Lila Nash has one primary goal: to pass the bar exam to become a licensed attorney and prosecutor in the office of the Hennepin County Attorney. When a barely alive woman is pulled from the Mississippi River, it evokes memories of a horrible attack Lila suffered eight years prior. And she wasn't his only victim, most of whom didn't survive. The police believe they know the attacker, but they need Lila's help. Lila's new goal is to bring the killer to justice.
What an evocative opening chapter. Can anyone ever really comprehend the effects of an experience such as Lila's? Not wasting any time, Eskens introduces the villain, creating a sense of fear.
The principal characters are immediately identified, with the standouts being Lila, Detectives Niki Vang, and Marty Lopez. One can't help but admire Lila's determination and resolve to assist the investigation despite the possible risk to herself, and the trauma she suffered eight years ago. However, it can be hard to feel a connection with Lila.
Esken's interesting approach makes the case seem almost too easy, yet he makes a smooth transition of the story from being a police procedural to a legal thriller. Although there are some very good twists, some are predictable.
In the past, some of Eskens' work has been deeply disturbing and emotionally charged. In contrast, this book seems too superficial. The story touches on hard, serious topics yet the author skims across them as if they are under the ice. One knows they are there, but they feel glossed over.
The Stolen Hours is part police procedural, part legal suspense. While it is a better-than-good read, it's not Eskens' best work.
THE STOLEN HOURS – G+
Eskens, Allen - Standalone
Mulholland Books, Sep 2021, 310 pp.
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You bring up an important point here. There's a balance between giving difficult and complex issues the attention they deserve, and adding too much narrative/description/etc. to a story. I understand exactly what you mean about a somewhat superficial treatment of topic, and that can be disappointing. I think an 'overload' of information can be, too. It's hard to know where that balance is.
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