Publisher and Publication Date: Seventh Street Books. 2014.
Genre: Fiction. Mystery.
Pages: 303.
Source: Self-purchase.
Rating: Recommend. Very Good.
Audience: Fiction readers. Fans of murder mysteries.
This book had been in my to be read pile. I finally read it!
The synopsis of The Life We Bury is quick: a young college student working on a writing assignment, and interviews a man who was convicted of child molestation and murder.
Joe Talbert is the college student. Carl Iverson is the convicted child molester and murderer. Joe grew up in a broken family. He has a younger brother who needs help. Joe has a neighbor named Lila. Carl is dying. He is a Vietnam Veteran. He has a close friend who says, “Carl is innocent.”
Several things I loved about this book:
•It’s a story and plot I’ve not read before.
•The narrator of the story is Joe Talbert, so he is the viewpoint character. He is a young man trying to juggle several life things at once. He is an admirable fellow. He’s easy to like. He is a nice guy but is quick to defend his loved ones. He is a true hero in this story.
•Allen Eskens does a great job of breathing life into the characters. Whether the character is a teenage girl, young male college student, independent female college student, or an older sick war Veteran. All the characters are distinct and crisp.
•A solid read from beginning to end. I read this book in a day.
The Life We Bury is not a scary story. It is a murder mystery. At the beginning of the story, the mystery has not been established. As Joe digs around while interviewing Carl, the mystery develops.
Impressions In Ink 