The Shadows We Hide

By: Allen Eskens

Narrated by: Zach Villa

Journalist Joe Talbert investigates the murder of the father he never knew, and must reckon with his own family's past, in this "brilliant sequel" to the national best seller The Life We Bury (Publishers Weekly)

Joe Talbert, Jr. has never once met his namesake. Now out of college, a cub reporter for the Associated Press in Minneapolis, he stumbles across a story describing the murder of a man named Joseph Talbert in a small town in southern Minnesota.

Full of curiosity about whether this man might be his father, Joe is shocked to find that none of the town's residents have much to say about the dead man - other than that his death was long overdue. Joe discovers that the dead man was a loathsome lowlife who cheated his neighbors, threatened his daughter, and squandered his wife's inheritance after she, too, passed away - an inheritance that may now be Joe's.

Mired in uncertainty and plagued by his own devastated relationship with his mother, who is seeking to get back into her son's life, Joe must put together the missing pieces of his family history - before his quest for discovery threatens to put him in a grave of his own.

©2018 Allen Eskens (P)2018 Hachette Audio

Critic reviews

"The Shadows We Hide is a riveting novel about one man's search for his father becomes a perilous journey into a labyrinth of deceit and lies. Eskens vividly renders how small towns try to keep their secrets, and how sometimes they cannot." (Ron Rash, author of Serena)

"Murder, arson, betrayal, and reconciliation will keep pages turning and leave readers eager for more of Joe Talbert." (Booklist)

"The search for the father is a favorite theme of authors and one that is perfectly suited to the detective story form. Allen Eskens has drawn an intricate and intriguing search map full of sharps turns and returns. Suspenseful, revealing, clear-eyed, and brightly told, The Shadows We Hide is a real experience, page to page to end page." (Fred Chappell)

Couldn’t stop listening!

I love the character, Joe Talbert. The narrator is spot on! Great story !!! Bring Joe and Lila back!!!

Eskens nails it once again.

I always feel lucky when I can find an author that make me excited to read and almost sad when I finish the book. Esken’s character development is so full, and the way he weaves a story just pulls me in.

I’m also grateful that he brings back characters from previous books into each new adventure. It’s like catching up with an old friend.

I can’t wait for the next one.

excellent

fantastic sequel. well written and performed. the story definitely keeps getting better and better as he goes along. well worth the read

Book 2

I listened to this, the second book, first. It must have been a Daily Deal. It's very engaging, nice little surprise at the end. The narrator, Zach Villa, is very good. I like the main character, with all his flaws, very much. So now I'll be listening to the first book, The Life We Bury, as a prequel.

fantastic

The performance is amazing, just like watching a movie. I love this author. I love his style. He reveals a clue in every chapter. You have always something to look forward to.

Who done it?

This book had so many surpris es. Just when you think you know who killed whom another class sends you in a different direction. The true killer isn't revealed till the end. A great mystery.

A few obvious story holes but excellent twists & turns

This is a very good book and I recommend. It had several clever twists and turns which more than made up for a few glaring holes in the story from time to time. The book had just a few slower (not slow) spots but I literally could not stop listening to the last 2 hours!

FABULOUS

So good till the last sentence. Narrator was excellent. A must read !!. Doesn’t disappoint
Enjoy

As good as the first one

Very interesting. I found myself at times tense and holding my breath as I waited to hear what happened. Excellent!

Awesome!

This kept my ears glued to my earbuds! Amazing story line with unpredictable twists and turns!