Hooked on Books discussion

Members Starting the BR: Melissa and danielle
Challenge:
Series: 3 Interconnected Series' by Allen Eskens

Books in Series:

1 - The Life We Bury (Detective Max Rupert #1 / Joe Talbert #1)
2 - The Guise of Another (Detective Max Rupert #2)
3 - The Heavens May Fall (Detective Max Rupert #3)
4 - The Deep Dark Descending (Detective Max Rupert #4)
5 - The Shadows We Hide (Joe Talbert #2)
6 - Nothing More Dangerous (Boady Sanden #1)
7 - The Stolen Hours (Joe Talbert #3)
8 - Forsaken Country (Detective Max Rupert #5)
9 - Saving Emma (Boady Sanden #2)

Anyone is free to join in this Buddy Read! Happy Reading!

👋

FYI: We were thinking of trying for 1 book a month for these 9.

danielle wrote: "Since I (we) did book 1 already... I'll be doing book 2 on Sunday!"

Oops ~ I totally forgot about this one, lol

I'll look into getting it

Ok - I'm good Hoopla audio for the win

Danielle spoiler for different challenge (view spoiler)[ I have to vent - it is not much of a secret strategy tab on our Snow Fight SS if Donna decides to share everything we do there with the other team in their thread? They have 20 players listed to our 12. I know Beth dropped out due to RL issues this week.
I know we are far ahead of them and I'm sure this is to make their team feel better, so they don't all drop out.
I know I'm sounding like a bitch but it kind of feels like we are being penalized for figuring out how the game works.....

Wondering if we should figure out a different way to communicate with team.

Ok rant over lol (hide spoiler)]

Alright so Insomnia struck last night so I started the audio.

Such an intriguing story. I've made it to chapter 21.

Didn't realize that this story was more about Max's brother.


Couple in the car spoiler - near the beginning of the book
(view spoiler)[

The couple in the car having sex - do people actually do that because, that is insane IMO. I'm surprised all three of them are not dead. This is where my nurse brain goes and sometimes derails stuff for me.
Putting your life at risk of death for me - is not a turn on. Just saying (hide spoiler)]

This spoiler is impressions all the way to Ch 21.
I've got about 5 hrs left. Unsure if I'll be able to listen more today but, I want to see where this goes.
(view spoiler)[
Alex (Max's brother) at times seems full of himself and other times he sounds like a kid.
When he is out on the boat with Max and Max is trying to protect him with getting a lawyer. Alex not wanting to listen. Dude - you don't know what the other people on your old Task Force are saying. You need someone to represent you and your interests.

Can't remember Alex's wife name - starts with a D.

One I feel bad for Alex that she is cheating on him (allegedly/probably)
Two - is it possible someone from the Task Force case is trying to get info from her against Alex?



All the stuff with Drago/ Garland the boat and dinghy is crazy.

I'm now worried about Ivanna ( not sure this is correct but starts with an I) - she seems to be pretty sharp. I worry for her when she meets Drago. Wondering how that will go.


Did James Putnam die in the Towers fall and was just never reported? What happened to him for his friend to be able to step into his life.

Where is that money coming from and where/who is/was Pope giving it to every December (hide spoiler)]

This is turning out to be just as interesting as book 1

~Melissa~ wrote: "challenge rant"

Are you on discord? I think this will work to add me: https://discordapp.com/users/danielle...

(view spoiler)[Yeah, they have done that a bit before, but this time was a tad more obvious. However, I think we have enough of a lead that we should be ok. We'll see! (hide spoiler)]

Oh... and I started this book this morning. Had to stop for 90 mins since I had an early morning online book club discussion, but I'm back at it now! Will catch up in a bit to some spoilers! Currently in ch 5.

~Melissa~ wrote: "Alright so Insomnia struck last night so I started the audio.

Didn't realize that this story was more about Max's brother.

Couple in the car spoiler - near the beginning of the book

..."

(view spoiler)[
Right?? I thought they had parked until they went over the railing! Crazy people.
(hide spoiler)]

danielle wrote: "~Melissa~ wrote: "challenge rant"

Are you on discord? I think this will work to add me: https://discordapp.com/users/danielle...

[spoilers removed]"

I sent you a friend request as I'm on GR on computer and discord is on my phone.
(view spoiler)[
I use my work laptop for GR.....mum's the word

That's why I try to be mostly online on weekend, lunch and nighttime for GR (hide spoiler)]

So... ch 9 ... quick thought. Alexander is the focus so far, but I thought this book was about Max, his brother. I'm curious to see when the switch to that happens.

danielle wrote: "So... ch 9 ... quick thought. Alexander is the focus so far, but I thought this book was about Max, his brother. I'm curious to see when the switch to that happens."

Same

~Melissa~ wrote: "This spoiler is impressions all the way to Ch 21.
I've got about 5 hrs left. Unsure if I'll be able to listen more today but, I want to see where this goes.

spoilers removed ..."

All good points. I have many of the same questions/thoughts. I'm very curious where things are going and how'll they'll connect. This is definitely a book where yet again, Max is a side character. I wonder if he eventually will be the MC in later books. He'd have to be, right?

danielle wrote: "~Melissa~ wrote: "This spoiler is impressions all the way to Ch 21.
I've got about 5 hrs left. Unsure if I'll be able to listen more today but, I want to see where this goes.

I wonder if he eventually will be the MC in later books. He'd have to be, right? ....."

LMAO - I would hope so as it's his name in the series

Chapter 23 about halfway through the chapter (view spoiler)[


Alex has just come home from seeing Iyonna (? spelling - this is why i sometimes don't like audio's, lol)
He was going to confront her - using his kiss instead of what he knows about her. Don't think this is the way to go - but what do I know.

I'm wondering why he doesn't ask her "how she found out about this trip since she had been out sick"??? (hide spoiler)]

~Melissa~ wrote: "danielle wrote: "~Melissa~ wrote: "This spoiler is impressions all the way to Ch 21.
I've got about 5 hrs left. Unsure if I'll be able to listen more today but, I want to see where this goes.

I..."
At this point, I have no idea!! And I also wonder if the series name came later (or was changed based on later books)

Just finished ch 36

(view spoiler)[I agree on the audio & names comment! Drago? needs to suffer!! I really hope he gets what’s coming to him! (hide spoiler)]

Ch 48… just one comment

(view spoiler)[Alexander…. NOOOOOO!!!!!!! Don’t do it! (hide spoiler)]

random thought while in Ch 53

(view spoiler)[Given he is guilty, I'm wondering if Alexander will be killed off. Making this part of Max's backstory of people he's lost. (hide spoiler)]

@93% - in ch 57

(view spoiler)[NOW he gets suspicious of how Ianna reacts (while watching the vid of Drago). smh. (hide spoiler)]

finished!!

(view spoiler)[Another very solid 4 stars for me! While I saw this coming, I think this one needed to end the way that it did. It 100% explains how the series becomes Max's series. Colors in more of his backstory unlike just knowing that he lost his wife.

I look forward to the next one next month! Especially since it'll be all from Max's POV. Well, I assume.

And.. footnote. I'm glad BOTH Drago and Ianna went out the way that they did. I don't know why he (Alex) didn't suspect her from way earlier. (hide spoiler)]

danielle wrote: "Ch 48… just one comment

"
Just finished ch 48


(view spoiler)[ poor Birdie - cop from NY. Now worried about the other hooker (well not really) from the boat.

Things with Iyonna(?) have been bothering me. Why does she 'figure' stuff out conveniently. I always wondered if she knew more than she was saying. Or did no hooker die from the boat and she is one of them?


Alex - holy crap dude - I didn't think he stole the money.
Wondering if he did it to have a 'lush life with his wife/to be able to keep her happy' or was it just for him and he wanted to be the big man??

All thoughts swirling in my head. (hide spoiler)]

danielle wrote: "Just finished ch 36

[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ yes yes Drago needs to suffer - painful - death if unable to contain
The Garland idiot needs to suffer as well ..... (hide spoiler)]

~Melissa~ wrote: "Just finished ch 48"

(view spoiler)[I felt awful about Billy (is that who you meant by Birdie?I'm not remembering that name now... which does NOT mean it's not there)!! lol
I had thought maybe Max had a love interest! There interaction, from Alex's POV was cute!

And Alex... yeah.. I feel for the good guy act until realizing he did end up taking the money. No idea what his reasonings were.

(hide spoiler)]

~Melissa~ wrote: "danielle wrote: "Just finished ch 36

[spoilers removed]"
....."
(view spoiler)[
I'm sensing a theme in our books that we tend to agree on this for some characters! LOL
(hide spoiler)]

danielle wrote: "~Melissa~ wrote: "danielle wrote: "Just finished ch 36

[spoilers removed]"
....."

I'm sensing a theme in our books that we tend to agree on this for some characters! LOL
"


Yep - I tend to be a bloodthirsty bitch for some characters lol

danielle wrote: "~Melissa~ wrote: "Just finished ch 48"




(view spoiler)[

No I think you're right Billie.

Yeah - poor Max to have just met :( (hide spoiler)]

Do we mark everything as spoiler for the others, or is it just the three of us in the group? I just posted some questions for this book in another Buddy Reed group. Danielle has them if she wants to copy any over. If not, I will be finishing tonight and will use the desktop site and hide it for spoilers.

Kimberley wrote: "Do we mark everything as spoiler for the others, or is it just the three of us in the group? I just posted some questions for this book in another Buddy Reed group. Danielle has them if she wants t..."

It's open to anyone, so it's a pay it forward kind of thing if anyone decides to join - even weeks later.

I haven't looked at the other group's questions yet (will later). but they are pics, so I can't copy.

danielle wrote: "@93% - in ch 57

"

(view spoiler)[
Honestly - same I was wondering how he was the best undercover cop???

Don't remember what chapter but when she had the thought that she didn't need Alex if she had known the key was left for her. Hmmm your days are numbered Alex.

Then her deleting all Max's calls and the call from Desi. The one from Desi made a sick kind of sense since we know she wants to stay with Alex. However, they would've had a heads up that Drago was coming.

Didn't end up this way but I was wondering if she was a spy from the other side or something. She was just off. (hide spoiler)]

I finished and yeah same for your spoiler!!
Definitely another good installment.

(view spoiler)[ 2 things I did kind of wonder about:
why Max didn't throw Desi under the bus. I get that she is dead but she was not a good person. I wasn't that sad that she dies. I dislike cheating. I have yet to read a book where I think - "yeah you go girl or you go guy - I totally get it"

also, Max really gave Alex the benefit of the doubt with giving him the heroes send off. With the way Alex was (under the surface for the book)- do we think he would've done the same for Max? I'm not sure. (hide spoiler)]

Yeah, generic comment re:cheating

I hate it in general. Is unacceptable in a romance book, but I can tolerate it in a mystery or thriller.

FYI... I'm targeting this one for next weekend, so very early March. I have it for another book club discussion on Monday 3/2, so two birds and all...

So I borrowed this one so I'd have it on hand.

Ok - this is avail for me through both hoopla and libby. I'll grab it later this week

I’d like to join in on this, if possible. I just finished the first book and really enjoyed it. I just borrowed the first and second book from Libby. I’ll try to catch up.

Angela wrote: "I’d like to join in on this, if possible. I just finished the first book and really enjoyed it. I just borrowed the first and second book from Libby. I’ll try to catch up."

We are usually pretty good about using spoiler tags, so you can always catch up whenever works best for you!

danielle wrote: "Angela wrote: "I’d like to join in on this, if possible. I just finished the first book and really enjoyed it. I just borrowed the first and second book from Libby. I’ll try to catch up."

We are u..."

Great! Thanks!

I finished the third book. Still have to go to the website to respond to spoilers from the second!

You're ahead of the game Kimberly, lol ~ I was just thinking about grabbing book 3 from the library today or tomorrow.

Welcome Angela!!

~Melissa~ wrote: "You're ahead of the game Kimberly, lol ~ I was just thinking about grabbing book 3 from the library today or tomorrow.

Welcome Angela!!"

Hello!👋

I've started book 3 The Heavens May Fall
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Still in Part I ~ made it through Chapter 9

(view spoiler)[ We start in the beginning with Max being upset with his friend Boady during a court case.
Currently where I'm at: Detective Rupert has just told Ben Pruitt's neighbor/ Emma's friends Mom that they believe they found Mrs Pruitt dead this morning in an alley.
Hard to say what has happened except that the murder took place at their home. Emma had spent the night at this friends house.

So far - we think Ben Pruitt is an ass and potentially a corrupt lawyer from what he's done to Max in a separate case a few years ago.

I'm liking it so far. (hide spoiler)]

OMG I forgot I had a BR for this! I’m at 56%… will come back in a bit and comment!

First chance I've had to sit here for a few minutes since remembering we have a BR!

I just finished Part 2 - so am at 68% ... some thoughts..

(view spoiler)[
I liked the start... it got away from me for a touch, but I'm back in it and am liking this one. I think it drifted a bit from me - or maybe it's me working on a Sunday and having work brain that I wasn't fully engaged.

I get their friendship (max and his friend who is defending Pruitt) is crumbling. They disagree about this case. Normally that would be my jam! Sadly, it was not.

However, once things got to Part 2, I was back to being engaged and found it interesting.

So, do we think mr blech did it? I'm not sure. I'm trying not to decide and to just go for the ride in where the author wants to take us.

I don't mind the side stuff having to do with the case for his wife's murder. We never got a ton about it in earlier books, other than it had profoundly affected him. Which is only going to make us like him I would think.

But, MAX!!! Mishandling some new evidence. He really should have known better!!!

But... things get interesting. I wonder if Ben will testify. I'm wondering where things will go...
(hide spoiler)]

So, I finished last night. Solid 4 stars for me and very curious where things will go (view spoiler)[since now Max has a thread to chase down in his wife's murder! (hide spoiler)]

danielle wrote: "Yeah, generic comment re:cheating

I hate it in general. Is unacceptable in a romance book, but I can tolerate it in a mystery or thriller."

Weirdly, I agree with this…I never realized I felt this way about cheating until I just now thought about it…lol

~Melissa~ wrote: "danielle wrote: "@93% - in ch 57

"


Honestly - same I was wondering how he was the best undercover cop???

Don't remember what chapter but when she had the thought that she didn't need Alex if ..."

I just finished the 2nd book. Im hoping to catch up with you guys.

(view spoiler)[ I was a bit confused at first with Alexander being the main character and not Max. Im guessing that is to build more of Max’s back story with his relationship to his brother. I was surprised that Alex was guilty but thinking back over the book I think there were clues to that. But, I didn’t see him dying. That really surprised me. It was a solid read. I rated it 3.5 stars. (hide spoiler)]

danielle wrote: "First chance I've had to sit here for a few minutes since remembering we have a BR!

I just finished Part 2 - so am at 68% ... some thoughts..


..."
I've made it to Part 3 - so just started the trial

(view spoiler)[ I was for sure thinking that Ben did it.
Especially with the comments from the neighbors at the early outset.

Now that we've 'met' the sister and 'heard' that the light was out on their street .....is it possible she wanted everything and had it done?

I just don't know.

I don't really like Ben or the sister.
What was up with the wife's partner in her firm/advocacy group. Were they having an affair or no? Just a weird vibe from him.

Max and his wife's case ~ he absolutely should've known better.
I'm wondering why he didn't ask his partner to take out the file or what he needed the file for? Just to see how far or not far they got?

Beginning of the trial when Ben talked about him using Jenny's name on the scene and how that was his dead wife on the stand.
I'm not sure these two will remain friends after this. Will have to see how this plays out.... (hide spoiler)]

~Melissa~ wrote: "danielle wrote: "First chance I've had to sit here for a few minutes since remembering we have a BR!

I just finished Part 2 - so am at 68% ... some thoughts..


..."
I've made it to Part 3 - so j..."

(view spoiler)[
I'm not sure these two will remain friends after this.

Especially given how the book started and Max’s barely repressed anger about it.
(hide spoiler)]