The Guise of Another

by Allen Eskens
267 pgs

The Guise of Another is the second book by Allen Eskens, an author I'm becoming increasingly more excited about with each book. It begins with a car accident late at night on the streets of Minneapolis. An amorous couple--engaging in some extracurricular activities while driving--cross over the median and kill a man traveling in the other direction. The name on the man's license is James Putnam, but Detective Alexander Rupert soon learns that's not his true identity.

Alex's career is currently falling apart. He, along with the rest of the Joint Drug Enforcement Task Force he was a member of, is being investigated by federal authorities on accusations that they have been steeling money and valuables from drug dealers during arrests. Alex sees the case of identity theft that just landed on his desk as an opportunity to salvage whatever career he has left.

When Alex is given access to the man's computer by his girlfriend, he discovers records of deposits totaling half a million dollars made on the same date going back years. The dates of the deposits all coincide with trips he insisted to his girlfriend that he had to take alone every year. Alex is able to soon discover the man's true identity, but in so doing, many more questions are raised about how and why he assumed the identity of James Putnam. His discover also leads to several more deaths, and he fears even his own life is now in danger.

For a second time now, Eskens has written a story that quickly grabbed a hold of me and didn't let go. This was one of those books I found myself picking up to read, even if I only had a few minutes available. The story is compelling and the characters are all strongly written. It's worth mentioning that Alex's brother, Max Rupert, a minor character in the book, was the police officer from his first book, The Life We Bury, and I believe he's the central character in Eskens' third book, The Heavens May Fall, which I'm looking forward to reading soon.

★ ★ ★ ★ ☆