He needs to complete an assignment for his English class: write a biography about an elderly individual. As the story opens, Joe, 21 years old, is working as a bouncer and living in a small apartment with a bathroom across the hall as he pursues his studies. Through hard work, hiding some of his earnings from his mother, and determination, Joe completed community college and has transferred to the University of Minnesota as a junior. Joe recalls him as “a quiet man who could command attention with a simple glance or nod, a man who possessed equal parts strength and gentleness and wore them not in layers, but blended like fine leather.” However, his grandfather died tragically when Joe was just and since then, Joe's mother has been spiraling further out of control. When Joe's maternal grandfather was alive, he brought stability to the family.

Joe Talbert grew up in Minnesota with no father, an equally fatherless autistic brother, and an alcoholic, bipolar mother. the life we bury is replete with surprising plot twists and long-held secrets, as well as pulse-pounding danger. In his debut novel, author Allen Eskens has crafted a story that is deeply moving and thought-provoking, populated with compelling and empathetic characters, but also a fast-paced mystery.

or for Joe to escape the fallout from his efforts? Will Joe discover the truth before it's too late for Carl. But as he and Lila dig deeper into the truth about the crime, the stakes grow higher. Thread by thread, Joe unravels the tapestry of Carl's conviction. Joe and his skeptical female neighbor, Lila, devote themselves to uncovering the truth before Carl breathes his last breath.īut Joe must also deal with his dysfunctional mother, his guilt about leaving his autistic brother, Jeremy, vulnerable to her dangerous whims, and a haunting memory from his childhood. With not long to live, he has been medically paroled to a nursing home after spending thirty years in prison after being convicted of raping and murdering fourteen-year-old girl Crystal Hagen in 1980.Īs Joe learns about Carl's life - especially the details of Carl's valor in Vietnam which is related by Carl's friend - he cannot reconcile the heroism displayed by that young soldier with the despicable acts for which he was imprisoned. There he meets Carl Iverson, and soon nothing in Joe's life is ever the same.Ĭarl is a dying Vietnam veteran - and a convicted murderer. With deadlines looming, Joe heads to a nearby nursing home to find a willing subject.

His task is to interview a stranger and write a brief biography of the person. College student Joe Talbert has the modest goal of completing a writing assignment for an English class.

Book the life we bury by allen eskens