The Shadows We Hide: The highly acclaimed sequel to The Life We Bury

"Home is not a place, it’s a person."I discovered Allen Eskens’ book "The Life We Bury" at the end of 2018, and immediately fell in love with both the story and the writer’s skills. I was ecstatic to learn shortly thereafter that the sequel was already published and awaiting my one-click. And just as I hoped it would be, this one was every bit as remarkable as its predecessor– two solid winners for me!Five years separate the ending of the first book and the beginning of "The Shadows We Hide." Joe Talbert has graduated from college and is presently an investigative reporter with the Associated Press. He and Lila, who has just finished law school and is frantically studying in preparation for the Bar Examination, along with Joe’s autistic brother Jeremy, are all now living under one roof.Blending elements of time-honored whodunits with fast-paced discovery while interweaving a bit of both family drama and an ongoing romance that’s on shaky ground, Eskens skillfully keeps predictability hidden from the reader’s eye. Boredom is out of reach. Captivating readers with compelling layers and vivid environments, the case produces a series of well-planned shocks. Clothed in a mystery personally related to Joe, the author deals with some sticky situations in developing a realistic and honest portrayal. Despite his best intentions while cracking open the case, Joe manages to stumble into a bit of temptation and trouble. Altogether, this is a fun read, smartly crafted and uniquely told with just the right amount of detailed description where visualization of each scene was perfectly framed and mental images focused on each colorful character.Color me head-over-heels for these characters. I really hated saying good-bye to Joe, Lila, Jeremy and Kathy and am so excited over the news that Mr. Eskens plans to continue this delightful and addictive series with Lila’s backstory up next.I highly recommend reading both these books. They are refreshing, well-written and can be read as standalones – but I bet you won’t stop at just one. They don’t need to be read in the order they were published, but it’s my suggestion that you do so. Readers looking for a new voice in what I call comfy mysteries should pay special attention to both Allen Eskens and Joe Talbert. The reading experiences will be well-worth your time.Meanwhile, I’m moving on to the three remaining books on Mr. Eskens’s backlist that are receiving rave reviews as well, and feature Max Rupert, a Minnesota detective and a good friend to Joe Talbert.Coming in November, 2019, expect a new book from this author -- Nothing More Dangerous.

After finishing The Life We Bury, I immediately put The Shadows We Hide on hold at the library—I couldn’t wait to dive back into Joe Talbert’s story. And let me tell you, I was not disappointed.This book picks up with Joe, now a reporter, stumbling upon a news story about a man named Joe Talbert Sr. who has been found dead. Given that Joe never knew his father, he’s naturally intrigued and sets out to learn more. But digging into his father’s past only leads to more questions, including whether his father was murdered—and if so, who had reason to want him dead? The more Joe uncovers, the messier things get, pulling him into a tangle of small-town secrets, family drama, and personal revelations that force him to confront his own past in ways he wasn’t prepared for.One of the things I loved about The Life We Bury was Eskens’ ability to craft deep, realistic characters, and that same strength is on full display here. Joe isn’t just solving a mystery; he’s growing as a person, wrestling with his own flaws, and learning hard truths along the way. The pacing is spot-on, keeping the suspense high while allowing enough breathing room for character development.Overall, this was a solid four-star read for me. Allen Eskens is officially on my auto-buy list—if he writes it, I’m reading it!

I love it when an author writes a thoroughly engaging story that takes you on a bumpy ride to a destination that can't be guessed ahead of time. Picture if you will a road trip along old Route 66. You see and investigate several old roadside attractions because you are drawn to them by curiosity and sense of adventure, are properly (or inappropriately -- sometimes wildly so) entertained, and then move on to the next diversion on your long and interesting trip. Now compare that to a long drive on the most boring road in America, with no gas stations, restaurants, or even rest stops on your route. There is nothing there but miles of open desert, a hot scorching sun, and a mountain range 70-80 miles away. Which road would you rather travel?My choice has always been the more interesting path, the one more likely to offer up surprises and require thoughtful decisions when encountering that occasional "bump in the road". You can do a lot worse by not following Allen Eskins on the journey he offers to you in his newest novel. Yes, I do like a story that requires some thought and analysis, with characters able to morph given changing circumstances, and yet retain (or regain) their dignity while changing for the better, even though their "new normal" might be less than their hopefully best outcome.This is a thinking person's murder mystery disguised as a "coming of age" story, a thriller with nefarious characters, a detective novel, a story of addiction and redemption, and a primer on autism. Mr. Eskins' goal in winding all these silky strings together is to present you with another well written story of people acting at their best and worst, with tempting choices met and overcome, and with proper actions rewarded with a normal life -- at least as normal as it can be given the circumstances. Lots of people in this world face challenges that you and I might be lucky enough to avoid, but all of us can either step up or give up during the rough times we might encounter.

Required reading

Joe Talbert works as a reporter for the Associated Press. Because of an investigative report he did about a state senator, he is being sued for libel and is in danger of losing his job. Currently, his boss has put him on leave. His girlfriend Lisa is busy studying for the bar exam. Joe and Lisa have custody of Joe's younger brother who is autistic.When Joe finds out that a man with the same name as his has been murdered in Buckley, a small Minnesota town, Joe gets in his car and decides to find out what happened. Joe never knew his father, and his mother, who was a drug addict and alcoholic, told him that his father was Joe Talbert, Sr. Joe figures that perhaps this murder victim could be his biological father.When Joe gets to Buckley, he meets an interesting crew of characters, all telling him what a lowlife Joe Talbert Sr. was. Meanwhile, his mother, from whom he's been estranged, is trying to weasel her way back into his life.This is a follow up novel to 'The Life We Bury' but it can be read as a standalone. The characters are well-developed and the narrative is quick to pull the reader in. The book is well-written and has a great surprise ending.

A story with so many twists it moved like a cyclone. Joe is working as a reporter, but then he learns that his father has been murdered. As he goes to get more information, he is dragged through the memories of his childhood as well as figuring things out for him and Lila.

I absolutely LOVED The Life We Bury and I was really looking forward to The Shadows We Hide but it just didn’t quite compare. It felt as though the story was never going to end with twist after twist after twist after turn, it just drags on and on and on. I was itching to get through it by the end.

Adored this series! Love the character s and the story is so captivating and an absolute joy to read. Crossing my fingers there's at least one more book in this series 😅

Great bookWorth a read9 out of 20

I came here from The Life We Bury, could not wait to see how Joe is doing. And wow, have not been able to stop listening, Joe’s journey once again touched my heart and Mr. Villa narrated once again beautifully. Hope Joe’s story continues in the near future and till then I will definitely be listening to this one again and again.

Great story

Love this book. Such a great read.

Bought as a gift for a book clubRecipient choose