Forsaken Country

By: Allen Eskens

Narrated by: Brian Troxell

Length: 11 hrs and 9 mins

Publisher's summary

Three fathers collide far beyond the reach or safety of the law in this breathtaking thriller from the bestselling and beloved author of The Stolen Hours and The Life We Bury.

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, 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

“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

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

Loved it!

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

Solid story

It was a good crime story - not as good as some of his other novels but still a good listen. The narrator did a great job!

Another Eskens Winner

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

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.

Spellbinding storyline

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

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.

Really enjoyed this one!

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

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!

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!!