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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
keita_sebastian's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
jb93reads's review against another edition
dark
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
4.0
marilynw's review
5.0
Forsaken Country by Allen Eskens
Detective Max Rupert #6
Narrated by Brian Troxell
Max Rupert has been one of my favorite characters of Allen Eskens' multibook series. But I've really liked so many of his characters and another one that we get to see again is Nikki Vang. I'm so glad I've read all the books to this point but even if you haven't, the story fills in gaps so that you know what you need to know about the past and why Max is where he is in his life, now.
The story starts with Max in his third year of self imposed exile, long haired, long bearded, rarely ever seeing or speaking to another person. He has continuous nightmares, seeing the dead, feeling anguish over and over, and now he's been dreaming about a little boy. When he is in town, he speaks to a man he knows, the man's daughter, and the man's grandson and promptly decides he's not doing enough penance for his past ways. He's going to cut himself off from everything but that plan fails badly and he realizes he's just not good enough to turn full cave man.
Then he gets dragged into something he can't turn down. The man's daughter and grandson are missing and foul play is suspected. Having been a very successful detective in the past, Max has to help find these two and he needs a favor or three from Nikki. Seeing his ex work partner and friend slams hard the fact of all he's lost in his life, on top of losing his late wife. What follows is a roller coaster of Max struggling with his past, with what he wants to do, and what he thinks he will do in the future. The action is breathtaking, the risks are deadly, there is so much to be lost, not by Max, since he feels he's got nothing left to lose, but by people who do not deserve to have everything taken from them. The story is so good, it was so hard to put it down to sleep at night.
At the same time I received the print copy of this book, I also received the audiobook copy from the library so I was able to listen to the book while having the print copy at hand. The audiobook narration is fantastic so I can tell you can't go wrong by either reading the book or listening to the audiobook. I can't wait until we get more from Eskens.
Pub September 20, 2022
Thank you to Mulholland Books/Little, Brown and Company for the print version of this book.
Detective Max Rupert #6
Narrated by Brian Troxell
Max Rupert has been one of my favorite characters of Allen Eskens' multibook series. But I've really liked so many of his characters and another one that we get to see again is Nikki Vang. I'm so glad I've read all the books to this point but even if you haven't, the story fills in gaps so that you know what you need to know about the past and why Max is where he is in his life, now.
The story starts with Max in his third year of self imposed exile, long haired, long bearded, rarely ever seeing or speaking to another person. He has continuous nightmares, seeing the dead, feeling anguish over and over, and now he's been dreaming about a little boy. When he is in town, he speaks to a man he knows, the man's daughter, and the man's grandson and promptly decides he's not doing enough penance for his past ways. He's going to cut himself off from everything but that plan fails badly and he realizes he's just not good enough to turn full cave man.
Then he gets dragged into something he can't turn down. The man's daughter and grandson are missing and foul play is suspected. Having been a very successful detective in the past, Max has to help find these two and he needs a favor or three from Nikki. Seeing his ex work partner and friend slams hard the fact of all he's lost in his life, on top of losing his late wife. What follows is a roller coaster of Max struggling with his past, with what he wants to do, and what he thinks he will do in the future. The action is breathtaking, the risks are deadly, there is so much to be lost, not by Max, since he feels he's got nothing left to lose, but by people who do not deserve to have everything taken from them. The story is so good, it was so hard to put it down to sleep at night.
At the same time I received the print copy of this book, I also received the audiobook copy from the library so I was able to listen to the book while having the print copy at hand. The audiobook narration is fantastic so I can tell you can't go wrong by either reading the book or listening to the audiobook. I can't wait until we get more from Eskens.
Pub September 20, 2022
Thank you to Mulholland Books/Little, Brown and Company for the print version of this book.
colty's review against another edition
4.0
This book was really interesting and the narrator did a great job with the voices of each character. Max Rupert is such an interesting and cool character to follow and this book had me wanting to learn more. I loved the ending and how the book ended on a good note. Some parts of the book dragged a bit for me but really enjoyed it over all.
mindyt's review
5.0
Excellent book! One of my favorite authors with another great book. Max Rupert must struggle with the life changing decision he made at the end of the previous book. So well written and hard to put down!
marireadstoomuch's review against another edition
4.0
This and the previous book in the series were two of the stronger for me — the main villain (trying to describe vaguely here to avoid spoilers) was really memorable and well-realized.
Eskens writes situations really well, and is a gifted action writer.
I still struggled to cope with Max Rupert as a person, but much less than in his last outing (though some interpersonal elements seemed to come on quite suddenly in this book).
All in all a good read, and I’m happy to see some of my pet hates from early in the series are less noticeable or removed by this point.
Eskens writes situations really well, and is a gifted action writer.
I still struggled to cope with Max Rupert as a person, but much less than in his last outing (though some interpersonal elements seemed to come on quite suddenly in this book).
All in all a good read, and I’m happy to see some of my pet hates from early in the series are less noticeable or removed by this point.