The Life we Bury
by Allen Eskens
Book Overview
College student Joe Talbert, carrying the weight of a chaotic home, sets out to profile Carl Iverson—a dying Vietnam veteran labeled a murderer. What begins as a class assignment ignites into an urgent hunt for the truth when Joe doubts the verdict. With a deadline closing in and Carl’s time draining away, Joe pries open a thirty-year-old case knotted with lies, silence, and a town’s buried wounds. Each discovery drags him deeper into danger and toward the past he tried to outrun. To win Carl justice, Joe must reckon with his own history and choose the man he intends to be, as the story probes redemption, truth, and the cost of secrecy.
This guide walks you through every chapter of Allen Eskens’s The Life We Bury, profiling the cast, unpacking central themes, and spotlighting memorable quotes. Dive in for crisp summaries and sharp analysis that enrich your reading and reveal the novel’s intricate design.