The Shadows We Hide (by Allen Eskens)
I read Allen Eskens’ debut novel, The Life We Bury, back in 2018 and absolutely loved it. I didn’t expect it to become a series, but I’m thrilled it did—especially with more stories centered on Joe Talbert.
The Shadows We Hide, the second book featuring Joe, lived up to every expectation. Now a young reporter for the Associated Press in Minneapolis, Joe has never known his father. When he stumbles across a news story about the murder of a man named Joseph Talbert in a small southern Minnesota town, he feels compelled to investigate whether the victim might be the father he never met.
As Joe digs into the circumstances of the death and the tangled family history surrounding it—including questions of inheritance and his complicated relationship with his mother—he confronts long-buried secrets that put his own safety at risk.
Eskens grabbed my attention from the first page and held it tightly until the end. The writing style made it easy to devour large sections in a single sitting; each chapter ended in a way that made me immediately turn the page.
I especially enjoyed the small-town setting. Buckley, Minnesota, feels lived-in and layered. Joe’s arrival not only raises questions about his possible father but also reopens old wounds for many in the community. His skills as a reporter serve him well as he untangles both a murder and the complicated webs of relationships in this tight-knit town.
The novel works on multiple levels: a compelling mystery and a thoughtful exploration of family, identity, and self-discovery.
As much as I enjoyed the first two books, I’m looking forward to the next one in the series, The Stolen Hours.
Linked below is my review for another Allen Eskens novel I've read recently.
Please enjoy a few photos of my Heavenly Blue morning glory. It's such a delicate flower, and I love being greeted by this beauty each morning.
As a participant in the Amazon Associates Program, I earn from qualifying purchases linked back to Amazon. Every penny earned allows me to blog about books and keeps this site running.
