The Life We Bury
by Allen Eskens
The Life We Bury by Allen Eskens holds a well received rating of 3.93 out of 5, based on 35.7K reader ratings. First published in 2014. The book spans 303 pages.
About The Life We Bury
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.As Joe writes about Carl's life, especially Carl's valor in Vietnam, he cannot reconcile the heroism of the soldier with the despicable acts of the convict. Joe, along with his skeptical female neighbor, throws himself into uncovering the truth, but he is hamstrung in his efforts by having to deal with his dangerously dysfunctional mother, the guilt of leaving his autistic brother vulnerable, and a haunting childhood memory. Thread by thread, Joe unravels the tapestry of Carl’s conviction. But as he and Lila dig deeper into the circumstances of the crime, the stakes grow higher. Will Joe discover the truth before it’s too late to escape the fallout?From the Trade Paperback edition.
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Author | Allen Eskens |
| Published | 2014 |
| Pages | 303 |
| Genres | Mystery & Thriller, Fiction, Mystery & Thriller, Mystery & Thriller, Suspense |
| Average Rating | 3.93 / 5.00 |
| Total Ratings | 35,689 |
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Frequently Asked Questions
What genre is The Life We Bury?
The Life We Bury is categorized as Mystery & Thriller, Fiction, Mystery & Thriller, Mystery & Thriller. Its primary genre classification is Mystery & Thriller.
Is The Life We Bury worth reading?
Based on 35.7K reader ratings, The Life We Bury has an average score of 3.93 out of 5.00, which is considered "Well Received."
How many pages is The Life We Bury?
The Life We Bury has 303 pages.
Who wrote The Life We Bury?
The Life We Bury was written by Allen Eskens. It was first published in 2014.
What is the ISBN for The Life We Bury?
The ISBN-13 for The Life We Bury is 9781616149990.0.
Data sourced from community book ratings and reviews. Last updated: April 15, 2026
