The Life We Bury

Joe Talbert , a college student, embarks on a biography assignment for his English class. Lacking family to interview, he visits a nursing home and meets Carl Iverson , a dying Vietnam veteran and convicted murderer. Intrigued by Carl 's story, Joe sees it as a compelling subject for his project. Despite Carl 's grim past, Joe is determined to uncover the truth behind the man who has spent thirty years in prison for the murder of a young girl. Joe 's first encounter with Carl Iverson is unsettling. Carl , frail and dying of cancer, retains a sharp mind and a willingness to share his story. He

Theme 1: Joe's Unlikely Assignment Begins

This thread running through The Life We Bury gives the story its emotional weight. Allen Eskens weaves it into the narrative with skill, ensuring that the reader feels the stakes as deeply as the characters do.

Theme 2: Meeting Carl Iverson

This thread running through The Life We Bury gives the story its emotional weight. Allen Eskens weaves it into the narrative with skill, ensuring that the reader feels the stakes as deeply as the characters do.

Theme 3: A Family Burden Unveiled

Family and belonging sit at the heart of The Life We Bury. Allen Eskens examines how the bonds we're born into — and the ones we choose — define us in ways we often don't recognize until they're tested.

What Readers Say About The Life We Bury

The Life We Bury has resonated with readers for its emotional honesty and vivid storytelling. Many describe finishing it in a single sitting — drawn forward by Allen Eskens's prose and an almost desperate need to know how it ends.

A Passage Worth Sitting With

"Joe's Unlikely Assignment Begins" — Allen Eskens, The Life We Bury

About the Author

Allen Eskens is the author of The Life We Bury. Known for emotionally resonant storytelling, their work has found devoted readers across the globe.