The Guise of Another

By: Allen Eskens

Narrated by: Jonathan Yen

A former Medal of Valor winner, Minnesota detective Alexander Rupert is now under subpoena by a grand jury on suspicion of corruption. So when he's asked to look into the false identity of a car-accident victim named James Putnam, a man who in fact died 15 years earlier, Rupert sees a potentially big case and an opportunity to regain his respectability.

But the investigation puts him in the path of "the Beast", the nom de guerre of Drago Basta, a cunning veteran of the Balkan wars and a sociopath assassin who has been searching for Putnam for years. Putnam had something that Basta still wants. If Rupert's life was in shambles before, it's now also in danger. Threatened by the Beast and suspecting his wife of cheating, Rupert falls for the seductions of the dead man's former girlfriend. As he feels his life spinning out of control, his steadfast brother and fellow police detective Max may be Rupert's last hope.

©2015 Allen Eskens (P)2015 Tantor

Critic reviews

"It's a taut, intelligent, heart-ripping story that explores the darkest places in the human psyche." (William Kent Krueger, author of Iron Lake)

Great listen, terrific narrator

It's been awhile since I've listened to a book where I couldn't predict at least some of what was going to happen. I would have liked a different ending but it was still very enjoyable. The kind of book that keeps me sitting in my car. I haven't listened to this author before nor have I heard this narrator. The narrator was terrific, didn't interfere with the book at all.

Just ok

Didn’t feel connected to the main characters. Was just so-so. Did not enjoy it as much as some of the other Allen Eskens books I’ve read.
Not a big fan of this narrator reminded me a little of Richard Dreyfuss whom I like, but a whole book worth was a bit much. Did not appreciate how he tried to do voices, especially the middle European accent. Did not think he did females voices well. It all sounded a little “Mayberry RFD” to me

Great mystery.

The author has mastered storytelling with twist & turns. I love the way Eskens writes. I can't wait for his next book. I wasn't able to put the book down, I listened to the story unfold. Great story. Great characters. I didn't see some of the surprises which kept me on my toes. Highly recommend it.

Not My Favorite

The story was good, if predictable. The narration, however, ruined it for me. Makes voicing female characters so often make the same mistake; attempting to sound feminine the come off as a breathy, helpless airhead. Even when the part is supposed to be a sharp and competent detective, as in this book. Also got impatient with the author’s somewhat juvenile double entrendees

I detest the anti-hero...

but for some reason I really grew to like Alexander. He wasn't as bad as he thought he was. Can't say more without giving away the plot twists and turns.

The narrator, Jonathan Yen, was one I'd never heard before but he was excellent with both male and female voices.

I'd never heard of this author before so I'm really glad it was the Daily Deal. Now I can search other books by him.