The Stolen Hours by Allen Eskens

 

Imagine a lazy Susan offering of mysteries centered in a fictional community within Hennepin County, Minnesota, in which there are recurring characters with one always being prominently featured. In the case of Allen Eskens’ latest novel, The Stolen Hours, Lila Nash is front and center dealing with the prosecution of a man who may have not only raped and attempted to murder a young woman, but who also may be tied to a series of murders that have occurred over the last half dozen years.

Gavin Spenser, a seemingly wealthy photographer, is the suspect who appears to enjoy his investigation because he has so tediously plotted his deception of the police. Once called “retarded” by his late stepfather, Spenser has left no detail exposed in covering his criminal actions, or so he thinks.

Haunted by her own victimization eight years ago, Nash is determined to trap Spenser in his web of deceit. Not only is she up against an evil defendant, but she is also thwarted in her attempts to prosecute Spenser by her new boss, a man she took down in court when she was a law student working with her teacher to solve another case a couple of years ago.

While Nash works with two police investigators to link the latest crime to prior incidents with the same modus operandi, she realizes there is a connection to her own unsolved case. When the whole prosecution of Spenser is blown up when the prime witness becomes unavailable, Nash plots a strategic but dangerous solution to bring about justice for all. Eskens’ fans will not want to miss this thriller.

I first fell for Allen Eskens’ writing with the unforgettable debut novel, The Life We Bury, which is being developed into a feature film. Eskens grew up in the hills of central Missouri. He lives with his wife in Cleveland, Minnesota, where he retired after practicing criminal law for 25 years.

My review will be posted on Goodreads starting September 17, 2021.

I would like to thank Mulholland Books and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in return for an objective review.