What do you think?
Rate this book
Cork O'Connor #15
Manitou Canyon
In the extraordinary new Cork O’Connor thriller from New York Times bestselling and Edgar Award–winning author William Kent Krueger, the lives of hundreds of innocent people are at stake when Cork vanishes just days before his daughter’s wedding.
Since the violent deaths of his wife, father, and best friend all occurred in previous Novembers, Cork O’Connor has always considered it to be the cruelest of months. Yet, his daughter has chosen this dismal time of year in which to marry, and Cork is understandably uneasy.
His concern comes to a head when a man camping in Minnesota’s Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness goes missing. As the official search ends with no recovery in sight, Cork is asked by the man’s family to stay on the case. Although the wedding is fast approaching and the weather looks threatening, he accepts and returns to that vast wilderness.
As the sky darkens and the days pass, Cork’s family anxiously awaits his return. Finally certain that something has gone terribly wrong, they fly by floatplane to the lake where the missing man was last seen. Locating Cork’s campsite, they find no sign of him. They do find blood, however. A lot of it.
With an early winter storm on the horizon, it’s a race against time as Cork’s family struggles to uncover the mystery behind these disappearances. Little do they know, not only is Cork’s life on the line, but so are the lives of hundreds of others.
Since the violent deaths of his wife, father, and best friend all occurred in previous Novembers, Cork O’Connor has always considered it to be the cruelest of months. Yet, his daughter has chosen this dismal time of year in which to marry, and Cork is understandably uneasy.
His concern comes to a head when a man camping in Minnesota’s Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness goes missing. As the official search ends with no recovery in sight, Cork is asked by the man’s family to stay on the case. Although the wedding is fast approaching and the weather looks threatening, he accepts and returns to that vast wilderness.
As the sky darkens and the days pass, Cork’s family anxiously awaits his return. Finally certain that something has gone terribly wrong, they fly by floatplane to the lake where the missing man was last seen. Locating Cork’s campsite, they find no sign of him. They do find blood, however. A lot of it.
With an early winter storm on the horizon, it’s a race against time as Cork’s family struggles to uncover the mystery behind these disappearances. Little do they know, not only is Cork’s life on the line, but so are the lives of hundreds of others.
336 pages, Paperback
First published September 6, 2016
2074 people are currently reading
3933 people want to read
About the author
William Kent Krueger
80 books16.2k followersRaised 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.
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.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,048 reviews
June 5, 2016
Hard to believe this is the fifteenth book in the series. I feel as if I have grown up with this family, fell in love with them all, Cork and of course the midi Henry. The strong sense of family in these book are one of the biggest draws. The culture, Ojibwa old ways, visions, sweat lodges mixed with the new. The location of the boundary waters, which I hope to visit in late summer, have never been but it sounds beautiful.
In this outing Cork goes missing trying to locate a missing grandfather whom Cork knew as a child. The descriptions of the lakes in the boundary waters, the scenery, just gorgeous. Suspenseful because while we are privy to both sides, those searching for Cork, including family members and Cork himself, Corks side seems very implosive. There is honor among thieves and some dishonor among them as well. A new arrival will shake things up too. he ending was a little sentimental, but with this family oh so very fitting.
ARc from published.
In this outing Cork goes missing trying to locate a missing grandfather whom Cork knew as a child. The descriptions of the lakes in the boundary waters, the scenery, just gorgeous. Suspenseful because while we are privy to both sides, those searching for Cork, including family members and Cork himself, Corks side seems very implosive. There is honor among thieves and some dishonor among them as well. A new arrival will shake things up too. he ending was a little sentimental, but with this family oh so very fitting.
ARc from published.
October 26, 2016
Review to come. It's after 1 a.m. and I need sleep. (Later.) Okay, here we go!
William Kent Krueger took me to the Boundary Waters of Minnesota yesterday. November is a cruel month there. Winter is waking up; cold is settling in. One day wind and gray clouds bring snow, and the next everything is still and lakes have a thin coating of ice. It is such a beautiful place, and a person can get lost there.
Cork has personal animosity toward November. Too many bad things have happened in that month in years past. He's unsettled and on a journey he's not even aware of. As he tries to find a missing man, he finds himself.
Anishinaabe beliefs, rituals, and wisdom are prevalent here and I loved it! I want to burn some sage and cedar. I want a sweat. I worry about old Henry Meloux with every book. Several characters have a sense of doom, including Stephen who returns from a sojourn in Arizona, and Rainy's Aunt Leah who returns to her roots. Jenny's marriage to Daniel is to take place in two weeks, but Cork believes he'll be back long before that.
I must admit that I also felt a sense of doom. I was so afraid of how Krueger was going to end this book. As the end got closer, I just couldn't stop reading!
William Kent Krueger took me to the Boundary Waters of Minnesota yesterday. November is a cruel month there. Winter is waking up; cold is settling in. One day wind and gray clouds bring snow, and the next everything is still and lakes have a thin coating of ice. It is such a beautiful place, and a person can get lost there.
Cork has personal animosity toward November. Too many bad things have happened in that month in years past. He's unsettled and on a journey he's not even aware of. As he tries to find a missing man, he finds himself.
Anishinaabe beliefs, rituals, and wisdom are prevalent here and I loved it! I want to burn some sage and cedar. I want a sweat. I worry about old Henry Meloux with every book. Several characters have a sense of doom, including Stephen who returns from a sojourn in Arizona, and Rainy's Aunt Leah who returns to her roots. Jenny's marriage to Daniel is to take place in two weeks, but Cork believes he'll be back long before that.
I must admit that I also felt a sense of doom. I was so afraid of how Krueger was going to end this book. As the end got closer, I just couldn't stop reading!
March 5, 2018
When I started Manitou Canyon I thought oh dear here we go again with Cork going off into the cold winter wilderness, putting his life at risk for the sake of others and leaving his family to get on with things as best they could. But as the story continued things got much, much better and it ended up being an excellent book.
Cork does go off into the wilderness, two weeks before his daughter's wedding,and he does put his life at risk and his family do have to deal, but a lot of other things happen too. I enjoyed all the family scenes in this book especially as Jenny at last acts as a mother and stays home with her son! Rose has a happy moment and there is a family wedding to put a smile on every ones face.
We leave the book with Cork in a happy place but I fully expect that to be wiped out quickly in the next book. Pretty sure the author will not want to write about a happy hero.
Cork does go off into the wilderness, two weeks before his daughter's wedding,and he does put his life at risk and his family do have to deal, but a lot of other things happen too. I enjoyed all the family scenes in this book especially as Jenny at last acts as a mother and stays home with her son! Rose has a happy moment and there is a family wedding to put a smile on every ones face.
We leave the book with Cork in a happy place but I fully expect that to be wiped out quickly in the next book. Pretty sure the author will not want to write about a happy hero.
August 9, 2020
There are some writers who definitely seem to write effortlessly telling their story and making it flow with grace and elegance. Mr Krueger is in that category.
This is the fifteenth book in the Cork O'Connor, but the first one I have read. (guess I have a lot of catching up to do!) Cork is a rugged man one who has a keen sense not only of the environment but also of the people who populate it. He abhors the month of November for it is the cruelest month for him having lost family and friends in this time. However, evil omens be dammed as his daughter has chosen November for her nuptials.
Danger comes when a man Krueger once knew goes missing in Minnesota’s Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. The searchers have had no luck in finding him and give up the search while the missing man's grandchildren beg Cork to stay on and search more.
Joined by the missing man's granddaughter, Cork enters a world of danger, one where not only is his life threatened but also that of many others.
Told with beautiful detail, a hint of the mystical, respect for the indigenous people, and deference for the environment, this story is one that ropes you in, holds your attention, and makes one develop a keen respect for an author who truly knows his craft. Definitely recommend this one!
This is the fifteenth book in the Cork O'Connor, but the first one I have read. (guess I have a lot of catching up to do!) Cork is a rugged man one who has a keen sense not only of the environment but also of the people who populate it. He abhors the month of November for it is the cruelest month for him having lost family and friends in this time. However, evil omens be dammed as his daughter has chosen November for her nuptials.
Danger comes when a man Krueger once knew goes missing in Minnesota’s Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. The searchers have had no luck in finding him and give up the search while the missing man's grandchildren beg Cork to stay on and search more.
Joined by the missing man's granddaughter, Cork enters a world of danger, one where not only is his life threatened but also that of many others.
Told with beautiful detail, a hint of the mystical, respect for the indigenous people, and deference for the environment, this story is one that ropes you in, holds your attention, and makes one develop a keen respect for an author who truly knows his craft. Definitely recommend this one!
October 29, 2016
Manitou Canyon by William Kent Krueger
Cork O’Connor has the November blues. It’s not just the fading of summer and the advent of the long, cold winter that causes his spirits to sag. It’s the memory of his November losses of loved ones that ache in his the depths of his soul.
When the grandchildren of a childhood friend come to him with a request that he help them find their grandfather, who mysteriously disappeared while fishing in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area, Cork knows he must try. Despite the fact that his daughter Jenny’s wedding is merely two weeks away, he heads up to the BWCA with the missing man’s granddaughter. He tells his family it will be two days, three at most, and that he will be home in plenty of time for the wedding. Why does it seem that this may not be the case?
Manitou Canyon is William Kent Krueger’s fifteenth Cork O’Connor mystery. I loved this one as much as I loved Iron Lake, his first, and the thirteen in between. Krueger is a master storyteller. His style is comfortable, almost folksy. The dialogue feels genuine. I listened to an audio version of the book, and at one point, Cork sings a canoeing song, only the narrator merely spoke it. I knew the song – I wish he’d have sung it! Krueger makes you care about his characters. Cork is part Irish, part Ojibwe, and all of the books in the series have a strong Native American flavor with plots and characters that utilize Cork’s background and connection to his native heritage.
This book is especially steeped in native culture and tradition. It even taps into current events. In an effort to avoid spoiling anything, I will say only that something in this book reminded me of current situations where Native Americans are banding together to protect their water and their land. We get plenty of the wisdom of old “Mide” (healer), Henry Meloux, who at 100 is still going strong. His niece Rainy is very present in this book as well, as are two of Cork’s children, their aunt Rose, and Jenny’s fiancé Daniel and Jenny’s adopted four-year-old-son “Waboo.” The strong presence of family was central to the book. Even among Cork’s rivals, the sense of loyalty to one’s bloodline is deep, something a man like Cork can respect.
Amid the harsh gray November sky, the icy cold, crystal clear lake water, and the solitude of the north woods, lies danger and disquietude. Krueger paints us a picture with his words. We worry about the angry sky, shiver with cold, almost smell the campfire and the sage of the smudge, and our hearts pound with nervous anticipation as we sense – we know – that trouble is coming.
Another thing that I really appreciate about this series is that Cork rarely resorts to violence to solve his problems. He thinks and problem solves. He talks. He listens. He goes within himself and remembers the teaching of his mentor, Henry Meloux: patience. In the end, he understands.
I loved this book. Krueger flipped back and forth between Cork in the BWCA and his family and friends back home as they worked to help him. There were a few minor things that bugged me, except, of course, there are no bugs in the BWCA in November. It’s too cold. I wasn’t too crazy about the narrator. I’d have preferred a print version of the book, but the audiobook was the first available from the library. The term “the sour woman” used to describe Mrs. Gray got really tedious after a while, even though it was a perfect description. The leeway given to the family by the Canadian authorities seemed unrealistic. I suppose, too, that the finale was a bit too neat and tidy and maybe even sentimental. But after all the bad Novembers Cork has had, I figure he deserves some happy endings. Besides, none of these things really came as a surprise – we were given hints along the way. Well, one thing did surprise me – Henry’s outward display of joy!
If you haven’t read William Kent Krueger’s Cork O’Connor series, start now. It will soften your November blues (or any other month, for that matter)!
5 stars
Cork O’Connor has the November blues. It’s not just the fading of summer and the advent of the long, cold winter that causes his spirits to sag. It’s the memory of his November losses of loved ones that ache in his the depths of his soul.
When the grandchildren of a childhood friend come to him with a request that he help them find their grandfather, who mysteriously disappeared while fishing in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area, Cork knows he must try. Despite the fact that his daughter Jenny’s wedding is merely two weeks away, he heads up to the BWCA with the missing man’s granddaughter. He tells his family it will be two days, three at most, and that he will be home in plenty of time for the wedding. Why does it seem that this may not be the case?
Manitou Canyon is William Kent Krueger’s fifteenth Cork O’Connor mystery. I loved this one as much as I loved Iron Lake, his first, and the thirteen in between. Krueger is a master storyteller. His style is comfortable, almost folksy. The dialogue feels genuine. I listened to an audio version of the book, and at one point, Cork sings a canoeing song, only the narrator merely spoke it. I knew the song – I wish he’d have sung it! Krueger makes you care about his characters. Cork is part Irish, part Ojibwe, and all of the books in the series have a strong Native American flavor with plots and characters that utilize Cork’s background and connection to his native heritage.
This book is especially steeped in native culture and tradition. It even taps into current events. In an effort to avoid spoiling anything, I will say only that something in this book reminded me of current situations where Native Americans are banding together to protect their water and their land. We get plenty of the wisdom of old “Mide” (healer), Henry Meloux, who at 100 is still going strong. His niece Rainy is very present in this book as well, as are two of Cork’s children, their aunt Rose, and Jenny’s fiancé Daniel and Jenny’s adopted four-year-old-son “Waboo.” The strong presence of family was central to the book. Even among Cork’s rivals, the sense of loyalty to one’s bloodline is deep, something a man like Cork can respect.
Amid the harsh gray November sky, the icy cold, crystal clear lake water, and the solitude of the north woods, lies danger and disquietude. Krueger paints us a picture with his words. We worry about the angry sky, shiver with cold, almost smell the campfire and the sage of the smudge, and our hearts pound with nervous anticipation as we sense – we know – that trouble is coming.
Another thing that I really appreciate about this series is that Cork rarely resorts to violence to solve his problems. He thinks and problem solves. He talks. He listens. He goes within himself and remembers the teaching of his mentor, Henry Meloux: patience. In the end, he understands.
I loved this book. Krueger flipped back and forth between Cork in the BWCA and his family and friends back home as they worked to help him. There were a few minor things that bugged me, except, of course, there are no bugs in the BWCA in November. It’s too cold. I wasn’t too crazy about the narrator. I’d have preferred a print version of the book, but the audiobook was the first available from the library. The term “the sour woman” used to describe Mrs. Gray got really tedious after a while, even though it was a perfect description. The leeway given to the family by the Canadian authorities seemed unrealistic. I suppose, too, that the finale was a bit too neat and tidy and maybe even sentimental. But after all the bad Novembers Cork has had, I figure he deserves some happy endings. Besides, none of these things really came as a surprise – we were given hints along the way. Well, one thing did surprise me – Henry’s outward display of joy!
If you haven’t read William Kent Krueger’s Cork O’Connor series, start now. It will soften your November blues (or any other month, for that matter)!
5 stars
March 17, 2024
Rating: 4.65
As the baseball phrase goes, 'batting out of order', I've been jumping from one Cork O'Connor episode to another, this being one of the more current ones. Similar to the others, the Aurora, MN father, owner of Sam's Cafe, private investigator and friend to Henry Meloux is sent on another hunt, only this one is filled with potholes.
Cork always dreads the month of November having lost his father, wife and sheriff's position in the coldness of its annual appearance.
When he learns his lifelong friend, John Harris, nicknamed John Do suddenly disappears on a fishing trip to the Boundary Waters, November memories trigger. Search and rescue missions launch unsuccessfully and the assumption is Harris is dead. His granddaughter Lindsay drops in at Sam's to have a chat with her grandpa's long time friend. Young and attractive, Lindsay persuades Cork to find her grandfather and wants to accompany him on the hunt. Meanwhile Leah, an old flame of Henry's shows up the cabin on Crows Point to settle what was left open years previous. Lindsay's brother arrives shortly after stating he'd had a 'vision' about Grandpa John and wanted Henry to help him understand its nature.
At Cork's home on Gooseberry Lane, his family readies for Christmas and oldest daughter Jenny's wedding to Daniel English, a Native who'd bonded with her father. Mother to adopted 4 year old son Waaboo, Jenny was consumed with the publishing of her first novel, her Aunt Rose coming to the rescue for childcare. When word got out about Harris, and knowing of her Dad's November darkness, she grew concerned he'd been hired to trek into the dangerous Boundary Waters to find his old friend.
Soon after Cork and Lindsay begin the trek, they're captured by a trio whose mission is being directed from an unknown 'employer' in Canada. With the Aurora sheriff losing contact, Cork's family becomes frightened as suspense continually builds.
This is another fine example of Krueger's mystery prowess and his ability to immerse the reader without darkness, blood and violence. Coupling his knowledge of the MN area, Indian spirit with themes of family, friendship, redemption and love, the book becomes a page turner with each plot twist.
What I enjoy most about WKK is a magician type of 'misdirection' that keeps the reader on the ropes as he adds unexpected plot twists. Nearly every chapter comes with surprises and they build as the story nears the finish line. Highly recommended for those who enjoy immersive writing, suspense, Indian lore with twists and turns out of left field.
As the baseball phrase goes, 'batting out of order', I've been jumping from one Cork O'Connor episode to another, this being one of the more current ones. Similar to the others, the Aurora, MN father, owner of Sam's Cafe, private investigator and friend to Henry Meloux is sent on another hunt, only this one is filled with potholes.
Cork always dreads the month of November having lost his father, wife and sheriff's position in the coldness of its annual appearance.
When he learns his lifelong friend, John Harris, nicknamed John Do suddenly disappears on a fishing trip to the Boundary Waters, November memories trigger. Search and rescue missions launch unsuccessfully and the assumption is Harris is dead. His granddaughter Lindsay drops in at Sam's to have a chat with her grandpa's long time friend. Young and attractive, Lindsay persuades Cork to find her grandfather and wants to accompany him on the hunt. Meanwhile Leah, an old flame of Henry's shows up the cabin on Crows Point to settle what was left open years previous. Lindsay's brother arrives shortly after stating he'd had a 'vision' about Grandpa John and wanted Henry to help him understand its nature.
At Cork's home on Gooseberry Lane, his family readies for Christmas and oldest daughter Jenny's wedding to Daniel English, a Native who'd bonded with her father. Mother to adopted 4 year old son Waaboo, Jenny was consumed with the publishing of her first novel, her Aunt Rose coming to the rescue for childcare. When word got out about Harris, and knowing of her Dad's November darkness, she grew concerned he'd been hired to trek into the dangerous Boundary Waters to find his old friend.
Soon after Cork and Lindsay begin the trek, they're captured by a trio whose mission is being directed from an unknown 'employer' in Canada. With the Aurora sheriff losing contact, Cork's family becomes frightened as suspense continually builds.
This is another fine example of Krueger's mystery prowess and his ability to immerse the reader without darkness, blood and violence. Coupling his knowledge of the MN area, Indian spirit with themes of family, friendship, redemption and love, the book becomes a page turner with each plot twist.
What I enjoy most about WKK is a magician type of 'misdirection' that keeps the reader on the ropes as he adds unexpected plot twists. Nearly every chapter comes with surprises and they build as the story nears the finish line. Highly recommended for those who enjoy immersive writing, suspense, Indian lore with twists and turns out of left field.
September 24, 2016
A powerful story, complete with mysticism, visions and dreams. At the center of the story is family and what we will do for them. Cork O’Connor is hired by two siblings to find their grandfather, who went missing while fishing on the Boundary Waters. Cork considers himself Ogichidaa, a man who stands between evil and his people. The interesting twist to this story is that the man who stands on the opposite side also considers himself Ogichidaa. Krueger has done a great job of creating fully developed “bad guys”. These aren't your typical sociopaths, but folks who are doing what they think is right.
This is a wonderful series complete with a great set of characters. This book is a worthy addition to the prior books in the series. Krueger’s words paint the locations so you feel you can see them. “That was one of the things he loved about the North Country. A map, though useful in some ways, told nothing. It couldn't give in the least way a sense of the land itself, its size, which was measured truly not in square miles but in days paddling and portaging. It gave no sense of the thousand moments when a man���s breath was taken away by some sudden, unexpected beauty. It offered no warnings of the dangers...that might await the unwary. It was untamed land, and there was not much of that left anywhere. It felt sacred to him.” He does an equally good job of incorporating Indian religious views and practices into the story line.
March 22, 2018
It’s November, a month that holds some pretty bad memories for Cork O’Connor and his mood reflects as much. However, his daughter Jenny is getting married in two weeks so he has some reason for optimism. When he’s approached by the grandchildren of a childhood friend who went missing in the Boundary Waters wilderness to continue searching for him, Cork agrees to give the effort one last shot as it appears there’s a prophecy connection.
I had a slow start to this story as it first seemed to be yet another case where Cork puts his life in danger without thought to those left behind. But, it’s not that kind of story even though his life becomes at risk. It’s an opportunity for Cork to really explore who he is, who and what is important to him and the essence of his heritage and humanity. This all may sound sort of lofty but it’s in the context of beautiful surroundings amid an interesting mix of diverse characters.
It took me a while to untangle the who, what and why and that kept me moving forward. The story embraces so much of the O’Connor family and I must say that Waaboo has completely charmed me as he’s done to everyone else. This turned out to be a very interesting story, though the ending wrapped up a bit too neatly (I admit Cork was owed that). David Chandler continues to deliver a pitch perfect performance and I’m so glad he’s back in the narrator seat.
I had a slow start to this story as it first seemed to be yet another case where Cork puts his life in danger without thought to those left behind. But, it’s not that kind of story even though his life becomes at risk. It’s an opportunity for Cork to really explore who he is, who and what is important to him and the essence of his heritage and humanity. This all may sound sort of lofty but it’s in the context of beautiful surroundings amid an interesting mix of diverse characters.
It took me a while to untangle the who, what and why and that kept me moving forward. The story embraces so much of the O’Connor family and I must say that Waaboo has completely charmed me as he’s done to everyone else. This turned out to be a very interesting story, though the ending wrapped up a bit too neatly (I admit Cork was owed that). David Chandler continues to deliver a pitch perfect performance and I’m so glad he’s back in the narrator seat.
October 30, 2016
Love, love, love William Kent Krueger's writing. If I post about the forms of his prose, I become gushing. But as much as I love his Iron Lake /Northern MN placements and the way he tells a tale- I MUCH prefer his stand alone novels. Ordinary Grace was perfection. His natural world descriptions of quiet action, even in the hush of seeming noiselessness- superb.
This was closer to a 3.5 star but I could not round it up. The mood of the principle players, nearly all of the dozen or so main movers in this November timed sequence tend heavily toward the morose, with a side serving of contempt. Sprinkled in some cases with evil intent retribution. And this is the "happy" time in the weeks just before Cork's daughter's wedding?
Well, we have oodles of tribal traditional mystical beliefs and dreams/events that occur at all points in the long novel. And some sweats to bring them on. And Henry voicing his stolid endurance memes nearly every time he appears in the print. Often. That's too severe a notice for the proposed tone of this book, I do realize this. But come on- when people are missing, foul play is sure to have happened and no phone calls are coming in at all? The young warrior in the making, Bird- he was so much more authentic for any approach to current times reality, IMHO. As was Aaron.
Rainy and Leah both drove me nuts in this one. Strictly using the woman path? Waiting at home and gossiping in the kitchen? Why would a woman return after 50 years to pester an old man who rejected her so many decades ago and in the way that she did? Just because now she was alone for the first time in all those decades? Some of the story lines were dumb in this one. Very male centered in connotation and implication for the Point side (Henry's home) placements. How conventional/convenient that Leah shows up after this is all over so that Rainy can leave, huh! Henry must be served and can't be alone at his age and dementia? NOT!
Up until the second fight scene during the journey North I was embedded. After that, not so much. People (the group of four from the first chapter) who do what they did earlier in their plans and actions would never have been so amiable after 4 days more together under such circumstances with people they have kidnapped and already injured. Not even with Cork helping Bird and all their altruistic green and Nation causes. In fact, only the woman whose brother was killed seems to approach the reality of terrorist action and motives for this kind of attempted plan.
And another thing that irks the heck out of me in this series. The Casino most always figures somewhere. As does a lengthy discourse (in this book it occurs at least twice)to the evils of gambling. And then there usually follows (as in this one too) all the exceptional and wonderful levels of healthy living that come out of the profits. And then a type of "mea culpa" of excuses to follow. And always too a "wise" man or woman in Casino operation tells one of the major players in the story when they show up to meet or ask questions, why are they there. "You aren't here to gamble, are you?" Talk about a dichotomy!
This is not my favorite Cork- and the ending was a tack on to tie all the ends together. And the implications in emotional depth "off". Rainy? I could say more but don't want to give spoilers. THINK, Rainy! Being a Mide or Mid, it certainly hasn't made you conducive to the emotive and self-cognition to his "truth". He still believes he is an "O". All his mindset sits in the "me think" not the "we think" because of finely honed and decades length practice as barrier man. And with little verbalization skills for joy on top of it. Get yourself another cabin by Henry and let him visit.
This was closer to a 3.5 star but I could not round it up. The mood of the principle players, nearly all of the dozen or so main movers in this November timed sequence tend heavily toward the morose, with a side serving of contempt. Sprinkled in some cases with evil intent retribution. And this is the "happy" time in the weeks just before Cork's daughter's wedding?
Well, we have oodles of tribal traditional mystical beliefs and dreams/events that occur at all points in the long novel. And some sweats to bring them on. And Henry voicing his stolid endurance memes nearly every time he appears in the print. Often. That's too severe a notice for the proposed tone of this book, I do realize this. But come on- when people are missing, foul play is sure to have happened and no phone calls are coming in at all? The young warrior in the making, Bird- he was so much more authentic for any approach to current times reality, IMHO. As was Aaron.
Rainy and Leah both drove me nuts in this one. Strictly using the woman path? Waiting at home and gossiping in the kitchen? Why would a woman return after 50 years to pester an old man who rejected her so many decades ago and in the way that she did? Just because now she was alone for the first time in all those decades? Some of the story lines were dumb in this one. Very male centered in connotation and implication for the Point side (Henry's home) placements. How conventional/convenient that Leah shows up after this is all over so that Rainy can leave, huh! Henry must be served and can't be alone at his age and dementia? NOT!
Up until the second fight scene during the journey North I was embedded. After that, not so much. People (the group of four from the first chapter) who do what they did earlier in their plans and actions would never have been so amiable after 4 days more together under such circumstances with people they have kidnapped and already injured. Not even with Cork helping Bird and all their altruistic green and Nation causes. In fact, only the woman whose brother was killed seems to approach the reality of terrorist action and motives for this kind of attempted plan.
And another thing that irks the heck out of me in this series. The Casino most always figures somewhere. As does a lengthy discourse (in this book it occurs at least twice)to the evils of gambling. And then there usually follows (as in this one too) all the exceptional and wonderful levels of healthy living that come out of the profits. And then a type of "mea culpa" of excuses to follow. And always too a "wise" man or woman in Casino operation tells one of the major players in the story when they show up to meet or ask questions, why are they there. "You aren't here to gamble, are you?" Talk about a dichotomy!
This is not my favorite Cork- and the ending was a tack on to tie all the ends together. And the implications in emotional depth "off". Rainy? I could say more but don't want to give spoilers. THINK, Rainy! Being a Mide or Mid, it certainly hasn't made you conducive to the emotive and self-cognition to his "truth". He still believes he is an "O". All his mindset sits in the "me think" not the "we think" because of finely honed and decades length practice as barrier man. And with little verbalization skills for joy on top of it. Get yourself another cabin by Henry and let him visit.
August 5, 2019
This is the 15th offering in the Cork O’Connor crime series that began long ago with Iron Lake. Krueger has Cork O’Connor agreeing to search for Lindsay and Trevor Harris’s grandfather, the owner of a hugely successful construction design firm who disappeared earlier while on a fishing trip. The former sheriff, and current private investigator, along with Lindsay Harris head out to Lindsay’s grandfather’s last known location—Raspberry Lake in the Boundary Waters of Minnesota. Little do they know that there are people hunting for them too—people who are armed and dangerous.
Krueger has chosen to include a lot of Anishinaabe culture in this story. The Native American influence is presented through the elder Ojibwe mide Henry Meloux and his niece, Rainy, as they seek healing guidance through sweats in a traditional sweat lodge. Indeed, it is the spiritual component that Krueger includes that is the charm of this series. The author does not repeatedly use violence to move the plot along as many crime authors tend to do. Instead, there is the focus on one’s spirit and how that spirit can be damaged by gambling, greed, and even a form of ecoterrorism. Welcome to the Boundary Waters region in November! It is cold, but beautiful.
Krueger has chosen to include a lot of Anishinaabe culture in this story. The Native American influence is presented through the elder Ojibwe mide Henry Meloux and his niece, Rainy, as they seek healing guidance through sweats in a traditional sweat lodge. Indeed, it is the spiritual component that Krueger includes that is the charm of this series. The author does not repeatedly use violence to move the plot along as many crime authors tend to do. Instead, there is the focus on one’s spirit and how that spirit can be damaged by gambling, greed, and even a form of ecoterrorism. Welcome to the Boundary Waters region in November! It is cold, but beautiful.
March 3, 2023
I listened to the audiobook with Simon. We enjoyed it, especially from an ecological environmental perspective. There were some happy endings also.
August 29, 2016
In this book Cork O'Connor is asked to help find an old friend who disappeared while fishing. O'Connor and the adult granddaughter of the missing man set off to search and then they also disappear.
I've read only one other book in the Cork O'Connor series and I'm not sure that I will be continuing with it. It wasn't a bad thriller and I liked the parts dealing with the disappearance of Cork in the wilderness. However, half of the book was taken up by the efforts of his extended family and friends to locate him. There were too many characters and also too many visions. I don't have much patience for the mystical or for sacred rivers or things of that ilk. It was all too Scooby-Doo for me and I started to skim those chapters.
My biggest problem with the book was the conclusion that it seemed to reach that terrorism is just nifty if your cause is a good one. Isn't that the justification that all terrorists give? I really found the ending of this book morally repugnant.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.
I've read only one other book in the Cork O'Connor series and I'm not sure that I will be continuing with it. It wasn't a bad thriller and I liked the parts dealing with the disappearance of Cork in the wilderness. However, half of the book was taken up by the efforts of his extended family and friends to locate him. There were too many characters and also too many visions. I don't have much patience for the mystical or for sacred rivers or things of that ilk. It was all too Scooby-Doo for me and I started to skim those chapters.
My biggest problem with the book was the conclusion that it seemed to reach that terrorism is just nifty if your cause is a good one. Isn't that the justification that all terrorists give? I really found the ending of this book morally repugnant.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.
October 17, 2021
Krueger brings back Cork O'Connor again. This time, O'Connor helps a young woman look for her Grandfather, who disappeared in the BWCA under suspicious circumstances. Although this book has the usual large helping of loving family members and a gigantic serving of Native mysticism, it surprisingly has a complex thriller plot where people are not what they seem, a big conspiracy is perpetrating horrific acts all over the country, and things will end badly for Cork and his friends unless he finds a way to turn the tables. As with all Krueger novels, the landscape is a major character, wild, fragrant, and dangerous to the inattentive in any season.
I still don't forgive Krueger for killing off Cork's wife a few books ago. I had invested a lot of understanding in her character and their relationship--to kill her off was bad enough, but to do so for no reason useful to the story was just mean. I still think he was not-so-subtly trying to kill the series, but like the Frankenstein monster, the series is now more powerful than the creator.
I still don't forgive Krueger for killing off Cork's wife a few books ago. I had invested a lot of understanding in her character and their relationship--to kill her off was bad enough, but to do so for no reason useful to the story was just mean. I still think he was not-so-subtly trying to kill the series, but like the Frankenstein monster, the series is now more powerful than the creator.
July 11, 2025
Cork O’Conner is hired to continue in a search for a woman’s grandfather. It’s not great timing with his daughter’s approaching wedding, but Cork is feeling antsy and wants to help. They head out by canoe into the Boundary Waters, going to the last place he had been seen. It’s soon apparent there are others on the island, and soon they are caught up into something bigger than they expected.
Cork’s family and friends are worried when they don’t hear from him, so they begin searching for the search party. There are plots and complex schemes, visions and intrigue, hidden agendas and double crossing. It all makes for a dramatic and entertaining story.
Cork’s family and friends are worried when they don’t hear from him, so they begin searching for the search party. There are plots and complex schemes, visions and intrigue, hidden agendas and double crossing. It all makes for a dramatic and entertaining story.
October 15, 2016
Cork O'Connor is hired by the grandchildren of a wealthy structural architect to find out whether he survived a disappearance in the North Country (i.e., the Boundary Waters of Minnesota.) Cork and the granddaughter are captured by a group whose agenda is unclear at the outset. Meanwhile, son Stephen returns from the desert, worried about his father's disappearance, and old flame of Henry Meloux shows up angry, disrupting Rainy and life at Crow Point. Action moves back and forth between Cork and his captors, and the search and investigation as to what is really happening. The first 75% of the book was 5 star, but the plots were a little too conveniently tied up.
October 15, 2016
First Sentence: In the gray of early afternoon, the canoes drew up to the shoreline of the island.
John Harris disappeared at while fishing with his grand-son and -daughter. Although an exhaustive search was done, of which PI Cork O’Connor was a part, nothing was found. Now Harris’ grandchildren are back, claiming the grown grandson had a vision which involved Cork’s son Stephen, and want Cork to help them search again. In spite of it being only days before Cork’s daughter’s wedding, he agrees, and Cork and the granddaughter head into the Boundary Waters where they encounter danger that risks not only their lives, but the lives of countless others.
No prologue here. Instead, we have an opening that extremely effective, and very worrying, before switching to introducing Cork, and explaining why the month of November is one which Cork dreads—“She knew his history with that month…”Ghosts,” she said. “You need to let them go.”
Krueger has established a wonderful community of characters which includes Henry Meloux who brings an element of wisdom and a strong metaphysical aspect into the story—“The heart knows much that the head ignores. If we pay attention, our hearts speak to us. Stephen O’Connor as always listened.”—as well as a look into the culture of the Objibwe Indians. The use of the native language, followed by translations, adds realism and is very effective. Cork’s sister-in-law, being Catholic, does bring as aspect of religion to the story, but it doesn’t overwhelm the plot, nor become too preachy but is simply an aspect of the character.
The action is split between locations, which heightens the tension and suspense as well as the sense of threat. There are several, well-placed and very effective plot twists. The climax is exciting, even though the logic of it working seemed improbable. But that’s why it’s called fiction. However, it is, in many ways, a very spiritual book which causes one to stop and consider.
“Manitou Canyon” is an exciting, engrossing story with excellent characters, and a wonderful ending.
MANITOU CANYON (Pol Proc-Cork O’Connor-Minnesota-Cont) – VG+
Krueger, William Kent – 15th in series
Atria Books – Sept 2016
John Harris disappeared at while fishing with his grand-son and -daughter. Although an exhaustive search was done, of which PI Cork O’Connor was a part, nothing was found. Now Harris’ grandchildren are back, claiming the grown grandson had a vision which involved Cork’s son Stephen, and want Cork to help them search again. In spite of it being only days before Cork’s daughter’s wedding, he agrees, and Cork and the granddaughter head into the Boundary Waters where they encounter danger that risks not only their lives, but the lives of countless others.
No prologue here. Instead, we have an opening that extremely effective, and very worrying, before switching to introducing Cork, and explaining why the month of November is one which Cork dreads—“She knew his history with that month…”Ghosts,” she said. “You need to let them go.”
Krueger has established a wonderful community of characters which includes Henry Meloux who brings an element of wisdom and a strong metaphysical aspect into the story—“The heart knows much that the head ignores. If we pay attention, our hearts speak to us. Stephen O’Connor as always listened.”—as well as a look into the culture of the Objibwe Indians. The use of the native language, followed by translations, adds realism and is very effective. Cork’s sister-in-law, being Catholic, does bring as aspect of religion to the story, but it doesn’t overwhelm the plot, nor become too preachy but is simply an aspect of the character.
The action is split between locations, which heightens the tension and suspense as well as the sense of threat. There are several, well-placed and very effective plot twists. The climax is exciting, even though the logic of it working seemed improbable. But that’s why it’s called fiction. However, it is, in many ways, a very spiritual book which causes one to stop and consider.
“Manitou Canyon” is an exciting, engrossing story with excellent characters, and a wonderful ending.
MANITOU CANYON (Pol Proc-Cork O’Connor-Minnesota-Cont) – VG+
Krueger, William Kent – 15th in series
Atria Books – Sept 2016
March 11, 2025
I hadn't listened to a Cork O'Connor mystery for awhile so coming back to this 15th book in the series was like coming home. It had the same soothing voice of the narrator, the characters that I adore, the outdoorsy atmosphere, the Ojibwe influence and of course an engaging mystery. What's new this time: there's a missing grandfather who is the head of a construction design firm, a fiance (of whom I won't divulge) plus 2 big surprises concerning Cork's family. To sum it up, I think this book in the series is largely about finding one's way home.
September 27, 2023
To be classified as a Mystery novel requires a mystery; ergo, this is not a Mystery. It's a story about all the crazy stuff that happened when Cork took a client into the woods to look for her missing grandfather when he should've been getting ready for his daughter's wedding.
*yawn* The plot was really about
At least I'm one book closer to being caught up on this series. Onward to Sulfur Springs.
*yawn* The plot was really about
At least I'm one book closer to being caught up on this series. Onward to Sulfur Springs.
October 25, 2019
Manitou Canyon has the usual extraordinary sense of place and fascinating Native American cultures. This one grabbed me TIGHTLY and wouldn't let me put it down! I totally agree with what Brenda wrote: "I want to burn some sage and cedar. I want a sweat." Yes and yes!
Also, I want to meet Henry in real life.
Also, I want to meet Henry in real life.
October 16, 2019
I think Cork and I need a break from each other for a bit I’ve read too many in a row
September 6, 2016
A special thank you to Atria and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
William Kent Krueger returns with Cork O’Connor #15 MANITOU CANYON, with yet another suspenseful gripping ride in the Northwoods steeped in the mythology of American Indian tribes of Minnesota--with his signature storytelling, and lots of twists and soul searching, for his protagonist.
Corcoran O’Connor knew that November was the bastard of all months. Anyone who thought different had never been in Minnesota’s North Country during this time.
His own father who had been sheriff of Tamarack County four decades earlier, had been mortally wounded in the last week of October, had lingered for two days and had finally succumbed in the first hour of the first day of a long ago November.
His wife had had gone missing and for all intents and purposes was dead to him in a November, not so long ago. On top of this, his good and true friend George LeDuc had been murdered in that same November. Not only was this a dreary month, a deadly one. From ghosts, demons, and regrets.
Yet, his daughter Jenny has chosen this dismal time of year in which to marry, and Cork is understandably uneasy. Was she doing this on purpose to change his thinking?
Now, his is asked to find a wealthy man who has vanished without a trace in Minnesota’s Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. He agrees and embarks on the hopeless mission, only to vanish in that vast wilderness himself, just days before his daughter’s wedding.
In a race against time, as the tension and dangers mount, Cork’s family has to uncover the mystery behind the disappearances. The land that Native Americans call their home versus the interests of big mining. How do Native people battle these deep pocket interests? History, family, a dam and those fighting against it. An environmental disaster.
Between Cork’s need for survival while on this perilous trip through the Boundary Waters to Canada and his family’s desperate search for him, mixed with the reason behind his captive--he finds himself conflicted while in a dangerous place, both physically, spiritually, and morally.
November had been a month full of nothing but loss and despair in the past. Will Cork’s outlook on the month change, after his latest adventure?
Thought-provoking! As always, Krueger continues to deliver masterful storytelling, mixed with the rich, vivid settings of the great outdoors and wilderness, tantalizing literary tidbits, Objibwe culture, and of course plenty of mystery, suspense, intrigue and great crime writing.
So excited to learn from an online interview with the author, Krueger is working on a companion to Ordinary Grace, called “This Tender Land,” coming the Spring of 2018.
JDCMustReadBooks
William Kent Krueger returns with Cork O’Connor #15 MANITOU CANYON, with yet another suspenseful gripping ride in the Northwoods steeped in the mythology of American Indian tribes of Minnesota--with his signature storytelling, and lots of twists and soul searching, for his protagonist.
Corcoran O’Connor knew that November was the bastard of all months. Anyone who thought different had never been in Minnesota’s North Country during this time.
His own father who had been sheriff of Tamarack County four decades earlier, had been mortally wounded in the last week of October, had lingered for two days and had finally succumbed in the first hour of the first day of a long ago November.
His wife had had gone missing and for all intents and purposes was dead to him in a November, not so long ago. On top of this, his good and true friend George LeDuc had been murdered in that same November. Not only was this a dreary month, a deadly one. From ghosts, demons, and regrets.
Yet, his daughter Jenny has chosen this dismal time of year in which to marry, and Cork is understandably uneasy. Was she doing this on purpose to change his thinking?
Now, his is asked to find a wealthy man who has vanished without a trace in Minnesota’s Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. He agrees and embarks on the hopeless mission, only to vanish in that vast wilderness himself, just days before his daughter’s wedding.
In a race against time, as the tension and dangers mount, Cork’s family has to uncover the mystery behind the disappearances. The land that Native Americans call their home versus the interests of big mining. How do Native people battle these deep pocket interests? History, family, a dam and those fighting against it. An environmental disaster.
Between Cork’s need for survival while on this perilous trip through the Boundary Waters to Canada and his family’s desperate search for him, mixed with the reason behind his captive--he finds himself conflicted while in a dangerous place, both physically, spiritually, and morally.
November had been a month full of nothing but loss and despair in the past. Will Cork’s outlook on the month change, after his latest adventure?
Thought-provoking! As always, Krueger continues to deliver masterful storytelling, mixed with the rich, vivid settings of the great outdoors and wilderness, tantalizing literary tidbits, Objibwe culture, and of course plenty of mystery, suspense, intrigue and great crime writing.
So excited to learn from an online interview with the author, Krueger is working on a companion to Ordinary Grace, called “This Tender Land,” coming the Spring of 2018.
JDCMustReadBooks
November 13, 2022
Another fine installment in the Cork O'Connor series.
The plot is top-notch, the characters tried and true, and the writing...as always...is spot-on.
Highly recommend.
The plot is top-notch, the characters tried and true, and the writing...as always...is spot-on.
Highly recommend.
November 13, 2021
A very good entry in the Cork O'Connor series. Cork searches for a man who mysteriously disappeared in the boundary waters and soon mysteriously disappears himself. His family and friends organize a search for him. Well done, well plotted and exciting. Recommended.
November 3, 2016
I can't say I loved this one, but the book did read fairly fast. My biggest complaint is that too much of the story time was devoted to Cork's friends and family and not enough to Cork and his mystery. Those parts of the book were tense and interesting. The friends and family (the Scoobies, as I saw someone call them in another review - well said! ) were tedious and extraneous. We did not need every single person Cork knows and is friends with, as well as his family, his lover and HER family, in the book. Too many people milling around doing nothing. It also highlighted a problem I've had with Krueger in other books, which is the whiff of, I wouldn't call it misogyny, but maybe sexism? There's good old Aunt Rose! Holding the fort, making coffee and breakfast, caring for the children. No life of her own and to top it off, her life is not complete without a child of her own [sad horns, waa-waa]. Jenny was sidelined either taking care of Waboo or using the internet. Marcia the sheriff was there but didn't do much to help advance any of the story. Rainy and Leah were too often worrying over others, or caring for others. Not that those roles are wrong but I wanted to see less of that and more spectrum. I guess Lindsey Harris would be a point against, but she ends up being a manipulated pawn so not sure it invalidates my point.
There was also a lot of reliance on visions and higher powers, which to each their own, but felt like it didn't add anything of value to the book. Krueger has established that both Stephen and Henry have visions, which is fine, but here none of them really panned out and in fact one person's "vision" was a complete fake. I just didn't see the need to include them in this story's context. I also was skeptical beyond belief that Henry packed up and went to Canada on a rescue mission. Who drags along a 100+ yr old man?! That he's supposedly spry enough to go beggared my belief.
My other complaints were the character of Bird and his uncle. I understood why there were there, and I understood Bird needed to be incapacitated in some fashion to make things work, but if his uncle is such a traditionalist that he uses birch bark canoes and has been living in the wilderness his whole life, why would he only have a sewing kit for sutures and aspirin on hand? Surely he's have some sort of Native medicine in his pocket. If Bird was dealing with an infection, why was no one trying to brew him some sort of tea? Or try draining his wound? It just seemed to not jive with the other details and how the other characters were presented.
The villains were either of the over the top, mustache twirling variety or were sympathetic. The act(s) of terrorism were somewhat glossed over or even given the book's tacit blessing. The end wrapped up a little too quickly and cleanly for my taste, and there was definitely a sense that is Krueger is ready to end the Cork books, he's left pretty much everyone in a perfect place to stop. Maybe he should.
There was also a lot of reliance on visions and higher powers, which to each their own, but felt like it didn't add anything of value to the book. Krueger has established that both Stephen and Henry have visions, which is fine, but here none of them really panned out and in fact one person's "vision" was a complete fake. I just didn't see the need to include them in this story's context. I also was skeptical beyond belief that Henry packed up and went to Canada on a rescue mission. Who drags along a 100+ yr old man?! That he's supposedly spry enough to go beggared my belief.
My other complaints were the character of Bird and his uncle. I understood why there were there, and I understood Bird needed to be incapacitated in some fashion to make things work, but if his uncle is such a traditionalist that he uses birch bark canoes and has been living in the wilderness his whole life, why would he only have a sewing kit for sutures and aspirin on hand? Surely he's have some sort of Native medicine in his pocket. If Bird was dealing with an infection, why was no one trying to brew him some sort of tea? Or try draining his wound? It just seemed to not jive with the other details and how the other characters were presented.
The villains were either of the over the top, mustache twirling variety or were sympathetic. The act(s) of terrorism were somewhat glossed over or even given the book's tacit blessing. The end wrapped up a little too quickly and cleanly for my taste, and there was definitely a sense that is Krueger is ready to end the Cork books, he's left pretty much everyone in a perfect place to stop. Maybe he should.
June 6, 2018
RATING: 3.5 STARS
(Review Not on Blog)
Listened to on Audio
I hate when Cork goes off into the wilderness...he always gets into, uh, more trouble. This was a good book, just not a favourite.
(Review Not on Blog)
Listened to on Audio
I hate when Cork goes off into the wilderness...he always gets into, uh, more trouble. This was a good book, just not a favourite.
September 12, 2016
Could wait long enough to let the library get a copy of this on audio and then wait my turn so I just read it in hard copy. I really love to listen to this series because I think it adds to the intimacy of the story.
So I liked this story. I especially liked the part with Corc in the woods. I wish actually there had been more of that and less of everyone back in Aurora. It felt a little muddled with characters. Plus I thought the whole prologue was a bit over dramatic for what it ended up being.
And I have to say I'm not real fond of Rainy, sorry.
So I liked this story. I especially liked the part with Corc in the woods. I wish actually there had been more of that and less of everyone back in Aurora. It felt a little muddled with characters. Plus I thought the whole prologue was a bit over dramatic for what it ended up being.
And I have to say I'm not real fond of Rainy, sorry.
December 11, 2016
This was a nice visit with the characters from Krueger's books. Despite the length of the book, and the uniform 'gentle' nature of many of the regulars, it was an interesting plot, with just enough twists. The author does tend to make the bad characters especially evil and the good ones patient and kind. The background on the Indian tribes is always interesting.
August 17, 2016
I must admit, I'm cray-cray-crazy over Cork O'Connor. This love affair began strangely enough with book 10, Vermillion Drift which so rocked my Midwestern girl socks off (Michigan proud!) that I proceeded back to read books 1-9 with fervent gusto (engrossing is a fitting word here). Although note- I DO recommend starting at the beginning!!! Ah, but a week ago, you’d see me, Miss Scrappymags, fan-geeking out at being allowed to read this advanced copy by one of my top 5 authors (Thanks NetGalley and Atria books for making my year, I feel all special and deserving of my ScrappyMags crown and am developing an appropriate Ms. USA wave to show my appreciation) and thus plunged right into the depths of Manitou Canyon.
In this 15th installment, ex-cop now P.I. Cork is discovered missing while aiding clients in the search for their lost grandfather while in the Minnesota wilderness, all a mere two weeks before Cork’s daughter’s nuptials (Jenny’s wedding). Intrigue persists as the story weaves through corruption galore, dangerous back waters, greed and a nice dash of environmental terrorism. The last being the most intriguing aspect of the book. What constitutes terrorism? What’s the fine line between terrorism and environmental passion? How far will people go? Those aren’t spoilers, FYI… so don’t chase me with pitchforks readers!
Which makes this a perfect book club read as bigger issues force readers to think about deeper topics addressed. I remember a political science professor saying that "one man’s terrorist is another's freedom fighter." Enjoy the debate! (Our class had a lively one). I also recommend Krueger as one of the tops in the mystery genre because he stands alone – he has a niche’ in his ability to craft intense stories with all the seat-edge anticipation, yet draws readers into Native American lore (with some education, thank you!!!) and a clear love of the land he is familiar with. My love for the character Henry Meloux, the grandfather mide (healer) figure (and archetypal “ancient helper”) is palpable. It’s almost as if he advises the reader as well as the characters to “have patience and think on it.” And of course, he’s right. He’s lovable. He’s also pretty bad-ass. It’s hard not to fall in love with this world, even if bibliophiles grew up on an ocean or in a desert (the woods are an equal, calming draw. Give it a try!).
My resistance with giving a total 5 stars is that it's not my top of the Cork books, as the mystery aspect was easy to decipher early on, however Krueger’s deft hand at setting description and narrative and brisk pacing brings the visual aspects of the wilderness to life as well as a man versus man and nature element. I always feel in his books as if Minnesota is a character in itself. As a native Michigander, I can appreciate the Midwestern narrative descriptions. These visual pictures drawn so adeptly flash in my brain throughout the book, yet it's never bogged down in descriptive text (no Moby Dick hypersomnia here).
The book moves swiftly, turns with timing and delivers the right dose of Native American perspective and education that fans of Krueger are accustomed to. A definitely well-written addition to the Cork collection.
A thank you to NetGalley and Atria books for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. And for making me effectively gain air as I jumped up and down screaming that I was approved to read an ARC from one of my favorite authors!
In this 15th installment, ex-cop now P.I. Cork is discovered missing while aiding clients in the search for their lost grandfather while in the Minnesota wilderness, all a mere two weeks before Cork’s daughter’s nuptials (Jenny’s wedding). Intrigue persists as the story weaves through corruption galore, dangerous back waters, greed and a nice dash of environmental terrorism. The last being the most intriguing aspect of the book. What constitutes terrorism? What’s the fine line between terrorism and environmental passion? How far will people go? Those aren’t spoilers, FYI… so don’t chase me with pitchforks readers!
Which makes this a perfect book club read as bigger issues force readers to think about deeper topics addressed. I remember a political science professor saying that "one man’s terrorist is another's freedom fighter." Enjoy the debate! (Our class had a lively one). I also recommend Krueger as one of the tops in the mystery genre because he stands alone – he has a niche’ in his ability to craft intense stories with all the seat-edge anticipation, yet draws readers into Native American lore (with some education, thank you!!!) and a clear love of the land he is familiar with. My love for the character Henry Meloux, the grandfather mide (healer) figure (and archetypal “ancient helper”) is palpable. It’s almost as if he advises the reader as well as the characters to “have patience and think on it.” And of course, he’s right. He’s lovable. He’s also pretty bad-ass. It’s hard not to fall in love with this world, even if bibliophiles grew up on an ocean or in a desert (the woods are an equal, calming draw. Give it a try!).
My resistance with giving a total 5 stars is that it's not my top of the Cork books, as the mystery aspect was easy to decipher early on, however Krueger’s deft hand at setting description and narrative and brisk pacing brings the visual aspects of the wilderness to life as well as a man versus man and nature element. I always feel in his books as if Minnesota is a character in itself. As a native Michigander, I can appreciate the Midwestern narrative descriptions. These visual pictures drawn so adeptly flash in my brain throughout the book, yet it's never bogged down in descriptive text (no Moby Dick hypersomnia here).
The book moves swiftly, turns with timing and delivers the right dose of Native American perspective and education that fans of Krueger are accustomed to. A definitely well-written addition to the Cork collection.
A thank you to NetGalley and Atria books for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. And for making me effectively gain air as I jumped up and down screaming that I was approved to read an ARC from one of my favorite authors!
May 27, 2016
Another winner in this series. The book starts in the aftermath of a suspended search for John Harris, a wealthy builder who grew up across the street from Cork O'Connor, the series' lead character. Harris was on a late-season trip into the Boundary Waters with his grandson and granddaughter when he mysteriously disappeared. The police and local rescue workers have exhausted all the possibilities and reluctantly called off the search, when Harris' granddaughter comes to Cork, begging him to take another look. Since it is so late in the year, the looming presence of winter and the first snows of the season are a constant threat. Add in the fact that November has been a troubling time of year for Cork ever since the disappearance of his wife Jo and a number of other circumstances, and O'Connor is reluctant to get involved. But it is in his nature to help people and so he decides to give it a shot--they'll go back to where Harris disappeared, but if nothing is found within a couple of days, that will truly be the end of it. This fairly simple set-up leads into one of Krueger's best books in this series, especially with its descriptions of the north woods and the elements. It's easy to feel the cold winds and the waves lapping at the characters' canoes as the search morphs into something else. Meanwhile back home in Aurora, Cork's daughter Jenny is preparing for her imminent wedding and a figure from the past comes back to re-engage with Henry Meloux, Cork's father figure and spiritual guide. All of this adds up to a very satisfying mystery
December 23, 2016
William Kent Krueger is an outstanding author. Ordinary Grace is one of the finest books I've read in the past couple of years. But I did not enjoy Manitou Canyon.
Manitou Canyon is the 15th book in Krueger's Cork O'Connor series. Aside from Ordinary Grace (a standalone, not a Cork O'Connor book), I had previously read two books in the Cork O'Connor series. I liked recently-written one, but disliked the first book in the series. So - I thought I might enjoy this new 2016 entry in the series. But I didn't.
There is not much to the plot. Cork goes into the Minnesota wilderness to find a missing man at the request of the man's two grandchildren. The search turns out to be treacherous.
The book is loaded with many characters, many of which have nothing to do with the plot. This really slowed the book down and made it hard for me to keep track of who was who - and if these people even mattered.
Also, many pages were devoted to aspects of Native American culture.
The rating say that this book had a lot of appeal to others. I struggled to make it to the end.
Manitou Canyon is the 15th book in Krueger's Cork O'Connor series. Aside from Ordinary Grace (a standalone, not a Cork O'Connor book), I had previously read two books in the Cork O'Connor series. I liked recently-written one, but disliked the first book in the series. So - I thought I might enjoy this new 2016 entry in the series. But I didn't.
There is not much to the plot. Cork goes into the Minnesota wilderness to find a missing man at the request of the man's two grandchildren. The search turns out to be treacherous.
The book is loaded with many characters, many of which have nothing to do with the plot. This really slowed the book down and made it hard for me to keep track of who was who - and if these people even mattered.
Also, many pages were devoted to aspects of Native American culture.
The rating say that this book had a lot of appeal to others. I struggled to make it to the end.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,048 reviews