
Author: Allen Eskens
Published by: Mulholland Books on Sep 7, 2021
Genres: Mystery/Thriller
Pages: 320
Format: Hardcover
Source: HBG Canada
Book Rating: 9/10
Lila Nash is on the verge of landing her dream job—working as a prosecutor under the Hennepin County Attorney—and has settled into a happy life with her boyfriend, Joe Talbert. But when a woman is pulled from the Mississippi River, barely alive, things in the office take a personal turn.
The police believe the woman’s assailant is local photographer Gavin Spenser, but the case quickly flounders as the evidence wears thin. It seems Gavin saw this investigation coming—and no one can imagine how carefully he has prepared.
The more determined Lila is to put Gavin behind bars, the more elusive justice becomes. Battling a vindictive new boss and haunted by the ghosts of her own unspeakable attack, which she’s kept a dark secret for eight long years, Lila knows the clock is ticking down. In a race against an evil mastermind, it will take everything Lila’s got to outsmart a killer—and to escape the dark hold of her own past.
Review:
Sharp, riveting, and creepy!
In this latest novel by Eskens, The Stolen Hours, he transports us to Hennepin County and into the life of Lila Nash, a young prosecutor with a haunted, troubled past, who under the guidance of the tough, veteran prosecutor Andi Fitch takes on the assault and attempted murder case of bridesmaid, Sadie Vaub, putting her front and centre in the sightline of Gavin Spencer, a wedding photographer with a penchant for details and a long history of sadistic violence.
The prose is fluid and tight. The characters are vulnerable, persistent, and meticulous. And the plot, including all the subplots, unravel and intertwine quickly into a gripping tale full of twists, turns, surprises, deception, cruelty, obsession, manipulation, power, privilege, politics, mayhem, violence, and murder.
Allen Eskens is one of those authors that every time I pick up one of his books, I absolutely love it, and yet for some reason he seems to fly under the mainstream radar. I don’t know why. He’s one of my favourite authors, and once again, with The Stolen Hours, he’s written a tense, crafty, cunning thriller that I highly recommend and, in my opinion, shouldn’t be missed.
This book is available now.
Pick up a copy from your favourite retailer or from one of the following links.
Thank you to HBG Canada for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
Wonderful review Zoe. I agree, he doesn’t get the love he deserves. I am looking forward to reading this one.