Sulfur Springs

Cork O'Connor #16

by William Kent Krueger

On the Fourth of July, just as fireworks are about to go off in Aurora, Minnesota, Cork O’Connor and his new bride Rainy Bisonette listen to a desperate voicemail left by Rainy's son, Peter. The message is garbled and full of static, but they hear Peter confess to the murder of someone named Rodriguez. When they try to contact him, they discover that his phone has gone dead.

The following morning, Cork and Rainy fly to Coronado County in southern Arizona, where Peter has been working as a counselor in a well-known drug rehab center. When they arrive, they learn that Peter was fired six months earlier and hasn’t been heard from since. So they head to the little desert town of Sulfur Springs where Peter has been receiving his mail. But no one in Sulfur Springs seems to know him. They do, however, recognize the name Rodriguez. Carlos Rodriguez is the head of a cartel that controls everything illegal crossing the border from Mexico into Coronado County.

As they gather scraps of information about Peter, Cork and Rainy are warned that there is a war going on along the border. “Trust no one in Coronado County,” is a refrain they hear again and again. And to Cork, Arizona is alien country. The relentless heat and absence of water, tall trees, and cool forests feel nightmarish to him, as does his growing sense that Rainy might know more about what's going on than she's willing to admit. And if he can't trust Rainy, who can he trust?

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

306 pages, Hardcover

First published August 22, 2017

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

[Brenda · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’ve read all 15 of the previous books in the Cork O'Connor series, and this is the first time I’ve rated one of them less than four stars.

Krueger has set this book mostly in southern Arizona where drug running and illegal immigration are hot topics. He's written that he’s received negative feedback on this book for his liberal stance. Personally, I don’t mind fictional books that have a real-life issue as a component to them, and this author is not the first to do so.

I also don’t mind moving the setting to another state. Krueger has done this before when Cork's first wife was missing. I believe he got the description of the desert in Arizona right. I've lived in Tucson and have first-hand knowledge of the cacti, wildlife, mountains, heat, monsoons, and flash floods. It is beautiful, but it can also be dangerous.

What has lowered my rating is the repetitious action. Go up to the mines in the mountains, come back down to town, repeat. Eat in the diner, visit the church, go to the parsonage, repeat. Meet these people here, meet those people there, repeat. Have a gunfight, have another gunfight, repeat.

I hope that doesn’t sound like I hated the book because I didn’t. It all just got a bit tiresome before everything was connected at the end.

[Diane S ☔ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Number 16 in the Cork O'Connor series, have been reading these for a long time, and am still excited when I see a new one being published. Cork's family, so familiar to me, like a visit to catch up on old friends. Cork himself, his role of defending the good against evil, which he has done many times. The very old Henri, the midi, a man of uncommon wisdom and peace. Wonder how it would feel to always see the clear path through life. In this one he only makes a brief appearance, but his words are quoted throughout, in times of great need.

Cork and Rainy find themselves in Arizona after an alarming call from Rainys grown son. They arrive in Coronado County where they find the selves in danger, not knowing who to trust. Close to the border there are many elements at play, drug cartels, crooked police, border patrols, a dangerous group again the illegal immigrants coming over the border, the coyotes who take advantage of the same, and those committed to helping them. There are gun fights, showdowns, some good supporting characters and best of all we learn a little more about Rainy.

There is also much of the author and his views in this one, he makes clear which side of the immigrant debate he stands on. This bothered me a little but then I thought if I could write, I probably would take the opportunity to use my writing as a platform. P!us, this is fiction, and it does all fit nicely in the story. Although we are asked not to quote from advance copies, I found these relatively simple words so powerful I decided to end my review with them, "In news reports, we watched the wall along the Mexican border expand, the folly of a belief that what we had to fear came from the outside."

ARC from publisher.
Publishes August 22nd from Atria.

[Phrynne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thought I might open this review with a quote from my review of the previous book in the series:-
"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."
I was so right!

Interestingly Sulfur Springs is written from Cork's POV and it actually does open with him in a happy place but this lasts about three pages before the dreaded phone rings and he has to pursue another missing, maybe dead, person at great cost to his own personal safety. After sixteen books we know the routine now but funnily enough that does not stop me from enjoying the book at all!

What was new in this story was that it took place in very different scenery than usual, far away in the heat and desert in Arizona. It was still beautifully described and it made a change not to feel cold and wet while reading! There was lots of action, the usual high body count and some good sleuthing on Cork's part. He does make a good detective.

Sadly this brings me up to date in the series so far although I am happy to see there is a new release coming up in a few short months.

[Jean · Rating 5 out of 5]

“In the balance of who we are and what we do, the weight of history is immeasurable.”

Sulfur Springs, William Kent Krueger’s sixteenth installment in his much-loved Cork O’Connor series, takes our protagonist from the northern forests to the desert of the southwest. His new wife, Rainy, gets a frantic, garbled voice message from her son Peter indicating he is in trouble. As his mother, Rainy knows she needs to find him. Peter mentions murder, which means to Cork, a former sheriff who is now a private detective, that something has gone terribly wrong and that things could get far worse. He and Rainy have no idea what Peter could have gotten himself into.

When they arrive in Sulfur Springs, the couple finds that he no longer works at the drug rehab center. They don’t believe he’s started using again. No one in town knows Peter Bissonette. How is this possible? Eventually, however, they meet one person, then another and another who suspect what he may have been up to. They know it’s not bad, but that’s not what the Border Patrol and the local cops think. Or is it?

Coyotes and mules and moles, oh my! I’m not talking about four-legged critters. Coronado County is on the Mexican border, so the boys with the badges have their hands full trying to track down drug smugglers and human traffickers. Could Peter have been caught in the middle of a border war?

The storyline itself is a search-and-rescue adventure in which Cork is out of his element, and as a reader, I felt his discomfort. He misses the familiarity of the Minnesota forests and lakes and the people – his people. He is part Anishinaabe (Ojibwe) Indian and part Irish-American. Except for Rainy, he doesn’t know whom he can trust. Rainy is holding something back too, and that is another part of the disconnect that Cork feels. A big part. That may be part of the reason that Krueger chose to write this book in first person through Cork’s perspective rather than the usual third person. Trust is a major theme is this story. There is much about Rainy’s past that he doesn’t know. What keeps him going? The teachings of his Mide, Henry Meloux, and a poem given to him by Rainy that begins, “Across the dark night, we are not afraid. Our love is the star that guides us.” You can take the man out of Minnesota, but you can’t take Minnesota out of the man. Even though they are separated through most of the book for safety and efficiency – Rainy links up with Peter’s father Mondragón. Mondragón has powerful connections that can get them manpower and money – not all of it legally obtained. Cork goes solo in his investigation, something he is used to doing. What he can’t get used to is seeing his wife with her ex-husband. The couple is mindful of the words Cork’s mother said to him, “Wherever you are, there I am also.” He feels distressed when he sees Rainy with Mondragón. He misses her when they are apart, and he draws on those words to keep him centered.

The search for answers, and ultimately, for Peter, is fraught with danger. The desert heat is merciless. There are scorpions, deadly snakes, murderous drug dealers and gangs. There are turncoats in groups that are supposed to be the good guys. Can Cork sniff them out before someone he loves is killed?

Cork may be the central character of Sulfur Springs, but Peter is the glue that pulls the piece together. At the onset, Cork has only met him once, at his and Rainy’s wedding. As he questions associates and learns about Peter’s activities, Cork gains great respect for him. Once he spends time with him, he comes to like and love him as family. It struck me that Peter is much more like his native mother than his rich, arrogant Mexican father.

What also makes Peter such a significant figure is that he becomes part of the message. Like other contemporary writers today, William Kent Krueger makes a statement about one of the social issues that is in the forefront on a daily basis. Cork briefly mentions the wall at the Coronado-Mexico border. Krueger portrays the hardships of fugitives from Guatemala and other Latin countries and portrays the dedication of those who have the compassion to help. Some readers may not like what seems like a political stance from a beloved writer. In my opinion, I see this as something that artists, many artists, have always done. They have used their art as a vehicle of expression. Krueger does a good job of weaving it into his story without making it offensively intrusive. It’s who this character is, and I applaud him for it.

If I’m being honest, like Cork, I felt a bit disconnected being hauled out into the heat of the desert. It’s winter in Minnesota now, and that’s what I’ve come to expect from Kent Krueger. But a writer has to spread his wings and let his characters grow. He is doing that by expanding Cork’s family and widening his experiences. There are some noble characters in this book, and more than a few dastardly ones as well. Picking out the true villains wasn’t all that difficult in the end. But Sulfur Springs isn’t just a mystery. Krueger takes advantage of the landscape and the scorching heat, and he throws in the blend of cultures. Then he adds Cork’s history and the Ojibwe poetry and spirituality and you have much, much more than an adventure mystery. Overall, I give this 4.5 stars. Now, can we please go back to Minnesota? I miss wise old Henry, little Waaboo, and rest of the O’Connor family!

[Jonetta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cork O’Connor and Rainy Bisonette are still in their honeymoon phase following their recent marriage when she gets a desperate phone message from her son, Peter. When they fail to reach him, Cork and Rainy head off to Sulfur Springs, Arizona where he lives, at least that’s where they’ve been sending his correspondence.

Rainy was sort of a mystery to me until this story. I knew she’s Henry’s niece, a nurse, training to be a healer, has two children from a previous marriage and that’s about it. We finally get much more color and texture for this character at the same time as Cork, which was a revelation. He bites off much more than he anticipated and I loved that this story was presented in a first-person narrative for the first time, from Cork’s point of view. The timing is crucial on the heels of the last book where Cork comes to terms with who he is and those of his family he tried his best to protect but failed. It’s brutally honest and often exposes his vulnerabilities, offering us something very different at this stage of the series.

This is a real puzzler as there are so many credible suspects to consider with shifting agendas and motives. I correctly identified some of them but struggled figuring out a lot of the “whys.” Lots of excitement and suspense, too. One of the more interesting elements was Rainy’s backstory and I found some of her decisions troubling. The narrator, David Chandler, does his typically outstanding performance and it’s even more important because of the change in narrative. I really enjoyed this story.

[Frosty61 · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was disappointed in this one. The plot started out promising but then it got bogged down; the author was 'preachy' on the subject of illegal immigrants; there were too many characters and too many rogue groups of nasty people; the setting was dismal. I wish the author had just told an entertaining story without all the stilted dialogue to educate the reader on the topic of illegal immigrants. We're smart enough - we could get the point without having it shoved down our throats. All in all, the story barely held my interest though I read to the end in the hopes that the tone would change and the ending would make it worth my time. Nope. I'm tired of authors and famous people in general trying to rally the rest of us to support their causes, but that's a rant for another place/time.

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Simon and I are listening to this series together and we are rapidly catching up with the author! In this volume, William Kent Krueger transplants Cork O'Connor to Arizona in pursuit of a missing person, his new wife's son. We learn about the plight of immigrants trying to cross the border into America and there is a lot of violence and death in this one. The writing felt a bit forced and we were about half-way through before I became fully engaged.

Quotes that prompted further thought:

"I understood that the past is never really past. We live out history over and over, the worst of our memories right there alongside us, step for step our companions to the grave."

"For the sake of her child, a mother's heart has to be like a willow branch, bending but never broken."

Late at night, Cork O'Connor experiences feelings of jealousy when he is apart from Rainy who is with her ex-husband for safe-keeping while they search for their son. To let go and fall asleep he repeats "part of the Pueblo prayer she taught [him] "Across the dark night we are not afraid, our love is the star that guides us.""

"It was a land, I thought where even what seemed to promise life could just as easily deliver death."

Indeed, as I alluded to previously, there was a preoccupation with death in this book and one phrase that was repeated is, "on the edge of death."

Quote that pulled me out out of the story:

"He squinted at me and his eyebrows came together like little black leeches mating." Ugh! Where did that come from? Simon's theory is that the author is trying to convey the sliminess of the character.

[Kathleen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This 16th offering in the Cork O’Connor detective series finds newlyweds Cork and Rainy Bisonette receiving a frantic, garbled phone call from Rainy’s son Peter. Before you know it, the two of them hop on the next plane to Coronado County in southern Arizona to help. Seems that Peter has been providing food and water for illegal immigrants crossing the border and gotten himself into a heap of trouble. This border area is a busy place—there are Border Agents, DEA agents, Sheriff Deputies, drug cartel members, vigilante groups, and more. It is clearly a dangerous place. Oh yes—and Rainy’s first husband is there as well. Awkward!

I suspect that Krueger wrote this book to highlight the complexities regarding the US-Mexican border, but this is a region he does not know well. As a result, I felt he resorted to stereotypes when developing his characters. His strongest novels are set in the Boundary Waters of Minnesota. Hopefully, Cork returns there in his next book in the series.

[Skip · Rating 4 out of 5]

William Kent Krueger writes one of the most consistent series out there. Each book is a solid 4 star effort. This one opens with a call from Cork O'Connor's second wife, Rainy Bisonette's son Peter which is garbled and ends prematurely, but makes clear he is in trouble and may have killed someone. Peter is a reformed drug abuser, who lives in the desert, and Rainy and Cork fly off to help. Bad guys are after Peter, who nobody seems to know, and he is involved in a group helping illegal immigrants get to the U.S. safely, making him a target for vigilantes and human traffickers alike. Cork feels a kindred spirit, but finds out about some of Rainy's secrets and secret past. Cork feels adrift in the desert setting, but always follows his moral compass unerringly.

[Arthur Ferguson · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was my last William Kent Krueger novel. I have bought and read them all to this point. I had found the Cork O'Connor character (and his family) all endearing and always with something to pique my interest.
This was the weakest plot and story line of the series. However the unforgivable factor was the repeated interruption of the struggling plot to constantly tell me that the illegal immigrants pouring over our Southern border are the most wonderful of people to ever grace our shores. Mr. Krueger is obviously entitled to his opinion. But, to espouse only one side of such a controversial issue, in a commercial novel is beyond foolish.

[elish · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book differs from the others in the series in that it’s set in the borderlands of Arizona. Krueger did a great job of putting forth the complicated and competing forces which make the border a dangerous place for the desperate and innocent trying to survive and those who risk 5heir lives to save them.. I also love the way Krueger shows Cork’s vulnerability and deep reliance on Rainy.. A story written with compassion that doesn’t flinch from the cruel reality..

[George · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have LOVED this series, but I'm afraid it has jumped the shark. A jarring move to the geographical southwest and unnecessary kowtowing to the political left made for an unsatisfactory read.

[Jonathan K (Max Outlier) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've lost count how many of the Cork O'Connor series I've read, but few if any possess the explosive momentum of this one nor have they incorporated multi-faceted characters such as these. Since this is one of the latest in the series, it appears WKK was influenced by anti-immigrant politics and 'build the wall' advocates when creating this story.

Having lost his first wife, Jo, Cork found love with Henry Meloux's niece Rainy Bisonette, who like Henry is an Ojibwe medicine healer. She'd had two children with her previous husband in AZ, and when her son Peter leaves a cryptic voice mail that alludes to danger, Cork and Rainy head for Corona County where he'd last been seen. Upon arrival, Cork played detective and passed the photo of Peter Bisonette fruitlessly until they're referred to a winery owned by Frank and Jayne Harris on the outskirts of Sulfur Springs in the El Dorado. A small border town, its home to Rosa's Cantina, a bar, several stores and a church, who's pastor holds needed information. As they ask around, Cork is referred to Sheriff Carlson and Marian Brown, who is not only a realtor, but mayor as well.

Being an 'outsider' Cork is the subject of skepticism and word gets around quickly. They learn Sulfur Springs is home to battling drug cartels including one run by Rodriguez family. This fact frightens Rainy since her son's message mentioned the surname. When Cork and Rainy visit the Harris' family, they're introduced to Jocko, a colleague and pilot who's warmth and willingness to help are welcome. The next morning, they chat with Sylvester, a questionable type at Rosa's and moments later, their rental car goes up in flames in the parking lot. The momentum explodes at this point, the disappearance of Rainy included. Jocko informs Cork that Peter's is connected with an organization that rescues cartel mules, one of many targets of the Rodriguez family.

As the plot plays out, Rainy's history with her former husband Roberto Mondragon clarifies and includes knowledge his brother runs a drug cartel. Complex, illuminating and a true page turner, every chapter pushes the momentum to a breakneck pace exploding at the finish.

Since mystery is a favorite genre, those who enjoy high velocity will love this. To reiterate what I've mentioned in the past, Krueger's skill at using family, compassion, love and spirit as themes while straying from unnecessary darkness makes for an immersive, enlightening reading experience. But this one stands apart.

[Mary Jo · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good intricate mystery if you don't mind Mexican drug cartels, border struggles and desert heat. The main attraction of Krueger's books for me is the Minnesota setting and I sadly missed the pine trees, lakes and references to Ojibiwa culture.

[Donna · Rating 2 out of 5]

I never write reviews...I may comment on some threads that I follow, but I don't normally need to share my feelings for a book other than a star rating.

I have been a big fan of WKK for a long time. I stumbled on his books after trying to find another author like Tony Hillerman. I love reading about American Indian culture/spirituality and I always could lose myself in Hillerman's love of the Southwest.

WKK made me anxious to follow my favorite characters with every novel and learn about another American Indian culture. I should have loved this novel...I didn't. It is one thing to write about a political viewpoint and incorporate it into a storyline to give a different perspective, but I feel that WKK went overboard. He had the potential to tell a really great story and take us on a "vacation" from Minnesota for a while. He turned our vacation spot into a hellhole.

The relationship between Cork and Rainy is difficult to care about. If I picked this up as a first time stand alone novel, I would have a hard time believing Cork was ever a cop. It is the characters and relationships between them, that make readers follow a series...I had a hard time finishing this book.

Please WKK - get back to great story telling and what made your readers anxiously await your next novel.

[Brent Soderstrum · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is WKK's 16th book from the great Cork O'Connor series and quite frankly it was a disappointment. WWK gets political in this book which deals with illegal immigrants coming from Guatemala through Mexico and into Arizona illegally. Cork and Rainy head to Arizona to find Rainy's son Peter who left them a garbled phone message and then disappeared. It turns out Peter is helping escort illegal immigrants into the US.

The story is pretty complex. It involves drug cartels, land purchases, abandoned mines, police, the border patrol and the White Horse, which is a vigilante group. Many characters in this book and none of them are really good guys. The story revolves around Cork and Rainy's search for Peter.

The ending is really a mishmash in which WWK tries to take all of the disconnected pieces and bring them together. When he is done you are left with a mess that will leave you scratching your head. I hope WWK get back to Minnesota and what they know best in the next episode.

[Jeff Dickison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another good Cork O'Connor book as he and Rainy go to Arizona to find her son who has been working with helping illegal immigrants cross the Arizona desert. Much intrigue follows with lots of shootings and beatings occurring. We get to learn quite a bit more about Rainy. Well done and exciting, change of locale does not hinder the story at all. Recommended.

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

A man is missing, and his mother and stepfather go looking for him in Arizona, where he was last known to be.
Cork and Rainy Bisonette are newly married when she gets a voicemail from her son, Peter, saying that he thinks he's in trouble. Numerous attempts to return his call are unsuccessful, so Cork and Rainy travel to Arizona hoping to learn what has happened. It seems that Peter has been hiding things from his mother...like the fact that he was no longer employed at the rehabilitation facility where he had once gone for help with his drug addiction. Some folks tell them that Peter was using again, while others say that that isn't true.

Cork and Rainy soon learn that there is no one in Coronado County that they can really trust. There are several drug cartels, border patrol and DEA agents, illegal immigrants, crooked law enforcement officers, as well as all types of human interest and vigilante groups. In the desert of Arizona, we learn more about Rainy’s past and that she has kept some important secrets from Cork. The desert of Arizona is a different setting from the usual one of Minnesota. We are introduced to several new characters, some are likable, others not so much.

The plot is as always with this series, well-paced and will keep you guessing until almost the end. There is one thing that kept me from giving these one five stars. The author felt the need to interject his what appears to be his own political views which had nothing really to offer to the story. Everyone has a right to think whatever they want about our "situation" ...but please, our books that we read for the pleasure of reading, doesn't need comments from either side of the fence. Overall...the story itself was good and the new location a good change of pace.

[LJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

First Sentence: In the balance of who we are and what we do, the weight of history is immeasurable.

Cork O’Connor and his bride Rainy are about to celebrate the Fourth of July when Rainy receives a frantic and disturbing voice message from her son Peter, who is in Southern Arizona working at a drug rehab center. Being unable to reach him, Cork and Rainy fly to Arizona only to learn that Peter hasn’t worked at the center in months and no one knows where he is. On the message, Peter gave the name Rodriguez, head of a cartel. In what danger is Peter, and is he still alive?

It is a well-done opening that provides a succinct, yet surprisingly emotional, summary of Cork and his history. This will be appreciated by both new and returning readers of the series.

Krueger is one of the group of special writers who imparts small truths and wisdom that fits the story, but also make one take note wanting to remember them—“I understood that the past is never really past. We live our history over and over, the worst of our memories right there alongside us, step for step, our companions to the grave.” It is doubtful anyone has ever defined better the concept of trust—“Trust. An easy word to say. … But putting it into practice? … You hold a place inside that’s only for you and that you never let anyone else into. Hell, after she died, we found out even Mother Teresa had secrets too dark to share.”

Krueger makes us think, too, of important issues of today such as bigotry. Yet the manner isn’t one of preaching or berating, but of opening our eyes and being educated. His use of language and imagery is always a joy to read—“The demons that plague you are patient horrors. …They are always with you. And why? Because they’re not things separate from you. They are you.”

The way in which the author constructs his characters make them real to us. Although Cork and Rainy take center stage, there are several excellent supporting characters, particularly Jocko, the old miner. We feel their emotions. We have a real sense of who they are.

As strong is the sense of place. Those who have been to the high desert will recognize it. Those who have not, will feel as though they’ve been there. Krueger’s description of monsoons in the desert is vivid and real. The threat is as if another character.

“Sulfur Springs” has a beginning which seems fairly straightforward, and then builds the sense of danger and suspense layer upon layer, with twists and a bad guy you don’t see coming.

SULFUR SPRINGS (Unl Invest-Cork O’Connor-Arizona-Contemp) - Ex
Krueger, William Kent – 16th in series
Atria – Aug 2017

[Ruth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Aurora Minnesota, Cork O'Connor and his new bride Rainy Bissonette listen to a desperate voicemail from Rainy's son Peter. They hear Peter confess to the murder of someone named Rodriguez. They try and contact him but his phone has gone dead. The next day Cork and Rainy fly to southern Arizona where Peter has been working as a counselor in a drug rehab center. When they arrive they learn that no one has heard from Peter in six months. Cork and Rainy head to the small desert town of Sulfur Springs. But no one there seems to know Peter but they recognize the name Rodriguez. Carlos Rodriguez, the head of a cartel that controls everything illegal crossing the border from Mexico into Arizona. As Cork and Rainy gather information about Peter they are warned there is a war going on along the border. "Trust no one in Coronado" they hear again and again. Meanwhile Cork has the growing sense that Rainy might know more about what's going on than she's willing to admit. If Cork can't trust his own wife who can he trust? 3.5 stars because this instalment in the series was a little to political for me but that said the atmosphere and description of the landscape was very good as is the same with all of Krueger's books. For that reason will continue to read everything from William Kent Krueger.

[P · Rating 2 out of 5]

Cork O'Conner mysteries used to be just that. A good mystery. I particularly enjoy the author's ability to make the scenery, the location, almost a character in the book. He brings it to vivid life.

However, since his books now sell, he has decided to make them nothing but political statements of his viewpoint. Each book in the series is now a textbook social justice text.

I miss the mystery, and am done with the lectures. He still has that awesome ability to vividly describe the setting, and it's a real talent.

[Kay · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is my first book by the author. I thought it would be mystery - thriller in the midwest, like Lucas Davenport style. The story took the characters south and once I figure out what it is about, I lost interest. Different views in this regard.

[Barbara Ball · Rating 1 out of 5]

I did not enjoy this book at all. Way too political for me. It makes me sad because I really enjoyed the series up until this book and am not inclined to read his new book. I may give it a chance. Will definitely not purchase it but get it from the library.

[Kasa Cotugno · Rating 4 out of 5]

Latest in a beloved series. This time Cork goes to Arizona, and Krueger does as great a job with the natural world of the desert as he does with the landscape of the northern midwest.

[Mike Hughes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best Cork book in years. Change of setting in this, but no change in great writing. Loved the story, the characters are still pretty incredible.

[Thekelburrows · Rating 3 out of 5]

Perfectly serviceable but did not offer much beyond the Joy of Cooking recipe for chicken broccoli casserole.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is #16 in the Cork O'Connor series. Cork leaves his Minnesota stomping grounds and heads off to Arizona on a family matter. And it's not long before things escalate into something far more complex as he is caught in a web of drugs, thugs, immigrants, and murder.

I liked the story line. With the change of scenery, Cork doesn't change. He's still the same determined and grounded MC that has grown on me all throughout this series. He's willing to go to great lengths to get to the bottom of the mystery at hand, especially when family is involved (and this is one of his best qualities.) His normal-ness is what keeps the story interesting.

Now with that said, things wrapped up a little too neatly with a few more roses and glitter than normal. But at this point in the series, the characters feel like family. Maybe this wasn't quite 4 stars, but I'm rounding up.

[Chuck Karas · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a huge fan of William Kent Krueger starting with Ordinary Grace. When I discovered the Cork O'Connor series I was truly hooked. Having read all of this series, I can say that I missed the interaction with Henry Meloux , but it was still a good book and a very good read. When I saw this book was not based in Minnesota I was hesitant but as I read on I was swept away. If you like good adventure novels, with a touch of nature and native cultures blended into the stories, you can not miss with these books. And yes, I give Sulphur Springs a thumbs up with five stars.

[Casey Hickman · Rating 2 out of 5]

Easily the most disappointing Cork O'Connor book in the series. This book didn't even feel like WKK wrote it. I thought there was extremely too many characters to keep track of. I didn't like the ever twisting plot. I didn't like the southwest location. And I definitely didn't like the authors choice of topic in helping illegal immigrants.

Has WKK runout of ideas for this series?

[Mitzi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh how I love this series! What's new in this 16th book besides a new mystery to be solved--new family members (particularly Cork's grown stepson, Peter) and a new setting (the dry desert of the Arizona-Mexico border). Why did Cork leave the typical setting of northern Minnesota? He and his wife get a garbled call from Peter and all they can decipher are the words 'Rodriguez' and 'killed' so of course they immediately leave for the area where they expected to find him. But when they get to the small town of Sulfur Springs, Peter is nowhere to be found and in addition they discover that he had been fired from his counseling position at a drug rehab center 6 months prior! So the search to find Peter is on and drug cartels, refugees and immigrants are encountered. In addition to being another great mystery, it's quite a timely and thought provoking book as well, even though it was published in 2017.