For some reason this novel did not grab my attention. I was only able to make it about halfway through before I felt my interest wane. I jumped to the end to see how things resolved and while I do think the writing was good and the overall story decent, for whatever reason it wasn't something that grabbed me enough.

The Stolen Hours is a new venture for bestselling author Allen Eskens because it features a female protagonist. Although the story is related via a third-person narrative, it is told from the perspective of Lila Nash. To prepare, Eskens listened to audio books written by female authors for more than a year in order to develop Lila's voice and characteristics. He confesses that it "was a little nerve-wracking. . . . I wanted to really nail it as best I can as a male."

That consternation arises, in part, from the way Eskens views his writing. He describes his books as "literary mysteries" that are "very character-driven." Each book is comprised of two distinct parts. The plot, including numerous twists and turns, of course. But he says that "on the other side is the character arc -- the crucible that the character will go through" over the course of the story. And he seeks to inject some "elevated prose." His goal is for "the plot to pull readers forward really fast," but he also wants "the character side to pull them in deep so that they feel emotion by the end of the novel." To accomplish that, he outlines every book thoroughly so that he understands the story he will be telling "from beginning to end" before he starts writing. That way, he notes, he can make mistakes in plotting the tale before he has spent a great deal of time writing only to discover that the story is not workable and must be significantly revised. He also constructs detailed character profiles. "I come to writing as a daydreamer." So, for instance, with The Stolen Hours, he asked himself, "Who is Gavin? What made him who he is? I really enjoy sinking into that."

And readers will really enjoy sinking into The Stolen Hours, a riveting and deeply emotional story at the center of which is Lila, a budding criminal prosecutor whose career may derail before it gets started. Lila is in a happy relationship with Joe Talbert, but there are aspects of her past she has never shared with him. Eight years ago, Lila was brutally assaulted, but because of her past behavior, the police did not make finding her attackers a priority and they have never been brought to justice. She survived and completed her education, but she has "not healed, and deep down" she knows it. She is still dealing with the effects, including obsessive-compulsive behaviors such as counting the number of steps between locations in order to calm her nerves and bolster her confidence, and contemplates seeking further treatment. But her therapist enraged her when he counseled her that healing requires both patience and forgiveness. Instead, Lila fantasizes about finding and prosecuting the men who changed her on that fateful night.

Lila is bright and capable, and demonstrated her prowess when she assisted with a trial. But the managing attorney was the opposing counsel in that matter, and he is still stinging from that defeat. And determined to retaliate against Lila. He is unscrupulous and unethical, but powerful, and Lila must find a way to outwit him in order to be admitted to the Minnesota Bar and keep the job she loves. He has assigned her to a new supervisor, the demanding Andi Fitch, in order to build a paper trail that will justify terminating her employment.

Meanwhile, Gavin Spencer, a local photographer who lives comfortably on the six figure "allowance" he receives annually from his mother, is also clever and resourceful. Gavin has a pronounced speech impediment that makes his words sound "thick and damp like air seeping from a wet tire. A squishy lisp from a squishy man." Like Lila's boss, he holds grudges. And repays even small slights with deadly precision, deftly destroying even the most minuscule bits of evidence that might point back to him. He targets his victims and plans his revenge methodically. At the outset, a bridesmaid at the wedding Gavin is photographing has unwittingly become Gavin's fifth victim. But no criminal is infallible and Gavin will make one mistake. It may prove sufficient to tie him back to the crime.

"Literary mystery" is an apt description of The Stolen Hours. Eskens credibly and compassionately explores the emotional scars that Lila carries, as well as her determination and commitment to her chosen profession, contemporaneously revealing a tautly-crafted plot. Gavin is an equally fascinating, fully-developed character. Eskens answers the question, "Who is Gavin?" and explains how he became the despicable man he is, as well as what motivates him. He stymies police and prosecutors with his precision, and although they are convinced he is the perpetrator of several heinous crimes, they are also sure they have not amassed sufficient evidence to convince a jury beyond a reasonable doubt. Can they marshal enough evidence to convict Gavin, ensuring that he serves a life sentence and can never victimize another young woman?

When Lila first encounters Gavin she recognizes that there is something familiar about his voice but her memories of the night she was attacked are elusive and fragmented. Yet they may lead to the evidence that assures Gavin's conviction. Eskens believably portrays Lila's journey toward healing. She strives to remember details about the most horrific night of her life, confronts her own mother about the way she reacted to what happened to Lila, and finally considers her therapist's views on forgiveness.

Equally compelling and fast-paced is the search for a killer who believes that his machinations are fool-proof. Eskens' background as a criminal defense attorney ensures that he gets the legal nuances right and his careful outlining pays off when Eskens pulls all the shocking pieces of the puzzle together, revealing the whole truth.

Indeed, The Stolen Hours features that "elevated prose" that Eskens referenced. His fast-paced narrative never veers off-course or includes surplusage, and is frequently witty as well as moving.

Once again, Eskens demonstrates that he is a premiere storyteller. The Stolen Hours is gripping, full of surprising developments, and emotionally satisfying.

I’ve been waiting for Lila’s story since The Life We Bury. She’s such a dynamic character! Allen Eskens did not disappoint with this legal thriller that will have John Grisham fans heading to his backlist.

The Stolen Hours by Allen Eskens is the third in the Joe Talbert series, but the first one I've read. It worked well as a standalone, and I'll probably go back and pick up the two earlier books at some point.
Photographer Gavin Spencer plans ahead; when he commits a murder, he has anticipated almost every difficulty. And even when he can't predict certain events, he has back-up plans in place.

Lila Nash is on the verge of getting the job she most wants, but a vindictive prosecutor is making an attempt to ruin Lila's career. Fortunately, Andi Fitch is on her side, giving her opportunities she had not had previously. Lila is assigned Sadie Vaulk's case against Gavin Spencer. Working with Detective Niki Vang, who made the connections between Sadie's case and six previous cases in which the victims did not survive, Lila discovers a chilling connection to Spencer.

Tense and suspenseful, The Stolen Hours proved a solid new-to-me series that will have me looking at the two earlier books as well! Thanks to Diane at Bibliophile by the Sea for recommending this one.

NetGalley/Mulholland Books

Legal Thriller. Sept. 7, 2021. Print length: 320 pages.

I reviewed this for Shelf-Awareness.com. Link below
https://www.shelf-awareness.com/readers-issue.html?issue=1058#m18460

This review was originally posted on <a href="https://booksofmyheart.net/2021/10/01/%f0%9f%8e%a7-the-stolen-hours-by-allen-eskens/" target="_blank"> Books of My Heart</a>
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<i>Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.</i>

I loved <strong>The Life We Bury</strong> which was the start of the <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/series/222671-detective-max-rupert" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em><strong>  Detective Max Rupert series</strong></em></a> , but Max is barely present. We are introduced to Joe Talbert and Lila Nash.  The next three books are more closely about Max Rupert. In <strong>The Shadows We Hide</strong>, we are back to Joe Talbert and the characters from the first book. Now in <strong>The Stolen Hours</strong>,  we get Lila Nash's story and we are about 8 years into this world. It is a Minnesota setting I know and love.

In <strong>The Shadows We Hide</strong>, we find out about Joe and he makes choices showing the kind of person he is.  Now we see Lila's history, her struggles and the life she wants to live.   The story is all Lila, and I wish we had a peek at Joe's family and how they are doing.  We get a view of Lila in earlier books but this is how Lila thinks and sees herself.

Lila is strong and principled.  She doesn't only work hard; she works smart. She knows or researches all the tiniest details and understands the idiosyncrasies of the law.  This allows her to achieve the results, the justice she wants to find, even if it is not handled in the traditional way.

Lila must face her own demons and tortured past as a case she works has similarities.  Her boss goes on leave and she is left with a misogynistic one who she showed up previously, and a tough prosecutor who doesn't want an intern.  In this pressure cooker, Lila finds her feet and fights for the victims and her own future.

I have loved everything I have read from this author.  While I think the background from the other books adds to the depth of the world and characters, this could be read as a standalone.

I have been looking forward to reading this book ever since I knew it was coming out. I absolutely loved Eskens NOTHING MORE DANGEROUS. He is such a talented author. This book did not disappoint. This was a great crime fiction mystery. Lila Nash is a Hennepin County Attorney working as a prosecutor. A woman, Sadie, is pulled from the Mississippi River barely alive. An attempted murder, drugged, assaulted, and thrown in the river, left for dead. But she survives, saved by police. They believe her attacker is a local photographer, Gavin Spenser.

While putting the clues together, another detective, Nikki, found connections to previous killings in the area. Women who had died in the same manner. The detectives and Lila work together to try and find enough evidence to get this murderer behind bars.

This Gavin Spenser was a complete psycho. You will get a glimpse into his crazy psyche, and hear him planning how he's going to cover his tracks. Lila was a strong character, and I couldn't wait for her to get the justice for Sadie, and the other women he killed. I love how this one played out. Definitely a suspenseful book, and would recommend you picking it up.

thank you to the publisher, and netgalley for the gifted copy! All opinions are my own!

LOVED THIS BOOK! Master storyteller Allen Eskens returns following (2019) NOTHING MORE DANGEROUS View my in-depth interview with Allen (BLOG) — with yet another captivating superb thriller —THE STOLEN HOURS. My favorite book of 2021!

Lila Nash, a favorite character from past books, takes center stage facing the evilest mastermind, as her past and present are connected in mysterious ways.

I am a massive fan of the author and never miss a book and was delighted when I learned we would hear more from Lila Nash, the law student and girlfriend of journalist Joe.

Lila Nash was a supporting character in novels 1, 3, and 5. In number 7, she is the protagonist and takes center stage as the heroine in THE STOLEN HOURS. We fell in love with Lila in Eskens debut and subsequent books.

It all starts at a wedding with a wedding photographer named Gavin. After reading this book, not sure I would ever trust a photographer again. WOW! This guy is mental and pure evil. A psychotic sociopath.

The author has outdone himself in creating this evil monster. Never cross him. Gavin has a speech impediment and a big chip on his shoulder. He loves to keep trophies of his conquests and prides himself in being able to outsmart everyone. Count yourself dead if you come in contact with him. Drugging is his favorite trick before raping and throwing you off a bridge.

He does not know someone may finally outsmart him after all the years of skirting the law.

The author takes us back to Lila’s nightmare when she was 18 yrs old, and she has never fully recovered from. Rape, a vicious attack, suicide attempt, cutting, plus PTSD, and much more. But she was given a date rape drug which wiped out her memory and almost destroyed her life.

She has since worked her way through college and law school and finally a job as a prosecutor. She is living with her boyfriend (good guy), Joe (we met from previous books). He wants to get married but knows not to push and to wait on her lead.

A case crosses Lila's desk regarding a woman pulled from the Mississippi River, barely alive. Sadie Vauk. She is a hairdresser and encountered Gavin at the wedding. She escaped after being drugged and thrown in the river to drown.

The case holds echoes of what happened to Lila, and before long, the ghosts of her attack reemerge, threatening to destroy her. The detective also finds similar tactics in prior cases over the years and no one was ever convicted.

However, his other victims over the years never come out alive, and no one has ever suspected Gavin because he covers his tracks. On top of this case and the stress, Lila is not sure but thinks she has seen this guy before. If she could only remember. Now, this gal is collateral damage and Gavin is sure to come after her.

Lila is also experiencing problems with a nasty man, her new boss, and is in jeopardy of losing her job. Their relationship goes back to being on the opposing side years ago (past books). However, she gets transferred, and her mentor is kick-ass, tough, and truly amazing. He thinks this will deter her. She turns out to be a big fan of Lila. Loved the scenes with them together.

Meanwhile, Joe is on an assignment and called away.

We also get to catch up with detectives, Nikki and Matty. Fans will remember Nikki from past books. She is also a strong supporter of Lila. So now we have 3 strong women against a misogynistic boss and a serial killer. Lila finds strength she is unaware she had and maybe the thing to pull her out of her eight years of torture.

Now, let’s discuss this evil mastermind Eskens has created. BRILLIANT! Gavin is a true sociopath. OMG! He could give Caroline Kepnes’ character Joe, a run for his money. Never get on his bad side and his mother, what a combo. You will be glued to the pages and holding your breath to the grand finale which is outstanding.

THE STOLEN HOURS is utterly riveting and never a lull or slow moment. It is fast-paced, keenly observed, and full of heart-pounding twists and surprises. My jaw dropped numerous times.

A flawless execution, powerhouse Allen Eskens' writing is extraordinary. Plot and character-driven, he is at the top of his game. Just when you think he could not get any better, he pulls out another winner! I could not put this one down.

You will root for Lila from the first page to the last. Fans of Eskens' previous books will devour. Perfect for fans of Lisa Gardner, Karin Slaughter, John Lescroart, and Michael Robotham. Movie-worthy or TV series, please!

Thank you to NetGalley and Mulholland Books for an advanced reading copy. I also purchased the hardcover copy (which is stunning) and the audiobook narrated by MacLeod Andrews, Christine Lakin, and Tina Huang. Highly recommend!

I cannot wait to see what comes next!

#JDCMustReadBooks

My Reviews:
These are all Must-Reads! If you love legal, crime thrillers, and literary fiction - he is tops! Each can be read as a standalone but why stop with one? You do not want to miss a thing. Read them all! (view all my reviews for each of Allen's books on my blog)

The Stolen Hours is listed as a stand-alone by Allen Eskens, although it does feature Lila Nash (Joe's girlfriend from The Shadows We Hide). However, you don't need any backstory for this one. Lila Nash is a prosecutor, but she's working through some of her own issues regarding her past.

The chapters alternate between her and Gavin Spencer, who is... not a nice person. He's killed at least three other women and he attempts to kill a fourth... which puts him in the path of Lila the prosecutor.

This has the feel of a courtroom thriller, as a lot of the action takes place with Gavin trying to cover up his "perfect" crimes and the prosecution trying to find a way to get him behind bars for life. It's interesting because you are in the mind of the criminal (Gavin) and you know what he has done, but you don't know how or if he will get away with it.

This book is very well written and I love all of Eskens' books that I've read. He did a great job writing a female protagonist (which is rare for a male author!) and I can't wait to read more of his books.

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.

Lila Nash is a petite, young woman who has made a lot of progress with anxiety issues after she was drugged and attacked when she was eighteen years old. Both therapy and counting rituals have helped her succeed in law school and she now works in a Minnesota prosecutor's office. Her job isn't easy as Frank Dovey has an axe to grind and wants to see her fail. Lila is determined to succeed and when she is reassigned to work under Andi Fitch we see her confidence slowly building.

Gavin Spencer is a creepy, calculated psychopath and photographer. He has a distinct lisp and gets even with any woman who snubs him usually by doing away with the offender. His most recent victim, Sadie Vauk, survived her attack and was able to identify him and, the evidence is building against Gavin. The more the evidence builds, the more Lila recalls similarities between her attack and the way Gavin operates. This makes Lila more and more determined than ever to see him prosecuted for what he has done.

Without saying too much, I loved the way this story developed slowly, the details are so finely drawn and the pace was pitch-perfect. The characters were expertly crafted. I especially loved that the women were so strong and determined. I enjoyed this one so much and did not want it to end so I read a few other books in between to make this story last. The ending was both unexpected and thrilling.

Allen Eskens is a go-to author for for me. One character, Joe Talbert who has been involved with Lila for six years has appeared in a few earlier offerings but, he played a minor role in this one so I feel this would work perfectly as a standalone novel. If you haven't read this author previously, do yourself a favor an add him to your list.

https://bibliophilebythesea.blogspot.com/2021/09/book-review-stolen-hours-allen-eskens.html
Thanks go to Mulholland Books and NetGalley for allowing me access to the pre-pub eGalley.

Rating - 5/5 stars

I truly loved this book. I had never read anything by Eskens before and I was so engaged that I couldn’t put this down. I was very impressed by Lila Nash, the main character. Eskens created a fascinating backstory for her and made her sympathetic and then he allowed her to become a warrior.

The characters were all well developed and I hope this will become the basis of future novels with this crew, lead by Lila solving more exciting cases.

Loved this book, thanks Netgalley. I hope the author follows my advice since I really want to read more Lila Nash novels!

The Stolen Hours by Allen Eskens is an enthralling and engrossing read with a great plot and characters! Well worth the read

Thank you Net Galley for sending me an ARC of this book. I have read all of Allen Eskens books and this one did not disappoint. He takes a minor character from his other books and creates a storyline around that character in a different book. In The Stolen Hours, our main character is Lila Nash, Joe Talbert's girlfriend, who is currently a third year law student in Minneapolis. While interning at the Hennepin County prosecution department she becomes involved in a case that has a connection to something that happened years ago that set her spiraling out of control for several years until she got herself together. We learn of Lila's trauma from years past and how she was able to supposedly get beyond it until this case is assigned to her and the memories start rushing back. She also has to deal with a high level prosecutor who wants her out due to a past court case that they were involved in several years ago. Although this book could be read as a standalone I would recommend reading this other books in order.

Allen Eskens, the tremendous thriller writer, has done it again. This time he has penned a near-flawless mystery/thriller that hits all of the marks at a resounding pace. The characters are accessible because they remind us of ourselves or someone we know. The protagonist is incredibly sympathetic, and we root for a favorable outcome, perhaps knowing that it may not occur. Eskens is a skilled writer who deserves accolades and cheers.

I consider Allen Esken to be one of the most talented authors writing today so it is no surprise that loved his latest mystery. Unlike so many authors in the genre, he never gets stuck in a mold or formula. Each novel is unique from his previous ones, offering a fresh perspective. 

This novel features characters from his previous work but can certainly read like a standalone without any confusion. However, as a dedicated reader of Esken's work, I was delighted to see the return of some familiar characters. There was great character work in this one with emotional and challenging moments. Content warnings for sexual assault and self harm.

As for the story itself, it was engrossing and well plotted. Some of the twists were guessable but yet I still very much enjoyed the reading experience. I particularly enjoyed reading from "the bad guy's perspective".

I would definitely recommend this one (and this author) to any reader looking for an engaging mystery with smart characters.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

The Stolen Hours by Allen Eskens is a standalone thriller but it does have ties to other books by Allen Eskens. The main character in The Stolen Hours is the girlfriend of one of Eskens’ previous characters, Joe Talbert. However, while the lead in this book is a spin off character you do not need to have read the Joe Talbert series to love this book as my rating reflects since I’ve never read the first series myself.

Lila Nash has been working for years to land her dream job of becoming a prosecutor of violent criminals. When she takes on a case of a victim that had survived an attack Lila’s own past comes flooding back to her as being a survivor herself. But the moment in the courtroom that Lila hesitates could put her career at risk which makes Lila even more determined to prove herself and put Gavin Spenser behind bars where he belongs.

Being a huge fan of legal thrillers I was excited to pick up The Stolen Hours and begin following this new feisty yet flawed lead, Lila Nash. This one wasn’t heavy on the courtroom drama that comes with some legal thrillers. Instead this is focused on outside of the courtroom and with finding the evidence that is needed to prosecute. There are multiple layers and all kinds of twists and turns for our lead that brings her own past into the present. Personally I think that The Stolen Hours should be slapped with a warning label that once beginning to read it’s impossible to put down.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

Looks like Lila’s past just caught up to her! So…Is she ready to face it?

Lila has a new job with the prosecutor’s office. Her boss would like nothing more than to see her fall flat on her face and watch her new career go down in flames. He wants her gone! And an untimely stumble in the courtroom may have just provided him with the ammunition he needs.

But Lila has good reason to freeze. The defendant may be the same person who attacked her years ago. Now accused of rape and attempted murder of another woman. Shocked, she wonders. Are there other women out there? Could he be a serial rapist/murderer?

This was a rapid-fire murder mystery that drew me in right from the beginning. I was fascinated by the different perspectives and how the storylines played out. Running parallel until ultimately converging.

I was hoping for a bit more of an explosive ending but all in all, it was a completely satisfying read and certainly looking forward to his next!

A buddy read with Susanne.

Posted to: https://books-are-a-girls-best-friend...

Thank you to NetGalley and Mulholland Books.

Review posted to blog: https://books-are-a-girls-best-friend.com/

A masterful character-driven mystery suspense, about Lila Nash, who fans of Allen Eskens have come to know and love.

Lila Nash, the girlfriend of Joe Talbert (from The Life We Bury and The Shadows We Hide), has always been focused on her career and she is finally exactly where she wants to be. Working for Hennepin County as Prosecutor. Awaiting her bar results, she is this close to having everything she wants.

When a case involving a woman named Sadie Vaulk who was drugged, assaulted, and almost murdered, falls into Lila’s lap, it hits really close to home.

Investigating this case with Lila, is Detective Nikki Vang (who Eskens fans may recall as being Max Rupert’s former partner in prior novels). Once Detective Vang starts looking into this case, she discovers several other women who went missing years prior and whose bodies were disposed of in the same way the assailant attempted to dispose of Ms. Vaulk’s and it becomes clear that this is the work of a serial.

Taut, tense, and dramatic, The Stolen Hours is captivating from the first sentence. As a huge fan of Allen Eskens, I have been waiting for the release of this novel since having read his last novel, Nothing More Dangerous. It did not disappoint. I adore Lila and was cheering her on throughout. Though I thought this book wrapped up a tad neatly, I thoroughly enjoyed it and loved the ending.

Having met the author, Allen Eskens, in early March 2020, right before the shutdown, I got a chance to discuss all of his characters with him, including my personal favorite, Max Rupert. It was an absolutely fabulous conversation and he even gave me a sneak peek into his plans for future novels. I won’t spoil the surprise, but let’s just say that I will be waiting with bated breath for his next book.

This was a buddy read with Kaceey which we both enjoyed quite a bit.

A huge thank you to Mulholland Books via NetGalley.

Allen Eskens is an above and beyond excellent writer and his latest proves this without a doubt. The whole story was flawlessly told and wrought with suspense. The characters were flawed and very relatable, particularly the protagonist. Eskens has written a series and 2 standalones and each is exquisitely told and not at all cookie cutter plots that imitate each other. I highly recommend this to fans of mystery, suspense and general fiction.