Blood Hollow

Cork O'Connor #4

by William Kent Krueger

When the corpse of a beautiful high school student is discovered on a hillside four months after her disappearance on New Year's Eve, all evidence points to her boyfriend, local bad boy Solemn Winter Moon. Despite Solemn's self-incriminating decision to go into hiding, Cork O'Connor, Aurora's former sheriff, isn't about to hang the crime on the kid, whom O'Connor is convinced is innocent. In an uphill battle to clear Solemn's name, Cork encounters no shortage of adversity. Some he knows all too well -- small-town bigotry and bureaucracy foremost among them. What Cork isn't prepared for is the emergence of a long-held resentment hailing from his own childhood. And when Solemn reappears, claiming to have seen a vision of Jesus Christ in Blood Hollow, the mystery becomes thornier than Cork could ever have anticipated. And that's when the miracles start happening....

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Audiobook, Thriller, Crime, Mystery Thriller, Suspense

512 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published February 3, 2004

About the author

Raised in the Cascade Mountains of Oregon, William Kent Krueger briefly attended Stanford University—before being kicked out for radical activities. After that, he logged timber, worked construction, tried his hand at freelance journalism, and eventually ended up researching child development at the University of Minnesota. He currently makes his living as a full-time author. He’s been married for over 40 years to a marvelous woman who is an attorney. He makes his home in St. Paul, a city he dearly loves.

Krueger writes a mystery series set in the north woods of Minnesota. His protagonist is Cork O’Connor, the former sheriff of Tamarack County and a man of mixed heritage—part Irish and part Ojibwe. His work has received a number of awards, including the Minnesota Book Award, the Loft-McKnight Fiction Award, the Anthony Award, the Barry Award, the Dilys Award, and the Friends of American Writers Prize. His last five novels were all New York Times bestsellers.

"Ordinary Grace," his stand-alone novel published in 2013, received the Edgar Award, given by the Mystery Writers of America in recognition for the best novel published in that year. "Windigo Island," number fourteen in his Cork O’Connor series, was released in August 2014.

Reviews

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was in a reading slump. I even dnf’ed a Christmas book of all things. So I went for the instant cure—I picked up Blood Hollow (#4 in Cork O’Connor series) by William Kent Krueger. Slump gone after one chapter. Never do I wish harder to be a more eloquent writer than when I am faced with reviewing a Krueger novel. I just don’t have the words.

I have gushed over a number of books this year, but if I were sentenced to prison for life and could take only one author’s books with me, it would be the works of William Kent Krueger. The man writes literary crime fiction. Not literary as in flowery with fancy words, but literary in the sense that his words and phrasing are powerful. They draw me in and transport me into the story; even better, they make me FEEL. They make me feel more profoundly than the words of any other author I have read. I must say I have developed a strong emotional attachment to these books.

The plot of Blood Hollow is intricate and wonderfully perplexing. The twists are crazy good, and I was ambushed by the big reveal. The epilogue is the best I’ve ever seen in a crime fiction/thriller story. Those features alone are enough to highly recommended this novel. But the plot is not even the strongest aspect of the book. That designation goes to the characterization. Cork O’Connor, former sheriff of Aurora, MN, edges out Kim Stone (Angela Marsons) and Smoky Barrett (Cody McFadyen) as my all time favorite protagonist. He and his family and other notable cast members are so well drawn and progressively developed as the series moves along. The author makes the reader care tremendously about what happens to these people. Doses of Native American culture pervade the tale, not something I would normally seek in a book, but it works beautifully under the artful talents of Mr. Krueger. Themes of faith and spirituality, not necessarily religious in nature, are prominently featured and done in a magnificently visceral manner. I did not want this book to end.

Mr. Krueger’s stand alone novel, Ordinary Grace, is a huge best seller. His Cork O’Connor series has a more modest following. The writing is the same in both. If you enjoyed Ordinary Grace, you will enjoy the O’Connor series. You will be hard pressed to find a better crime fiction writer than this author. I give all of his works the highest possible recommendation.

[MarilynW · Rating 4 out of 5]

Blood Hollow (Cork O'Connor #4) by William Kent Krueger 

Book #4 of the Cork O'Connor series has the O'Connor kids doing a big "ewwww" because Aunt Rose is needed elsewhere, so lousy cook, Mama Jo, is happily preparing more meals for the family. At least Cork's hamburger stand is doing a booming business although they may need more help there because Cork is acting as an investigator for lawyer Jo, as they try to get to the bottom of who might have killed a local rich high school student. The evidence against her ex-boyfriend, Solemn Winter Moon, is making him a hard client to defend but he wants Jo on his case despite murder defense not being her specialty. Cork is sure that Solemn didn't commit the crime and he's going to do everything he can to find out who murdered the young lady. 

I had my eye on three other men for the crime but the story weaves a dark and twisted tale, making it hard to know who to trust. Good and bad goes gray, many hidden pasts make finding out facts difficult and Cork leans on some of his old Chicago associates to help him look farther from Aurora for answers. This was a sad and perplexing story and Cork's family doesn't escape the touch of evil.

 Published January 31st 2007 (first published February 3rd 2004)

[Heidi (can’t retire soon enough) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Four books in and this series is as well-written and nuanced as the first. While this may not have been my favorite in the series (the last one was pretty darn good), I still love seeing how Cork and family continue to change.

This is the classic who-dunnit where the “bad boy” is immediately tagged the villain and when you add that the main suspect belongs to the local reservation, the tension between townies and reservation folks ratchets up quickly. I like that Krueger never pulls punches with racial divides, social injustice, and economic differences, but when infused with Native American mysticism… the story is always more than “ex-Sheriff gets the bad guy again.”

Along with retribution and a plethora of red herrings (more than usual), there’s extended time with Cork’s family members. Each of his family, in their own way, has a role to play in the resolution of this slightly melancholy tale.

As always, before I even finished this one (and I will say one of Krueger’s red herrings totally fooled me), I already added my name to the list for the next one.

In such a short time, this author has become my go-to… heck, the Boundary Waters of Minnesota has now found its place on my travel bucket list. Because of this series, I’ve fallen in love with a place, without even seeing it. That’s the kind of series Krueger has created.

(Reviewed 5/18/24)

[Phrynne · Rating 5 out of 5]

So far I have given each book I have read in this series four stars. Well this one takes it up to five. Such a good story and so beautifully told.
Blood Hollow begins in winter with Cork O'Connor standing in several feet of snow and taking part in the search for a lost girl. His subsequent journey home in the face of a blizzard made me very happy I was sitting at home in warmth and comfort. In the Spring when a body is found Cork begins his usual, unauthorised search for the killer. There were so many possibles that it was almost impossible to work out who it was going to be but I made a good guess.
I am really enjoying the character development that is happening in these books and would recommend to anyone who wants to read them that they should be pedantic and start at number one. You really need to see where Cork and Jo were in their lives in book one to appreciate what is happening by book 4.
Best bit of all and it was snuck in there in the last few pages he is back to being Sheriff again. That should make a few differences in the next book:)

[Jonas · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love everything about William Kent Krueger’s Cork O’Connor series. Like many mysteries, this one also shows the growth of the main character, but also the development of the people/town around them. I loved this aspect of the novel. Sam Winter Moon has always been present in the series and an influence on Cork’s life. Members of Sam’s family play a pivotal role in this mystery. Henry Meloux is my favorite character in the series and his scenes really add to the depth of the narrative.

Blood Hollow is about family, friends, and faith. I always enjoy reaching the chapter where the title of the novel originates. There are murders and miracles. There are ghosts from the past.

I did figure out “who did it” rather earlier, but that did not detract from the reading experience. I truly couldn’t put it down for the last third of the novel. There was a big twist I didn’t see coming and many believable red herrings. There were also a few surprises and unexpected occurrences. 4.5 stars for Blood Hollow. I will be diving back into the series as soon as the new year is upon us.

[Jonetta · Rating 5 out of 5]

A young girl goes missing after a New Years Eve party and a search group sets out on snowmobiles to find her. Of course, Cork O'Connor is part of the search team and almost gets stranded in a whiteout blizzard. However, Charlotte Kane's body isn't discovered until four months later and her ex-boyfriend, Solemn Winter Moon, is the prime suspect. O'Connor's not convinced.

There are so many layers to this story and Krueger just weaves them together expertly. Who else could combine Indian mysticism and Catholicism in the same story and have it all make sense? I loved how Cork's family played an integral part, including Jo O'Connor's sister, Rose. There's a pretty extensive suspect list, each with quite a bit of baggage, enough for me to be shaky in my suppositions.

I found this to be an outstanding story and my 5-star rating is also based on the totality of the series to date. I keep thinking that the next story cannot excel over the last but after four books, they continue to be highly interesting and fresh. It's one of my favorites. And, I really like the narrator. He nails the characters and gets the pacing just right.

[Keri Stone · Rating 4 out of 5]

When the body of missing Charlotte Kane is found as the snows melt, her ex-boyfriend and Ojibwe Solemn Winter Moon is immediately suspect. Cork O’Conner is called in by friends and because his wife Jo is asked to defend him. While the police think it’s a clear cut case, Cork believes in Solemn and starts looking at other suspects.

The path that Cork and Solemn find themselves on is filled with a combination of native mysticism and Christianity. Embracing faith, but also looking past first impressions and biases will be key to solving the case. It’s a story with mystery and unexpected twists.

The more I read in the Cork O’Connor series, the more I enjoy. It’s not just the mysteries solved but the depth of characters that we get to see as we become part of Cork’s community. Once again, excellently narrated.

[Ginger · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/4.5 stars

Anyone remember that children’s game called “Duck, duck, goose?”

In Blood Hollow, instead of a goose it’s a red herring. Duck, duck, red herring!!

I know I’m being ridiculous with this analogy but the amount of plot twists and misleading information in this 4th book had me chasing my tail.
I could not figure out who killed Charlotte, the wealthy daughter to Fletcher Kane until it was revealed. I was suspicious of all the new characters, so I wasn’t shocked since I suspected everyone. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ 🤣😂

Was the bad boy of town responsible for her death or maybe other sinister things are happening in Aurora, Minnesota?

Blood Hollow is an investigation of her death but it has themes of spiritualism, miracles and religion in the book without shoving it down my throat. It also touches on racial divides and the perception of whether someone can truly change for the better.

I do believe that this 4th addition is just as good as the first three books in the series. William Kent Krueger’s writing is just as layered, atmospheric and excellent in this one too.

One of the best things about this series is the main character, Cork O’Connor.

He’s a former sheriff of Aurora and has Anishinaabe blood. He’s a man that has one foot in white culture and the other in Indigenous culture and beliefs. He’s a fascinating character because he follows the facts of a case, but he also listens to his Ojibwe intuition.

If you are looking for a new crime fiction series to get into, check this one out! Not only are the mysteries well thought out, but the writing is excellent in my opinion.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this was an excellent book with a lot of twists and turns. Every time I thought I knew….BAM! The character development is fantastic. The mix of the Native American religion and Catholicism along with a healthy dose of skepticism seems like a struggle many of us understand in one way or another. The fake miracles followed by a real miracle was fantastic. It’s sad that we have such a hard time believing in miracles. Let’s face it, if they are real, they are amazing. And this comes from a true skeptic. Thumbs up from yours truly! 😁

[H (trying to keep up with GR friends) Balikov · Rating 5 out of 5]

"“The dead can’t speak for themselves,” he said. “They’ve got no way to ask for justice. What’s left behind in the details of their deaths is the only hope they have for pointing the way toward the truth, and someone ought to pay attention.” He slowed down and looked at Jo. “It’s called due diligence, Jo. It’s what a good cop does. He considers all the possibilities, turns over all the stones, and he tries to do it without prejudice. Arne won’t do that. He’s not a cop.

My beloved started these books after I recommended Iron Lake. https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

As if often the case, she has read the whole series and I am just now getting to #4.

Cork O’Connor used to be the sheriff in this part of Minnesota, as was his father before him. The town of Aurora is the center of population in this area and abuts on beautiful Iron Lake. It is also abuts on tribal lands of the Iron Lake Ojibwe. Cork has a lot of connections to them, being a quarter Ojibwe himself. Cork is married to Jo and they have 3 children living with them. Jo is an attorney who often represents members of the Ojibwe. Solemn Wintermoon is a grand nephew of Sam Wintermoon, the man who stepped into Cork’s life when his father was murdered and guided him to manhood.
"“All a grand jury hears,” Jo had explained to Solemn earlier, “is the evidence against you. All they see is the prosecution’s case. There’s no opportunity for us to challenge the assumptions the county attorney has made, to question the evidence, to cross-examine witnesses. The point of a grand jury is to make sure that such a serious charge as first-degree murder isn’t made frivolously. Honestly, if I were on that grand jury looking at the evidence as Nestor Cole, our county attorney, will undoubtedly present it, I’d be hard-pressed not to indict.”"

"I’d like you to hold off asking questions, especially any that might probe an affair. I don’t want to prejudice the whole county against us even before we start.”"

This book has a mystery to be solved but it is about families and growing up and different cultures. Kruger does a brilliant job of weaving mystery, thriller, family story, and creating characters that we care about. Full marks!

This book can be read as a "one off" without feeling you missed too much. But, if you enjoy it, read the rest starting with Iron Lake.

(selected quotations)
"Johnny Papp’s Pinewood Broiler was an institution in Aurora, a gathering place for locals as far back as Cork could remember. His father, during his tenure as sheriff, often started his day there, rubbing elbows with the loggers and construction crews and merchants and resort owners of Tamarack County. Most of them were descended from the early Voyageurs and the immigrants—Finns, Germans, Slavs, Irish, and a dozen other nationalities who’d come in the old days, lured by the promise of a good life built on the wealth of the great white pines and the rich iron ore deposits of the Mesabi and Vermilion Ranges. Only a very few ended up rich, but most immigrants were able to build good lives, create homes, and establish history. The problem was that as they moved in, they shoved aside an entire group of people who had occupied that land for generations. The white men called them the Chippewa, which was a bastardization of one of the names by which they were known, Ojibwe. They were part of the Anishinaabe Nation whose territory, by the time the white settlers arrived, stretched from the eastern shores of the Great Lakes to the middle of the Great Plains. The Anishinaabeg saw themselves as stewards of the land with no more right or need to possess the earth than the hawks did the air currents that held them aloft. Land ownership was a white man’s concept, and it was accomplished through a series of treaties and underhanded business dealings that robbed the Anishinaabeg blind."

"Henry Meloux was one of the Midewiwin, a Mide, a member of the Grand Medicine Society. He was an old man, very old, who lived alone in a cabin on a section of the rez far north on Iron Lake. Late one sunny afternoon when he’d enlisted the help of both Annie and Jenny to run Sam’s Place, Cork drove north out of Aurora, along back highways, until he reached a place at the edge of a graveled county road where a double-trunk birch marked the entrance to a footpath through the pines. Cork parked his Bronco, got out, and began to walk the trail. After a while, he knew he’d passed from land under control of the U.S. Forest Service onto that which belonged to the Iron Lake Ojibwe.

"Meloux’s cabin was a reflection of time itself. The walls were adorned with many items that harkened to an earlier day. A bow strung with the sinew of a snapping turtle, a deer-prong pipe, a small toboggan. There was also a cheesecake calendar, circa 1948, from a Skelly gas station. Nailed to a post near the potbellied stove was a color Polaroid of Henry Meloux standing with the activist Winona LaDuk. And lying on Meloux’s bunk was the most recent Lands’ End catalogue The stew simmered in a cast-iron pot on the stove. Fish, wild rice, onions, and mushrooms, spiced with sage and pepper. The table was set with two bowls and two spoons. Cork wasn’t surprised that Meloux had set a place for him. The old man had an uncanny knack for knowing when he was going to receive a visitor."

[Algernon (Darth Anyan) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a solid addition to the ongoing saga of Cork O’Connor, former sheriff of small town Aurora in Tamarack County, Minnesota. I was able to enjoy the visit, even as I apparently skipped one book in the series, since they are self-contained murder investigations with recurring characters and since the main attraction for me is not in the actual plot as much as in the setting and in the Native American cultural references (similar in many ways to the other Western–style police procedural series I’ve been following about Sheriff Walt Longmire]

Said setting in fictional Aurora, with its extended forests, lakes and generally untamed wilderness is put to good use here right from the very first pages, as Cork O ‘Connor, retired from the police force and selling hamburgers from a Quonset hut during tourist season, volunteers during a blizzard alert to go searching for a missing girl, gone AWOL from her own Christmas party on a snowmobile.
Later developments in the case conspire to throw Cork in the middle of the investigation as a personal friend of his, a young Native American boy with a volatile temper, is accused of murder.

The novel took me down already beaten tracks, both from the two previous episodes I’ve read, and from the similarly plotted Longmire books : a strong sense of place, the intimacy of a closely knitted community, the very strong spiritual influence from living next to a Native American ‘reservation’, including a significant dose of mysticism involving the ghosts of the departed. It’s all good stuff under the pen of a talented writer, and I can see myself reading on as the career of Cork O’Connor gets back on track, the needs of his family and of his friends pushing him to the position of knight in shiny armor, champion of the underdogs and solid pillar of the community in Aurora.

The signature touch of William Kent Krueger, something that came to my attention in his two standalone novels and is increasingly becoming a prominent feature of the Cork O’Connor books, is the stress the author puts on religion. This was not so apparent in the first two Aurora books, since Cork is a self-confessed atheist, or more precisely a former churchgoer who lapsed and rebelled against his cult when his best friend is killed in front of his eyes and his marriage is going through a rough patch.
In ‘Blood Hollow’ though the question of faith becomes central to the case, both for the victim, for the main suspects and for Cork himself.

It was possible that what had stayed Gooding’s hand was nothing less than a miracle.

I am trying to explain this religion stuff without giving away major spoilers, and in general I believe Krueger is one of the best writers to talk about being a man of faith in the modern world (his novel “Ordinary Grace” is very high in my list of recommendations). But I do have a bone to pick with his insistence that miracles are still taking place all around us, especially in this particular point of Cork O’Connor’s journey. I do hope though that my next visit will focus more on the lives of the people in Aurora and on the natural setting and less on faith issues.

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is of the same high quality and beautiful setting as Kruger’s other novels. And in this one, there is a central theme of faith: what it means to each of us as individuals; how the loss of it can affect our lives; how discovering it can change our lives; how a single moment can inspire or heal, or determine our life’s path and how to hang on to it when tested.
The story is full of twists and turns, but really none of these are red herrings because they fill in the details which give Kruger’s characters such depth and resonance with the reader.
I very much enjoy revisiting Cork’s family as they change and grow up and also how Rose, Jo and he are changed by the events of the stories.
I love that the landscape of Aurora, Minnesota is the most important character in the book, how evocative the writing is, and the customs of the Ojibwe.

[Jeanette · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good standard mystery set in Aurora, Minnesota. Krueger, IMHO, has a much better than average writing style than the most successful mystery format writers. To me the lack of the 4th star is usually (as it was here) within the plot. This one is a a bit slow in the start and into the middle, too much sandwich and beer descriptions or coffee out of the thermos descriptions for me- but the characters become real people with quirks, specific worldview and clear visage "about town" by the time you get to most of the action/reaction by Cork deep into the current trouble. This time I feel Cork's anti-religious bias became fully expressed a little too often. Krueger, you "dost protest too much"?

Regardless the one major sliver in my skin with these Cork books is this. For not being the Sheriff, Cork gets himself so entrenched, so quickly in each crime and subsequent homicide- that I wonder a bit about his entire family life "devotion". Jo seems a total brick and mostly doing her own thing. But come on- how much is the 7 year old, for instance, going to see or hear about already. And the danger Cork puts himself into? And he isn't being paid for it? Hard to do this kind of intercept anywhere, even small-town Minnesota bureaucracy would make it impossible. Especially there where the government is extremely entrenched into minutia of everything. It's to the same degree of why Miss Marple is always the house guest when the unspeakable happens. Just does not parse with the reality of the rest of the authenticity.

And Minnesota IS truly authentic in this book. Especially with weather, food and transport. Yes, January is really like that. And so is April. And the boots are not for fashion and small cars just don't get over the driveway hump for half the year. You can finally get a decent pizza if you go to Minneapolis now, though. But the sausage is still all wrong and the cheese is partly yellow and doesn't melt most of the time. But two or three priests? There are hardly any Catholics- they should have been Lutheran. But that would have altered the plot?

This time I guessed the perp before the last 100 pages - no spoilers!

[William · Rating 4 out of 5]

4-star, very complex, lots of false leads, some good characters, dialogue mostly okay.

Far better than the previous, awful "Purgatory Ridge". Krueger has recovered his mojo, and I enjoyed this a lot, although it has far too much Jeeeeeezus Holy Rollers and supernatural hocus-pocus.

Krueger is fabulous describing outdoor scenes and weather in isolated areas near Aurora, but his dialogue can become leaden quite quickly. That completely sank the previous book, "Purgatory Ridge".

I'm struck by the sadness of grudges born against our Hero. And thus, against ourselves. Krueger reflects this often in his little town of Aurora.

He stood watching Valhalla, worried that it might yet go up in flames. In a few minutes, however, he saw Kane at a window, a tall, bent figure, staring down at the lake. Kane’s mouth moved, speaking words Cork couldn’t hear. Below him, as if in reply, the lake ice moaned.

I think that child abuse is written into mystery and crime stories these days. It's often poorly handled. Krueger makes some attempts here to explain the trauma; just a sentence or two more to show how this destroys lives would be appreciated.

In America, 20% of all girls and 8% of all boys experience sexual abuse before they are 18.

Just to make this clear. Disclosure of medical records after death of the subject must be released:
"to help a coroner, procurator fiscal or other similar officer with an inquest or fatal accident inquiry"
... Unless the patient has requested No Access after death. Even this can be overturned in court.

For most of the book, I felt that Cork and Jo et al were just stumbling around, trying to solve the whodunit. Many red herrings are somewhat clumsily investigated, and I often wanted to give them advice "Be more professional" and not such clueless idiots.

95.0% ... more twists and turns than a Rastafarian hair-do

There were a number of very good twists in the book, but one or two mysteries remain unsolved by the end. The several apparent solutions for the murder of Charlotte were half-baked from about 2/3 of the way until the end, acknowledged by Cork and Jo, and the final solution was a surprise to me. Not bad.

It was nice to see Rose get some romance, and nice to see that Jo and Cork seem to be doing well, solid and comfortable with themselves and their family.

As always, there are moments of wonderful prose here, especially in the first chapter, but not nearly as good as those scenes in book 1 and 2 of the series.

Notes:
0.0% ..After the disaster of book #3 Purgatory Ridge, I'm going to give Krueger one more chance to recover his mojo.

2.0% .... Good news: Chapter 1 is terrific, good rhythm, great prose.

4.0% ... Krueger is fabulous describing outdoor scenes and weather in isolated areas near Aurora. His dialogue can become leaden quite quickly.

22.0% ... time zone error, they are on Central Time, not East coast. The ball would drop at 11pm in Minnesota. Note this does not affect the plot.
“What time did you leave Benoit’s?”
“Few minutes before midnight. That stupid ball in Times Square hadn’t dropped yet.”

32.0% ... very enjoyable. Gentle pacing, great descriptions of nature, some nice family moments.

43.0% .... not comfortable with the somewhat clumsy way Krueger is approaching child abuse in this book.

45.0% .... Krueger is laying the religion on pretty thick here. * Facepalm *

64.0% .... lots of confused stumbling around here

70.0% ..... wow, Nice Plot Twist!

79.0% .... I really dislike hocus-pocus paranormal crap. There's too much religion in this book, too

95.0% ... more twists and turns than a Rastafarian hair-do

.

[Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

A compelling glimpse of Northern Minnesota small town and family life along with a mysterious death. Clues logically build up throughout the book, but I was suckered into suspecting nearly everyone. It's all there to figure out if you're sharp.

I love this series and the main character, Cork O'Connor. Especially wonderful......the book opened with a blizzard and it's so lovely to read about snow when it's 97 degrees outside.

[Valleri · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was all about the intricacies and flaws of human behavior. The author did his usual superb job of transporting the reader to Minnesota and provided another look into the Ojibwe culture without turning his book into a textbook. The mysteries in the book were amazing and kept me guessing until the very end. Really well written!

I highly recommend this series!!

[Tim · Rating 2 out of 5]

The overabundance of religion nearly derails this well-plotted venture and reflects in the rating accordingly at a cost of 2 stars. 4 0f 10 stars

[Henry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Krueger's Cork O'Connor series keeps getting better and better and this was the best one yet for me.

[The Girl with the Sagittarius Tattoo · Rating 4 out of 5]

WKK proves murder mysteries can be soothing without coming off like a Cozy.

Blood Hollow follows the discovery of Charlotte Kane's body. She was bashed in head after leaving a party. The ever-divided town accuses her ex-boyfriend, Solemn Winter Moon, a handsome half-Ojibwe young man with a bad reputation. The First Nation peoples living around Aurora, MN rally around Solemn, but he sees the writing on the wall from the sheriff's office. He seeks shelter with a wise man who tells him to fast for a vision. After two weeks in the woods, starving and lacking sleep, Solemn says Jesus Christ came and spoke with him.

Everybody has a theory: he's making it up for sympathy; it was a hallucination; etc. But a lot of folks think Solemn experienced a miracle and visitors come from miles around for healing. Cork and the sworn-in LEOs aren't sure what to make of all the hullabaloo, but it's darn hard to investigate a murder when the streets are crowded with tourists.

Without a doubt, Krueger's books have a wholesome vibe about them. Part of it comes from the strong undercurrent of Anishinaabe culture and beliefs throughout the plots, and Cork is one-quarter native on his mother's side, too. Part of it is the stark beauty of the settings; the rest is the family bonds exhibited in the O'Connor family (now that Jo's lapse of judgment is in the past, anyway.) But this is the first time Krueger has overtly written with strong Christian themes. It was just unexpected enough to feel refreshing and pique my interest from going in such a direction.

Onto the next entry, Mercy Falls.

[Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

Over the last two years, I have read all of the books in Craig Johnson’s Longmire mystery series and all of the Joe Pickett and Cassie Dewell series books by C.J. Box. I loved all of them and enjoyed the reading experience tremendously. Now, my search for the next great mystery series to sink my teeth into has led me to William Kent Kreuger’s Cork O’Conner series.

After receiving a lot of positive praise for these books, I am finding myself fully immersed in Cork’s world, his family, his investigative work, and his hometown of Aurora, Minnesota, and its beautiful surrounding area. Each book pulls me in headfirst and blends into the next as I compulsively drive myself to find out what happens next.

“Blood Hollow” is the fourth Cork O’Conner novel and continues the same high level of quality delivered in the previous three. Cork lives in the small northern town of Aurora, Minnesota where he grew up. Cork is part Irish and part Anishinaabe Indian. He was previously a cop working the rough South Side of Chicago, but moved back home to Aurora with his wife, Jo, to raise a family in a small-town setting. Cork continued to work in law enforcement and was elected sheriff while Jo completed law school and started her own private practice. Together they have three children – Jennie, Annie, and Stephen.

However, things have not gone well for Cork in recent years. He’s no longer Sherriff due to a horrible incident. His marriage also broken down due his own self-inflicted personal meltdown, leaving him separated from his wife and children, and focusing on overcoming his personal guilt and moving forward with his life.

When “Blood Hollow” begins, Cork is back his wife and family, and living back at home with them. However, four months following the disappearance of a high school girl, Charlotte Kane, on New Year’s Eve, her body is discovered on a mountain hillside.

Cork isn’t pleased with how Sheriff Arne Soderberg is handling the investigation, using it as an opportunity to build on his intent to run for a higher state political office. It doesn’t help that the circumstantial evidence points to her ex-boyfriend and less reputable, Solem Winter Moon. Then things get worse when Solem takes off and goes into hiding, raising serious doubts about his innocence.

As Cork searches for Solem, he keeps getting the feeling something just isn’t right. It doesn’t help that Charlotte was a white girl and Solem an young Ojibwe Indian, leading to increased tension between the tribe members and the local citizens. Cork seeks out his mentor, Henry Meloux, who never gives a direct answer, only deep words of wisdom forcing O’Connor to look inward to find his answers.

When Cork finally finds Solem, the young man comes forward to turn himself in, having claimed to have a vision in which he has seen Jesus Christ personally and that everything will be okay. Even with this newfound peace, Cork knows the evidence is damning against Solem, and he needs to find the real killer before Solem’s trial takes place, and that turns out to be more challenging than he can handle. As the clock is running out, Cork may be facing a serial killer that may be targeting his own family members…

There were so many good things to enjoy in this book if you are a mystery reader. It is pulling me and captivating me in much the same ways that C.J. Box’s Joe Pickett series did. I am drawn to Cork’s personal challenges to correct and reset the direction of his life while his constant pursuit of righting wrongs by finding killers drives everything that he does. That dogged determination and belief in the law and justice is the only thing that he puts above his family, and provides a much-needed foundation for his moral compass.

Each of those family members, from his wife, Jo; to his two daughters, Jenny and Annie; his son, Stephen; and his wife’s sister, Rose, all play key roles in Cork’s life that provide depth and emotional qualities that make these books endearing to you on a personal level. They deepen and amplify the mystery elements and human conflict that Kreuger so masterfully instills in this series. Cork’s family becomes our family and we care deeply to what happens to them. Their struggles are our struggles. Their fears and pain are our fears and pain. And their victories are our victories.

Let me highlight some of those examples in this book. First, and foremost was Jo’s fear of Cork running for Sheriff again and all of the past turmoil it would bring back for her. Fear of losing all that she has worked so hard to build with her professional practice is real and important to her. It’s her identity and an essential part of the professional respect and success she’s earned. This was a serious plot twist that dramatically enflamed the conflict between Jo and Cork. Another cool development was watching Rose take a more proactive role, including hints of her participation in a personal relationship. I won’t give anything anyway, but Rose certainly deserves some happiness after all that she does for everyone else. It seems that her attention is spent on serving others and it’s time she has some special moments herself.

I’m only four books into this series and I’ve already experienced what a masterfully storyteller Kreuger is, and why he has such a strong and committed following. He’s hitting all of the essential elements - strong and intricate plotting, authentic and interesting characters, and wonderful use of setting and scenery. He combines and blends the three together into a first page turner thriller like no other. As I mentioned previously, if you like C.J. Box’s Joe Picket novels, you’re going to enjoy these books, and vice versa. It’s almost like both series take place in the same universe, one in Wyoming and the other in Minnesota.

With those comments, it should be no surprise with how much I was impressed with Kreuger’s fourth Cork O’Connor adventure. This was a strong 4-plus star rating out of 5 stars and I’m already a third of the way through the next book in the series. Having come off of the Longmire and Joe Picket novels, I am extremely pleased that many other readers of those series recommended William Kent Kreuger to me. They were spot on. Thank you for introducing my next mystery series journey for me to take. I can tell that I have many hours of reading joy coming my way that will bring new friends and experiences to cherish.

If you are reading this review, I encourage you to try reading the Cork O’Conner series too. It will be so worth it… They are simply awesome!

[Laurene · Rating 4 out of 5]

Blood Hollow is the fourth novel in the Cork O'Connor series. The novels which take place in the Northwoods of Minnesota keep getting astonishingly fresh. The twist and turns continue to surprise me. I was completely blindsided by the ending. And like the other mystery novels -- it's hard for me to wait to start the next one.

"Sometimes we just turn over rocks, what's there is there."

"He loved Aurora and understood why it was the kind of place people who wanted to escape from problems -- of the world, of a big city, of a troubled past -- came to. But there was no place far enough away to run from who you were. The secrets people hid from others, they still had to live with themselves. In starting over, the best place to begin was facing the truth. All human beings, it seemed to him, were a collection of conflicting impulses stuffed into one skin, trying somehow to find peace."

[Julie Durnell · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Stars! This has been my favorite in the series-so far! I don't read these too close together, as they are generally a bit grittier than my normal read, but after some time Cork seems to creep into my thoughts and I know it's time for another. I believe the Anishinaabe culture and lore, as well as the marvelously depicted (including the weather!) Northern Minnesota setting, are as great of interest as the regular cast of characters in Aurora. Cork collaborating with his wife Jo on this case seems to really have brought them back together, which I'm happy about. Also Jo's sister, Rose, one of the dearest characters in the books, has a bit more storyline and I really look forward to her development in the next book. The theme of miracles or the unexplained occurrences running through the story is interesting as well.

[Brenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the fourth book in a series, and by now the characters are old friends. Krueger tells a nice, tight story. Kept me guessing until the very end. Just a touch of supernatural mixed with a bit of religious experience have some of the characters questioning themselves. I'm looking forward to the next book to see where things go.

[Harry · Rating 5 out of 5]

William Kent Krueger's Cork O'OConnor series comprise a series of stories set in Aurora Minnesota, an area of the country of which I'm blatantly ignorant. Frankly, in reading the reviews of this setting I managed to barely stifle a yawn. Small town mysteries set in a frozen wasteland? With boring backgrounds that involve Indian supernatural folklore - I don't stomach mysteries that resort to such subterfuge, avoid beyond this world explanations when the genre is detective/mystery, decry irrational explanations of the crime which to me defeat the whole purpose of reading the damn book (unless of course you are Michael Gruber and you're reading the Jimmy Paz series - yeah, I'll read anything Gruber puts out there!) - boring red neck characters (is there such a thing as a Minnesota red neck?), small town corruption and politics, incompetent forensics and pathologists, petty motivations,and what not. Needless to say, I wasn't thrilled.

And yet: In 2005 and 2006, Krueger won back to back Anthony Awards for best novel - a feat only matched by one other writer since the award's inception. Normally, as this essay so eloquently states, I don't ascribe to popularity, or the NYT Best Sellers list as those manuscripts inevitably disappoint but where it comes to mystery/detective awards, the final vote is usually something I can go for. And, as I was in a hurry and needed something to download to my Kindle, fully prepared to read yet another book full of flat characters, resigned myself to boring ethnographic descriptions, I said: "Screw it, let's give Mr. Krueger a try."

I found myself marveling at this author's delicate handling and knowledge of the very thing that made me not want to read it: The spiritual undertones and affectations that guide human beings (which I am interested in) but that can come loose at the seams when bordering on superstition and surreal explorations. That he does this through the juxtaposition of Catholicism and the folklore and beliefs of the Anishinaabeg, or "Original People", and that he does so by fusing that carefully within the storyline so that it never seems gratuitous, over played, or cause the outcome to be dependent on irrationality is masterful. Nice! As Mr. Krueger says:

"In the mysteries that I write, I often deal with the whole question of the spiritual journey. It’s always intrigued me. I’ve never believed in the Christian view of heaven. But I certainly believe in eternal life. It’s a belief that goes back to a black and white film I saw in a grungy movie theater when I was too young for all the esoteric considerations of the afterlife. It’s amazing, isn’t it, the things that can change your life."

In terms of the Anishinaabeg Mr. Krueger is careful to not enforce the stereotype to which most have come to:

[...]If you read my stories, please don’t read them as ethnography. The Anishinaabeg are far more complex culturally, rich historically, and textured spiritually, than I will ever be able to adequately portray in my writing. But if I’m able to give you a sense of the admiration I feel for them, then I’ve succeeded.

This book reminds me of my boyhood heroes. In the Netherlands where I was born, it wasn't cops and robbers we played while kids:it was cowboy and indians; my fictional heroes were Winnetou and Old Shatterhand a YA series published in the Netherlands but not available in the states. Krueger manages to convey the Native American culture spanning centuries, on into modern day America, in such a way so as to recall my boyhood dreams. There are terrifying moments, men bound to trees and being tortured, honor among killers, and dishonor and deceit within ordinary people.

As to Cork O'Connor the hero in this series. As most who read my reviews know, I thoroughly enjoy the loner as heroic, a man or woman who understands that despite social conventions (often designed to hide facing this) man is essentially alone, a creature running around on this planet with (hopefully) purpose. And, as most also know, I despise flat characters (Vince Flynn comes to mind - sorry, Leon!). Cork is the former, not the latter. As a father I understand the inexplicable guilt one feels towards one's children upon facing divorce. And as a father I have come to admire, as Cork does, the resiliency children have to overcome such a situation and make the best of it (far better managed than us adults!). Everything is about juxtaposition. Cork O'Conner is a man who believes in justice, not as meted out by often corrupt law enforcement, but the justice of not denying reality, the justice of truth. When Cork sets his mind to resolving a mystery that to others seems clear cut, ready to be put to rest, he is like a rabid dog unwilling to lessen the vice like grip of his jaws no matter what the consequences to himself and those he loves. We feel his struggle with morality, his disappointment with an almighty being, and yet feel his empirical longing for a peace that the world has consigned to other worldly systems. Cork is, forever, the man in between.

The plot is superb. The writing carefully edited so as to give us a straight mystery detective while infusing us with a pleasurable knowledge of Aurora, it's inhabitants, and the evil that belies even the most tranquil of locations.

Yeah, I liked it! And, the usual disclaimer, if you've read this review of one of the O'Connor series, you've read 'em all. Good reading!

[Kris (My Novelesque Life) · Rating 4 out of 5]

RATING: ★★★★1/2

Audiobook

(Review Not on Blog)

"When the corpse of a beautiful high school student is discovered on a hillside four months after her disappearance on New Year's Eve, all evidence points to her boyfriend, local bad boy Solemn Winter Moon. Despite Solemn's self-incriminating decision to go into hiding, Cork O'Connor, Aurora's former sheriff, isn't about to hang the crime on the kid, whom O'Connor is convinced is innocent. In an uphill battle to clear Solemn's name, Cork encounters no shortage of adversity. Some he knows all too well -- small-town bigotry and bureaucracy foremost among them. What Cork isn't prepared for is the emergence of a long-held resentment hailing from his own childhood. And when Solemn reappears, claiming to have seen a vision of Jesus Christ in Blood Hollow, the mystery becomes thornier than Cork could ever have anticipated. And that's when the miracles start happening.... " (From Publisher)

I rated the first novel three stars, and slowly have been going up half a star for each book ever. I thought I would stay at four stars for a few books, but wow this book was almost a five star. This book starts with a bang and almost like a race I kept wanting to read more and more. I was lucky that I was listening to this book when I had a day of chores. I listened to 75% of the book in one day. I liked that this book had more of the O'Connor family, and more of Rose. I am a HUGE fan of Rose. She is definitely the strength of the O'Connor family and also it's heart. Krueger and Cork describe Rose as smart and kind BUT also plain and overweight. I probably like Rose so much as I relate with her the most (other than Jenny for her love of poetry). I think Rose and Annie would be great detectives for a spin-off series - I like the quirkiness of Annie who compliments her aunt. The case in this book was also very fascinating as it uses big themes like religion, culture, love and secrets. Highly recommend this book and waiting patiently for May to read book five.

My Novelesque Life

[Olivermagnus · Rating 5 out of 5]

Charlotte Kane, daughter of the wealthy Fletcher Kane, disappears on New Year’s Eve in the small town of Aurora, Minnesota. Everyone, including former sheriff Cork O'Connor, is involved in the search for her. Despite the fascinating and somewhat paranormal incident Cork has while on his snowmobile, her body isn't found until the spring thaw. She disappeared after a fight with ex-lover, Solemn Winter Moon, a young Ojibwe Indian. He becomes the only “person of interest” in the investigation and Cork, believing him innocent, agrees to help him.

There are so many things going on in this book. Cork’s wife, Jo, accepts Solemn's case, uncovering a few well-hidden secrets that point to other law-abiding citizens. Solemn claims to have talked with Jesus in the woods (Jesus is wearing Minnetonka moccasins), leading him to become much more serious and pragmatic. Cork's family is front and center in this book, including Rose, Jo's sister, and her relationship with the Catholic Church. I admire the way the author writes his female characters in this series. Cork is surrounded by women: his wife, his sister-in-law, and his two teenage daughters and Krueger shows a lot of sensitivity in relating their feelings and emotions.

There is a very complex plot dealing with several themes, including murder, miracles, and spirituality in both Catholicism and native American religion. Cork, part Ojibwe and part Catholic, questions what he really believes in. Again, the author explores these themes in a non-proselytizing way that links all the story lines. I've recently started this series and absolutely love it. I can't believe I've owned the books for so long and am just now reading them. I think you can enjoy this book out of order, but there's a lot of back story that makes it more enjoyable if you've read the books in order, starting with Iron Lake. For anyone wanting to experience what a fantastic author William Kent Krueger is, I also highly recommend his standalone novel, Ordinary Grace.

[Dave Wickenden · Rating 5 out of 5]

A local girls disappears after a New Year Eve party, the entire town searches the winter woods. When her body if found in the spring, a native boy who she used to date is accused, but Cork O’Conner doesn’t buy it. Determined to get to the truth of it, Cork does his own investigating.

As good as his other books, this one was exceptional. I thought I had it figured out early on in the story, but Krueger is a master storyteller and offers many twists and turns that you doubt yourself many times while reading. Can’t wait for the next book in the series.

[Vannetta Chapman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Krueger's Cork O'Connor series just gets better with each book.

There were two things about this one that intrigued me. One was the long time-line...the action happens over the course of 6-9 months. I enjoyed starting in the dead of winner and ending in summer. The second thing that stands out in this book, for me, was the intersection of spirituality (as practiced by the Native Americans) and Christian faith. Extremely well done. And the ending? Perfect.

Highly recommend (some language and reference to violent acts, only as necessary for the plot of a murder investigation).

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is another series that just gets better and better. Krueger uses the setting again to really give his story that extra magic. The reader really feels like they are in Aurora, Minnesota, USA as we move from winter into summer. Ex sheriff Cork O'Connor has a mystery on his hands to work out who killed a young high school woman. Can he save Solemn Winter Moon and prove his innocence? This time around mysticism plays a larger role than it has in previous books and it's up to the reader to work out fact from fiction. If you can.

Again the author gives you a nugget that if you pay attention you can work out the murderer. Often it's just a connection between different characters talking. I knew who the murderer was from about a third of the way through, but that in no way took away from my enjoyment of the book. Plus even while knowing who the murderer is, you still need to know motive. Sometimes what Cork turns up in his investigation can be completely unexpected. As the storyline twists and turns it uncovers a past that was both tragic and heart rending.

I'm either getting sappy in my old age or just getting recommended the right books. This book whilst it didn't make me cry, there was definitely a lump in my throat. Krueger makes you care for these characters he has created and you just want the best for them. No matter what. We're going on a journey through their lives as time is progressing through each book. But this is a contemporary mystery series and there are going to be dark times. Times that you don't know who will still be left standing by the end of the book.

If you're not reading this mystery series and you love mystery books, it's well worth your time to try this series out. Highly recommended.

[Marty Fried · Rating 5 out of 5]

William Kent Krueger is becoming one of my favorite authors. His books are, to me, on a higher level than most similar books in that they seem to have it all - great characters, great stories, great sense of place, and general life things to think about. He makes me think I'd like to visit that area of the country, although perhaps not in the winter. 😱

His book remind me in some ways of the Chief Inspector Armand Gamache novels by Louise Penny, which I also love and would like to visit and meet the people there.

This story was very complex with several suspects in a murder case. The story progressed in a somewhat straight line except for a slight detour around an appearance by Jesus, but then it suddenly took a really sharp OMFG turn that changed everything. But even that didn't give away the actual perp, which was a total surprise to me.

The book can be read standalone, but it's probably more enjoyable to read the previous books in the series, as there are references to the past here and there. And if you like this book, you'll probably want to read the earlier ones anyway.

By the way, the audiobook was well done. David Chandler did a good job, and I had no trouble understanding him.