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nicovreeland's review against another edition
2.0
DNF at 30%. I thought I could power through this one but just dreaded going back to it, so I’ve got to DNF.
I’ve liked Eskens before but he has a tendency to record every. single. thing. that. happens. in. each. and. every. scene. There’s probably a five-minute scene of Max getting a haircut. Shears snipping, snipping, a bit more, the clippers buzz, on and on and on and on and on. I understand it’s meant to be a meaningful moment but these slow and excruciating mechanical details don’t give me any connection to Max or understanding of him.
This kind of thing makes a bit of sense when the scene is a kidnapper taking a child (although even that scene is not worth the pages and pages that eskens gives it).
I seem to be the outlier on this one, so if you’re interested, try a sample. If you don’t mind the style, i think Eskens is strong at everything else.
I’ve liked Eskens before but he has a tendency to record every. single. thing. that. happens. in. each. and. every. scene. There’s probably a five-minute scene of Max getting a haircut. Shears snipping, snipping, a bit more, the clippers buzz, on and on and on and on and on. I understand it’s meant to be a meaningful moment but these slow and excruciating mechanical details don’t give me any connection to Max or understanding of him.
This kind of thing makes a bit of sense when the scene is a kidnapper taking a child (although even that scene is not worth the pages and pages that eskens gives it).
I seem to be the outlier on this one, so if you’re interested, try a sample. If you don’t mind the style, i think Eskens is strong at everything else.
allthingswithliz's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Loved this book! I loved pip and felt so bad for him. I also felt bad for the grandfather but was happy with the ending. Everything made sense and I wasn’t confused.
tatersknits's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
jdewane21's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
mamatkperk's review against another edition
5.0
I was holding my breath for pretty much the entire second half of this book. Exciting? Yes. Tragic? Yes. There was a little bit of a pity party from the main character, truly justified. But I still love Max. I was rooting for him to atone and come out a better person.
This author never disappoints!
This author never disappoints!
heidisreads's review
4.0
Allen Eskens just keeps getting better. This thriller takes place in the deep woods of Northern MN. Forsaken Country features Max Rupert, a secondary character in a couple of Eskens' other books and the main character in A Deep, Dark Descending. You can read Eskens' books in any order, but my suggestion is to read The Heavens May Fall and then A Deep, Dark Descending and then Forsaken Country. If you like William Kent Krueger, C.J. Box or the Longmire or Yellowstone series, grab a copy of this book!
judithdcollins's review
5.0
INTERVIEW: Check out my fun #AuthorElevatorSeries #AuthorElevatorSeries Interview with Allen as we go behind the scenes of the book and the author!
CRIME FICTION AT ITS FINEST!
Bestselling author Allen Eskens returns following [b:The Stolen Hours|56620855|The Stolen Hours (Joe Talbert, #3)|Allen Eskens|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1624824052l/56620855._SY75_.jpg|88469540] with his highly anticipated Max Rupert follow-up, FORSAKEN COUNTRY —Richly drawn, a powerful story of one man's ghosts of the past as he comes out of hiding seeking justice for a young boy. A road of darkness, love, and redemption.
We first met Max, the former homicide detective in [b:The Guise of Another|25614426|The Guise of Another (Detective Max Rupert, #2)|Allen Eskens|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1436810359l/25614426._SY75_.jpg|45228097], [b:The Heavens May Fall|28587698|The Heavens May Fall (Detective Max Rupert, #3)|Allen Eskens|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1463155933l/28587698._SY75_.jpg|48754915], [b:The Deep Dark Descending|33946362|The Deep Dark Descending (Detective Max Rupert, #4)|Allen Eskens|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1494677308l/33946362._SX50_.jpg|54915986], and the most recent, [b:Forsaken Country|60021225|Forsaken Country (Detective Max Rupert, #6)|Allen Eskens|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1658242952l/60021225._SY75_.jpg|94617065].
Following, [b:The Deep Dark Descending|33946362|The Deep Dark Descending (Detective Max Rupert, #4)|Allen Eskens|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1494677308l/33946362._SX50_.jpg|54915986], we find Max living like a recluse in the woods in a rustic A-frame cabin in the mountains of Minnesota. With his hair grown out, and little interaction with the outside world except to go into Grand Rapids for supplies.
It has been three and half years since that hole in the ice on the frozen lake with Mikhail.
Max has many ghosts floating around —his wife Jenni, his brother, and his unborn child.
Now 45- years old, he had shut himself away from the world to face his reckoning, willing to accept forgiveness or retribution in equal measure but had found neither. He came here to accept his punishment.
He had run into Lyle Voight earlier when he was buying supplies, a man he met five years earlier when he was sheriff of Itasca County, back when Max's brother Alexander passed away at the cabin. In the parking lot, he met the daughter and grandson Pip.
Later, he receives a call from Lyle, frantic and needs his help. Lyle says that his daughter Sandy and his six-year-old-grandson, Pip, had been kidnapped and are missing. He suspects Reed, the ex-husband and father, which is a former criminal.
The current Sheriff is unreliable and has a connection and past with Reed, therefore not taking it seriously. He needs Max's help.
At first, Max is hesitant but agrees to help. Lyle and Max get together and plan to try and stay one step ahead of Reed. Reed Harris also has a partner in crime, Spud. Max finds himself alive for the first time in years on the hunt and also has to hold back Lyle who is ready to kill Reed as he suspects his daughter is already dead. Lyle reminds Max a little of himself.
However, without a badge from Max or Lyle, it is challenging to get into doors and get the critical info they need to track down Pip before it is too late.
Max turns to Niki Vang, his former partner in Homicide. They have a complex history, as he mailed in his badge and left the department. Giving up his badge was the price he would pay for exacting his revenge.
Niki had tried to contact him, of course, but he ignored her efforts. She was better off without him. Now he has to beg her for help. She is not happy about this but, of course, offers her help.
In a race against time, Max and Lyle are desperate to track down Reed, Spud, and Pip before they go on the run. Once they enter the Boundary Waters wilderness, it is much more challenging to figure out which path they will take as they enter Canada.
Two men are on a mission to find a missing boy and two evil men who will stop at nothing to escape.
Heart-pounding and high adrenaline action to the satisfying conclusion.
Heartfelt, a multi-layered intense and suspenseful exploration of fatherhood, a desperate search for a missing child, and one man's redemption.
I loved this book! Beautiful metaphors and contrasts with characters as relates to the wilderness, its beauty, and dangers. A blend of crime fiction, psychological suspense, thriller, and literary fiction.
One of my favorite authors, Classic Eskens, FORSAKEN COUNTRY is full of heart, superb characters, an intricate plot, and riveting suspense.
Having the fortunate opportunity of reading all of Allen's books, FORSAKEN COUNTRY is one of my favorites.
Character-driven, the author delves deep into fatherhood with Max, who missed the chance with the loss of his child, Lyle (father and grandfather), Reed, an abusive father, and Spud as he remembers his relationship with his father fondly. I enjoyed how Spud (a murderer) shows his softer caring side with the care of Pip, taking him under his wing.
Eskens showcases his fine storytelling qualities as we see a man struggling with moral ethics where often there are gray areas and not as simple as black and white.
I also LOVED catching up with Niki, and let me say the ending was perfect! Please, I hope we see more of Max and Niki!
Highly recommend! Eskens is at the top of his game. One of his best! For fans of authors John Hart, David Baldacci, and William Kent Krueger. Prime for the big or small screen.
A special thank you to #MulhollandBooks and #NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Blog Review Posted @
www.JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 5 Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐++
Pub Date: Sept 20, 2022
Top Books of 2022
Sep 2022 Must-Read Books
CRIME FICTION AT ITS FINEST!
Bestselling author Allen Eskens returns following [b:The Stolen Hours|56620855|The Stolen Hours (Joe Talbert, #3)|Allen Eskens|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1624824052l/56620855._SY75_.jpg|88469540] with his highly anticipated Max Rupert follow-up, FORSAKEN COUNTRY —Richly drawn, a powerful story of one man's ghosts of the past as he comes out of hiding seeking justice for a young boy. A road of darkness, love, and redemption.
We first met Max, the former homicide detective in [b:The Guise of Another|25614426|The Guise of Another (Detective Max Rupert, #2)|Allen Eskens|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1436810359l/25614426._SY75_.jpg|45228097], [b:The Heavens May Fall|28587698|The Heavens May Fall (Detective Max Rupert, #3)|Allen Eskens|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1463155933l/28587698._SY75_.jpg|48754915], [b:The Deep Dark Descending|33946362|The Deep Dark Descending (Detective Max Rupert, #4)|Allen Eskens|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1494677308l/33946362._SX50_.jpg|54915986], and the most recent, [b:Forsaken Country|60021225|Forsaken Country (Detective Max Rupert, #6)|Allen Eskens|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1658242952l/60021225._SY75_.jpg|94617065].
Following, [b:The Deep Dark Descending|33946362|The Deep Dark Descending (Detective Max Rupert, #4)|Allen Eskens|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1494677308l/33946362._SX50_.jpg|54915986], we find Max living like a recluse in the woods in a rustic A-frame cabin in the mountains of Minnesota. With his hair grown out, and little interaction with the outside world except to go into Grand Rapids for supplies.
It has been three and half years since that hole in the ice on the frozen lake with Mikhail.
Max has many ghosts floating around —his wife Jenni, his brother, and his unborn child.
Now 45- years old, he had shut himself away from the world to face his reckoning, willing to accept forgiveness or retribution in equal measure but had found neither. He came here to accept his punishment.
He had run into Lyle Voight earlier when he was buying supplies, a man he met five years earlier when he was sheriff of Itasca County, back when Max's brother Alexander passed away at the cabin. In the parking lot, he met the daughter and grandson Pip.
Later, he receives a call from Lyle, frantic and needs his help. Lyle says that his daughter Sandy and his six-year-old-grandson, Pip, had been kidnapped and are missing. He suspects Reed, the ex-husband and father, which is a former criminal.
The current Sheriff is unreliable and has a connection and past with Reed, therefore not taking it seriously. He needs Max's help.
At first, Max is hesitant but agrees to help. Lyle and Max get together and plan to try and stay one step ahead of Reed. Reed Harris also has a partner in crime, Spud. Max finds himself alive for the first time in years on the hunt and also has to hold back Lyle who is ready to kill Reed as he suspects his daughter is already dead. Lyle reminds Max a little of himself.
However, without a badge from Max or Lyle, it is challenging to get into doors and get the critical info they need to track down Pip before it is too late.
Max turns to Niki Vang, his former partner in Homicide. They have a complex history, as he mailed in his badge and left the department. Giving up his badge was the price he would pay for exacting his revenge.
Niki had tried to contact him, of course, but he ignored her efforts. She was better off without him. Now he has to beg her for help. She is not happy about this but, of course, offers her help.
In a race against time, Max and Lyle are desperate to track down Reed, Spud, and Pip before they go on the run. Once they enter the Boundary Waters wilderness, it is much more challenging to figure out which path they will take as they enter Canada.
Two men are on a mission to find a missing boy and two evil men who will stop at nothing to escape.
Heart-pounding and high adrenaline action to the satisfying conclusion.
Heartfelt, a multi-layered intense and suspenseful exploration of fatherhood, a desperate search for a missing child, and one man's redemption.
I loved this book! Beautiful metaphors and contrasts with characters as relates to the wilderness, its beauty, and dangers. A blend of crime fiction, psychological suspense, thriller, and literary fiction.
One of my favorite authors, Classic Eskens, FORSAKEN COUNTRY is full of heart, superb characters, an intricate plot, and riveting suspense.
Having the fortunate opportunity of reading all of Allen's books, FORSAKEN COUNTRY is one of my favorites.
Character-driven, the author delves deep into fatherhood with Max, who missed the chance with the loss of his child, Lyle (father and grandfather), Reed, an abusive father, and Spud as he remembers his relationship with his father fondly. I enjoyed how Spud (a murderer) shows his softer caring side with the care of Pip, taking him under his wing.
Eskens showcases his fine storytelling qualities as we see a man struggling with moral ethics where often there are gray areas and not as simple as black and white.
I also LOVED catching up with Niki, and let me say the ending was perfect! Please, I hope we see more of Max and Niki!
Highly recommend! Eskens is at the top of his game. One of his best! For fans of authors John Hart, David Baldacci, and William Kent Krueger. Prime for the big or small screen.
A special thank you to #MulhollandBooks and #NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Blog Review Posted @
www.JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 5 Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐++
Pub Date: Sept 20, 2022
Top Books of 2022
Sep 2022 Must-Read Books