Allen Eskens delivers another standout suspense novel with Forsaken Country, an intense, heartbreaking story set against the wild beauty of Minnesota’s Boundary Waters Canoe Area. This latest installment in the Max Rupert series works seamlessly as a standalone, blending emotional depth with pulse-pounding action.
Max Rupert, a former homicide detective, has retreated into isolation after the tragic loss of his wife. But his friend Lyle breaks through his solitude when he begs for help. Lyle’s daughter Sandy and grandson Pip have vanished, and the local authorities refuse to investigate. Max reluctantly agrees to dig deeper, uncovering a dangerous trail that leads to Sandy’s ex-husband Reed.
Eskens crafts a riveting cat-and-mouse chase through the unforgiving wilderness, where Max and Lyle confront not just criminals but their own grief and fears. The vast Boundary Waters—a remote 1.3-million-acre rugged stretch of boreal forest—becomes a haunting character in itself, its beauty and brutality adding to the tension. (I’ve camped there, and believe me, it is not for sissies).
The plot escalates with clever twists and expertly timed confrontations. Eskens weaves in themes of guilt, redemption, and the lengths one will go for justice. His prose captures both the raw emotional weight and the visceral danger of the pursuit.
Whether you read or listen to the audiobook, Forsaken Country is an unmissable thriller that keeps your heart racing to the very last page.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5 stars)
** Thanks to the publisher for a review copy of this novel. The opinions are my own.