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Cork O'Connor #5
Mercy Falls
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📚Book #5 from the series: Cork O'Connor Mysteries
🎧Run Time = 11 hours and 32 minutes
Best-selling author William Kent Krueger thrills millions with this entry in his compelling series that includes Iron Lake and Blood Hollow. Still troubled by an ambush that leaves his deputy lingering near death, Sheriff Cork O’Conner must investigate the high-profile mutilation/murder of a powerful Chicago businessman. Soon Cork finds himself distracted by the lovely female shadowing him and the handsome man stalking his wife. When he's then targeted by a sniper, O'Connor must move through a maze of murder, adultery, and deceit.
⭐“A smart and satisfying mystery.” —Booklist
📚Book #5 from the series: Cork O'Connor Mysteries
🎧Run Time = 11 hours and 32 minutes
From a New York Times bestselling author. A “smart and satisfying” Anthony Award winner (Booklist) with “an ending that will stun listeners” (AudioFile): Small-town sheriff Cork faces a conflict when a Chicago family accuses someone on the Ojibwe reservation of murdering their son. But something isn’t right, and soon Cork is competing with the family’s own investigator for the truth…
Best-selling author William Kent Krueger thrills millions with this entry in his compelling series that includes Iron Lake and Blood Hollow. Still troubled by an ambush that leaves his deputy lingering near death, Sheriff Cork O’Conner must investigate the high-profile mutilation/murder of a powerful Chicago businessman. Soon Cork finds himself distracted by the lovely female shadowing him and the handsome man stalking his wife. When he's then targeted by a sniper, O'Connor must move through a maze of murder, adultery, and deceit.
⭐“A smart and satisfying mystery.” —Booklist
Audio CD
First published August 16, 2005
2220 people are currently reading
4587 people want to read
About the author
William Kent Krueger
84 books16.7k 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 1,474 reviews
September 5, 2017
Lordy, I’m feeling good!!!! I have decided to take time out from reading books for others in order to read exactly what I want. So where did I start? With my all time favorite author who writes my all time favorite series starring my all time favorite protagonist, of course. Mercy Falls is book #5 of William Kent Krueger’s Cork O’Connor series and what a sweet (as in stellar) ride this one was!
Anyone who reads my reviews knows I have a lot of go-to authors who I always rave about. William Kent Krueger is special. He is THE cream of the crop of the elite group of crime/thriller writers that I dearly love. His characters are so engaging and endearing. I cry over sheriff (or non-sheriff, depending on the book) Cork and his travails. I love his wife Jo, attorney for the Ojibwe Indian Reservation, and their three kids who grow before our eyes as the series moves along. I am also always looking for Henry Meloux to make an appearance. Henry is an elderly Indian, very sage and very grounding for Cork. These characters are complex and sympathetic, and personal relationships play a significant role in this series.
Mr. Krueger’s plots are first class. They are dark (though not graphic) and incredibly multilayered, and you never know where they are going. The O’Connor plots are carefully structured and lead to plenty of intrigue, action and suspense. There are also quiet moments for reflection and appreciation. Appreciation for the local culture and the land. I have visited northern Minnesota on several occasions and it is indeed God’s country; Mr. Krueger brings it to life like no other author. The writing is strong. The writing is elegant. The writing makes the reader FEEL.
Mercy Falls embodies all of the above. The dark compelling plot puts Cork and his entire family in grave danger. There are also potential threats to Cork’s marriage from two different avenues. The ending found my heart in my throat and my hands grabbing for book #6.
My advice to readers is twofold. First, get a handle on your reading obligations. If you don’t, those books that have been screaming your name are going to get away. Remember, you only live once. Second, read Iron Lake and see if you don’t feel the magic of Aurora, Minnesota, and the world of Cork O’Connor. This is one series where the books keep getting better and better. Jump on the train and see if you don’t fall in love too.
Anyone who reads my reviews knows I have a lot of go-to authors who I always rave about. William Kent Krueger is special. He is THE cream of the crop of the elite group of crime/thriller writers that I dearly love. His characters are so engaging and endearing. I cry over sheriff (or non-sheriff, depending on the book) Cork and his travails. I love his wife Jo, attorney for the Ojibwe Indian Reservation, and their three kids who grow before our eyes as the series moves along. I am also always looking for Henry Meloux to make an appearance. Henry is an elderly Indian, very sage and very grounding for Cork. These characters are complex and sympathetic, and personal relationships play a significant role in this series.
Mr. Krueger’s plots are first class. They are dark (though not graphic) and incredibly multilayered, and you never know where they are going. The O’Connor plots are carefully structured and lead to plenty of intrigue, action and suspense. There are also quiet moments for reflection and appreciation. Appreciation for the local culture and the land. I have visited northern Minnesota on several occasions and it is indeed God’s country; Mr. Krueger brings it to life like no other author. The writing is strong. The writing is elegant. The writing makes the reader FEEL.
Mercy Falls embodies all of the above. The dark compelling plot puts Cork and his entire family in grave danger. There are also potential threats to Cork’s marriage from two different avenues. The ending found my heart in my throat and my hands grabbing for book #6.
My advice to readers is twofold. First, get a handle on your reading obligations. If you don’t, those books that have been screaming your name are going to get away. Remember, you only live once. Second, read Iron Lake and see if you don’t feel the magic of Aurora, Minnesota, and the world of Cork O’Connor. This is one series where the books keep getting better and better. Jump on the train and see if you don’t fall in love too.
June 4, 2021
Mercy Falls (Cork O'Connor #5) by William Kent Krueger (Author), David Chandler (Narrator)
Cork O'Connor has been reinstated as sheriff of Aurora, a job that fits him so well. Once again, rather than delegating calls from the reservation, he takes them himself since he knows that his Ojibwe blood will give him more of a chance to find out what is going on there. So when a domestic dispute on the reservation is called in, Cork heads to the scene, along with his a deputy. Turns out it was an ambush, someone hoping to kill Cork, although things don't work out as expected.
Right on the heels of that event a mutilated body is found at Mercy Falls. The victim is Chicago businessman, Eddie Jacoby, who has been trying to arrange a business deal between his company and the local reservation casino. Eddie comes from a powerful and wealthy family so Eddie's brother, Ben, and the family's private investigator, Dina Willner, arrive to dig deep and shake things up in Aurora. Ben, sets his sights on Jo, Cork's wife, while Dina shows more than a passing interest in Cork.
Is the attempt on Cork's life and the murder of Eddie connected? Ben and Dina aren't telling Cork even half of what he needs to know in order to find out why Eddie might have been killed. It becomes obvious that Cork's family is in danger so he sends them away. Warning signs are coming from so many fronts that it's hard to know if anywhere might be safe.
This book doesn't wrap up nicely and leads right into book #6. Good thing I already have it on had because I would not want to wait to continue Cork's story. He's in trouble and he can't trust the law to help him.
Published October 24th 2008 by Recorded Books (first published August 16th 2005)
Cork O'Connor has been reinstated as sheriff of Aurora, a job that fits him so well. Once again, rather than delegating calls from the reservation, he takes them himself since he knows that his Ojibwe blood will give him more of a chance to find out what is going on there. So when a domestic dispute on the reservation is called in, Cork heads to the scene, along with his a deputy. Turns out it was an ambush, someone hoping to kill Cork, although things don't work out as expected.
Right on the heels of that event a mutilated body is found at Mercy Falls. The victim is Chicago businessman, Eddie Jacoby, who has been trying to arrange a business deal between his company and the local reservation casino. Eddie comes from a powerful and wealthy family so Eddie's brother, Ben, and the family's private investigator, Dina Willner, arrive to dig deep and shake things up in Aurora. Ben, sets his sights on Jo, Cork's wife, while Dina shows more than a passing interest in Cork.
Is the attempt on Cork's life and the murder of Eddie connected? Ben and Dina aren't telling Cork even half of what he needs to know in order to find out why Eddie might have been killed. It becomes obvious that Cork's family is in danger so he sends them away. Warning signs are coming from so many fronts that it's hard to know if anywhere might be safe.
This book doesn't wrap up nicely and leads right into book #6. Good thing I already have it on had because I would not want to wait to continue Cork's story. He's in trouble and he can't trust the law to help him.
Published October 24th 2008 by Recorded Books (first published August 16th 2005)
November 17, 2021
MERCY FALLS is #5 in the Cork O’Connor Mystery Series and I thoroughly enjoyed it. This is the first book I’ve read by William Kent Krueger and it will certainly not be my last.
An easy read, packed with action and a fresh storyline MERCY FALLS will not disappoint.
An easy read, packed with action and a fresh storyline MERCY FALLS will not disappoint.
May 31, 2017
Cork O'Connor is back in his sheriff saddle again (big surprise) and responds to a call on the rez with Deputy Marsha Dross. They immediately come under fire when Marsha exits the truck, later learning the call was a set up and the bullets were meant for Cork. That evening, they find the body of the Starlight representative who was trying to sign the Iron Lake Ojibwa to a management contract. The two don't seem connected but who knows?
This was a challenging story with a few twists and turns but mostly lots of intrigue and mystery. It's further complicated by the return of someone from Jo's past who is interested in resuming a relationship. It was tough to put this one down and be forewarned that it ends unresolved with sort of a cliffhanger. I'm glad someone warned me because I'm going to jump right into the next one. And, David Chandler just IS Cork O'Connor for me as his narration is spot on.
This was a challenging story with a few twists and turns but mostly lots of intrigue and mystery. It's further complicated by the return of someone from Jo's past who is interested in resuming a relationship. It was tough to put this one down and be forewarned that it ends unresolved with sort of a cliffhanger. I'm glad someone warned me because I'm going to jump right into the next one. And, David Chandler just IS Cork O'Connor for me as his narration is spot on.
October 18, 2017
A very mixed bag. There are some wonderful narrative passages, idyllic moments, several terrific action scenes, and loving interpersonal passages.
However, there are also many dull dialogue sections, confused sections, a silly romantic sub-plot and a final, confusing, "who did what" info-dump to set up the next book.
I was advised (very wisely) to SKIP the first chapter "How It Ends". Skipping this chapter and reading it last was far more effective for me.
Krueger could be a truly great writer, but again and again he uses lazy and clichéd techniques. It came to me that really, Krueger is a gnurd dreaming of being bad-ass. Sometimes he actually pulls it off, too.
Krueger's exposition can be wonderful. This is why I continue to read him:
He could have told her. How the Canadian Shield, the stone mass that underlay everything there and broke through the thin topsoil in jagged outcroppings, was the oldest exposed rock on earth. How the glaciers two miles thick had crept across this land over the centuries, scraping everything down to that obdurate rock and leaving, as they receded, lakes as numerous and glittering as the stars in the night sky. How the land was still lifting itself up, released from the weight of that continent of ice, rebounding, a living thing unimaginably patient and enduring.
We need more of this, and less clumsy dialogue and cockeyed romantic plotting.
This book was really good until the gnurd-romance starts: Ben hitting on Jo, and Dina hitting on Cork, and the lazy plot devices started flowing regularly. Krueger has both Jo and Cork acting like immature, lovesick high school kids, susceptible to predators Ben and Dina. Jeez. Give it a rest. What a letdown 😥
When you compare Krueger's Jo to Robert B. Parker's Susan (wife of Spenser), you might dislike them both. It's very common for Spenser readers to dislike Susan, but she fills a real role in Spenser's life, and is based in part on Parker's real life marriage troubles with his wife, Joan. Unfortunately, Jo is almost entirely a clichéd prop in Cork stories. Very sad and a detriment to the series. How much better to have kept Molly 😥
Of course, other parts of the book are quite fun, well-written and the pacing until the end is very, very good. The outdoor stuff in the wilderness is wonderful, as always.
A cute passage, but very sexist...
“Here, let me show you a trick.” She reached down, grasped the bottom of her sweater, and in one quick, fluid movement, pulled it off over her head. Underneath she wore a low-cut top of some thin scarlet material that hugged her body like a surgical glove. Under that was a push-up bra that offered up her breasts with enough cleavage to swallow the Titanic.
Cork dragged his eyes from her chest. “They teach you that at Quantico?”
And more lazy, insulting plot devices by Krueger:
Interview video with Krueger. Gnurd with one silver earring here. "Arrrr matey!" ... Someone really should tell him!
Krueger interview, "Northwest Angle "
And the plot continues raggedly into Book #6 "Copper River" which starts off with horrific child terror and death on the first page (and chapter). Ugh.
Notes:
8.0% .... On advice from a friend, I skipped the "How It Ends" chapter and started with chapter 1. Wow, great start!
18.0% ... when you talk about clichéd writing, you have to remember that most men are walking clichés!
28.0% "... I really dislike family pot-boilers. Jo is once again being creepy-courted, and not saying Feck Off! I DONT WANT TO HEAR IT Kreuger you dickwad."
38.0% ... yet more usage of Cork's family as a plot device. * Godzilla Facepalm *
43.0% ... plot device so clichéd, it makes my teeth hurt. Cockneyed, unbelievably stupid romance near Evanston to follow, no doubt. Going to start skimming again * Facepalm *
69.0%".... when you compare Krueger's Jo to Robert B. Parker's Susan (wife of Spenser), you might dislike them both. It's very common for Spenser readers to dislike Susan, but she fills a real role in Spenser's life, and is based in part on Parker's real life wife, Joan. Jo is almost entirely a clichéd prop in Cork stories. Very sad and a detriment to the series. How much better to have kept Molly 😥
96.0% ... yet another confused ending, info dump of crap, setup for next book *facepalm*
.
However, there are also many dull dialogue sections, confused sections, a silly romantic sub-plot and a final, confusing, "who did what" info-dump to set up the next book.
I was advised (very wisely) to SKIP the first chapter "How It Ends". Skipping this chapter and reading it last was far more effective for me.
Krueger could be a truly great writer, but again and again he uses lazy and clichéd techniques. It came to me that really, Krueger is a gnurd dreaming of being bad-ass. Sometimes he actually pulls it off, too.
Krueger's exposition can be wonderful. This is why I continue to read him:
He could have told her. How the Canadian Shield, the stone mass that underlay everything there and broke through the thin topsoil in jagged outcroppings, was the oldest exposed rock on earth. How the glaciers two miles thick had crept across this land over the centuries, scraping everything down to that obdurate rock and leaving, as they receded, lakes as numerous and glittering as the stars in the night sky. How the land was still lifting itself up, released from the weight of that continent of ice, rebounding, a living thing unimaginably patient and enduring.
We need more of this, and less clumsy dialogue and cockeyed romantic plotting.
This book was really good until the gnurd-romance starts: Ben hitting on Jo, and Dina hitting on Cork, and the lazy plot devices started flowing regularly. Krueger has both Jo and Cork acting like immature, lovesick high school kids, susceptible to predators Ben and Dina. Jeez. Give it a rest. What a letdown 😥
When you compare Krueger's Jo to Robert B. Parker's Susan (wife of Spenser), you might dislike them both. It's very common for Spenser readers to dislike Susan, but she fills a real role in Spenser's life, and is based in part on Parker's real life marriage troubles with his wife, Joan. Unfortunately, Jo is almost entirely a clichéd prop in Cork stories. Very sad and a detriment to the series. How much better to have kept Molly 😥
Of course, other parts of the book are quite fun, well-written and the pacing until the end is very, very good. The outdoor stuff in the wilderness is wonderful, as always.
A cute passage, but very sexist...
“Here, let me show you a trick.” She reached down, grasped the bottom of her sweater, and in one quick, fluid movement, pulled it off over her head. Underneath she wore a low-cut top of some thin scarlet material that hugged her body like a surgical glove. Under that was a push-up bra that offered up her breasts with enough cleavage to swallow the Titanic.
Cork dragged his eyes from her chest. “They teach you that at Quantico?”
And more lazy, insulting plot devices by Krueger:
Interview video with Krueger. Gnurd with one silver earring here. "Arrrr matey!" ... Someone really should tell him!
Krueger interview, "Northwest Angle "
And the plot continues raggedly into Book #6 "Copper River" which starts off with horrific child terror and death on the first page (and chapter). Ugh.
Notes:
8.0% .... On advice from a friend, I skipped the "How It Ends" chapter and started with chapter 1. Wow, great start!
18.0% ... when you talk about clichéd writing, you have to remember that most men are walking clichés!
28.0% "... I really dislike family pot-boilers. Jo is once again being creepy-courted, and not saying Feck Off! I DONT WANT TO HEAR IT Kreuger you dickwad."
38.0% ... yet more usage of Cork's family as a plot device. * Godzilla Facepalm *
43.0% ... plot device so clichéd, it makes my teeth hurt. Cockneyed, unbelievably stupid romance near Evanston to follow, no doubt. Going to start skimming again * Facepalm *
69.0%".... when you compare Krueger's Jo to Robert B. Parker's Susan (wife of Spenser), you might dislike them both. It's very common for Spenser readers to dislike Susan, but she fills a real role in Spenser's life, and is based in part on Parker's real life wife, Joan. Jo is almost entirely a clichéd prop in Cork stories. Very sad and a detriment to the series. How much better to have kept Molly 😥
96.0% ... yet another confused ending, info dump of crap, setup for next book *facepalm*
.
July 6, 2024
3.5/4 stars
My least favorite of the series but this was still satisfying.
Before going into this read, I found out it's one of two books involved with the same plot.
Mercy Falls is the first book and Copper River completes the duology.
One of the things that William Kent Krueger does in the beginning of the book is give us a bit of tease with the ending.
I know he’s trying something stylistically new but I lose some tension and suspense with this type of start. When I know that something is up, I’m now suspicious of everyone.
In the beginning of Mercy Falls, newly elected sheriff Cork O’Connor goes to a routine call on the reservation.
All hell goes down that day. When he gets to the location of the 911 call, we find out that a sniper tries to kill him and another deputy.
Besides trying to figure out why someone wants him dead, a mutilated dead body shows up by a waterfall area named Mercy Falls.
The dead body is Eddie Jacoby and he comes from a rich and powerful family with old ties connected to Jo, Cork’s wife. Eddie was looking to cut a deal with the Ojibwe casino and using Jo as the attorney to help smooth over the details with the Ojibwe People.
With two different plot themes going on, the book doesn’t feel complicated. I was happy with that and the pace worked really well.
I rated this lower than the other books in the series because I did not like the past love triangle between Jo and one of the Jacobys.
I haven’t quite warmed up to Jo like I should and I do hope this gets better in the future.
She keeps a lot of secrets from her husband and I'm not a fan. I’m not sure if it's self preservation or a sleazy lawyer thing. 🤣😂
Regardless, I’m excited to get to Cooper River to find out how this whole complicated plot gets resolved!
My least favorite of the series but this was still satisfying.
Before going into this read, I found out it's one of two books involved with the same plot.
Mercy Falls is the first book and Copper River completes the duology.
One of the things that William Kent Krueger does in the beginning of the book is give us a bit of tease with the ending.
I know he’s trying something stylistically new but I lose some tension and suspense with this type of start. When I know that something is up, I’m now suspicious of everyone.
In the beginning of Mercy Falls, newly elected sheriff Cork O’Connor goes to a routine call on the reservation.
All hell goes down that day. When he gets to the location of the 911 call, we find out that a sniper tries to kill him and another deputy.
Besides trying to figure out why someone wants him dead, a mutilated dead body shows up by a waterfall area named Mercy Falls.
The dead body is Eddie Jacoby and he comes from a rich and powerful family with old ties connected to Jo, Cork’s wife. Eddie was looking to cut a deal with the Ojibwe casino and using Jo as the attorney to help smooth over the details with the Ojibwe People.
With two different plot themes going on, the book doesn’t feel complicated. I was happy with that and the pace worked really well.
I rated this lower than the other books in the series because I did not like the past love triangle between Jo and one of the Jacobys.
I haven’t quite warmed up to Jo like I should and I do hope this gets better in the future.
She keeps a lot of secrets from her husband and I'm not a fan. I’m not sure if it's self preservation or a sleazy lawyer thing. 🤣😂
Regardless, I’m excited to get to Cooper River to find out how this whole complicated plot gets resolved!
February 4, 2017
Starts with a shocker, then goes back in time to reveal how Cork and Jo got to that moment. Cork is officially working as sheriff of Aurora and someone is trying to kill him. As always, the people and land of northern Minnesota are main characters.
William Kent Krueger's writing never disappoints. I just jump on board and enjoy the ride. There are several loose ends to be resolved in the next book so I'll read it very soon.
William Kent Krueger's writing never disappoints. I just jump on board and enjoy the ride. There are several loose ends to be resolved in the next book so I'll read it very soon.
September 24, 2021
[7/10]
“I’m beginning to understand what it is you love about this country. It’s beautiful and it’s dangerous. That’s an attractive combination.”
I keep coming back to Tamarack County, even as I know it’s just a fictional world. The talent of William Kent Krueger as a storyteller, the small town human interactions and the beautiful lake and forest landscape are strong enough arguments to make me continue with the series even as I notice that the forward momentum is starting to drag. ‘Mercy Falls’ remains true-to-form through the complex personality of lead character Cork O’Connor and the interplay between his Ojibwe and his Irish heritage. Cork is well supported in the novel by his immediate family and by his colleagues and friends in the town of Aurora.
I wish I could share similar praise for the plot, but there were too many red flags this time to gloss over easily. First of all, the big reveal at the end is spelled out clearly in the prologue, aptly titled: How it Ends .
Then there’s a series of unrelated incidents, starting with an assassination attempt on Reservation grounds, followed by the discovery of the badly mutilated body of a visitor from out of town, found in the parking lot of Mercy Falls – a natural attraction spot near Aurora.
From this initial premise follows a rambling and unfocused investigation, rich in red herrings but somehow lacking in urgency or consistency. Family tensions between Cork and his wife arise when an old flame from her student days comes visiting (he is a relative of the murder victim from the main investigation).
I think that’s enough hints about the plot. I would have probably been more lenient towards this episode, but for two final misgivings. The first one is the recycling of the main attraction from a previous novel, the one where most of the adventure takes place on the numerous lakes that stretch between Tamarack County and Canada. Here it is a much shorter action sequence, but one that is almost a carbon copy of the one from “Boundary Waters”.
The second one is the cliffhanger ending on the current book, a departure from the usual self-contained / read-it-on-its-own structure of the series this far.
Now I need to start on the next one while the events from ‘Mercy Falls’ are still fresh in my mind, but I might put the series on hold after it, if my grumbling continues to be heard.
“I’m beginning to understand what it is you love about this country. It’s beautiful and it’s dangerous. That’s an attractive combination.”
I keep coming back to Tamarack County, even as I know it’s just a fictional world. The talent of William Kent Krueger as a storyteller, the small town human interactions and the beautiful lake and forest landscape are strong enough arguments to make me continue with the series even as I notice that the forward momentum is starting to drag. ‘Mercy Falls’ remains true-to-form through the complex personality of lead character Cork O’Connor and the interplay between his Ojibwe and his Irish heritage. Cork is well supported in the novel by his immediate family and by his colleagues and friends in the town of Aurora.
I wish I could share similar praise for the plot, but there were too many red flags this time to gloss over easily. First of all, the big reveal at the end is spelled out clearly in the prologue, aptly titled: How it Ends .
Then there’s a series of unrelated incidents, starting with an assassination attempt on Reservation grounds, followed by the discovery of the badly mutilated body of a visitor from out of town, found in the parking lot of Mercy Falls – a natural attraction spot near Aurora.
From this initial premise follows a rambling and unfocused investigation, rich in red herrings but somehow lacking in urgency or consistency. Family tensions between Cork and his wife arise when an old flame from her student days comes visiting (he is a relative of the murder victim from the main investigation).
I think that’s enough hints about the plot. I would have probably been more lenient towards this episode, but for two final misgivings. The first one is the recycling of the main attraction from a previous novel, the one where most of the adventure takes place on the numerous lakes that stretch between Tamarack County and Canada. Here it is a much shorter action sequence, but one that is almost a carbon copy of the one from “Boundary Waters”.
The second one is the cliffhanger ending on the current book, a departure from the usual self-contained / read-it-on-its-own structure of the series this far.
Now I need to start on the next one while the events from ‘Mercy Falls’ are still fresh in my mind, but I might put the series on hold after it, if my grumbling continues to be heard.
June 30, 2018
I was really feeling smug because I was certain I knew how events would go down and who was to blame. WRONG! The more of the series I read, the more I admire Cork. We learn a little about when Cork met Jo in this story. Yet again we see the community and family cleave together with the beautiful Minnesota backdrop. Superb reading entertainment.
February 12, 2016
The Tamarack County Sheriff’s Office is having a very bad day, actually a very bad 36 hours. The clock starts ticking when a sniper tries to kill our main protagonist, Sheriff Cork O’Connor, when he and a deputy respond to a domestic disturbance call on the Ojibwe reservation. The deputy, a close physical match to Cork in the dark shadows of sunset, is driving, is first to step out of the vehicle and is first to be cut down. Several shots later, Cork is wounded, though not critically, has pulled the gut-shot deputy to cover and has backup on the way.
When it becomes clear that the DD call was faked, that and other evidence at the scene convinces the investigative teams that someone wants Cork O’Connor dead. But Cork is not the only person someone wants dead.
By the end of the next day, Edward Jacoby, an executive with a casino management firm, is found slaughtered at the lookout over Mercy Falls. And “slaughtered” is a fair description of the damage. He has been stabbed with a filet knife more times than can be counted on both hands. Then the filet knife is used to filet off some rather pertinent and private body parts. Finally, the killer leaves Jacoby displayed like the proverbial pig on a platter with an apple in its mouth, only it isn’t an apple.
Now the question for the reader, as well as for our protagonist, is whether the two incidents are related. When Jacoby’s father, the owner of a Chicago investment firm, comes into town on his private jet, with an entourage, a personal chauffer for the rental car, and a vicious attitude toward Cork, one eyebrow lifts in favor of “not a coincidence.” Then when we learn that the major part of his entourage is his other son, who just so happens to be Cork’s wife’s lover from law school, the other eyebrow flies up fast enough to give you brain damage.
It is my understanding that this 5th entry in the Cork O’Connor series won an Anthony Award, as did its predecessor, Blood Hollow. Now, I agree with the award for Blood Hollow. That was definitely a thrilling read that was hard to put down even in the wee hours of the morning. But Mercy Falls failed me from the opening words.
The first three words of the book are: How It Ends. At first thought, that is really no problem for the average mystery reader because many mystery authors start their stories with some form of harm being inflicted on someone. This IS a police procedural after all, so an intro like that can be expected.
The first three pages of the book describe the first waking moments of a woman with no memory of how she came to be in that bedroom, no memory of how she got bite marks on certain body parts, no idea of what day it is and no idea of why someone would be setting off firecrackers outside. See, harm has been and is still being inflicted on someone. And even the most amateur mystery reader knows that we are witnessing the aftermath of a Rohypnol-type rape and that those “firecrackers” are gunshots.
Next, we see the silhouette holding a gun and staring down at a body in a swimming pool. Again, we recognize that harm has been inflicted on someone and our main protagonist, Sheriff Cork O’Connor, will have a case on his hands.
Then we get to the last four sentences of that opening scene and the bottom drops out of our suppositions: the man with the gun is Cork and the woman who has been raped is his wife, Jo. We realize quickly that we are not actually at the beginning of a story or at the start of a case but somewhere way down a very dark path of plotline. And then, eyes wide and mouth still gaping, we turn the page to the next scene and find that Krueger has instantaneously transported us back in time to a point that precedes the “prologue” by several days.
If, in starting his novel this way, Krueger was going for an off-the-chart shock factor, he certainly succeeded. But by proceeding with a flashback technique, instead of building that delightful tension of anticipation that rises as the clues present themselves, Krueger actually builds a page-by-page, depressing and deepening sense of dread. You recognize clue after clue, warning after warning that everything is spiraling toward the events of the “prologue.” And that wait is interminable – 92% of the book transpires before we encounter those fateful four sentences again.
But, finally, the villains are found out and we start to breath a little easier, knowing that the remainder of the book should see them, if not in actual custody, at least on their way. And the storyline moves quickly in that direction – until you realize that it just seems that way.
At the 98% point of the novel, Krueger turns the plot on a dime. When you reach the last page, you find out that there will be no resolution to the original story in this entry of the series, not even close. While the last scene does not constitute a true cliffhanger, it’s not the traditional hook hinting at a future storyline either. Frankly the non-ending is a cheap shot, its content clearly intended to push the reader into buying the next novel.
Remember those first three words on the opening page – “How It Ends?” They lied.
When it becomes clear that the DD call was faked, that and other evidence at the scene convinces the investigative teams that someone wants Cork O’Connor dead. But Cork is not the only person someone wants dead.
By the end of the next day, Edward Jacoby, an executive with a casino management firm, is found slaughtered at the lookout over Mercy Falls. And “slaughtered” is a fair description of the damage. He has been stabbed with a filet knife more times than can be counted on both hands. Then the filet knife is used to filet off some rather pertinent and private body parts. Finally, the killer leaves Jacoby displayed like the proverbial pig on a platter with an apple in its mouth, only it isn’t an apple.
Now the question for the reader, as well as for our protagonist, is whether the two incidents are related. When Jacoby’s father, the owner of a Chicago investment firm, comes into town on his private jet, with an entourage, a personal chauffer for the rental car, and a vicious attitude toward Cork, one eyebrow lifts in favor of “not a coincidence.” Then when we learn that the major part of his entourage is his other son, who just so happens to be Cork’s wife’s lover from law school, the other eyebrow flies up fast enough to give you brain damage.
It is my understanding that this 5th entry in the Cork O’Connor series won an Anthony Award, as did its predecessor, Blood Hollow. Now, I agree with the award for Blood Hollow. That was definitely a thrilling read that was hard to put down even in the wee hours of the morning. But Mercy Falls failed me from the opening words.
The first three words of the book are: How It Ends. At first thought, that is really no problem for the average mystery reader because many mystery authors start their stories with some form of harm being inflicted on someone. This IS a police procedural after all, so an intro like that can be expected.
The first three pages of the book describe the first waking moments of a woman with no memory of how she came to be in that bedroom, no memory of how she got bite marks on certain body parts, no idea of what day it is and no idea of why someone would be setting off firecrackers outside. See, harm has been and is still being inflicted on someone. And even the most amateur mystery reader knows that we are witnessing the aftermath of a Rohypnol-type rape and that those “firecrackers” are gunshots.
Next, we see the silhouette holding a gun and staring down at a body in a swimming pool. Again, we recognize that harm has been inflicted on someone and our main protagonist, Sheriff Cork O’Connor, will have a case on his hands.
Then we get to the last four sentences of that opening scene and the bottom drops out of our suppositions: the man with the gun is Cork and the woman who has been raped is his wife, Jo. We realize quickly that we are not actually at the beginning of a story or at the start of a case but somewhere way down a very dark path of plotline. And then, eyes wide and mouth still gaping, we turn the page to the next scene and find that Krueger has instantaneously transported us back in time to a point that precedes the “prologue” by several days.
If, in starting his novel this way, Krueger was going for an off-the-chart shock factor, he certainly succeeded. But by proceeding with a flashback technique, instead of building that delightful tension of anticipation that rises as the clues present themselves, Krueger actually builds a page-by-page, depressing and deepening sense of dread. You recognize clue after clue, warning after warning that everything is spiraling toward the events of the “prologue.” And that wait is interminable – 92% of the book transpires before we encounter those fateful four sentences again.
But, finally, the villains are found out and we start to breath a little easier, knowing that the remainder of the book should see them, if not in actual custody, at least on their way. And the storyline moves quickly in that direction – until you realize that it just seems that way.
At the 98% point of the novel, Krueger turns the plot on a dime. When you reach the last page, you find out that there will be no resolution to the original story in this entry of the series, not even close. While the last scene does not constitute a true cliffhanger, it’s not the traditional hook hinting at a future storyline either. Frankly the non-ending is a cheap shot, its content clearly intended to push the reader into buying the next novel.
Remember those first three words on the opening page – “How It Ends?” They lied.
May 2, 2020
Great book just as usual, however not a 5-star book for me as the previous books have been. I found the story to be good, but it didn't captivate me in the same way as the first 5 books. But, the open ending left me eager to start reading the next book.
February 28, 2021
Read this with Simon. We are truly enjoying listening to this series together. We love the characters and the setting and the story was truly gripping. There were a couple of spots where we felt like we were ahead of Cork on puzzling out the mystery and that the writing was a little overworked. However, there were also some really good passages and we are looking forward to the next installment in the series.
Favorite quotes:
"Newsome was a rubbery-looking man with a willowy body, long arms, and face like stretched putty."
"She could feel the strong grip of his love around her, her own love covering him like a blanket."
Favorite quotes:
"Newsome was a rubbery-looking man with a willowy body, long arms, and face like stretched putty."
"She could feel the strong grip of his love around her, her own love covering him like a blanket."
December 22, 2025
Over the last two years, I have read all of the books in Craig Johnson’s Longmire mystery series and all of the Joe Pickett and Cassie Dewell series books by C.J. Box. I loved all of them and enjoyed the reading experience tremendously. Now, my search for the next great mystery series to sink my teeth into has led me to William Kent Kreuger’s Cork O’Conner series.
After receiving a lot of positive praise for these books, I am finding myself fully immersed in Cork’s world, his family, his investigative work, and his hometown of Aurora, Minnesota, and its beautiful surrounding area. Each book pulls me in headfirst and blends into the next as I compulsively drive myself to find out what happens next.
“Mercy Falls” is the fifth Cork O’Conner novel and continues the same high level of quality delivered in the previous books in the series. Cork lives in the small northern town of Aurora, Minnesota where he grew up. Cork is part Irish and part Anishinaabe Indian. He was previously a cop working the rough South Side of Chicago, but moved back home to Aurora with his wife, Jo, to raise a family in a small-town setting. Cork continued to work in law enforcement and was elected sheriff while Jo completed law school and started her own private practice. Together they have three children – Jennie, Annie, and Stephen.
However, Cork has had to overcome several challenges in recent years. Due to a horrible incident, he lost his job as sheriff. His marriage also broke down due his own self-inflicted personal meltdown, leaving him separated from his wife and children, and focusing on overcoming his personal guilt and moving forward with his life.
When “Mercy Falls” begins, Cork has gained back his wife and family, as well as being rehired as the sheriff of Tamarack County. That’s the good news.
However, there’s bad news, and plenty of it.
First, responding to a routine call from on the Ojibwe reservation to settle a personal dispute, turns into a deadly ambush for Cork and his Deputy, Marsha Dross, almost killing and seriously injuring one of them. As the investigation begins, and members of the state investigators show-up to assist, it becomes apparent that the shooter was trying to kill Cork. Although there are many possibilities, he cannot imagine who would actually want him dead.
At the same time, another attack is discovered. This time a visiting Chicago businessman, Eddie Jacoby, is found in a local park stabbed to death and then mutilated in a vicious manner. Jacoby had been in town several times over the last six months working with the local Indian casino in attempt to provide them with operational management services. This murder has a personal connection to Cork because Jacoby had been working directly with the Indian tribe’s legal representative, Jo O’Connor, and his wife.
As Joe and his team tries to investigate both the attack and murder, things get worse when Jacoby’s family arrives in town. The father is an extremely pushy and wealthy businessman who is intent on finding out who killed his son and doesn’t care who get is in his way. The brother, Ben, just happens to be an old flame of Jo’s. Back in her law school days, they had an intense relationship that he broke off without any explanation, and in some ways, his reappearance is stirring up those long-buried feelings of loss. To make matters worse, the only way to keep the Jacoby’s from interfering with hunt for Eddie’s killer is to accept the help of their ex-FBI, private investigator with connections, Dina Wilner. However, even with the additional support and resources she provides, Dina brings additional complications for Cork and his family…
This book is lot darker than the last couple in the series with unexpected developments that raise serous conflict for Cork and his wife, as well as personal consequences that you don’t see coming. The is reminiscent of the first book in the series when the two of them were seriously struggling with their relationships. This time outside influences bring in serious drama and amplified conflict much like adding steroids to your workout.
That said, it certainly served to increase the tension and elevate the storytelling, exemplifying Kreuger’s masterful approach for making this more than just about Cork. It includes his wife and family on a whole new level of conflict. I appreciated how much his wife Jo played an essential role in this one. She was an equal co-protagonist that balanced and counter-balanced Cork in showing how relationships are hard and must be fought for on a daily basis. They were both contributing to that conflict as well as trying their best to resolve it.
Unlike other ongoing mystery series, Cork and Jo’s relationship is unique and different than most. Krueger continually finds ways to flip their dynamic upside down, creating conflict that demands our attention. Kreuger plays that tension out against a multi-layered mystery involved multiple characters, history, conflict (lots of it), and individuals who are driven to do bad things. Kreuger structured the story well, delivering surprises, shocking twists, and turns all along the way. He never took his foot off the gas, ratcheting the tension and struggles throughout, and never reaching for the break.
And don’t get me started on the ending… Kreuger knows how to change things up in new and interesting ways. I won’t give anything away, but there will definitely be some major impacts and ongoing storyline arcs that will carry into the next book (or more? Who knows.), which only serve to leave you feeling there’s unfinished business that needs to be resolved and you can’t get your hands on the next book fast enough. Seriously!
I also liked seeing Rose again and finding out what happened with her relationship with Mal that was left hanging at the end of the last book. I am not sure why, but her happiness brings me joy. I love her character and envy her positive outlook on life. On the other hand, and I know this sounds a bit conflicting if you’ve read this novel, I find myself attracted to Dina, even though I know that she shouldn’t be trusted. She is a mystery, dangerous, and yet has a real interesting set of morals and values that make her valuable with the developing challenges Cork faces. She’s a bad, bad girl but I am sorry so that I cannot help being drawn to her. I hope to see her again in future books.
For me, Kreuger is a very talented storyteller. This one hits on all of the key ingredients - strong and intricate plotting, authentic and interesting characters, and wonderful use of setting and scenery. He combines and blends the three together into a first page turner thriller like no other. I would also add this one was the most complex and layered book in the series so far, and it paid off in the delivery.
Another strong element that I’ve noticed is that Kreuger really pushes your emotional buttons by creating really strong bad guys. The Jacoby family members were so easily unlikeable and annoying just like you want, providing strength and conflict for Cork and Jo throughout the books. For example, Ben Jacoby had his own sincere motivations that drove his selfish actions, providing conflict and strife for Jo and Cork throughout the book. I must admit that I really disliked him, his decisions, and actions that drove an emotional wrench between Jo and Cork.
Last, but not least, as I mentioned in my review of the first Cork novel, Cork’s heart and sense of duty are what drives this series for me. And, after finishing this second book, Jo strength and perseverance also helped drive their relationship forward in a unifying and powerful way. Their character flaws and struggles were more than offset by his drive to do what is right and see that justice is done regardless of his personal views and beliefs. Both Cork and Jo are their own person in many ways, but they are both equal in their drives and need to do what is right. I especially loved their relationships with their children.
I continue to be impressed with Kreuger’s ongoing consistency in the quality storytelling of this series. This was a definite 4.5 star rating out of 5 stars and probably my favorite one so far. Having come off of the Longmire and Joe Picket novels, I am extremely pleased that many other readers of those series recommended William Kent Kreuger to me. They were spot on. Thank you for introducing my next mystery series journey for me to take. I can tell that I have many hours of reading joy coming my way that will bring new friends and experiences to cherish.
If you are reading this review, I encourage you to try reading the Cork O’Conner series too. It will be so worth it… They are simply awesome!
After receiving a lot of positive praise for these books, I am finding myself fully immersed in Cork’s world, his family, his investigative work, and his hometown of Aurora, Minnesota, and its beautiful surrounding area. Each book pulls me in headfirst and blends into the next as I compulsively drive myself to find out what happens next.
“Mercy Falls” is the fifth Cork O’Conner novel and continues the same high level of quality delivered in the previous books in the series. Cork lives in the small northern town of Aurora, Minnesota where he grew up. Cork is part Irish and part Anishinaabe Indian. He was previously a cop working the rough South Side of Chicago, but moved back home to Aurora with his wife, Jo, to raise a family in a small-town setting. Cork continued to work in law enforcement and was elected sheriff while Jo completed law school and started her own private practice. Together they have three children – Jennie, Annie, and Stephen.
However, Cork has had to overcome several challenges in recent years. Due to a horrible incident, he lost his job as sheriff. His marriage also broke down due his own self-inflicted personal meltdown, leaving him separated from his wife and children, and focusing on overcoming his personal guilt and moving forward with his life.
When “Mercy Falls” begins, Cork has gained back his wife and family, as well as being rehired as the sheriff of Tamarack County. That’s the good news.
However, there’s bad news, and plenty of it.
First, responding to a routine call from on the Ojibwe reservation to settle a personal dispute, turns into a deadly ambush for Cork and his Deputy, Marsha Dross, almost killing and seriously injuring one of them. As the investigation begins, and members of the state investigators show-up to assist, it becomes apparent that the shooter was trying to kill Cork. Although there are many possibilities, he cannot imagine who would actually want him dead.
At the same time, another attack is discovered. This time a visiting Chicago businessman, Eddie Jacoby, is found in a local park stabbed to death and then mutilated in a vicious manner. Jacoby had been in town several times over the last six months working with the local Indian casino in attempt to provide them with operational management services. This murder has a personal connection to Cork because Jacoby had been working directly with the Indian tribe’s legal representative, Jo O’Connor, and his wife.
As Joe and his team tries to investigate both the attack and murder, things get worse when Jacoby’s family arrives in town. The father is an extremely pushy and wealthy businessman who is intent on finding out who killed his son and doesn’t care who get is in his way. The brother, Ben, just happens to be an old flame of Jo’s. Back in her law school days, they had an intense relationship that he broke off without any explanation, and in some ways, his reappearance is stirring up those long-buried feelings of loss. To make matters worse, the only way to keep the Jacoby’s from interfering with hunt for Eddie’s killer is to accept the help of their ex-FBI, private investigator with connections, Dina Wilner. However, even with the additional support and resources she provides, Dina brings additional complications for Cork and his family…
This book is lot darker than the last couple in the series with unexpected developments that raise serous conflict for Cork and his wife, as well as personal consequences that you don’t see coming. The is reminiscent of the first book in the series when the two of them were seriously struggling with their relationships. This time outside influences bring in serious drama and amplified conflict much like adding steroids to your workout.
That said, it certainly served to increase the tension and elevate the storytelling, exemplifying Kreuger’s masterful approach for making this more than just about Cork. It includes his wife and family on a whole new level of conflict. I appreciated how much his wife Jo played an essential role in this one. She was an equal co-protagonist that balanced and counter-balanced Cork in showing how relationships are hard and must be fought for on a daily basis. They were both contributing to that conflict as well as trying their best to resolve it.
Unlike other ongoing mystery series, Cork and Jo’s relationship is unique and different than most. Krueger continually finds ways to flip their dynamic upside down, creating conflict that demands our attention. Kreuger plays that tension out against a multi-layered mystery involved multiple characters, history, conflict (lots of it), and individuals who are driven to do bad things. Kreuger structured the story well, delivering surprises, shocking twists, and turns all along the way. He never took his foot off the gas, ratcheting the tension and struggles throughout, and never reaching for the break.
And don’t get me started on the ending… Kreuger knows how to change things up in new and interesting ways. I won’t give anything away, but there will definitely be some major impacts and ongoing storyline arcs that will carry into the next book (or more? Who knows.), which only serve to leave you feeling there’s unfinished business that needs to be resolved and you can’t get your hands on the next book fast enough. Seriously!
I also liked seeing Rose again and finding out what happened with her relationship with Mal that was left hanging at the end of the last book. I am not sure why, but her happiness brings me joy. I love her character and envy her positive outlook on life. On the other hand, and I know this sounds a bit conflicting if you’ve read this novel, I find myself attracted to Dina, even though I know that she shouldn’t be trusted. She is a mystery, dangerous, and yet has a real interesting set of morals and values that make her valuable with the developing challenges Cork faces. She’s a bad, bad girl but I am sorry so that I cannot help being drawn to her. I hope to see her again in future books.
For me, Kreuger is a very talented storyteller. This one hits on all of the key ingredients - strong and intricate plotting, authentic and interesting characters, and wonderful use of setting and scenery. He combines and blends the three together into a first page turner thriller like no other. I would also add this one was the most complex and layered book in the series so far, and it paid off in the delivery.
Another strong element that I’ve noticed is that Kreuger really pushes your emotional buttons by creating really strong bad guys. The Jacoby family members were so easily unlikeable and annoying just like you want, providing strength and conflict for Cork and Jo throughout the books. For example, Ben Jacoby had his own sincere motivations that drove his selfish actions, providing conflict and strife for Jo and Cork throughout the book. I must admit that I really disliked him, his decisions, and actions that drove an emotional wrench between Jo and Cork.
Last, but not least, as I mentioned in my review of the first Cork novel, Cork’s heart and sense of duty are what drives this series for me. And, after finishing this second book, Jo strength and perseverance also helped drive their relationship forward in a unifying and powerful way. Their character flaws and struggles were more than offset by his drive to do what is right and see that justice is done regardless of his personal views and beliefs. Both Cork and Jo are their own person in many ways, but they are both equal in their drives and need to do what is right. I especially loved their relationships with their children.
I continue to be impressed with Kreuger’s ongoing consistency in the quality storytelling of this series. This was a definite 4.5 star rating out of 5 stars and probably my favorite one so far. Having come off of the Longmire and Joe Picket novels, I am extremely pleased that many other readers of those series recommended William Kent Kreuger to me. They were spot on. Thank you for introducing my next mystery series journey for me to take. I can tell that I have many hours of reading joy coming my way that will bring new friends and experiences to cherish.
If you are reading this review, I encourage you to try reading the Cork O’Conner series too. It will be so worth it… They are simply awesome!
February 20, 2020
William Kent Krueger is one of my favorite authors and Cork O'Connor is one of my favorite characters, but I deducted a full star because a book should have an ending. Now I just feel manipulated. Krueger should sell the books together or finish one and start another. Not happy!
July 25, 2019
4.5 stars for this. I was tempted to subtract more from the rating because it's basically a two part story, but without any warning. It's OK to read by itself if you want, as the main mystery is solved, but it starts a second second thread that's continued in "Copper River", the 6th book of the series. But fortunately, I already have that one, so there's no reason for me to subtract anything. Just be aware of this.
As usual, it was a very enjoyable read. I really like all of his books, not just this series, but I do like the series. That said, I was a little annoyed at a couple of things in this story. One thing was Jo's continued association with an old boyfriend, especially meeting him in private places. There was no good reason for her to do this, as it was over between them, she had a happy family, and she didn't really know the guy that well, nor did she know why he left her 20 years ago. The other thing was the way Corc went in half-cocked looking for his wife near the end. But nobody's perfect.
I'm really looking forward to the next book in the series; in fact, I'm starting it now.
As usual, it was a very enjoyable read. I really like all of his books, not just this series, but I do like the series. That said, I was a little annoyed at a couple of things in this story. One thing was Jo's continued association with an old boyfriend, especially meeting him in private places. There was no good reason for her to do this, as it was over between them, she had a happy family, and she didn't really know the guy that well, nor did she know why he left her 20 years ago. The other thing was the way Corc went in half-cocked looking for his wife near the end. But nobody's perfect.
I'm really looking forward to the next book in the series; in fact, I'm starting it now.
July 13, 2023
This is probably my favorite so far... it started off with quite the bang-bang, and the last half finished pretty strong, too.
Cork and one of his deputies ride out to the rez to handle a domestic disturbance involving a married couple who've had the law called out before. No sooner do the two start walking toward the front door than someone starts shooting at them both!
I only have a couple of issues with Mercy Falls. First is the uneven pacing, particularly in the first half of the novel. The other issue involves Jo toward the end of the book, and I felt the author didn't treat it the way I thought he should have. Came off a bit too "oh well, too bad," imo.
Outside of these two issues, this one held my interest the best out of the Cork O'Connor books I've read so far. Onward to Copper River next.
Cork and one of his deputies ride out to the rez to handle a domestic disturbance involving a married couple who've had the law called out before. No sooner do the two start walking toward the front door than someone starts shooting at them both!
I only have a couple of issues with Mercy Falls. First is the uneven pacing, particularly in the first half of the novel. The other issue involves Jo toward the end of the book, and I felt the author didn't treat it the way I thought he should have. Came off a bit too "oh well, too bad," imo.
Outside of these two issues, this one held my interest the best out of the Cork O'Connor books I've read so far. Onward to Copper River next.
November 30, 2024
I am mostly writing this review for my future self ~ for when future me is looking for something to read and can’t quite remember this series and whether or not I should keep going with it. Yes, future Sarah, these are okay. They are sort of wonky and repetitive but they are good reading for when it is hard to concentrate and you need something fun. This is the ex cop who moves back to his childhood home, he has a million kids, his wife keeps getting involved with rich guys, his girlfriend got turned into an ice block, yadda, yadda, yadda. At the end of this one he is on the run from a squad of hitmen.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 14, 2024
4.5 stars
Book number 5 in the Cork O’Connor series.
Reading WKK is like a balm to my soul. One of my favourite authors. He always delivers a great story and this book was no exception.
Mystery with a touching description of Minnesota. One minute you are on the edge of your seat, the next you are re-reading his poignant words. Truly a talented writer that can evoke such emotion.’
Coming up, Copper River, number 6!
Book number 5 in the Cork O’Connor series.
Reading WKK is like a balm to my soul. One of my favourite authors. He always delivers a great story and this book was no exception.
Mystery with a touching description of Minnesota. One minute you are on the edge of your seat, the next you are re-reading his poignant words. Truly a talented writer that can evoke such emotion.’
Coming up, Copper River, number 6!
May 12, 2017
RATING: 4 STARS
(Review Not on Blog)
Audiobook
"Back in the saddle as sheriff of Tamarack County, Cork O'Connor is lured to the nearby Ojibwe reservation on what appears to be a routine call -- only to become the target of sniper fire. Soon after, he's called to investigate a mutilated body found perched above the raging waters of Mercy Falls. The victim is Eddie Jacoby, a Chicago businessman negotiating an unpopular contract between his management firm and the local Indian casino. Sparks fly when the wealthy Jacoby family hires a beautiful private investigator to consult on the case. But once Cork discovers an old and passionate tie between one of the Jacoby sons and his own wife, Jo, he begins to suspect that dark, personal motives lurk behind recent events. Murder, greed, sex, and jealousy hide around every corner in this maze of danger. But somewhere beneath the turbulent Mercy Falls lies the truth -- and Cork is determined to find it...." (From Publisher)
There is a lot going on this book and we get a look at Jo's past (and also how Cork and Jo met). I liked this book as there was so much action but I am not sure about the ending - just how plausible and satisfying it really was. There was a cliffhanger at the end, but I didn't have that feeling that I needed/wanted to read the next book right away. Rose is a small character in this book - and I miss her sanity in the O'Connor family. Another solid book by Krueger!
(Review Not on Blog)
Audiobook
"Back in the saddle as sheriff of Tamarack County, Cork O'Connor is lured to the nearby Ojibwe reservation on what appears to be a routine call -- only to become the target of sniper fire. Soon after, he's called to investigate a mutilated body found perched above the raging waters of Mercy Falls. The victim is Eddie Jacoby, a Chicago businessman negotiating an unpopular contract between his management firm and the local Indian casino. Sparks fly when the wealthy Jacoby family hires a beautiful private investigator to consult on the case. But once Cork discovers an old and passionate tie between one of the Jacoby sons and his own wife, Jo, he begins to suspect that dark, personal motives lurk behind recent events. Murder, greed, sex, and jealousy hide around every corner in this maze of danger. But somewhere beneath the turbulent Mercy Falls lies the truth -- and Cork is determined to find it...." (From Publisher)
There is a lot going on this book and we get a look at Jo's past (and also how Cork and Jo met). I liked this book as there was so much action but I am not sure about the ending - just how plausible and satisfying it really was. There was a cliffhanger at the end, but I didn't have that feeling that I needed/wanted to read the next book right away. Rose is a small character in this book - and I miss her sanity in the O'Connor family. Another solid book by Krueger!
April 2, 2020
Mercy Falls by William Kent Krueger is the 5th installment of his Cork O'Connor series. The series continues to rely on the twist and turn of a mystery with "I didn't see that coming" at the end. This novel ends with a cliff hanger -- I am thankful for having the next installment at my finger tips!
January 16, 2015
I am so loving the Cork O'Connor series by William Kent Krueger! They just keep getting better and better. The best thing I can say about this book is, "Man, I wish I had the next one on hand!!"
March 19, 2013
In 2006 William Kent Krueger won the Anthony Award for “Mercy Falls”, which I find quite surprising. I would think that a novel winning a prestigious mystery book award should have at least one of the following: believable, clever, and enthralling plot, virtuoso writing, vivid characterizations of people, astute psychological or sociological observations, uncannily accurate sense of places and times, or some other distinctive feature that sets it apart from thousands of other mystery novels. Obviously, I must not be a competent reader because I could not find any such qualities in “Mercy Falls”, although it is a fine and readable novel.
The plot begins with Sheriff Cork O’Connor and Deputy Dross being shot at (Dross is seriously wounded) on the Ojibwe Indian reservation in northern Minnesota. Then, the mutilated body of a Chicago businessman, who has been involved in negotiating a management contract with the local Indian casino, is found at Mercy Falls. The plot is promising and engaging at the beginning of the novel, but then it slows down and plods along. The pace picks up a little at the end, unfortunately at the expense of plausibility; some components of the denouement are just plain ridiculous.
The writing is competent, economical, and simple, yet far from outstanding. “Smiles like small bright caterpillars crawled across his daughters’ lips” is not a sentence that the best mystery authors would use in their prose. The characters in the novel, even the main ones, are drawn rather sketchily. No wonder – this is the sixth book in the Cork O’Connor series, so the readers (and the writer) know everything about the recurring characters, which seems to absolve the author from providing any depth. The life and culture of Ojibwe people are not shown in any depth either. Again, the author had probably done a much better job in this respect in the first books of the series (I have not read any of the previous novels).
There are three threads in the novel: the “sheriff procedural”, a story line related to Jo O’Connor’s past, and Dina Willner’s thread. To me the last one is the most satisfying; the first one is just not very interesting, and the second is psychologically implausible. The observations of the arrogance of the very rich people are far from profound.
The book features a literary gimmick: it begins with a short chapter “How It Ends”. It does not add anything to the story; it is just the author’s way of telling the reader “Look how clever I am!”
“Mercy Falls” is a good book; I am just unable to find any award-deserving qualities in it.
Three stars.
The plot begins with Sheriff Cork O’Connor and Deputy Dross being shot at (Dross is seriously wounded) on the Ojibwe Indian reservation in northern Minnesota. Then, the mutilated body of a Chicago businessman, who has been involved in negotiating a management contract with the local Indian casino, is found at Mercy Falls. The plot is promising and engaging at the beginning of the novel, but then it slows down and plods along. The pace picks up a little at the end, unfortunately at the expense of plausibility; some components of the denouement are just plain ridiculous.
The writing is competent, economical, and simple, yet far from outstanding. “Smiles like small bright caterpillars crawled across his daughters’ lips” is not a sentence that the best mystery authors would use in their prose. The characters in the novel, even the main ones, are drawn rather sketchily. No wonder – this is the sixth book in the Cork O’Connor series, so the readers (and the writer) know everything about the recurring characters, which seems to absolve the author from providing any depth. The life and culture of Ojibwe people are not shown in any depth either. Again, the author had probably done a much better job in this respect in the first books of the series (I have not read any of the previous novels).
There are three threads in the novel: the “sheriff procedural”, a story line related to Jo O’Connor’s past, and Dina Willner’s thread. To me the last one is the most satisfying; the first one is just not very interesting, and the second is psychologically implausible. The observations of the arrogance of the very rich people are far from profound.
The book features a literary gimmick: it begins with a short chapter “How It Ends”. It does not add anything to the story; it is just the author’s way of telling the reader “Look how clever I am!”
“Mercy Falls” is a good book; I am just unable to find any award-deserving qualities in it.
Three stars.
May 4, 2017
Another great read in this series although I had a few quibbles with it! I wish I had not read the first few pages entitled How it Ends. Knowing what was going to happen just made me nervous and since it took all of the book before it happened I was nervous for a long time! I also did not like the ending. I am used to the author rounding off each book with a solution to the crimes but this one takes us off into a rather far fetched direction without resolution.
Despite all that the book was great. All the usual great atmosphere, friendly characters, lots of murders and plenty of action and suspense. A book which was very hard to put down and which I kept thinking about even when I was not reading it.
I am looking forward to book #6:)
Despite all that the book was great. All the usual great atmosphere, friendly characters, lots of murders and plenty of action and suspense. A book which was very hard to put down and which I kept thinking about even when I was not reading it.
I am looking forward to book #6:)
May 12, 2022
I am not a huge fan of suspense or thrillers, this series is gripping and keeps you turning the page. I really love William Kent Krueger's writing and have come to enjoy Cork, his family, his Ojibwe heritage and Boundary Waters settings. It is gritty and I can't read them too close together, but always seem to come back to read the next Cork book. This one apparently finishes in book #6, so I may not wait too long to find out how it all ends. I can't remember the last time I was so tempted to read the end of a book only half way into it, but certainly glad I didn't succumb, because it's continued into the next!
May 24, 2011
I do love this entire series, but this book was good, not great. Again, definitely worth the read (more a 3.5) and I'm a fan of the whole series (I'm hooked), but this one lacked originality. Reminded me too much of the previous Boundary Waters book, but I always enjoy the fast-paced writing of Krueger and indeed love me some Cork O' Connoron books - quick, easy reads with lots of great twists & turns.. This one thought I figured out pretty early so it was a bit anti-climactic. On to the next though...
March 18, 2019
Hmm. I can't believe I'm going to write this but Mercy Falls just didn't do it for me. (Although the line: "It didn't feel right. A man like Eli might get drunk and riled up enough to kill his wife, but he'd never shoot his dogs" made me laugh. That I understood completely.) I guess I most disliked I have to admit, however, that there were twists I had guessed incorrectly.
July 27, 2018
Not sure where William Kent Krueger stole his magic from, but he certainly casts a spell over readers. Another book - another 5 stars. Cork is just such a likeable - yet believable - protagonist. Since this book does not resolve itself, I would recommend you having the next one lined up before you begin this one.
August 14, 2022
Another excellent Cork O'Connor mystery. Only issue is that I have to go on to the next one immediately. Be forewarned!
April 30, 2021
4.5
Cork O’Connor finds himself the target of an ambush. While trying to find out who wants him dead, a mutilated corpse is found overlooking Mercy Falls. With two mysteries to solve before someone puts a bullet into him, this story races at blistering speed.
As with all of Krueger’s books, the writing is flawless with all the twists and action expected. This would have earned another five-star review, except the story is a cliff hanger which I personally can’t stand. Although I will definitely read all of his stories, I have never been a fan of stories that end with a cliffhanger.
Even my own thriller series has each book ending with a satisfying completion, therefore allowing the reader to decide whether to purchase the next book because they like the writing style vs. needing to find out the ending. Of course, this is a personal thing, so have at it.
Cork O’Connor finds himself the target of an ambush. While trying to find out who wants him dead, a mutilated corpse is found overlooking Mercy Falls. With two mysteries to solve before someone puts a bullet into him, this story races at blistering speed.
As with all of Krueger’s books, the writing is flawless with all the twists and action expected. This would have earned another five-star review, except the story is a cliff hanger which I personally can’t stand. Although I will definitely read all of his stories, I have never been a fan of stories that end with a cliffhanger.
Even my own thriller series has each book ending with a satisfying completion, therefore allowing the reader to decide whether to purchase the next book because they like the writing style vs. needing to find out the ending. Of course, this is a personal thing, so have at it.
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