I began this Throwback Thursday meme as a way to share some of my old favorites as well as sharing books that I’m FINALLY getting around to reading that were published months or years ago. You know, the ones waiting patiently on my TBR list while I continue to pile more titles on top of them:)! I like that these older books are usually much easier than new releases to get a hold of at libraries and elsewhere.
My Pick This Week is….
Published Oct 2014 by Seventh Street Books
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, and soon nothing in Joe’s life is ever the same.
Carl is a dying Vietnam veteran–and a convicted murderer. With only a few months to live, he has been medically paroled to a nursing home, after spending thirty years in prison for the crimes of rape and murder. Thread by thread, Joe unravels the tapestry of Carl’s conviction, but can he discover the truth before it’s too late?
******
This is my first Allen Eskens book but I know for certain it won’t be my last. I’m not sure what I expected when I picked this up but this story had a little bit of everything which was a pleasant surprise. I immediately connected with Joe and felt for him as he struggled to make it in college while also having to take care of his autistic brother due to his mom’s neglect. She was THE worst! Then there was Carl and of course I felt for him all the while wondering if he was guilty of murder or had he spent 30 years of his life in prison for a crime he didn’t commit. I especially loved the way the author structured the story with Carl flashing back to the past to give his story of events.
Another major plus for me was the pace, it was fast, efficient and flowed extremely well, so much so that I read this in about a day and a half. I’d say it was pretty unputdownable. Some may say the author tried to do too much, I mean we’ve got a mystery, drama with Joe’s family, a love story and then in the last quarter some serious action scenes I’d call thrilling but guess what…I thought it all worked brilliantly! And no, I didn’t have the mystery figured out which made it all the better. If you’re looking for a fast paced, well plotted story I hope you’ll give this a chance.
Happy Reading!
More Throwback Thursday Picks Around the Blogosphere…
Jill at Jill’s Book Cafe
Amanda at Literary Weaponry
Susan at Susan Loves Books
Cathy at What Cathy Read Next
Lynne at Fictionophile
Annie at The Misstery
Amy at Novel Gossip
Diana at A Haven for Booklovers
Mischenko at Read Rant Rock and Roll
Laurie at Cozy Nook Books
Caryl at Mrs Bloggs Books
I really enjoyed this book! Couldn’t wait to find out the ending. Great pick! 💜
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sounds like a great book to read. I’m adding it to my TBR list. Thanks.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Awesome! Hope you enjoy it
LikeLike
This sounds like the perfect book for you! I’m glad it was one you can’t put down. I love that!
LikeLiked by 1 person
It really was and I resisted reading it since it came out *kicking myself* I love getting that immersed in a story!
LikeLike
Brilliant review Renee! I’m definitely in need of a fast-paced, well-plotted novel 😅 hopefully my loan comes in this weekend so I can read it in one go, lol.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Janel! Fingers crossed you get it soon and yes it’s a total one sit/day read. Let me know when you start it
LikeLiked by 1 person
Will do 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
I really need to read this book someday!
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s a good one Tina, I hope you can squeeze it in in 2018
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sounds really good! I need to read this 😀. Great post!
LikeLiked by 1 person
It was, Thanks Dee!
LikeLike
[…] joining in again with Throwback Thursday which was created by my good friend Renee at It’s Book Talk . She started this weekly feature as a way to highlight old favorites and read books that have […]
LikeLiked by 1 person
[…] joining in again with Throwback Thursday which was created by my good friend Renee at It’s Book Talk . She started this weekly feature as a way to highlight old favorites and read books that have […]
LikeLiked by 1 person