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Cork O'Connor #17
Desolation Mountain
New York Times bestselling author William Kent Krueger delivers yet another “punch-to-the-gut blend of detective story and investigative fiction” (Booklist, starred review) as Cork O’Connor and his son Stephen work together to uncover the truth behind the tragic plane crash of a senator on Desolation Mountain and the mysterious disappearances of several first responders. This is a heart-pounding and devastating mystery the scope and consequences of which go far beyond what father or son could ever have imagined.
There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy.
To Stephen O’Connor, Hamlet’s dour observation is more than just words. All his life, he has had visions of tragedies to come. When he experiences the vision of a great bird shot from the sky, he knows something terrible is about to happen. The crash of a private plane on Desolation Mountain in a remote part of the Iron Lake Reservation, which kills a United States senator and most of her family, confirms Stephen’s worst fears.
Stephen joins his father, Cork O’Connor and a few Ojibwe men from the nearby Iron Lake reservation to sift through the smoldering wreckage when the FBI arrives and quickly assumes control of the situation. What seems like the end of the O’Connors’ involvement is, however, only the beginning of a harrowing journey to understand the truth behind the Senator’s death. As he initiates his own probe, Cork O’Connor stumbles upon a familiar face in Bo Thorson, a private security consultant whose unnamed clients have hired him to look quietly into the cause of the crash. The men agree to join forces in their investigation, but soon Cork begins to wonder if Thorson’s loyalties lie elsewhere.
In that far north Minnesota County, which is overrun with agents of the FBI, NTSB, DoD, and even members of a rightwing militia, all of whom have their own agendas, Cork, Stephen, and Bo attempt to navigate a perilous course. Roadblocked by lies from the highest levels of government, uncertain who to trust, and facing growing threats the deeper they dig for answers, the three men finally understand that to get to the truth, they will have to face the great menace, a beast of true evil lurking in the woods—a beast with a murderous intent of unimaginable scale.
There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy.
To Stephen O’Connor, Hamlet’s dour observation is more than just words. All his life, he has had visions of tragedies to come. When he experiences the vision of a great bird shot from the sky, he knows something terrible is about to happen. The crash of a private plane on Desolation Mountain in a remote part of the Iron Lake Reservation, which kills a United States senator and most of her family, confirms Stephen’s worst fears.
Stephen joins his father, Cork O’Connor and a few Ojibwe men from the nearby Iron Lake reservation to sift through the smoldering wreckage when the FBI arrives and quickly assumes control of the situation. What seems like the end of the O’Connors’ involvement is, however, only the beginning of a harrowing journey to understand the truth behind the Senator’s death. As he initiates his own probe, Cork O’Connor stumbles upon a familiar face in Bo Thorson, a private security consultant whose unnamed clients have hired him to look quietly into the cause of the crash. The men agree to join forces in their investigation, but soon Cork begins to wonder if Thorson’s loyalties lie elsewhere.
In that far north Minnesota County, which is overrun with agents of the FBI, NTSB, DoD, and even members of a rightwing militia, all of whom have their own agendas, Cork, Stephen, and Bo attempt to navigate a perilous course. Roadblocked by lies from the highest levels of government, uncertain who to trust, and facing growing threats the deeper they dig for answers, the three men finally understand that to get to the truth, they will have to face the great menace, a beast of true evil lurking in the woods—a beast with a murderous intent of unimaginable scale.
334 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 21, 2018
3241 people are currently reading
5283 people want to read
About the author
William Kent Krueger
80 books16.3k 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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,197 reviews
June 6, 2018
When Cork's son Stephen has a vision, one he doesn't understand he turns to the now ancient midi, Henry. Love his character, though he is now a hundred years old. A senators plane crashes, a senator whose agenda angered many. She was sympathetic to those on the Iron Lake reservation who were against the mines being reopened. The runoff from the mine would pollute the crystal clear water that was depended on by many.
This is another series of that I have read from the beginning, so it feels like a visit to old friends. I love the mix of the Indian culture, mystery, close family relations, and the setting of the amazing boundary Waters. Mans greed knows no bounds, was the plane crashes an accident or something else? Every government agency is on the ground, an old friend makes an appearance, and when some of the natives go missing Cork is determined to find out exactly what happened. The danger will come too close to home, affecting those Cork loves best. Too close for comfort,and it left me holding my breath.
Okay, the ending, I'll just say it left me very emotonal. Such a good series.
ARC from Edelweiss.
This is another series of that I have read from the beginning, so it feels like a visit to old friends. I love the mix of the Indian culture, mystery, close family relations, and the setting of the amazing boundary Waters. Mans greed knows no bounds, was the plane crashes an accident or something else? Every government agency is on the ground, an old friend makes an appearance, and when some of the natives go missing Cork is determined to find out exactly what happened. The danger will come too close to home, affecting those Cork loves best. Too close for comfort,and it left me holding my breath.
Okay, the ending, I'll just say it left me very emotonal. Such a good series.
ARC from Edelweiss.
September 15, 2018
Having read my way through the whole series I have been waiting for this book to come out and boy was it worth the wait!
It was so good to visit with old friends again. Stephen gets a lot of mileage in this book and hopefully begins to see himself as he really is. Waaboo continues to lay claim to our hearts and gets a burger named after him. Cork is still enjoying his marriage to Rainey but Desolation Mountain does not spend much time talking about relationships because there is a lot of very serious action and some very dangerous enemies are in play.
A new character, Bo Thorson, appears. He is already known to Cork and appears to be on their side but is he actually a double agent? As a side note William Kent Krueger lets us know that this character features in a stand alone novel he wrote called The Devil's Bed. That has gone straight onto my want to read list!
I loved Desolation Mountain and finished it in record time. Sadly I now have a really long wait to the next one which I predict will need at least two boxes of tissues!
It was so good to visit with old friends again. Stephen gets a lot of mileage in this book and hopefully begins to see himself as he really is. Waaboo continues to lay claim to our hearts and gets a burger named after him. Cork is still enjoying his marriage to Rainey but Desolation Mountain does not spend much time talking about relationships because there is a lot of very serious action and some very dangerous enemies are in play.
A new character, Bo Thorson, appears. He is already known to Cork and appears to be on their side but is he actually a double agent? As a side note William Kent Krueger lets us know that this character features in a stand alone novel he wrote called The Devil's Bed. That has gone straight onto my want to read list!
I loved Desolation Mountain and finished it in record time. Sadly I now have a really long wait to the next one which I predict will need at least two boxes of tissues!
July 22, 2022
I enjoyed Fox Creek so much, I went back to listen to Desolation Mountain, the book immediately prior to it, which I had missed. What a great audio experience this series is! Just the right amount of action and suspense to keep me engaged throughout.
This time, Stephen is plagued by a vision of a young boy and an eagle shot from the sky. Soon thereafter, a senator’s plane goes down in the area, killing all aboard. In addition to all the expected government agencies, mysterious men show up, refusing to name which government agency they’re with (but with obvious army training). And the folks that were first on the scene at the crash begin to go missing.
The story deals with Steven’s quest to be a mide, which conflicts with his desire at times to also be a warrior.
The reader is also given a glimpse into a new character who shows up, ex-secret service and there on behalf of an unknown client. He’s an old friend of Cork’s and they begin to work together. But it’s unclear to both the reader and Cork whether he can be trusted.
This series always brings a great blend of Indian culture and beliefs, family love and loyalty. I loved watching Steven grow up and struggle with who he is. I also loved how the book mirrors our times. Can the common man stand up to the powerful or is it all futile?
Warning - several dogs are shot in this story. No graphic scenes, though.
I listened to this and David Chandler did a great job as narrator.
This time, Stephen is plagued by a vision of a young boy and an eagle shot from the sky. Soon thereafter, a senator’s plane goes down in the area, killing all aboard. In addition to all the expected government agencies, mysterious men show up, refusing to name which government agency they’re with (but with obvious army training). And the folks that were first on the scene at the crash begin to go missing.
The story deals with Steven’s quest to be a mide, which conflicts with his desire at times to also be a warrior.
The reader is also given a glimpse into a new character who shows up, ex-secret service and there on behalf of an unknown client. He’s an old friend of Cork’s and they begin to work together. But it’s unclear to both the reader and Cork whether he can be trusted.
This series always brings a great blend of Indian culture and beliefs, family love and loyalty. I loved watching Steven grow up and struggle with who he is. I also loved how the book mirrors our times. Can the common man stand up to the powerful or is it all futile?
Warning - several dogs are shot in this story. No graphic scenes, though.
I listened to this and David Chandler did a great job as narrator.
January 20, 2019
William Kent Krueger writes of a mountain in northeast Minnesota called Desolation Mountain. There are no peaks in the state that could actually be considered “mountains,” but the highest point is one in the far northeast corner called Eagle Mountain. I’m not sure if it’s near the town of Aurora, population 1646, but Desolation Mountain is a fictitious rock;
Desolation Mountain
is a work of fiction.
“Desolation” is defined as “a state of complete emptiness or destruction: the stony desolation of the desert. • anguished misery or loneliness.” This serves as the basis for Krueger’s seventeenth Cork O’Connor mystery. It begins with a vision. Stephen, Cork’s twenty-year-old son, has a recurring vision that is exactly the same. He believes it foretells something ominous and evil. He turns to the ancient mide, Henry Meloux, who has long been the healer and spiritual guide for the Ojibwe people of “the rez” and long-time confidant of Cork and his family. Henry seems troubled also, which does not sit well with Stephen.
Then it happens. A US senator’s plane goes down, and all hell breaks loose. The area is inundated and infiltrated by agents from the NTSB, FBI, and who knows what other government and private agencies. Was it sabotage? Was it a terror attack? It brought back memories of the 2002 plane crash that killed Senator Paul Wellstone, his wife, and daughter near Eveleth, which is 17 miles from Aurora. There are some parallels to Wellstone’s political views and his death and those of the fictitious Senator Olympia McCarthy, who is killed along with her family in this book.
The plot is complex. We meet an old acquaintance of Cork’s, Bo Thorson, who was the protagonist in the standalone book, The Devil’s Bed . Thorson is a former Secret Service Agent who was assigned to protect the First Lady. Now he works privately. Similarly, O’Connor is private after working in law enforcement for most of his career. Because he was sheriff and is of mixed heritage, part Ojibwe and part Irish-American, Cork has connections and insights into both the white world and native ways. Upon meeting Thorson, Stephen’s reaction is one of skepticism. Can he be trusted?
I wondered the same thing. I liked him in The Devil’s Bed. He was solid, trustworthy, and loyal. In Desolation Mountain, I found myself questioning where his loyalties lie. Things get complicated, as the black box is missing, and someone seems determined to keep it that way. Not only that, but residents of the reservation and the town are threatened as well. What – or who – is the source of that threat? As the plot unfolds, conspiracy theories abound. The author did a good job keeping me off balance.
As always, the real strength of Krueger’s Cork O’Connor series is the characters. Depicting Anishinaabe culture and spiritual practices has always been one of William Kent Krueger’s trademarks. He obviously has great respect, which is apparent in the way he portrays his characters. This time we see Stephen begin to come into his own. While his father is “Ma’iingan”, meaning, “Wolf Clan, Protectors,” Stephen is “Mide”, a healer. Like Henry and Henry’s niece/Cork’s wife, Rainy Bisonette. Stephen has grown a lot, and he struggles throughout the novel to understand the meaning of his vision. He unfairly blames himself for his failure to make sense of it, thinking it might have prevented the tragedy. Yet, even after the crash, the vision keeps coming. Despite his frustrations and his desire to prove himself worthy, he sticks with it and proves to be a man of strength and growing wisdom. Young Waaboo – Aaron Smalldog O’Connor – now five, shows signs of a future Anishinaabe midewin as well. He is a real treasure! At the core, of course, is Cork trying to keep his family and his people safe. There is Henry, the one everyone turns to for healing and for calming of wounded spirits.
There are many new characters who have roles, large and small, in this story. I liked the caretaking role Stephen takes with Winston, and I think Winston has potential in future books. There’s Monkey Love and his Uncle Ned, and Beulah Love, and many others. It takes a village to defeat the monster. There is plenty of danger and darkness in this one. It reminds us of the evils of greed, corruption, and fanaticism, of mistrust and lies. There is sorrow and death, but despite the horror of the disaster and the craziness of the investigation with the influx of strangers from a multitude of government agencies, followed by so much more turmoil, family, community, and love endure. That gives us hope and strength. Migwech, Mr. Krueger. Thank you.
4.5 rounded to 5 stars
“Desolation” is defined as “a state of complete emptiness or destruction: the stony desolation of the desert. • anguished misery or loneliness.” This serves as the basis for Krueger’s seventeenth Cork O’Connor mystery. It begins with a vision. Stephen, Cork’s twenty-year-old son, has a recurring vision that is exactly the same. He believes it foretells something ominous and evil. He turns to the ancient mide, Henry Meloux, who has long been the healer and spiritual guide for the Ojibwe people of “the rez” and long-time confidant of Cork and his family. Henry seems troubled also, which does not sit well with Stephen.
Then it happens. A US senator’s plane goes down, and all hell breaks loose. The area is inundated and infiltrated by agents from the NTSB, FBI, and who knows what other government and private agencies. Was it sabotage? Was it a terror attack? It brought back memories of the 2002 plane crash that killed Senator Paul Wellstone, his wife, and daughter near Eveleth, which is 17 miles from Aurora. There are some parallels to Wellstone’s political views and his death and those of the fictitious Senator Olympia McCarthy, who is killed along with her family in this book.
The plot is complex. We meet an old acquaintance of Cork’s, Bo Thorson, who was the protagonist in the standalone book, The Devil’s Bed . Thorson is a former Secret Service Agent who was assigned to protect the First Lady. Now he works privately. Similarly, O’Connor is private after working in law enforcement for most of his career. Because he was sheriff and is of mixed heritage, part Ojibwe and part Irish-American, Cork has connections and insights into both the white world and native ways. Upon meeting Thorson, Stephen’s reaction is one of skepticism. Can he be trusted?
I wondered the same thing. I liked him in The Devil’s Bed. He was solid, trustworthy, and loyal. In Desolation Mountain, I found myself questioning where his loyalties lie. Things get complicated, as the black box is missing, and someone seems determined to keep it that way. Not only that, but residents of the reservation and the town are threatened as well. What – or who – is the source of that threat? As the plot unfolds, conspiracy theories abound. The author did a good job keeping me off balance.
As always, the real strength of Krueger’s Cork O’Connor series is the characters. Depicting Anishinaabe culture and spiritual practices has always been one of William Kent Krueger’s trademarks. He obviously has great respect, which is apparent in the way he portrays his characters. This time we see Stephen begin to come into his own. While his father is “Ma’iingan”, meaning, “Wolf Clan, Protectors,” Stephen is “Mide”, a healer. Like Henry and Henry’s niece/Cork’s wife, Rainy Bisonette. Stephen has grown a lot, and he struggles throughout the novel to understand the meaning of his vision. He unfairly blames himself for his failure to make sense of it, thinking it might have prevented the tragedy. Yet, even after the crash, the vision keeps coming. Despite his frustrations and his desire to prove himself worthy, he sticks with it and proves to be a man of strength and growing wisdom. Young Waaboo – Aaron Smalldog O’Connor – now five, shows signs of a future Anishinaabe midewin as well. He is a real treasure! At the core, of course, is Cork trying to keep his family and his people safe. There is Henry, the one everyone turns to for healing and for calming of wounded spirits.
There are many new characters who have roles, large and small, in this story. I liked the caretaking role Stephen takes with Winston, and I think Winston has potential in future books. There’s Monkey Love and his Uncle Ned, and Beulah Love, and many others. It takes a village to defeat the monster. There is plenty of danger and darkness in this one. It reminds us of the evils of greed, corruption, and fanaticism, of mistrust and lies. There is sorrow and death, but despite the horror of the disaster and the craziness of the investigation with the influx of strangers from a multitude of government agencies, followed by so much more turmoil, family, community, and love endure. That gives us hope and strength. Migwech, Mr. Krueger. Thank you.
4.5 rounded to 5 stars
June 22, 2023
Well I’ve done it again jumped from Iron Lake 📚 1 in this series to book 17 Desolation mountain which I enjoyed Krueger writes an atmospheric slick novel that grabs you pulls you in like a washing machine & doesn’t let go, I like this series how he describes the scene he is setting up is exquisite he is a talented writer.
Now here we are in Desolation Mountain home of the dam we people an eerie place for all but when a plane goes down killing all it’s up to Cork & his son Stephen to determine what caused it, the find out the senator was one of them both think it could be a terrorism attack, but why?
As the case gets on the more both Cork & Stephen think it could be an extortion attempt meanwhile Stephen is having visions he doesn’t understand, all in all this was another great book by Mr Krueger that I enjoyed, but read in order not like me who jumps from first to the current book not that it matters but I like reading books in order.
Now here we are in Desolation Mountain home of the dam we people an eerie place for all but when a plane goes down killing all it’s up to Cork & his son Stephen to determine what caused it, the find out the senator was one of them both think it could be a terrorism attack, but why?
As the case gets on the more both Cork & Stephen think it could be an extortion attempt meanwhile Stephen is having visions he doesn’t understand, all in all this was another great book by Mr Krueger that I enjoyed, but read in order not like me who jumps from first to the current book not that it matters but I like reading books in order.
October 17, 2025
We jump right into the action with this one, when a senator’s plane crashes on nearby Desolation Mountain. Cork and Stephen show up with other first responders and witnesses, but they are soon escorted away by “officials”. The crash hits Stephen hard because he’s had a reoccurring vision that he thinks is linked to the crime, but he can’t figure out how. This one has Cork’s family and loved ones in danger, as well as many of the Ojibwa people we have come to know in previous books.
This book in the series keeps the action going, with an urgency that they are running out of time to find the answers before more people are hurt or killed. And while the drama is excellent and entertaining, what draws me back to these books is Cork, his family and his community. This one just hit all the right notes for me and is one of my favorites so far.
5 stars 💗
This book in the series keeps the action going, with an urgency that they are running out of time to find the answers before more people are hurt or killed. And while the drama is excellent and entertaining, what draws me back to these books is Cork, his family and his community. This one just hit all the right notes for me and is one of my favorites so far.
5 stars 💗
September 28, 2018
This book, Desolation Mountain is the 17th book in the Cork O'Connor series by William Kent Krueger. The setting for this series is northern Minnesota and in particular, Tamarack County and the Ojibwe Iron Lake Reservation. I have read several books in this series and I advise that although you CAN read this installment as a 'stand-alone' novel, I believe 'Desolation Mountain' will be more enjoyable and understandable if you start at the beginning of the series. The characters' lives and relationships are ever growing and changing and following these characters throughout the series provides a richness to the reader's experience.
Desolation Mountain opens with a perplexing vision, experienced by Stephen O'Connor, the son of protagonist Cork O'Connor, whose Native American heritage has bestowed upon him a gift (or perhaps a curse).. the ability to see visions of future occurrences. Stephen is frustrated and struggling with his inability to decipher these visions; and the particular vision which begins this story leaves him feeling desperate for insight....
"He watches the boy on the steep rise above him. He is that boy and he is not... The bird
appears out of the dark boil of clouds. Wings spread broad catching the wind. Curling in
a wider arc above the hill. The bird-clearly an eagle now- lets out a screech. High -pitched.
Then another. The boy raises the bow. The eagle circles, near enough that the boy can see
the details.... The boy draws back the bowstring. Calculates trajectory, wind, speed. Leads
the bird. Takes a breath. Lets the arrow fly. The great bird twists in an explosion of feathers.
Tries to right itself. Begins to plummet...... "
As Stephen grapples with interpreting this vision, a private plane carrying the controversial senator from Minnesota, Olympia McCarthy, seemingly falls from the sky onto the Iron Lake Reservation. Cork O'Connor, a former sheriff in the county, is part of the Tamarack County Search and Rescue Team; and when the plane crashes into Desolation Mountain, Cork and Stephen join members of the Ojibwe tribe in searching fro the senator and her family among the wreckage. Shortly after the group begins their search, they are interrupted by a flood of government agents... FBI, NTSB, and Homeland Security... as well as some strange men wearing camouflage and carrying high-powered weapons. This sight arouses Cork's curiosity and suspicion; and who members of the tribe who were at the crash site begin to disappear a couple of days later, Cork decides to begin a covert investigation of his own.
Cork wants answers and although the official story being dispensed by the government is that the plane crashed due to pilot error, Cork can't help but wonder why, if that is true, Desolation Mountain is still teeming with federal agents. And what about Stephen's vision? Was the eagle in the vision symbolic of Senator McCarthy's plane? If so, who is responsible for shooting the plane out of the sky, because yes, he is sure that is EXACTLY what happened? And what happened to his friends from the reservation? Where are they? Have they been kidnapped and why?
This story is filled with mystery and suspense and if you love a good government conspiracy story, you will enjoy this book. I raced through the pages, all the while trying to determine which government officials might be trustworthy and which ones were operating with their own secret agendas. Although I'm not a believer in conspiracy theories because there are too many uncontrollable moving parts, I somehow did not find it too incredible to think that a government just might have an agenda which its citizens know nothing about.
The aspect of this story that I loved most was the mysticism of the Ojibwe tribe, which William Kent Krueger describes beautifully. His writing illustrates the sacredness and respect the tribe holds for the land and also the deep connection the tribe feels to the earth. In this way, Mr. Krueger's writing reminds me of Louise Erdrich and Tony Hillerman, who also write of the Native American experience in similar ways.
This latest installment in the Cork O'Connor series is filled with intrigue and is an excellent page-turning experience.
Desolation Mountain opens with a perplexing vision, experienced by Stephen O'Connor, the son of protagonist Cork O'Connor, whose Native American heritage has bestowed upon him a gift (or perhaps a curse).. the ability to see visions of future occurrences. Stephen is frustrated and struggling with his inability to decipher these visions; and the particular vision which begins this story leaves him feeling desperate for insight....
"He watches the boy on the steep rise above him. He is that boy and he is not... The bird
appears out of the dark boil of clouds. Wings spread broad catching the wind. Curling in
a wider arc above the hill. The bird-clearly an eagle now- lets out a screech. High -pitched.
Then another. The boy raises the bow. The eagle circles, near enough that the boy can see
the details.... The boy draws back the bowstring. Calculates trajectory, wind, speed. Leads
the bird. Takes a breath. Lets the arrow fly. The great bird twists in an explosion of feathers.
Tries to right itself. Begins to plummet...... "
As Stephen grapples with interpreting this vision, a private plane carrying the controversial senator from Minnesota, Olympia McCarthy, seemingly falls from the sky onto the Iron Lake Reservation. Cork O'Connor, a former sheriff in the county, is part of the Tamarack County Search and Rescue Team; and when the plane crashes into Desolation Mountain, Cork and Stephen join members of the Ojibwe tribe in searching fro the senator and her family among the wreckage. Shortly after the group begins their search, they are interrupted by a flood of government agents... FBI, NTSB, and Homeland Security... as well as some strange men wearing camouflage and carrying high-powered weapons. This sight arouses Cork's curiosity and suspicion; and who members of the tribe who were at the crash site begin to disappear a couple of days later, Cork decides to begin a covert investigation of his own.
Cork wants answers and although the official story being dispensed by the government is that the plane crashed due to pilot error, Cork can't help but wonder why, if that is true, Desolation Mountain is still teeming with federal agents. And what about Stephen's vision? Was the eagle in the vision symbolic of Senator McCarthy's plane? If so, who is responsible for shooting the plane out of the sky, because yes, he is sure that is EXACTLY what happened? And what happened to his friends from the reservation? Where are they? Have they been kidnapped and why?
This story is filled with mystery and suspense and if you love a good government conspiracy story, you will enjoy this book. I raced through the pages, all the while trying to determine which government officials might be trustworthy and which ones were operating with their own secret agendas. Although I'm not a believer in conspiracy theories because there are too many uncontrollable moving parts, I somehow did not find it too incredible to think that a government just might have an agenda which its citizens know nothing about.
The aspect of this story that I loved most was the mysticism of the Ojibwe tribe, which William Kent Krueger describes beautifully. His writing illustrates the sacredness and respect the tribe holds for the land and also the deep connection the tribe feels to the earth. In this way, Mr. Krueger's writing reminds me of Louise Erdrich and Tony Hillerman, who also write of the Native American experience in similar ways.
This latest installment in the Cork O'Connor series is filled with intrigue and is an excellent page-turning experience.
December 17, 2018
It all seems to begin with a troubling vision Stephen O’Connor has that is burdening him. He seeks answers from Henry Meloux but when a plane carrying their US Senator crashes on nearby Desolation Mountain, Stephen believes that event is connected to what he’s seen. When he, Cork and his brother-in-law Daniel English head to the crash site to help search for survivors, that sets off a chain of dangerous reactions.
I so love this series with its strong sense of setting expertly connected with the indigenous Anishinaabe culture. I’m 17 books in and continue to learn about the region and customs. The characters have evolved so naturally, especially Stephen as he embraces his heritage and attempts to find his way into his own identity. Cork is also learning how to parent his now adult children and his joy in helping raise his grandson, Waaboo, is just lovely. These are the subtler and finer points of the story in the midst of a confounding, suspenseful mystery. While the plane crash brought out every alphabet agency, all trying to assert their authority, there were rogue operators in their midst who weren’t above taking drastic measures to forward their agenda.
This was an extremely puzzling mystery, moreso because you really couldn’t figure out the good guys. Tip of the hat to the author for inserting some of the sentiments currently dividing our country without taking a point of view and making it relevant to the people in this Minnesota region. It rang so authentic and was in keeping with the characters we’ve come to know. For me, the narrator, David Chandler, has become an integral part of this series. He’s just wonderful and I’ll always listen to these stories. I loved everything about this one, even the awful parts because they kept this true and authentic.
I so love this series with its strong sense of setting expertly connected with the indigenous Anishinaabe culture. I’m 17 books in and continue to learn about the region and customs. The characters have evolved so naturally, especially Stephen as he embraces his heritage and attempts to find his way into his own identity. Cork is also learning how to parent his now adult children and his joy in helping raise his grandson, Waaboo, is just lovely. These are the subtler and finer points of the story in the midst of a confounding, suspenseful mystery. While the plane crash brought out every alphabet agency, all trying to assert their authority, there were rogue operators in their midst who weren’t above taking drastic measures to forward their agenda.
This was an extremely puzzling mystery, moreso because you really couldn’t figure out the good guys. Tip of the hat to the author for inserting some of the sentiments currently dividing our country without taking a point of view and making it relevant to the people in this Minnesota region. It rang so authentic and was in keeping with the characters we’ve come to know. For me, the narrator, David Chandler, has become an integral part of this series. He’s just wonderful and I’ll always listen to these stories. I loved everything about this one, even the awful parts because they kept this true and authentic.
July 12, 2022
Krueger does his usual beautiful job of setting the scene: the lakes, pine forests, and rocky wilderness of northeast Minnesota. With this 17th book in the Cork O'Connor series, Krueger has edged further into magical realism, both sharpening and blunting the mystery. Sharpening, because there are more clever clues that gradually unlock the conspiracy behind the crimes, but also blunting, because the clues come from visions, 'mystical Indian horse shit,' in the words of the Navaho code-talkers of the movie 'Windtalkers.' How much easier to write a complicated spy thriller (which this is) when any dead-end can be salvaged by an unexplained 'vision'!
A liberal Minnesota senator's plan has crashed in the wilderness (inspired, perhaps, by the death of Senator Paul Wellstone, though his death was caused by really, really, lazy pilots.) The county and the rez are swarming with FBI, NTSB, and mysterious, heavily armed militiamen. Why did the plane crash? Was it terrorism or murder? Something big is going on, and as people close to the site begin to disappear, Cork digs in.
This is a mostly well-written thriller, even if the author requires some clumsy leaps of faith (no matter how many people disappear, neither the FBI nor the local police take any interest, conveniently leaving Cork and his friends to work alone.) Anytime the reader begins to think the whole conspiracy would collapse with any action at all from law enforcement, some character assures us that everyone in government is corrupt and is following orders to cover up the truth. I don't believe a word of this, and having read what I take to be realistic portrayals of the FBI (Red Dragon comes to mind,) I had to shrug it off.
Krueger once held the shameful distinction of second-worst thriller to date, 'The Devil's Bed', eclipsed, at the time, only by John Grisham's truly unhinged and unreadable 'The Broker.' Grisham long ago wisely returned to legal thrillers, and in recent years the ever-more-lazy Daniel Silva has turned out some stinkers that rival 'The Broker.' Leaving Krueger the only one of this bunch who's learned from his mistakes.
A liberal Minnesota senator's plan has crashed in the wilderness (inspired, perhaps, by the death of Senator Paul Wellstone, though his death was caused by really, really, lazy pilots.) The county and the rez are swarming with FBI, NTSB, and mysterious, heavily armed militiamen. Why did the plane crash? Was it terrorism or murder? Something big is going on, and as people close to the site begin to disappear, Cork digs in.
This is a mostly well-written thriller, even if the author requires some clumsy leaps of faith (no matter how many people disappear, neither the FBI nor the local police take any interest, conveniently leaving Cork and his friends to work alone.) Anytime the reader begins to think the whole conspiracy would collapse with any action at all from law enforcement, some character assures us that everyone in government is corrupt and is following orders to cover up the truth. I don't believe a word of this, and having read what I take to be realistic portrayals of the FBI (Red Dragon comes to mind,) I had to shrug it off.
Krueger once held the shameful distinction of second-worst thriller to date, 'The Devil's Bed', eclipsed, at the time, only by John Grisham's truly unhinged and unreadable 'The Broker.' Grisham long ago wisely returned to legal thrillers, and in recent years the ever-more-lazy Daniel Silva has turned out some stinkers that rival 'The Broker.' Leaving Krueger the only one of this bunch who's learned from his mistakes.
August 29, 2021
A lot of controversy in the Goodreads reviews. Not for me. Solid 4.5 stars. The local U.S. Senator is coming to town to speak against a planned mining operation (and perhaps her broader agenda against arming violent regimes in unstable places around the world), but her plane crashes mysteriously before landing in Tamarack County. The locals are cleared off the crash site and agents from all sorts of different federal agencies appear. When nobody bothers to speak to the pair who called in the crash, Cork O'Connor gets suspicious, especially in light of the nightmare/vision of his son, Stephen, of an eagle shot down and a falling egg. Then, a number of people from the Rez start disappearing, and an old friend (ex-Secret Service agent, Bo Thorson) appears and starts to help. Initially, the crash is blamed on pilot error, but none of the agents leave, and there are some other interlopers there, with a different agenda entirely. A cover up? Stephen plays an important role here, especially his likely role as a successor to the aging Mide, Henry Meloux. Then, Cork's family is threatened and worse.
This series is centered on Cork, his love of family, especially Uncle Henry and grandson Waboo, and his Native American heritage and friends. While Krueger's books are ostensibly about unsolved murders, there is plenty to give you faith in families, love, nature, values, honesty, spirits, friendship. Krueger's great love for the wilderness shines here and everywhere in this series.
This series is centered on Cork, his love of family, especially Uncle Henry and grandson Waboo, and his Native American heritage and friends. While Krueger's books are ostensibly about unsolved murders, there is plenty to give you faith in families, love, nature, values, honesty, spirits, friendship. Krueger's great love for the wilderness shines here and everywhere in this series.
April 7, 2022
Been in a reading funk for quite a while... a long while and this book pulled me through. Still an absolute favorite author/series.
Scrappymags 3-word review: Adrenaline, Intrigue, Politics
Genre: Mystery/horror
Shortest summary ever: Cork is back and this time a senator’s plane has crashed, but was it an accident or something more sinister?
What’s good under the hood: I’m forever hooked on these books for many reasons - but the biggest being that Krueger delivers suspense along with great backstory every time. The Native American inclusion, the setting of Minnesota and it’s lush descriptions all with some taut fast-paced mystery? Sign me up each and every time.
What’s bad or made me mad: Not a darn thing
Recommend to:
Cork fans of course but sure this could be read as a stand-alone
Scrappymags 3-word review: Adrenaline, Intrigue, Politics
Genre: Mystery/horror
Shortest summary ever: Cork is back and this time a senator’s plane has crashed, but was it an accident or something more sinister?
What’s good under the hood: I’m forever hooked on these books for many reasons - but the biggest being that Krueger delivers suspense along with great backstory every time. The Native American inclusion, the setting of Minnesota and it’s lush descriptions all with some taut fast-paced mystery? Sign me up each and every time.
What’s bad or made me mad: Not a darn thing
Recommend to:
Cork fans of course but sure this could be read as a stand-alone
September 2, 2018
I barely finished this one. But I plodded along and fought the urge to quit it. Now, I'm sorry I did finish. Because the explanations were as poor as the confusions were humongous.
The joylessness of this group has become overwhelming as a "mide" characteristic, IMHO. But that's not the entire problem. It's not only the woo-woo element that has gone ballistic.
His last one was over preachy. This one is just a combination of conspiracy theories fare, governmental agency impossibilities, coupled with just plain ridiculous "boogie" men that are stereotyped and not real in any form of character development. And having 7 or 8 characters of the main series core principles missing or injured and with multiple dead dogs (not counting the one that is shot and yet gets carted instantly away and survives) in the mix?
Well, I can say this. Stephen is coming into his own at least. Cork, to me, has become a dour and joyless old man. Henry has more vigor, IMHO. What a "honeymoon" period attitude?? Rainey is no ball of fire or warmth either.
The other daughter is completely occluded? And Jenny is made a rather dependent object to protect? Amidst a ridiculous plot which holds continual multiple "chases" with stops for stitches or a new pair of crutches now and again. And the woman Sheriff? Like a mere bystander?
Oh I loved Ordinary Grace. How far can a series fall? #16 made my eye brows rise. This one puts a frown on the same face. Now it's film (reminds me of the Batman or 007 character actors "bad guys") cartoon characters in cut out stereotype paste on's. Did he write this in hopes of getting an action film? No more of these Cork O'Connor for me.
As "natural" too in the language and conversations within this book as mountains are in Minnesota. Even the 5 year old grandson sounds scripted.
The joylessness of this group has become overwhelming as a "mide" characteristic, IMHO. But that's not the entire problem. It's not only the woo-woo element that has gone ballistic.
His last one was over preachy. This one is just a combination of conspiracy theories fare, governmental agency impossibilities, coupled with just plain ridiculous "boogie" men that are stereotyped and not real in any form of character development. And having 7 or 8 characters of the main series core principles missing or injured and with multiple dead dogs (not counting the one that is shot and yet gets carted instantly away and survives) in the mix?
Well, I can say this. Stephen is coming into his own at least. Cork, to me, has become a dour and joyless old man. Henry has more vigor, IMHO. What a "honeymoon" period attitude?? Rainey is no ball of fire or warmth either.
The other daughter is completely occluded? And Jenny is made a rather dependent object to protect? Amidst a ridiculous plot which holds continual multiple "chases" with stops for stitches or a new pair of crutches now and again. And the woman Sheriff? Like a mere bystander?
Oh I loved Ordinary Grace. How far can a series fall? #16 made my eye brows rise. This one puts a frown on the same face. Now it's film (reminds me of the Batman or 007 character actors "bad guys") cartoon characters in cut out stereotype paste on's. Did he write this in hopes of getting an action film? No more of these Cork O'Connor for me.
As "natural" too in the language and conversations within this book as mountains are in Minnesota. Even the 5 year old grandson sounds scripted.
October 24, 2018
Just a few paragraphs into this book and I could feel myself relaxing and melding into its atmosphere. Cork O’Connor’s son, Stephen, is explaining to Henry Meloux, the Ojibwe elder and healer, a vision he doesn’t understand. This vision is recurring, and it is menacing. I gradually came to understand parts of Stephen's vision, and I also feared what it meant. My dread increased as the end of the book neared.
A plane carrying a U. S. Senator has crashed near Desolation Mountain, a place that the Ojibwe view as cursed. Confusion reigns when numerous agencies arrive on the scene to investigate, and they push local law enforcement and residents aside. Much of the story was relevant in today’s terms, but the author kept today’s politics to a minimum.
This book was well-written with characters who have grown over the course of this wonderful series. I especially liked Stephen, who at 20 is finding his path in life. I believe he is headed for major roles in future books. This book advances the Cork O’Connor series, and I am looking forward to what William Kent Krueger has planned for the next book.
A plane carrying a U. S. Senator has crashed near Desolation Mountain, a place that the Ojibwe view as cursed. Confusion reigns when numerous agencies arrive on the scene to investigate, and they push local law enforcement and residents aside. Much of the story was relevant in today’s terms, but the author kept today’s politics to a minimum.
This book was well-written with characters who have grown over the course of this wonderful series. I especially liked Stephen, who at 20 is finding his path in life. I believe he is headed for major roles in future books. This book advances the Cork O’Connor series, and I am looking forward to what William Kent Krueger has planned for the next book.
November 6, 2019
Krueger’s 17th offering in the Cork O’Connor series features Anishinaabe spiritualism as an aid in determining the cause of a plane crash that killed a US Senator. Ojibwe mide Henry Meloux has been mentoring Cork’s son, Stephen, in interpreting the visions that the young man has been having. His latest vision has an Eagle being killed by an arrow. Could the Eagle represent the Senator’s plane?
The first-responders reaching the downed plane include a number of Ojibwe residents that inadvertently become targets by subsequent investigators from the FBI and NSAB as they search for the missing flight recorder. But there are even more groups attracted to the plane crash—right-wingers that despised the Senator, and even an outside investigator hired by the Senator’s family.
Enjoy Krueger’s excellent descriptions of the wilderness areas of the Boundary Waters region of Minnesota in this fast-paced tale.
The first-responders reaching the downed plane include a number of Ojibwe residents that inadvertently become targets by subsequent investigators from the FBI and NSAB as they search for the missing flight recorder. But there are even more groups attracted to the plane crash—right-wingers that despised the Senator, and even an outside investigator hired by the Senator’s family.
Enjoy Krueger’s excellent descriptions of the wilderness areas of the Boundary Waters region of Minnesota in this fast-paced tale.
August 15, 2018
First Sentence: He watches the boy on the steep rise above him.
A private plane crashes on Desolation Mountain. Among those on board was Senator McCarthy and most of her family. Getting to the crash site and investigating the wreckage isn't as routine as normal as barriers are erected, first responders disappear, and it appears to Cork O'Conner and his son Stephen that something darker is at work. Cork meets up with private security consultant Bo Thorson, but even his motives become questionable as they find the danger at hand is far greater than imagined.
To begin with a conversation between Stephen O'Connor and Ojibwe Henry Meloux, is to begin with wisdom and beauty. Henry's philosophies are ones from which we could all learn. This is in spite of the ominous nature of the vision Stephen had, the latest of visions he has had all his life. One can only imagine how terrible it would be to experience visions which foretell only terrible things and which come to pass.
Krueger's character descriptions can be unusual, yet very visual—"Monkey Love looked like the Devil had walked all over him, the result of years of addiction to booze and drugs. …He had unusually long arms and fingers—he'd been called Monkey all his life--…" Although Bo Thorson was in a previous book, the author wisely doesn't assume readers will have read that book, nor remember the character. Instead, he provides a well-done introduction to Bo, and to Bo's pragmatism which is both admirable and sad.
It is hard to explain the wisdom conveyed by Krueger through his characters except to say it rings more true than anything one is normally taught. It truly makes one think about everything by which we are surrounded. Even so, the question is raised as to who can be trusted.
Krueger is very good at creating a sense of danger, especially at points of calm. When action does occur, it is very effective. Such good suspense is created by taking one up to a point of resolution and then introducing a complete plot twist.
As is known from recent events, there are none more destructive than those who believe they know better than others. In the end, is a statement those who follow the series will acknowledge as being true, although sadder fact has rarely been written. Yet, in spite of it, there is a contrasting truth to which we must all hold strong.
"Desolation Mountain" is yet another wonderful book by Krueger. It is suspenseful and exciting, yet it also exposes things which are painful while creating hope.
DESOLATION MOUNTAIN (Susp-Cork O'Connor-Minnesota-Contemp) Ex
Krueger, William Kent – 17th in series
Atria Books – Aug 2018
A private plane crashes on Desolation Mountain. Among those on board was Senator McCarthy and most of her family. Getting to the crash site and investigating the wreckage isn't as routine as normal as barriers are erected, first responders disappear, and it appears to Cork O'Conner and his son Stephen that something darker is at work. Cork meets up with private security consultant Bo Thorson, but even his motives become questionable as they find the danger at hand is far greater than imagined.
To begin with a conversation between Stephen O'Connor and Ojibwe Henry Meloux, is to begin with wisdom and beauty. Henry's philosophies are ones from which we could all learn. This is in spite of the ominous nature of the vision Stephen had, the latest of visions he has had all his life. One can only imagine how terrible it would be to experience visions which foretell only terrible things and which come to pass.
Krueger's character descriptions can be unusual, yet very visual—"Monkey Love looked like the Devil had walked all over him, the result of years of addiction to booze and drugs. …He had unusually long arms and fingers—he'd been called Monkey all his life--…" Although Bo Thorson was in a previous book, the author wisely doesn't assume readers will have read that book, nor remember the character. Instead, he provides a well-done introduction to Bo, and to Bo's pragmatism which is both admirable and sad.
It is hard to explain the wisdom conveyed by Krueger through his characters except to say it rings more true than anything one is normally taught. It truly makes one think about everything by which we are surrounded. Even so, the question is raised as to who can be trusted.
Krueger is very good at creating a sense of danger, especially at points of calm. When action does occur, it is very effective. Such good suspense is created by taking one up to a point of resolution and then introducing a complete plot twist.
As is known from recent events, there are none more destructive than those who believe they know better than others. In the end, is a statement those who follow the series will acknowledge as being true, although sadder fact has rarely been written. Yet, in spite of it, there is a contrasting truth to which we must all hold strong.
"Desolation Mountain" is yet another wonderful book by Krueger. It is suspenseful and exciting, yet it also exposes things which are painful while creating hope.
DESOLATION MOUNTAIN (Susp-Cork O'Connor-Minnesota-Contemp) Ex
Krueger, William Kent – 17th in series
Atria Books – Aug 2018
April 2, 2024
Yet another in the series of Cork O'Connor stories, in some respects this one differs.
For those unfamiliar, Cork and his family live in Aurora, a small town in northern MN on Iron Lake which is also home to an Ojibwe Indian reservation. He's married to Rainy Bisonette, his second wife and his family includes Jenny, Anne and Stephen the youngest. His grandmother Dilsey was full blood Ojibwe resulting in welcome instead of rejection as a 'white man'. Jenny's married to Daniel English, a Native American and have an adopted son nicknamed 'Waboo', short for his Ojibwe birth name.
The story opens when we learn of 20 year old Stephen's recurring dream about an eagle above who's shot by an arrow and as it falls, an egg drops to the ground. Days after a plane carrying a senator McCarthy crashes on Desolation Mountain launching a local, state and federal investigation. It turns out the senator was embroiled in legislation regarding the reopening of a mine which if passed, would further damage the environment.
Since Cork was often the go-between with the Ojibwe and community, who were directly impacted by the crash, he and Stephen head to the scene where they encounter Sheriff Marsha Dross, deputies and FBI agents as well. Soon after Cork is contacted by Bo Swenson, a former Secret Service agent and friend who had been retained by a 'confidential' client.
Stephen continues to have the 'eagle dream' and heads to Crows Point to consult with Henry Meloux, an Ojibwe medicine man, close family friend uncle to his stepmother, Rainy. Henry recommends entering into a 'sweat' which often yields truth and vision clarification among other things.
Like any plane crash investigation unusual details surface, among them the missing flight recorder. With each chapter, unexpected plot twists surface pushing the momentum deeper. Among them, capture of a group of Indians, dogs being shot, Cork being contacted by a stranger claiming to have the black box and countless others. Toward the end Cork's family becomes endangered by a militant group and with it, details of an experimental military device used to down the plane.
Needless to say, there's FAR more to this story, but I prefer not to spoil a well planned mystery. If you enjoy engaging stories that incorporate themes of spiritual, family and the unusual, you may want to add this to your list
For those unfamiliar, Cork and his family live in Aurora, a small town in northern MN on Iron Lake which is also home to an Ojibwe Indian reservation. He's married to Rainy Bisonette, his second wife and his family includes Jenny, Anne and Stephen the youngest. His grandmother Dilsey was full blood Ojibwe resulting in welcome instead of rejection as a 'white man'. Jenny's married to Daniel English, a Native American and have an adopted son nicknamed 'Waboo', short for his Ojibwe birth name.
The story opens when we learn of 20 year old Stephen's recurring dream about an eagle above who's shot by an arrow and as it falls, an egg drops to the ground. Days after a plane carrying a senator McCarthy crashes on Desolation Mountain launching a local, state and federal investigation. It turns out the senator was embroiled in legislation regarding the reopening of a mine which if passed, would further damage the environment.
Since Cork was often the go-between with the Ojibwe and community, who were directly impacted by the crash, he and Stephen head to the scene where they encounter Sheriff Marsha Dross, deputies and FBI agents as well. Soon after Cork is contacted by Bo Swenson, a former Secret Service agent and friend who had been retained by a 'confidential' client.
Stephen continues to have the 'eagle dream' and heads to Crows Point to consult with Henry Meloux, an Ojibwe medicine man, close family friend uncle to his stepmother, Rainy. Henry recommends entering into a 'sweat' which often yields truth and vision clarification among other things.
Like any plane crash investigation unusual details surface, among them the missing flight recorder. With each chapter, unexpected plot twists surface pushing the momentum deeper. Among them, capture of a group of Indians, dogs being shot, Cork being contacted by a stranger claiming to have the black box and countless others. Toward the end Cork's family becomes endangered by a militant group and with it, details of an experimental military device used to down the plane.
Needless to say, there's FAR more to this story, but I prefer not to spoil a well planned mystery. If you enjoy engaging stories that incorporate themes of spiritual, family and the unusual, you may want to add this to your list
September 12, 2018
Cork O'Connor and his family are back in Desolation Mountain, the newest release in the series. A plane carrying a senator and her family goes down in Tamarack County. Cork and son Stephen - who has had the same, recurring vision about an eagle being shot out of the sky by a young boy and an egg falling from it - end up at the crash scene. Various locals, including two tribe members who were the first to report seeing the plane go down, and Sheriff Marsha Dross and her people are at scene, but told to either go home (in the case of the locals) or back to their station (in the case of the local law enforcement). The official government entities, spooky quasi-government entities, and a private investigator known to Cork but with a hidden agenda are all present. Then the locals who were at the scene start vanishing and Cork realizes there's more afoot than meets the eye. He, Stephen, his son-in-law Daniel, and some other men start their own investigation, racing to find the truth and the abducted locals.
I've noticed of late that a number of the books I've read seem to be written with an eye toward the big screen. I don't know if it's just me or that really is the case, but this seemed to be yet another one, in my eyes. A convoluted story, a bunch of characters, spooky military people: it could easily be adapted for the screen.
At stake in the book is the reopening of an iron mine in the area, with half the locals against it for the obvious environmental reasons, and the other half in favor for the obvious economic reasons. It's clear that Very Big Interests want it opened, and that's probably why the plane was shot down.
But none of it makes sense - except Stephen's recurring vision, which he relates to Henry, the Ojibwe midi who is his mentor. I'm going to put the next part in spoilers.
Overall, if you've read to #16, you'll read this one at #17 - it's almost an inevitability if you're anything like me. Perhaps you'll like it more than I did, and I hope you do.
Moderately recommended.
I've noticed of late that a number of the books I've read seem to be written with an eye toward the big screen. I don't know if it's just me or that really is the case, but this seemed to be yet another one, in my eyes. A convoluted story, a bunch of characters, spooky military people: it could easily be adapted for the screen.
At stake in the book is the reopening of an iron mine in the area, with half the locals against it for the obvious environmental reasons, and the other half in favor for the obvious economic reasons. It's clear that Very Big Interests want it opened, and that's probably why the plane was shot down.
But none of it makes sense - except Stephen's recurring vision, which he relates to Henry, the Ojibwe midi who is his mentor. I'm going to put the next part in spoilers.
Overall, if you've read to #16, you'll read this one at #17 - it's almost an inevitability if you're anything like me. Perhaps you'll like it more than I did, and I hope you do.
Moderately recommended.
October 14, 2018
William Kent Krueger’s Desolation Mountain is the 17th mystery in the Cork O’Connor series. In the woods of Minnesota, a senator’s airplane crashes killing all aboard including her family and aids. Multiple government agencies rush to the scene. A number of locals from the area assist in the search as well including a number of native Americans from the nearby reservation (including our hero Cork). Before you can say, “hey isn’t that the older daughter’s boyfriend from the Cosby Show bagging my organic red grapes,” these local first responders to the crash begin to disappear. Burning questions arise: Are they being taken against their will? Is there an evil plot bubbling up? Are culottes skirts impersonating pants, or pants impersonating skirts?
While serviceable, Desolation Mountain is fairly predictable and uninspired. It is the white bread used to clear the pallet at a wine tasting and not the exciting and exotic range of Pinot Noirs, Merlots, and Sauvignons (whose complex but randy flavors aggressively attempt to copulate with the chaste taste receptors on your tongue). It is the waffle cone holding up your two scoops of Chocolate Almond Cookie Dough ice cream. Good in it’s own right… just not spectacular. And hey at number 17 in the series that is not to be unexpected. A marathoner at mile 17 is not as fast, aromatic, or energetic as she is during the first miles. I remember when I ran New York City in 2014 I started off like a cover model for Runners World. By mile 17 I was a hot soggy mess with a cloud of B.O., flying insects, and intestinal flatulence surrounding me larger than the dust cloud of Pig-Pen from Peanuts. My shorts were chaffing, my voice was the croak of a frog strangling on an mammoth dragonfly, and the vast quantities of my tears and dripping mucus had shellacked my face into a transparent mask of agony and horror causing all the young children I attempted to high-five to scamper away screaming. And in consideration for my more sensitive readers prone to fainting spells I will not even mention the blood shooting from my nipples like two oil well blowouts. Yes, I was not at my best at mile 17, but you know what? I got the job done and I finished the race. And with edition 17 of his Cork O’Connor series, Krueger gets the job done too. Everything is comfortable. The characters are relatable and compelling. The villain is nicely menacing. The action is driven and I kept turning the pages to see what would happen next. Did I wish Cork and his team were more proactive and not consistently one or two steps behind the criminals, always playing catch-up? Sure. Did I wish the character of Stephen would stop making dimwitted and ill-advised actions. You betcha. And did I want the climatic conclusion to be a little more thought out and satisfying? That’s a big affirmative. Still, Desolation Mountain was an enjoyable (if unchallenging) story to fall into for a few days. Read this if you like to watch the mysteries on CBS television.
While serviceable, Desolation Mountain is fairly predictable and uninspired. It is the white bread used to clear the pallet at a wine tasting and not the exciting and exotic range of Pinot Noirs, Merlots, and Sauvignons (whose complex but randy flavors aggressively attempt to copulate with the chaste taste receptors on your tongue). It is the waffle cone holding up your two scoops of Chocolate Almond Cookie Dough ice cream. Good in it’s own right… just not spectacular. And hey at number 17 in the series that is not to be unexpected. A marathoner at mile 17 is not as fast, aromatic, or energetic as she is during the first miles. I remember when I ran New York City in 2014 I started off like a cover model for Runners World. By mile 17 I was a hot soggy mess with a cloud of B.O., flying insects, and intestinal flatulence surrounding me larger than the dust cloud of Pig-Pen from Peanuts. My shorts were chaffing, my voice was the croak of a frog strangling on an mammoth dragonfly, and the vast quantities of my tears and dripping mucus had shellacked my face into a transparent mask of agony and horror causing all the young children I attempted to high-five to scamper away screaming. And in consideration for my more sensitive readers prone to fainting spells I will not even mention the blood shooting from my nipples like two oil well blowouts. Yes, I was not at my best at mile 17, but you know what? I got the job done and I finished the race. And with edition 17 of his Cork O’Connor series, Krueger gets the job done too. Everything is comfortable. The characters are relatable and compelling. The villain is nicely menacing. The action is driven and I kept turning the pages to see what would happen next. Did I wish Cork and his team were more proactive and not consistently one or two steps behind the criminals, always playing catch-up? Sure. Did I wish the character of Stephen would stop making dimwitted and ill-advised actions. You betcha. And did I want the climatic conclusion to be a little more thought out and satisfying? That’s a big affirmative. Still, Desolation Mountain was an enjoyable (if unchallenging) story to fall into for a few days. Read this if you like to watch the mysteries on CBS television.
February 18, 2025
Cork O’Connor and his son Stephen work together to uncover the truth behind the death of a senator on Desolation Mountain and the mysterious disappearances of several first responders.
Stephen is having a vision of an eagle with red, white, and blue tail feathers that drops an egg from its flight and then, the eagle also falls. Not long afterwards a small plane, with a senator and her family, comes down. The nearby woods are filled with searchers looking for the plane's flight recorder. Some of the first responders to the crash also disappear. Some believe that were taken by a group of militia men...some shadowy government kinds. Some say it was the otter poachers who have>recently been seen in the area. The situation is complicated by the fact that there is an effort to renew the ore mining in the area, that the senator had strongly opposed. If the mining is allowed, it would poison the streams and leave other environmental damage. The senator and the Governor are on opposite ends of the spectrum concerning this.
Bo Thorson, who has worked with Cork in the past, now comes into the story. Bo is a former Secret Service Agent but now works in private security. The big question is "for whom is he really working and why does a guy like Bo have any links to these government people that are both ruthless and amoral?"
The story is filled with Ojibwe lore and legends, and everyone has an opinion on borders and boundaries, not just those of the landscape of the Boundary Waters, but the invisible boundaries between the "white man" and natives as well as the psychological conditions obtained within... those folks whose bloodlines and personal experiences place them in both worlds. This appears to be the fundamental concept which composes Cork's character and all of these books.
I always enjoy the Cork O'Conner books. The only thing that I could see that could have lessened the rating was that the ending came a little too quickly and spoke to an almost uncomfortable degree, to the political and cultural stereotypes. Otherwise, it was another wonderful addition to a well-written series.
Stephen is having a vision of an eagle with red, white, and blue tail feathers that drops an egg from its flight and then, the eagle also falls. Not long afterwards a small plane, with a senator and her family, comes down. The nearby woods are filled with searchers looking for the plane's flight recorder. Some of the first responders to the crash also disappear. Some believe that were taken by a group of militia men...some shadowy government kinds. Some say it was the otter poachers who have>recently been seen in the area. The situation is complicated by the fact that there is an effort to renew the ore mining in the area, that the senator had strongly opposed. If the mining is allowed, it would poison the streams and leave other environmental damage. The senator and the Governor are on opposite ends of the spectrum concerning this.
Bo Thorson, who has worked with Cork in the past, now comes into the story. Bo is a former Secret Service Agent but now works in private security. The big question is "for whom is he really working and why does a guy like Bo have any links to these government people that are both ruthless and amoral?"
The story is filled with Ojibwe lore and legends, and everyone has an opinion on borders and boundaries, not just those of the landscape of the Boundary Waters, but the invisible boundaries between the "white man" and natives as well as the psychological conditions obtained within... those folks whose bloodlines and personal experiences place them in both worlds. This appears to be the fundamental concept which composes Cork's character and all of these books.
I always enjoy the Cork O'Conner books. The only thing that I could see that could have lessened the rating was that the ending came a little too quickly and spoke to an almost uncomfortable degree, to the political and cultural stereotypes. Otherwise, it was another wonderful addition to a well-written series.
April 16, 2023
I listened to the audiobook version with Simon. We sat together spellbound as we listened to the final chapters.
Favorite quotes from Meloux, the Mide who seeks to provide hope and perspective to the gathering as they mull over whether or not justice will be served:
"In this moment, here and now, we celebrate the spirit of what is good in each of us and in those friends who stood with us in the dark and chased away death's shadow."
"In the end love always wins."
Favorite quotes from Meloux, the Mide who seeks to provide hope and perspective to the gathering as they mull over whether or not justice will be served:
"In this moment, here and now, we celebrate the spirit of what is good in each of us and in those friends who stood with us in the dark and chased away death's shadow."
"In the end love always wins."
December 26, 2022
Updated: I originally read this book in June of 2019.
I loved it so much that I started back at the beginning of the series.
And now here I am again - on book #17. It's even better than the first time I read it. How is that possible? I highly recommend the series, and yes -- it's best read in order.
Original review:
William Kent Krueger writes with a lovely narrative voice, and this book is no exception.
On the surface this is a murder mystery, but it's also a coming-of-age story and a story about community. I didn't realize until I was 1/3 the way through it that this is #17 in the Cork O'Connor series. It worked fine as a standalone, and I had no trouble following the plot or the cast of characters.
What I liked most about this book was the way Krueger deftly shares a story centered around the Native American culture. My grandfather was raised on a reservation (though not the same area of the country that Krueger writes about). I very much enjoyed the story and the ending wrapped things up nicely. I will be looking for more by this author.
Note: clean read
I loved it so much that I started back at the beginning of the series.
And now here I am again - on book #17. It's even better than the first time I read it. How is that possible? I highly recommend the series, and yes -- it's best read in order.
Original review:
William Kent Krueger writes with a lovely narrative voice, and this book is no exception.
On the surface this is a murder mystery, but it's also a coming-of-age story and a story about community. I didn't realize until I was 1/3 the way through it that this is #17 in the Cork O'Connor series. It worked fine as a standalone, and I had no trouble following the plot or the cast of characters.
What I liked most about this book was the way Krueger deftly shares a story centered around the Native American culture. My grandfather was raised on a reservation (though not the same area of the country that Krueger writes about). I very much enjoyed the story and the ending wrapped things up nicely. I will be looking for more by this author.
Note: clean read
October 14, 2023
I liked this one.
The book opens with Steven O'Connor seeing a vision of a young boy shooting an arrow into an eagle in flight - an ominous vision, since eagles are sacred. Less than 24 hours later, a terrible explosion comes from high up on Desolation Mountain, and locals on the mountain rush to the scene: Ned and Monkey Love; Tom Blessing; Cork's son-in-law Daniel English, among a few others. A small plane crashed; they find no survivors and debris is scattered in a wide area.
It turns out that it was Minnesota Senator Olympia McCarthy's private plane carrying her and her immediate family. Officials quickly storm the mountain and cordon off the crash site - not an unexpected development, considering. What IS unexpected is when the locals who were first on the scene start to go missing, one by one.
It was pretty easy to get the gist of what happened, but completely figuring out the mystery required information that was trickled to us slowly. That was good. On the other hand, it's so frustrating that 20yo Steven O'C, who wants to be a lawman and who grew up with a front-row seat to so much human machination, is such a naive character. I just want to shake him or slap him or whatever - WAKE UP! I know it's WKK portraying him innocently, looking at people like a mide would and seeking the good, but it's incredibly frustrating.
In other news, we got some sad developments.
Holy crap, one more book and I'm all caught up! The last book in my Corkathon will be Fox Creek, then I can turn my attention to other serieses.
The book opens with Steven O'Connor seeing a vision of a young boy shooting an arrow into an eagle in flight - an ominous vision, since eagles are sacred. Less than 24 hours later, a terrible explosion comes from high up on Desolation Mountain, and locals on the mountain rush to the scene: Ned and Monkey Love; Tom Blessing; Cork's son-in-law Daniel English, among a few others. A small plane crashed; they find no survivors and debris is scattered in a wide area.
It turns out that it was Minnesota Senator Olympia McCarthy's private plane carrying her and her immediate family. Officials quickly storm the mountain and cordon off the crash site - not an unexpected development, considering. What IS unexpected is when the locals who were first on the scene start to go missing, one by one.
It was pretty easy to get the gist of what happened, but completely figuring out the mystery required information that was trickled to us slowly. That was good. On the other hand, it's so frustrating that 20yo Steven O'C, who wants to be a lawman and who grew up with a front-row seat to so much human machination, is such a naive character. I just want to shake him or slap him or whatever - WAKE UP! I know it's WKK portraying him innocently, looking at people like a mide would and seeking the good, but it's incredibly frustrating.
In other news, we got some sad developments.
Holy crap, one more book and I'm all caught up! The last book in my Corkathon will be Fox Creek, then I can turn my attention to other serieses.
September 3, 2018
This is my recent read from my favorite genre which is mystery suspense. It is book 17 in the Cork O'Connor series. If you haven't started this series, you should by reading book 1, Iron Lake. Krueger's writing beautifully captures a sense of place but with a powerful emotional punch. Believable characters well-drawn and excellent plots. Recommended for those who love mystery suspense.
September 7, 2018
I read a review of this book recently that intrigued me. So much so that I decided to break my cardinal rule for reading series: Start reading with the first entry and read the books in order. This is the seventeenth book in the series and I decided that life is just too short for me to go back and read those other sixteen books before I get to the one that I'm really interested in.
So, new rule: Read what you want to read when you want to read it.
Thus, free at last, I proceeded to read Desolation Mountain.
I'm sure if I had read all of those previous books I would have had a more complete understanding of the recurring characters and their relationships, but I thought the author actually did a more than adequate job of slipping in the details that a new reader who was reading this book like a "stand-alone" would need in order to understand what was going on.
The main protagonist is Corcoran "Cork" O'Connor, former sheriff of Tamarack County in far north Minnesota, and now in business as a private detective and owner of a hamburger joint. Cork is Anishinaabe and lives next to the Iron Lake Reservation, home of many Ojibwe. Ojibwe cultural practices and beliefs factor heavily in the plot, which was one of the things that intrigued me in that review that I read.
The plot concerns the crash of a private plane on Desolation Mountain, a plane which was carrying one of Minnesota's U.S. senators and her family. All aboard the plane were killed in the crash. (This was all eerily similar to the story of Sen. Paul Wellstone and his family, killed in a crash in 2002.)
Cork and his son, Stephen, along with several first responders from the reservation are first on the scene of the crash but find no survivors. Soon, all manner of federal investigators descend upon the crash site to try to figure out what happened. Initial public statements from them blame pilot error, but things don't quite add up.
One thing that doesn't add up is a recurring vision which Stephen has of an eagle with red, white, and blue tail feathers being shot out of the air by a boy with a bow and arrow, and as the eagle falls, an egg drops from it. In the vision, Stephen is filled by a sense of dread by some monstrous presence behind him. Stephen feels instinctively that his vision is the key to what happened to the plane but he struggles to understand it.
Meanwhile, there are reports of intruders, poachers, on the reservation and Cork's son-in-law, Daniel, a game warden, tries to find and stop them. There are other mysterious presences about and it seems likely that all of these events are somehow connected. But how?
As Cork and Daniel explore the mountain and spy on the investigators, trying to learn what they are doing and what they are looking for, they encounter an old friend of Cork's. It is Bo Thorson (who apparently figured in an earlier book) who is now a private security consultant but when Cork knew him was a Secret Service agent charged with guarding the First Lady. Now, he, too, seems to be watching the investigators. For whom?
Then, some of the first responders who had been early to the scene start disappearing. And what exactly is up with that? Where are they? Are they being held prisoner somewhere?
Cork, Stephen, and Bo team up to try to solve the mystery, or mysteries, and they encounter more evil than they've bargained for as all of the various government agencies as well as a right-wing militia in the area have different agendas, none of which seem to be to expose the truth.
At some point, the plot just sort of descended into a mishmash of conspiracy theories, "evil government men" stereotypes, and cardboard characters that didn't really excite my interest. The solution to the mystery seemed overblown and unrealistic, but maybe I'm just not cynical enough (yet) to accept the convoluted conspiracies necessary to explain that solution.
Overall, this was not a bad book but it wasn't one that will encourage my interest in reading more of the series.
So, new rule: Read what you want to read when you want to read it.
Thus, free at last, I proceeded to read Desolation Mountain.
I'm sure if I had read all of those previous books I would have had a more complete understanding of the recurring characters and their relationships, but I thought the author actually did a more than adequate job of slipping in the details that a new reader who was reading this book like a "stand-alone" would need in order to understand what was going on.
The main protagonist is Corcoran "Cork" O'Connor, former sheriff of Tamarack County in far north Minnesota, and now in business as a private detective and owner of a hamburger joint. Cork is Anishinaabe and lives next to the Iron Lake Reservation, home of many Ojibwe. Ojibwe cultural practices and beliefs factor heavily in the plot, which was one of the things that intrigued me in that review that I read.
The plot concerns the crash of a private plane on Desolation Mountain, a plane which was carrying one of Minnesota's U.S. senators and her family. All aboard the plane were killed in the crash. (This was all eerily similar to the story of Sen. Paul Wellstone and his family, killed in a crash in 2002.)
Cork and his son, Stephen, along with several first responders from the reservation are first on the scene of the crash but find no survivors. Soon, all manner of federal investigators descend upon the crash site to try to figure out what happened. Initial public statements from them blame pilot error, but things don't quite add up.
One thing that doesn't add up is a recurring vision which Stephen has of an eagle with red, white, and blue tail feathers being shot out of the air by a boy with a bow and arrow, and as the eagle falls, an egg drops from it. In the vision, Stephen is filled by a sense of dread by some monstrous presence behind him. Stephen feels instinctively that his vision is the key to what happened to the plane but he struggles to understand it.
Meanwhile, there are reports of intruders, poachers, on the reservation and Cork's son-in-law, Daniel, a game warden, tries to find and stop them. There are other mysterious presences about and it seems likely that all of these events are somehow connected. But how?
As Cork and Daniel explore the mountain and spy on the investigators, trying to learn what they are doing and what they are looking for, they encounter an old friend of Cork's. It is Bo Thorson (who apparently figured in an earlier book) who is now a private security consultant but when Cork knew him was a Secret Service agent charged with guarding the First Lady. Now, he, too, seems to be watching the investigators. For whom?
Then, some of the first responders who had been early to the scene start disappearing. And what exactly is up with that? Where are they? Are they being held prisoner somewhere?
Cork, Stephen, and Bo team up to try to solve the mystery, or mysteries, and they encounter more evil than they've bargained for as all of the various government agencies as well as a right-wing militia in the area have different agendas, none of which seem to be to expose the truth.
At some point, the plot just sort of descended into a mishmash of conspiracy theories, "evil government men" stereotypes, and cardboard characters that didn't really excite my interest. The solution to the mystery seemed overblown and unrealistic, but maybe I'm just not cynical enough (yet) to accept the convoluted conspiracies necessary to explain that solution.
Overall, this was not a bad book but it wasn't one that will encourage my interest in reading more of the series.
August 29, 2018
Stephen O'Connor, Cork's son, has a recurring, ominous vision of a boy shooting an eagle out of the sky with his bow & arrow. Stephen feels great danger and is unsure what the dream means. A senator's plane crashes on Desolation Mountain and everyone on board is killed. Former sheriff of Tamarack County Cork O'Connor is one of the search and rescue team, as is son Stephen and son-in-law Daniel. Government agencies quickly take over the scene since terrorism could be a factor or perhaps the senator's recent stance on re-opening the mine might have played a role. Other operations similar to the military are cordoning off the area and Cork is not sure who he can trust. Several of the first responders disappear. Cork realizes the danger his own family members may be in as they try to find the plane's black box.
I've read 3 books out of the 17 in this series and didn't realize until I was immersed in the book that I haven't read one since 2013. A lot has happened in Cork's life since then but then again, his character stays true. I loved many things about this book. The beauty of the mountainous terrain is vivid. The author made the outdoors come to life for me. I always enjoy the Native American culture revealed in this series. Shaman Henry's wisdom and calmness come across so well.
The setting and the characters definitely make this book outstanding. The sense of danger was very real to me. About 15 pages from the end, I had to stop reading and take a deep breath. The last paragraph saddened me but I'm anxious to see the next book.
I've read 3 books out of the 17 in this series and didn't realize until I was immersed in the book that I haven't read one since 2013. A lot has happened in Cork's life since then but then again, his character stays true. I loved many things about this book. The beauty of the mountainous terrain is vivid. The author made the outdoors come to life for me. I always enjoy the Native American culture revealed in this series. Shaman Henry's wisdom and calmness come across so well.
The setting and the characters definitely make this book outstanding. The sense of danger was very real to me. About 15 pages from the end, I had to stop reading and take a deep breath. The last paragraph saddened me but I'm anxious to see the next book.
September 20, 2022
Why does he insist on killing off everyone’s dogs? I swear at least 1 dog dies in every book lately.
😒😩
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This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 16, 2022
Notes:
Yay for libraries!
This is the last book at the library, and it's a good stopping point within the series. There aren't any lose threads. Well, one big thread that is covered in the next book, but I don't mind waiting to read that one. Waiting doesn't hurt anyone. =)
I stopped expecting the cases to be one for me to figure out, because it's not really a puzzle and fairly easy to piece together. I do expect something about family bonds, personal growth, heritage on different spectrums and facing fear/danger. All of that is within the story line and that was satisfying to read. A good story about the O'Connor clan and their extended family.
Yay for libraries!
This is the last book at the library, and it's a good stopping point within the series. There aren't any lose threads. Well, one big thread that is covered in the next book, but I don't mind waiting to read that one. Waiting doesn't hurt anyone. =)
I stopped expecting the cases to be one for me to figure out, because it's not really a puzzle and fairly easy to piece together. I do expect something about family bonds, personal growth, heritage on different spectrums and facing fear/danger. All of that is within the story line and that was satisfying to read. A good story about the O'Connor clan and their extended family.
May 2, 2025
Another fine entry in one of my favorite series. Cork O'Connor, his son Stephen, and several friends (members of the local Anishinabe tribe) become involved the investigation into the plane crash that killed a prominent senator--even though every possible government agency that could be involved tries to keep them at arm's length. Stephen, who carries on his father's part-Indian heritage, has been having terrible dreams--and now, perhaps, they're coming true. For me this series resembles a good western in many ways, with the strong sense of place (here the north woods), survival elements, and a right-minded hero playing major roles. The compelling story and characters spark the pace, which builds in intensity; sympathetic series characters rule and outsiders are generally bad news if not outright evil; intricately plotted story line with multiple issues; Indian beliefs woven throughout to add depth; cadenced and descriptive language; a bleak, menacing tone. These are also family stories, and it's better to start early in the series to gain a sense of the relationships. Despite the danger, suspense, and violence, these are stories that always satisfy me, perhaps even comfort me in their resolution. As one reviewer wrote, "Great atmosphere, both physical and cultural."
July 26, 2024
loved this one...plot felt appropriate in size, action and adventure with an expansion into supporting characters. Foreshadowing of things to come perhaps in the end. Good reading for me.
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