Eskens jumps effectively between both plots, as Joe and his neighbor, a young woman with her own troubled past, are drawn into Iverson's case and begin uncovering details that some would prefer to keep buried. The tension builds to an all-stops-out finale that works on every level. Thriller fans should keep their eyes on Eskens; he's a comer. Copyright 2014 Booklist Reviews.

Copyright 2014 Booklist Reviews.
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Publishers Weekly Reviews

Joe Talbert, the hero of Eskens's masterful debut, has worked hard to earn the money to leave home and pursue an education at the University of Minnesota, but his alcoholic mother, who's unable to provide proper care for his autistic brother, keeps demanding his money and time. Joe's life takes a harrowing turn when he visits a nursing home in Richfield, Minn., in search of a subject for a class assignment—to write a person's biography. Joe chooses one of the only patients not affected with dementia, Carl Iverson, who, he soon discovers, was convicted decades earlier of the murder and rape of a 14-year-old girl. Recently paroled after serving 30 years of a life sentence because he's dying of pancreatic cancer, Carl agrees to tell Joe his story. Prodded by Lila Nash, his attractive college student neighbor, Joe immerses himself in the crime and Carl's trial. As Joe learns more about the events of the murder, he is faced with several threats to his own safety, yet refuses to give up his pursuit of the truth. More complications ensue, until the novel's satisfying resolution. Agent: Amy Cloughley, Kimberley Cameron Agency. (Oct.)

[Page ]. Copyright 2014 PWxyz LLC

Copyright 2014 PWxyz LLC
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PW Annex Reviews

Joe Talbert, the hero of Eskens's masterful debut, has worked hard to earn the money to leave home and pursue an education at the University of Minnesota, but his alcoholic mother, who's unable to provide proper care for his autistic brother, keeps demanding his money and time. Joe's life takes a harrowing turn when he visits a nursing home in Richfield, Minn., in search of a subject for a class assignment—to write a person's biography. Joe chooses one of the only patients not affected with dementia, Carl Iverson, who, he soon discovers, was convicted decades earlier of the murder and rape of a 14-year-old girl. Recently paroled after serving 30 years of a life sentence because he's dying of pancreatic cancer, Carl agrees to tell Joe his story. Prodded by Lila Nash, his attractive college student neighbor, Joe immerses himself in the crime and Carl's trial. As Joe learns more about the events of the murder, he is faced with several threats to his own safety, yet refuses to give up his pursuit of the truth. More complications ensue, until the novel's satisfying resolution. Agent: Amy Cloughley, Kimberley Cameron Agency. (Oct.)

[Page ]. Copyright 2014 PWxyz LLC

Copyright 2014 PWxyz LLC
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