It all comes together in an exciting trial. Told from these two opposing perspectives, both sides make a convincing case that will leave the reader unsure who is right. Boady, who is defending Ben, is sure his client is innocent. When Jennavieve Pruitt is killed, Max is convinced the perp was her husband, Ben, who once accused Max of planting evidence. Publishers Weekly urged, “Readers looking for a new voice should pay attention to Eskens.”Įskens’ new novel, “The Heavens May Fall,” brings together three characters from “The Life We Bury” - Detective Max Rupert, his friend attorney Boady Sanden and Lila Nash. Then, he is involved in a case of identity theft that might save his reputation. Alex is under subpoena by a grand jury on suspicion of corruption and reassigned to the Fraud Unit, where he is shunned by his fellow detectives. He did it again in 2015 with “The Guise of Another,” a dark suspense story featuring brother Minneapolis police officers Alexander and Max Rupert. It’s still the Little Engine That Could, selling well, published in 16 languages with the potential for movie rights. “It seemed like every week there was a new nomination in my email box. “This was a very amazing time,” Eskens recalls of the months after his novel was published. Several national publications named it a best debut book of the year. It was a finalist for the Edgar Award, a Minnesota Book Award and International Thriller Writers Thriller Award.

The book went on to win the Left Coast Crime Rosebud Award and a Barry Award for best paperback original.

The Life We Bury by Allen Eskens