The Stolen Hours

Lila Nash is a prosecutor on a case to charge the abductor of a young woman who narrowly escaped her death. The case brings back horrific memories for Lila, who was sexually assaulted eight years ago. She soon realizes that the flashbacks are bringing her closer to identifying her attackers, and this new case may be tied to her own assault. Can Lila set aside her trauma to help the young woman find justice?

I was a big fan of Eskens’ earlier novel, The Life We Bury, and was similarly absorbed by his latest, The Stolen Hours. This book is expertly paced, with short chapters told from alternating viewpoints, which kept me immersed. The courtroom drama paired nicely with a character study of the villain, who is a creepy, cunning outsider. Lila is a strong-willed and intelligent main character who you can’t help but root for. I loved her connection with boss, Andi, and how Andi helped build up Lila’s confidence to overcome career setbacks. The twists at the end were well thought out and surprising, and I was pleased with the ending. Eskens is a talented writer and I can’t wait to read more of his work!