The Life We Bury
A Novel
Book - 2014
College student Joe Talbert has the modest goal of completing a writing assignment for an English class. His task is to interview a stranger and write a brief biography of the person. With deadlines looming, Joe heads to a nearby nursing home to find a willing subject. There he meets Carl Iverson,a dying Vietnam veteran-- and a convicted murderer, medically paroled to a nursing home, after spending thirty years in prison for the crimes of rape and murder. Unable to reconcile Carl's valor in Vietnam with the despicable acts of the convict, Joe throws himself into uncovering the truth.
Publisher:
Amherst, NY : Seventh Street Books, an imprint of Prometheus Books, 2014
ISBN:
9781616149987
1616149981
1616149981
Characteristics:
303 pages ; 21 cm


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Add a CommentThe book follows the story of college student Joe Talbert who is tasked with interviewing a stranger and writing a biography for his English class. He chooses to go to a nearby nursing home where he meets Carl Iverson. Iverson is a convicted murderer who has been paroled due to the fact that he has stage four pancreatic cancer and only has a few months to live. Carl spent 30 years in prison for the rape and murder of his 14 year old neighbor back in 1980. As Carl's story unfolds, Joe learns that he spent time in Vietnam and was awarded the purple heart and was honorably discharged. The story was very compelling and drew me in. I am looking forward to reading more of Allen Eskens' work.
If you like to read to escape how horrible the world can be, then this book is not for you. The Life We Bury is an intense novel.
Joe Talvert is a college student whose English class assignment leads him to a nursing home to interview and write a stranger’s biography. He meets Carl Iverson a dying Vietnam veteran and convicted murder. As Joe writes about Carl’s life his neighbor/crush Lila and he start to uncover the truth. All while Joe deals with a dysfunctional alcoholic mother, cares for his autistic brother, and being haunted by his own childhood memory. While Joe and Lila get closer to the truth and unravel Carl’s conviction the suspense builds, the stakes get higher, and the twists take sharper turns. The pages keep turning and your interest grows until the explosives ending. Highly recommend if you’re in the mood for a mystery.
Excellent mystery, great characters. I have loved every one of Allen Eskens books!
Very enjoyable book. I am going to read more books by this author.
I could not put this book down....amazing.....will read more by this author!!!!!!!!!!
I give this book 5 stars in the fact that I felt every emotion while listening to it. the story is engaging, heart warming and kept me on the edge of my seat with the action. truly enjoyed this book. Highly recommend
I give this book 5 stars in the fact that I felt every emotion while listening to it. the story is engaging, heart warming and kept me on the edge of my seat with the action. truly enjoyed this book. Highly recommend.
Having read "Nothing More Dangerous", recently I was moved to read more by this author having it enjoyed it thoroughly. This story is exemplary of a great author, hitting all important elements of engagement. A continually evolving plot, unique characters we can relate with and suspense, the addition of unexpected curve balls towards the end make it a winner! Great characters transform in many ways and the protagonist embraces change and lives up to the term 'hero'. Heart warming, intriguing and evocative, this story engages the reader at all levels. Highly recommended for mystery lovers, but equally so for those who enjoy a great story
loved it
Very enjoyable. Dysfunctional mother, autistic brother and a college student trying to do the right thing who ends up clearing a convicted murderer of a crime 35 years prior. Well written and hard to put down