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  • Forsaken Country

  • By: Allen Eskens
  • Narrated by: Brian Troxell
  • Length: 11 hrs and 9 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (1,622 ratings)

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Forsaken Country

By: Allen Eskens
Narrated by: Brian Troxell
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Publisher's summary

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.

©2022 Allen Eskens (P)2022 Mulholland Books

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

What listeners say about Forsaken Country

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Not disappointed!

When you’ve read everything an author writes, you know there will come a point that you say meh. Not this one! Another great listen! Love Max Rupert

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Loved it!

This was the most Perfect ending to a very enduring trilogy. Great reading. Great writing.

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Another Eskens Winner

This is a great adventure and not your average thriller. The narration is excellent. I highly recommend!

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Another enjoyable listen from Eskens

A solid story that starts quietly and quickly builds to a exciting and enjoyable ‘ride’.
A good thriller that leaves you looking for the next installment.

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Spellbinding storyline

Allen Eskens has written another captivating story with Max Rupert. He is haunted by his past, and that interferes with some decisions.

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Eskens is always a great listen

This book is no different. His characters are well written and the ones he keeps from story to story are well fleshed out. The story itself is believable enough to not challenge credibility. I can root for the hero and truly hate the villain, but there are also times I sympathize with the villain and am frustrated with a protagonist. It isn't a fantasy world of black and white, but a good representation of what real life can look like. Bad guys are still bad guys, even if they do good things sometimes,, good guys can do bad things or dumb things and still be good guys. I was captured by the whole cloth of the story and really loved it. It always seems like this Max Rupert story is the last and there has always been a lag until the next one, but I really hope I get to dive into Max's world again.

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Really enjoyed this one!

Great storyline, terrific character development. Allen Eskens and Brian Troxell are a winning combination. Highly recommend.

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Love Allen Eskens books

So far I have read or listened to all of his books. I really like them and am bummed when they are done. Hopefully more will come soon. This book is as good or better than all the others!

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Can’t wait for the next one!!!

I started with the first book “The lives We Bury,” and immediately looked this author up and downloaded and devoured all of his books in order! I am ANXIOUSLY awaiting anything else with Max, Joe, Lila, and Jeremy! Just purchased ALL of the books in print as well to revisit often! Great author, phenomenal read!!

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Forsaken Country

This was one of the two best books in the whole series! I’ve enjoyed all of Allen Esken’s books, but this one, and the one where Joe Talbert is doing a college assignment, telling the story of a man in hospice, that is a convicted murderer, is also equal to this one! By far, those two books are my favorites!

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