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Forsaken Country

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Forsaken Country

By: Allen Eskens
Narrated by: Brian Troxell
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About this listen

Three fathers collide far beyond the reach or safety of the law in this breathtaking thriller from the beloved author of The Stolen Hours and The Life We Bury:"one of our best crime writers at the top of his game" (William Kent Krueger, New York Times bestselling author).

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.
Amateur Sleuths Crime Thrillers Detective Fiction Mystery Suspense Thriller Thriller & Suspense Crime Marriage

Critic Reviews

"The best stories test our view of the moral universe, which is one of the many reasons I love the work of Allen Eskens. Forsaken Country is a shining example of what fine crime fiction offers—a tight plot, intriguing characters, and important ethical questions. In this tale of a kidnapped boy and the men who desperately seek to save him, Eskens offers no easy answers, but delivers a taut Northwoods thriller with a raging pace guaranteed to sweep you along from first page to last. This is one of our best crime writers at the top of his game."—William Kent Krueger, New York Times bestselling author of THIS TENDER LAND

"Eskens provides an irresistible hook, a clever spin on a classic suspense plot, and a series of expertly escalating confrontations. . . . Guaranteed to keep your heart pounding till the end."

Kirkus Reviews
“In Forsaken Country, Allen Eskens’ expert storytelling is on full display. Eerie and beautifully told, it had me mesmerized from the very first page. . . . The suspense never flags in this chilling and layered portrait of a man’s desperate search for a missing child and his own redemption. Heart-pounding and heartfelt, Forsaken Country should be at the top of your to-be-read list."—Heather Gudenkauf, New York Times bestselling author of The Weight of Silence and The Overnight Guest
“In Forsaken Country, Allen Eskens delivers in all the ways that matter. Story, character, suspense—I loved it all. This author deserves a round of applause, and this book a massive audience.”—John Hart, New York Times bestselling author of The Unwilling
Forsaken Country is a story of darkness, love, and redemption; a novel that will stay with you long after you mourn turning the last page. And it solidifies Allen Eskens as one of the finest literary crime writers working today.”—Alex Finlay, author of The Night Shift
“Eskens weaves a gut-punching and deeply satisfying story. His characters are indelible. His protagonist becomes a familiar friend with an unflinching honesty about who he is and what his past means. Forsaken Country is not only a propulsive mystery with a lot of soul, but also an addictive chase into the untamed wilderness of the Boundary Waters and the Quetico-Superior country.”—Diane Les Becquets, author of The Last Woman in the Forest
“Beautifully written and expertly crafted, Forsaken Country has everything we've come to love about an Allen Eskens novel--deeply developed characters, a smart plot, and plenty of suspense to keep the pages turning.”—Charlie Donlea, USA Today bestselling author of Twenty Years Later
Praise for The Stolen Hours_
All stars
Most relevant
I loathed Reed/Reid with intensity. AE is my new favourite author…very happy he gave up his regular job! Keep writing because you make a difference to the world.

Max

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Allen Eskens never puts a foot wrong. Every book he writes is amazing, and this one is no exception. Better yet, the characters from each book are connected. I love that element. The only issue I have is how long I have to wait until the next book comes out!

Another perfect Allen Eskens story.

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Great series that had the variety of many different characters points of views. All the stories linked together but you had a good understanding of the background of most of the characters. The narration was fabulous and enjoyed every book.

Loved the series!!

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Very gripping story with a few twists that hold your attention and character narration is good

Good story line well narrated

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I've now listened to all of Allen Esken's books and wow! He is a high class writer who does an excellent job of expanding upon the backgrounds of characters who were secondary ones in his other books. I await in high anticipation of his new books! I will be highly recommending his stories.

New Favourite

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Not enough books to read from this author …. Please write more …more characters please …?it’s been a tease

Love the character

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In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.