The Deep Dark Descending

Allen Eskens has developed an award-winning series of books alternating between Detective Max Rupert and Joe Talbert. The best of both worlds from crime thrillers, cop procedurals, to literary and historical fiction. He has proven time and time again, he can cross genres seamlessly, like a rock star.To help keep myself and you guys on track, I am copying this from Allen's website which I refer to often:The Life We Bury introduces the four main characters who appear in future novels:Joe Talbert—the protagonist in The Life We Bury and The Shadows We Hide.Max Rupert—a homicide detective in The Life We Bury is the focus of novels 2, 3, and 4.Boady Sanden—an attorney, and a secondary character in novels 1 and 3, but will be the lead in novel 6.Lila Nash—a supporting character in novels 1, 3 and 5, will likely be the protagonist of novel number 7.In THE DEEP DARK DESCENDING, we catch up with Detective Max Rupert #4 from (see my blog for my reviews).The Life We Bury (Joe Talbert, #1; Max Rupert, #1)The Guise of Another (Detective Max Rupert, #2)The Heavens May Fall (Detective Max Rupert #3)Homicide Detective Max Rupert has never gotten over his wife's death and, more importantly, is still looking for the real killer. It has been five years. He does not believe it was a reckless hit and run driver. REVENGE has taken over, and he will stop at nothing to locate his wife's killer.He was once told: "There's an old saying that a person who goes looking for revenge should dig two graves. Meaning you are not solving the problem by getting revenge. You are only making it worse. You're making it just as bad for yourself as for the other person."He is determined to make sure the man he kills understands why. Her name must be his last thought—its echo should be the last sound he hears before darkness chokes him. He is out in the bitter ice of winter. He has an ax. Is he ready to kill him yet? He needs something more than just his death. He needs to hear him admit that he killed his wife!It was only three days prior Max had first listened to the two men as they planned his wife's murder. The two men were talking about his, Jenni. How they were going to end her life, and they were doing it with the composure reserved for weather chitchat or reading a lunch menu.Now Boady Sanden the friend and attorney he had crossed off his list (a homicide detective and a defense attorney do not make for a good pair. Now here he is, offering something. A CD. A CD that may hold the secret to Jenni's death.She stumbled upon something she shouldn't have. Who would want to kill a hospital social worker? She did nothing but help people. He played it over and over. It never occurred to him she knew something. He always thought he was the target due to being a homicide detective. He was the one who had enemies, not her.There is a fine line, and he must not cross it. OR will he? There were rules. He was the victim's husband. He cannot be digging into the files regarding his wife's death. She had been walking through the medical center ramp and been hit by a yellow Toyota. He was frozen out of the investigation. However, when he turned the evidence over, he kept a copy.He is consumed with rage and anger and wants revenge, no matter the cost. On a frozen lake near the US-Canadian border, he wrestles with a decision that could change his life forever, as his hatred threatens to turn him into the kind of person he has spent a career bringing to justice.This is one INTENSE BOOK! Max remembers all the Christmases and News Years and their life together. He recalls his childhood, his brother Alexander, his dad, his mom's death. And then, Nancy. The falling apart of their family.Fast forward to the present. Can he do it? Does he possess the power to kill? He needs a strategy. He has his captive held miles from everywhere in the middle of a frozen lake in subzero January temperatures. You can feel the brutal winter winds and cold. It is dark and bleak.Is it the correct person? Will he strike the final blow? If he does, what will happen next? Will, he quit being a Detective and remain on the run?Wow, my nerves are shot! This book reminds me of a Blue Bloods' series with Detective Danny Reagan when his nurse-wife, Linda Reagan was murdered and his reaction and consumed with rage and revenge to track down the murderer who ruined his life and family. Every time I think of Max, I picture Danny.I cannot wait to see where Allen Eskens will take this character next or if there will be a followup. A brilliant writer, he is becoming one of my favorites!Fans, you are in for a rare treat when you read NOTHING MORE DANGEROUS, coming Nov 12, 2019. It is out of this world good and his best yet! Look for my Elevator Q&A with the author coming Nov 12, 2019. I cannot wait!It appears we may get the next book #7 featuring Lila! It is time she gets to shine, right? I am looking forward to it. If you have not read Allen Eskens, get on board the train.I purchased the e-book and the audiobook narrated by R. C. Bray. I enjoy reading/listening as it holds your spot, and you can pick up where you left off, either reading or listening — the ultimate experience.PS Do I like Joe Talbert or Max Rupert series, the best? If I must vote, I choose Joe. Even though I like Max thrills, I enjoy literary fiction and strong character development, as to why you will see higher ratings for the Joe series from me. However, Allen is a multi-talented writer, and he can balance both genres. It is more about the reader's individual preference or taste. I have read all his books and each one is unique. Well-done!#JDCMustReadBooks

I've read Eskins other three books and loved them. I like the character of Max that I've gotten to know through them. I'm not sure a reader not familiar with that character would appreciate who he is and consequently the gravity of what he was doing through this book alone. However, I believe anyone could enjoy this book even if they hadn't read the previous ones. It is a well written novel and a deeply emotional story. I hope to see Max again and, hopefully, develop the relationship with his partner. Eakins is an excellent author. I highly recommend all four of his books. If you are going to read them all, doing so in order will enhance your enjoyment of them.

5 Heart Stopping & Thrilling Stars! This is Allen Eskens at his Absolute Best.Now this is a book that gave me heart palpations. It also gave me chills and not just because of the frigid temperatures in Minnesota, where the book takes place.Max Rupert is a man consumed with one thing and one thing only. Finding out who killed his wife, Jenni. It happened five year ago and he hasn’t been able to let it go. It was previously deemed an accident by the police and although Max Rupert is a cop, he was not a part of the investigation. Recently however, he found out that it was not an accident, after all. And now Max wants justice.. or vengeance. Call it what you want.In “Deep Dark Descending” by Allen Eskens, Max Rupert is a man hell bent on seeking revenge against his wife’s killers, no matter what the cost. Max’s anger, despair and torment are felt deeply within these pages. Every moment of his angst becomes your angst. I have been with Max since the beginning, since he first appeared in Esken’s The Life We Bury and to be honest, I feel like I know him. And to know Max, is to love him. How can you not love a man who loves his wife so desperately, even though she has been deceased for 5 years? Even though he wants restitution for her death.As a cop, Max has always had strong morals, integrity and a solid sense of self. As a man, he is now at odds with the cop he has always been. And now that has been given information that leads to his wife’s killer, all bets are off. He discovers that there is a fine line between justice and vengeance and for Max, those lines have become completely blurred.What Esken’s pulls off here was nothing short of utter brilliance. My emotions were all over the place: one minute, I had a hard time breathing, my palms were sweaty and my stomach was knotted up and the next, my chest was tight and my fists were clenched and I felt the urge to yell out loud.I’ll tell you this, (in case it isn’t obvious), my concern for Max knows no bounds. I love him. It’s that simple. I want him to overcome his pain and sorrow and I want him to find peace, but I can’t say whether or not he was able to do so. That, my friends is for you all to find out for yourselves.You must read “Deep Dark Descending” and the other books in this series. While this book has been billed as a “Standalone” – I highly suggest that you read all of the books in this series as they are they are MUST READS! Allen Eskens is a masterful storyteller whose books draw you in. They are character driven psychological thrillers that keep you on your toes.This was a Traveling Sister Read for me. It included: Brenda, Norma, Kaceey, Diane, JanB and PorshaJo. The discussions we had over this novel were absolutely incredible and it was a testament Esken’s range as an author, as to the feelings he pulled out of each of us.Thank you to Edelweiss, Jill Maxick and Prometheus Books for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.Published on Edelweiss, Goodreads, Twitter and Amazon on 10.9.17.

After reading and loving “The Heavens May Fall,” I started on the “Deep Dark Descending.” I finished it in one sitting, something I haven’t done in a few years.This book is the logical conclusion of “Heaven...”. It is the story of Max Rupert on his quest to find the reason and the people behind his wife’s death.This is a dark story of anger, rage, profound sadness, and the quest for vengeance. It is not for the faint of heart.It’s not as complex as it’s predecessor, but in its own way is more compelling. As a husband of 31 years, I could not imagine his pain, but at the same time could see myself in his position and making the same choices. We all have a deep dark place somewhere. This is about that place.Allen Eskens is a very talented writer. He hooks you from the first chapter and plays you until the last page. His writing is concise, provocative, and utterly compelling. These are the best two reads of this genre I’ve had in some time. I truly look forward to his next novel. Personally, I hope he leaves Max Rupert in peace. The man has had about all life can throw at him and he deserves a rest.

Pages still turn easily. Onto book 5 and still not bored of his style and storylines. Don’t start here. Go to book#1 in the series.

ミネアポリスの病院で働くソーシャルワーカー ジャンニが轢き逃げで死亡した。夫のマックス・ルパート刑事は失意の毎日を送っていたが、その事故扱いで閉じられた事件が仕組まれた殺人だと知り、上司の反対を押し切って調べ始めた。ベラルーシから来た娘が大怪我で担ぎこまれ、献身的に看病したジャンニがその娘から売春組織の秘密を聞いてしまったと思った闇将軍が殺しの指令を出したらしい。カナダ国境近くの凍った湖を舞台に、計画者、実行犯、そして親分を一人ずつ追い詰めて始末するという荒っぽい西部劇調で、相棒女性刑事、お定まりの敵役上司などサイドストーリーもきちんと用意してある。マックス刑事シリーズも今作で格好よくバッジを放りなげて出てしまうので、これからどうなるのかなあ、と気が揉める。

Allen Eskens wrote one of my all time favorite books, The Life we Bury. I enjoy his writing style, the ease of his dialogue and the depth of his stories.Again this book features Max Rupert a Minneapolis police detective, whose late wife Jenni was run over and killed in a vehicular accident which Max suspects was murder. And now he has proof that it was murder, two voices on a CD of men planning her murder. All he has to do is figure out who they are and what was their motive for killing her.The plot moves along between two time lines. The present, which is a brutal account of his dealing with the man responsible for her death and earlier as he discovers the whole truth and those who planned her demise.I didn't love the book because of the violence but I understood why Max did what he did and think many others would have done the same for someone they loved so much.

Love this mans writing! Kept me guessing to the end.

I've read all of Allan Eskens' books. This one does not disappoint! Captivating from start to finish. Look forward to his next novel!