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The Heavens May Fall
The Heavens May Fall
The Heavens May Fall
Audiobook9 hours

The Heavens May Fall

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

4/5

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About this audiobook

Detective Max Rupert's and attorney Boady Sanden's friendship is being pushed to the breaking point. Max is convinced that Jennavieve Pruitt was killed by her husband, Ben. Boady is equally convinced that Ben, his client, is innocent. As the case unfolds, the two are forced to confront their own personal demons.

Max is still struggling with the death of his wife four years earlier, and the Pruitt case stirs up old memories. Boady hasn't taken on a defense case since the death of an innocent client, a man Boady believes he could have saved but didn't. Now he is back in court, with student Lila Nash at his side, and he's determined to redeem himself for having failed in the past.

Vividly told from two opposing perspectives, the truth about the stunning death of Jennavieve Pruitt remains a mystery until the very end.
LanguageEnglish
Release dateOct 4, 2016
ISBN9781515977865

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Reviews for The Heavens May Fall

Rating: 4.226315763684211 out of 5 stars
4/5

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  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Nice legal thriller. Not extraordinary, but good enough. Can recommend if you like tv shows like The Practice.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    A brilliant legal thriller. It is a standalone novel, but there is an issue which needs to be resolved in the next book, which is great, because I get to read another novel with Detective Max Rupert!
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    A well told story, it really drew you in. I thought there final twist was a bit sudden and out of character for the Villan though. I'd still give it five stars, it was hard to put down.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Wow, explosive reading from the get go. Enjoyed reading about his characters from a previous book, human nature at its best. Great writer, keeps the twist hidden to the very end. Read it - and see for yourself.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    In the fewest words possible, it was simply an exceptional read. This the third book by Allen Eskins I’ve read, while not the best, I really really enjoyed it.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    This was a fun read with some pretty good twists. I didn't really buy the way the cold case was handled at the end but it didn't take away too much from my overall enjoyment of the book.

    3.5 if half stars were allowed but rounding up.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Allen Eskens is an exceptional writer! I love how he writes a series with a main character, Max Rupert, and incorporates characters from his previous stories to have a central part in each new book. In this installment, Max is still trying to figure out who killed his wife while solving the murder of an attorney’s wife. Eskens knows how to create characters who are easily likeable and a story line that immediately sucks you in.
  • Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
    2/5
    I was annoyed by the time jumps that had no indicator. I don't like "what???" moments that send me back a couple of pages to make sure that I was, indeed, in a different time. Glad I didn't buy it -- back to the library it goes, unfinished.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    The only book... until this one...that I had read by this author was [The Life We Bury] and I hoped at the end of that one that he was going to write another one. Seems I'm a day late and a dollar short seeing as how he wrote 2 more since that one. Glad I found this one and was reacquainted with some old friends from the first one. Like most mystery readers, I love to try to figure out the who and why of the story, but one twist was proceeded by another and another making the ending something that I never contemplated. Lets get on with the next book, Mr. Eskens.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Complex and contentious relationships linking the three major players are front and centre in The Heavens May Fall by Allen Eskens. Detective Max Rupert and attorney-turned-professor Boady Sanden are long-time friends, a close bond that has been strained since Max’s wife Jenni was killed in a hit-and-run four years earlier: Max is still mourning and is resentful because no one was ever charged. Boady, who retired from his law practice when an innocent young client died while in custody, is also friends with his former law partner Ben Pruitt. When Ben’s wife Jennavieve is found in an alley, dead from a stab wound to the neck, Ben convinces Boady to return to active practice and step in as his attorney. Jennavieve was wealthy and headed a foundation fighting to defend wetlands from developers. There is also a stoic and unsentimental sister in the picture who stands to gain greatly from Jennavieve’s death. But Ben is convinced that, even with possible suspects galore and an alibi that seems rock solid, Max is gunning for him. This is because Max and Ben share some unpleasant history, bad blood stemming from a courtroom confrontation: during a trial in which Ben was defending a client, he questioned Max’s integrity and accused him of falsifying evidence. In reality, Max is under pressure from a politically motivated prosecutor to find the necessary proof to put Ben behind bars, proof that, as the investigation proceeds with little in the way of results, Max begins to doubt even exists. Max is inclined to look elsewhere for a suspect, but, despite the misgivings of the police and a shaky case, the prosecutor convenes a grand jury and obtains an indictment against Ben Pruitt for murder. And then Max is sidetracked: by an anonymous tip regarding his wife’s death. But is the tip genuine, or simply a distraction tossed his way to throw him off his game? The action proceeds briskly, and the story ramps up plenty of tension and suspense as Max, Ben and Boady each approach the murder of Jennavieve Pruitt through the prism of their own experience. Allen Eskens is a no-frills writer: there is nothing particularly exciting or imaginative about his prose—he set scenes in a few words and avoids literary flourishes—but it gets the job done. The Heavens May Fall, even with an ending that many readers will see coming, provides plenty of entertainment value.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I received a copy of this book as a free advance review audiobook and have chosen of my own free will to post a review. Wow!! This is an extremely well written crime thriller full of courtroom drama and suspense, an amazing story that can’t be put down. I never knew what was going to happen next; there were so many unexpected twists and turns. Excellent character development. A great author. An amazing surprise ending. This book is well worth the read and I look forward to reading more by Allen Eskens.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    "Let justice prevail though the heavens may fall."A riveting, well-written novel by author Allen Eskens, with effective narration by R.C. Bray, David Colacci and Amy McFadden. The story is divided into three parts told mainly from the points of view of Detective Max Rupert and Attorney Boady Sanden, we also hear a bit of Lila Nash's (a law student) pov towards the end.Rupert and Boady have developed a strong friendship through the years. Each man is haunted by their own demons; Rupert is still struggling with the murder of his wife, the killer remains at large. Boady is still guilt-ridden about a young client's death. Then the body of a woman is found, bloodied and naked. The woman is Jennavieve Pruitt, one of the heiress of the wealthy Adler clan. The main suspect is her husband Ben Pruitt, a lawyer who happens to be a friend and colleague of Boady, but with whom Rupert had a previous bad encounter. Soon the two friends find themselves in opposing sides, Rupert as the main detective working for the prosecution and Boady as Pruitt's defense attorney. Is Ben Pruitt innocent or guilty?Among all the audiobooks I've listened to so far, The Heavens May Fall is at the top of my list. The story is engrossing, detailed and effectually presents each side. The narrators capably added drama, tension and excitement, I found myself absorbed by the story. The story is unpredictable that I kept switching my opinion on who the real culprit is. The final reveal is surprising, and though it does end on a bit of a positive note, questions still linger. Who killed Rupert's wife and why? Will Boady and Rupert's friendship survive? But not all stories need to end in a pretty little bow, and in this case I'm fine with it.Thank you to LibraryThing and Tantor Media for the audiobook copy.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    This is my first audio book - and I see the appeal, having a book read to you is a great way to experience a book, although I had to make time to listen to the book, but I got a lot of chores done.As for the actual audio book - great narrator, although the switch to a female narrator in one of the last chapters was disconcerting. The mystery was nicely covered, although it seemed excessively complicated. I don't read much of the genre, so maybe its typical.I liked how the procedure of a murder trial was explained. Its not something I know very much about but following it through in a fictional setting made it a bit more understandable.Overall, an enjoyable book.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Rarely does a murder mystery keep me guessing until the very end. The Heavens May Fall did. This is a true whodunit. There are plenty of red herrings and plot twists to keep true mystery fans invovled. And I was especially pleased to see that the author got it right when it came to explaining legal procedures and legal ethics. As an attorney, I am frequently frustrated when judges and lawyers in works of fiction say and do things that are unrealistic or even prohibited. This book, however, provided a fair and accurate presentation of how a murder case might really happen.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    This is Esken's third book focusing on the Rupert family and the first one I have listened to on audio. Ben Pruitt's wife is found murdered and a neighbor points detectives toward Ben as the murderer. Ben turns to his former law partner, Boady Sanden, to defend him. As it turns out Sanden is also friends with detective Max Rupert so Sanden must consider how he will defend his client without losing his friend Max. Narrated in alternating chapters from the viewpoints of Max Rupert and Boady Sanden, this is compelling storytelling.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    When the wife of an affluent lawyer is found murdered and her husband (Ben) is arrested as the prime suspect, two casual friends, Max and Boady, face off on opposite sides of the legal system. Max, as the lead detective on the case and who has somewhat of a grudge against Ben from a previous episode, is determined to bring him to justice. Boady, Ben's defense lawyer, is just as determined to prove his innocence. In the meantime, Max is haunted by the death of his wife from several years earlier, the victim of a hit-and-run accident whose killer was never caught, and whose death may have a slight tie-in to the current case.I was not familiar with this author prior to reading this book. However, I was duly impressed by this crime & legal thriller. As a reader, I was kept guessing up until the end as to whether or not Ben was guilty. I enjoyed this one, and as a result, Allen Eskens will definitely be on my future radar.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Wow! I am now officially a fan of Allen Eskens. I am so excited that the author took characters from other books that I have not read yet and wove together a great mystery. Now I want to read all those other books.This audio book keeps you playing it to find out what happens next. The characters are richly detailed, there is a long bone chilling scene near the end and all the suspects in the murder of Jennavieve Pruitt seem like they could have done it. This story is multi layered as filo dough. The narrators were wonderful, adding more texture to this story. Each person, as in real life, has their own demons to wrestle with. Ben Pruitt comes to his law professor, Boady Sanden to convince him to go back into practice in order to defend him because he thinks he will be accused of murdering his wife. Ben is worried about his young daughter who be left without parents if he is convicted. He is very insistent that his sister-in-law not get custody of little Emma. He hates here with a passion.Max Rupert, a detective from a previous book is friends with Boady Sanden. But this case pushes their friendship to the edge. Max's wife had been murdered four years previously and the killer was never found. He wants to convince Boady Sanden that Ben Pruitt murdered his own wife. This short summary leaves out so many important characters that you will be introduced to. Yet with so many characters, it never seems like too many because they were a pieces of an enormous puzzle. With them, you would be missing so much richness of the story.I highly recommend The Heavens May Fall.I received this Finished Copy of The Heavens May Fail from the publisher by a win from FirstReads. My thoughts and feelings in this review are totally my own.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    This was a great read! I thoroughly enjoyed this mystery. The players were convincing, and totally real. The plot kept me enthralled right to the last page. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves a good mystery.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Told from two differing points of view, author Allen Eskens takes characters from his previous two novels (The Life We Bury, The Guise of Another) and weaves some literary magic. The title is from a Latin phrase: Fiat justitia ruat caelum-- Do justice though the heavens may fall. Max and Boady are both men who are committed to justice. When Boady explains the phrase ("If a person is ever presented with the choice, that person must always do what is right even though it may bring on great personal loss"), I got chills. Both men are capable of putting it all on the line to do the right thing, and they're on opposite sides in this case. What is going to happen?I like Eskens' approach to writing a series. It's not exactly linear. Instead, he takes characters from previous books and puts them in different pairings and different scenarios in each successive book. It works. The writing is elegant, tightly woven, and swift moving. Moreover, if you're a character-driven reader, you're going to love him. Eskens' characters are flawed yet strong, and their emotional turmoil can be as visceral as a punch in the gut. It's altogether too easy for me to put myself in Max and Boady's shoes and feel everything that they do. I become lost in the world the author has created.The story is brilliantly told. The two points of view do double duty: letting readers know what Max and Boady are doing while keeping us off-balance. And the ending? You're just not quite sure how things are going to turn out until they actually do. Allen Eskens is a lawyer who knows how to write, and he has the awards to prove it. (With more to come if I'm not mistaken!) Do yourself a favor and read him!
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    You know that little frisson of excitement you get when you start to read a new author and realize you've found someone who is good, really good? I had that feeling when I read Allen Eskens' award winning debut novel, The Life We Bury, in 2014. (my review) The next book, The Guise of Another was just as good. (my review) On re-reading my review, I see that Max Rupert, was my favourite character in TGOA and that 'I'd love to see him in another book, even in a peripheral role."Well, I got my wish! Detective Max Rupert is the lead character in Esken's just released third book, The Heavens May Fall.Jennavieve Pruitt is found dead, her body dumped in an alley. But the original crime scene is her own bedroom. Jennavieve's husband, attorney Ben Pruitt was out of town, that day. But, Pruitt has a history with the police, specifically with Rupert. Despite his claims of innocence, Rupert likes him for the crime. This is the case that Rupert pulls on the anniversary of his own wife's unsolved murder.Lawyer Boady Sanden is a friend to both men. When Pruitt asks him to represent him - even before any charges have brought - Sanden hesitates....he had to walk away from the law six years ago for personal reasons. But in the end he agrees.Eskens has crafted another great plot, giving the reader the best of two genres - police procedural and legal reads. The final reveal of whodunit at the end, complete with a nice little twist was great. The ongoing search for Rupert's wife's murderer provides a nice sub-plot.But Eskens takes things a step further in his novels. His characters have depth and introspective voices. The Heavens May Fall is told from two perspectives - that of Max and Boady. The reader sees the investigation and trial from two different viewpoints. But what we also see is the inner turmoil of each man, their search for personal peace of mind against the search for justice. Friendship and loyalty are also pitted against justice.I always enjoy coming across the origins of a book's title as I read. In this case..."Fiat justitia ruat caelum - do justice though the heavens may fall. If a person is ever presented with the choice, that person must always do what is right even though it may bring on great personal loss."Eskens himself is a defense lawyer. That credibility, combined with his impressive writing chops, makes for some great reading. The Heavens My Fall could absolutely be read as a stand-alone. But do yourself a favour and pick up the previous two as well. You won't be disappointed.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    A detective who tries to prove a murder is pitted against has friend, a retired defense attorney, is trying to have the suspect proven innocent and the conflict, one that gets down and personal, ends their friendship.This is a really good murder mystery, but it is also a study of friendships, of loyalties, of truth, and of ethics. And of an old unsolved crime that barges into the current one, whether it should or not.I loved that, when a female detective made a point and the district attorney addressed his comments to the male detective in the room instead of her, the detective set the DA straight about who he should be talking to. (The same thing happened to me when a male colleague and I, a female, were interviewing a male candidate, and the candidate answered the male colleague when I asked the question. My co-worker told him I asked the question and the answer should be directed to me. That was years ago, and I still remember and appreciate that co-worker. And I appreciate a male author who recognizes that this behavior is common.)While I thoroughly enjoyed this multi-layered story, and while I loved the writing, I didn't connect with it on a visceral level as I did with the author's book The Life We Bury. However, I thought TLWB was an exceptional book and it's hard to live up to its draw. This one is good, very good, and if you like mysteries that are about the characters as much as about the mystery, I recommend this one.I was given an advance readers copy of this book for review.