Heaven's Keep

Cork O'Connor #9

by William Kent Krueger

Cork O'Connor, ex sceriffo e ora investigatore privato, ha perso sua moglie. Tutto è successo all'improvviso. La sua piccola proprietà sul lago interessava a una corporation immobiliare, che voleva rilevarla per poter costruire nella zona. Ci avevano provato con offerte e pressioni, che lui aveva sempre respinto al mittente. Sul fronte legale poteva contare sulla consulenza di un avvocato molto speciale, sua moglie Jo... almeno finché il charter su cui lei era in viaggio non è risultato disperso in una tormenta di neve sulle montagne del Wyoming. Inutile ogni ricerca. Cork, rimasto solo, ha perso la voglia di lottare. Ma quando, tempo dopo, due donne lo convincono a indagare sul pilota, quel misterioso incidente aereo assume una luce diversa. Se non è stato un incidente, c'è una remota possibilità che Jo sia ancora viva, da qualche parte. E Cork non si fermerà finché non l'avrà riportata a casa.

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

337 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 1, 2009

About the author

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

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

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

Reviews

[MarilynW · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heaven's Keep (Cork O'Connor #9) by William Kent Krueger (Author), David Chandler (Narrator)

When a charter plane goes missing over the snow covered Wyoming Rockies, Cork O'Connor doesn't want to give up on his wife, Jo, who was on the plane. But after joining the search to find the plane, Cork finally has to face the fact that Jo must be dead. Six months later he's shown evidence that suggests that the missing plane might not have been accidental but foul play. 

Once again, Cork heads to Wyoming to ferret out what might have happened to the plane and why someone would want to make the people on the plane disappear. Who can Cork trust when he keeps getting non answers and the run around? Everyone seems to accept that the matter is a done deal but with digging Cork finds that the plane passengers may not be the only victims of what happened. Someone is trying to kill Cork the closer he gets to the truth. I was suspecting everyone of wrong doing as Cork dug deeper and it was hard not to have a little bit of hope for the passengers of the plane. The truth is shocking and disturbing. 

Published November 14, 2019 by Recorded Books (first published September 1, 2009)

[Phrynne · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you ever needed a reason not to read book blurbs this one is it! I am sure I would have got far more out of this book if I had not known what was going to happen! So just in case you don't know I will make sure this review is totally spoiler free.
So overall I did enjoy Heaven's Keep although maybe not as much as some of the previous books. Cork is consistently himself, Stevie grows into a young man and the whole family bonds over some major issues. It is good to have read all the series in order so far and to have seen all the family members grow.
Krueger's writing is as beautiful as always. He has a talent for making you feel the cold and the snow and the countryside around you.
My reason for losing one star - I was uncomfortable with Stevie's vision and how it eventuates. It was just a little too unrealistic for me. I had already struggled a bit with the contents of the plane and the vision was too much! No spoilers there but you will understand what I am referring to if you read the book.
It is still a very good book and I am looking forward to finding out what the future holds for Cork:)

[Jonetta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jo O'Connor joins a coalition of representatives from several Native American groups for a trip to Seattle. Something happens en route over Wyoming and the plane disappears. A distraught Cork lends a hand to the search teams as they fight time and weather to locate the plane.

The themes in this story resonated loud and strong as Cork encountered competing objectives, motivations and cultures in his quest to find his wife. As usual, the settings were just as much a part of the plot, this time the beautiful but treacherous mountains and foothills of Wyoming. I wasn’t looking forward to this one but it still managed to captivate me nonetheless.

I’m still mulling over the ending, not sure if I’m content with it or needed more. Buck Schirner narrated this one again though I found his performance much better than the last. This series never disappoints.

[Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

My heart went goes out to Cork O’Conner in this tragic tale, but this one disappointed me in a couple of ways. His wife Jo disappears with a charter plane with some Indian leaders in a snowstorm in Wyoming, and Cork, a PI and ex-sheriff in rural Minnesota, is compelled to help find the wreckage and understand what happened. The main problem for me is that it takes about half the book to pin down that there are bad guys, and we are tormented too long for my taste by the emotional wrenching of his grief and fruitless searching.

From the one other Krueger I read from this 14 book series, I appreciate his treatment of Native American issues and themes, which emerges out of O’Conner’s Ojibwe family heritage. But in this one, the main clue for the mystery lies too conveniently in vision by an alcoholic Arapaho elder and a dream by O’Conner’s thirteen old son.

I did like the unlikely partnering of O’Conner with a wealthy Texas developer, a man he has been in legal struggles with over his condominium plans around Cork’s property on a beautiful lake. I also liked the coverage of the all too common conflict within tribal communities over the prospects and dangers of pursuing casino or oil production ventures on their land as a means to address their pervasive poverty. But with this story, the path of corruption taken by some of the characters was too extreme to be plausible. Regardless, I am hooked on Cork’s outlook and mission in life and am eager to pursue more of his efforts in the series to take on the evils of the world.

[Liz · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an incredibly beautiful, suspenseful, and compelling story. I am still sitting here wondering how it’s possible that this, the ninth book in the Cork O’Connor series, could possibly be the best one yet, but that’s exactly what it is.

Cork O’Connor has strong spiritual and blood ties to the Ojibwe Native American culture and he shares many of their beliefs, while also keeping his Catholic faith. Krueger plausibly weaves the Native mystical elements into all of his stories, creating the perfect setting in which the earth, the sky and the spirits are almost complete characters in themselves. In fact, it is a vision seen by his own son which propels Cork on the path that he must take in this book and it never once felt outlandish.

What I always tell people who are considering reading these books is that Cork is a wonderful character about whom I love to read, well developed over the course of the series. This is a man who understands his limitations but does not let them define him. Who doesn’t suffer what other people think because he knows what is truly most important. Who always tries to follow the high road, even if not always successful. Above all, he will take care of his own, no matter what. If this is a person you would like to know, then you should try this series.

[Teresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Krueger really knows how to spin a tale and in this ninth book he has reached the pinnacle. This book gave me the full range of emotions from disbelief to total devastation. How many times have you been angry with a loved one and not said goodbye or made up before going off to work for the day? In this story, after a disagreement, Cork’s wife Jo leaves the next morning on a business trip with members of the local tribe to Seattle on a charter flight. They disappear in a snowstorm over Wyoming and Cork spends the rest of the book assuaging his guilt trying to find out what happened to his beloved wife.

The search for the truth takes him down many twisted paths and at one point even believes that Jo may still be alive. This story was truly gut-wrenching and broke my heart into many pieces. This has been my favorite so far, even though the subject matter was so distressing. Krueger’s writing just gets better and better and always makes me feel like I am right there where the action is happening.

I listened to this on audiobook via Audible. As usual, narrator David Chandler did an excellent job bringing the characters to life. I gave this book five stars!

[David Tindell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I first saw Krueger's novels on the shelves of a local store. Small-town northern Minnesota sheriff/PI, I read. Well, how interesting could that be? I live near a small northern Wisconsin town, and while it's a very nice place, not much of interest to the outside world happens here (which is fine with us). But in early August I picked up the first volume in the Cork O'Connor series, "Iron Lake", for my wife, who enjoys mysteries. I picked it up after her, just for something to read. I was hooked.
Two months later I've just finished #9 in the series, "Heaven's Keep". In this, Cork faces the most daunting challenge of his life, the search for the truth surrounding the disappearance and apparent death of his wife, Jo. Readers of the series know that things haven't always been terrific between Cork and Jo, but as the years passed and they faced great challenges together, from raising their children to facing down the bad guys, they grew ever closer. My wife refuses to read this entry in the series, but I jumped in.
Krueger's writing has always been deft and deep, bringing to life the woods and lakes and small towns of northern Minnesota and the people who live there. I would imagine this novel was his biggest challenge. He decided to kill off one of his best-written, most popular characters and put the life and emotional well-being of his protagonist on the line. Something like this could have easily gone south quickly, but Krueger handles it well. Better than well. "Heaven's Keep" takes Cork about as far out of his comfort zone as he could get, pushes him to his physical and emotional limits, and takes him to a place no husband and father ever wants to go. As a stand-alone novel it would be a fine read, but do yourself a favor and start at the beginning. You won't regret it.

[Marty Fried · Rating 5 out of 5]

4 1/2 stars rounded up because it was a great story in spite of a slight shortcoming (in my opinion).

This was a sad story from beginning to end. It starts off with Cork fighting to keep Sam's Place, his burger hut by the lake that he loves. The main access road has been closed by a development company that wants to build condos on the lake, he's trying to sue, and his wife isn't too happy about the prospect of spending boatloads of money for lawyers, but she, a lawyer herself, is not up to fighting a rich corporation. Cork is thinking about taking on a job as a lawman again, and she's also unhappy about that. She leaves for a business trip on an angry note, without saying goodbye.

This makes both of them unhappy, but that's just the beginning. The nightmare about leaving mad is that if something happens, you will forever regret it, and when the plane goes off the radar in a big storm over the mountains, the nightmare comes true.

That could have been the end of the story, but it wouldn't have been a very good one. Fortunately, it is - a good one, that is. Certain facts come to light, and eventually the story gets interesting.

I subtracted half a star simply because there was a bit too much of the supernatural element that I think detracts from a serious story, but it didn't really make it a bad story. I just had to overcome my aversion, and it wasn't hard. There's always a bit of it in these stories, mostly from Cork's old friend Henry.

Also, it seems like the "final solution" never comes, unless I missed it; only a promise Cork makes to find the people at the top that are responsible. I guess we can assume they were dealt with.

[Marion Over · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a tragic book.

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a powerful book! Right from the beginning, with a gut-wrenching prologue, Krueger took me on an emotional journey to Wyoming, where massive snow storms are covering a desolate, bleak land, and questions arise with no easy answers. I was glad to see Stephen's maturity and hope to learn more of his time with Henry Meloux. I'm also glad Cork had a partner and friend in Hugh Parmer. If you're reading this series in order, this book will shock and astound you. I can hardly wait to read the next one.

[E · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5* A book worth reading, but as a longtime Krueger reader and fan, I feel cheated by this book. I was disappointed in the way that this plot unfolded and in the handling of opportunities for character development. I understand that part of the "contract" between authors and readers is that we readers have to give authors some leeway to shape things in a certain perhaps less-than-realistic way or accept that authors may present characters doing somewhat outlandish things as though they were commonplace (e.g., isn't it convenient that Cork suddenly has a millionaire friend who can jet him back and forth to Wyoming?). However, I found myself in many places feeling like events or characters were forced and that I was seeing too much artifice and machination behind the wizard's curtain and not enough honoring of the characters that Krueger has painstakingly developed over a number of books in this series.

**SPOILER ALERT HERE** I was particularly dissatisfied with the treatment of Jo's character and the depiction (lack thereof) of Cork's grief when he accepts that she must be dead. Since Jo dies in this book, and, I suppose, this will be her last chance to be a character of any substance plot-wise in the series, I felt that she had been cheated by there being so little of her in this book. I also found the skipping over of Cork's period of grief - suddenly it is six months later - to be a letdown. Here was a chance to develop more emotional depth for Cork in how he is affected by and how he handles his response to her death. Instead, just a fast-forward to figuring out the mystery of the plane's disappearance.

[Jeff Dickison · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of the saddest books I have ever read. Cork's wife, Jo, goes missing when her plane falls off the radar over the snow covered mountains of Wyoming. Cork investigates with the help of his son and discovers what happened. Recommended.

[Henry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent Cork O'Connor novel by William Kent Krueger. Actually, one of the best so far.

[Carol · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cork and his wife have a disagreement one morning resulting in a shouting match, both saying things they didn't really mean, but they go their separate daily ways without reconciling. His wife goes to the airport to go on a business trip...from which she won't return afterwards as the plane crashes.

Cork had nothing from her since the argument, except a short message on his e-mail mailbox. He's eons beyond grief after this painful loss that leaves him now not only a widow but also a single father.

It's autumn before he discovers some new information relating to the plane crash and begins to follow his instincts as a private detective. What follows is an exciting story based around casinos, Native American Indian reservations and several nature reserves. This all comes to an end in the dead of winter in the Rocky Mountains in a fight for survival against nature.

Throughout the book, the author not only focused on his essential main character, Cork O'Conner but also describing some of the hardships and problems suffered by the Native American Indians yet in these modern times. Anyone that has viewed the Rockies in any season will recognize the descriptions of the unspoiled beauty of these majestic mountains' nature and how important it is to preserve them.

There is a lot to think about in this story even though it is at times heartbreaking. The story is filled with suspense; and it's difficult at times, to read, yet it also reminds us to be very, very careful with our words no matter how angry we may be, as you never know when you may never have the chance to say, "I'm sorry, I love you and I didn't mean it."

[TracyGH · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars ⭐️
Audiobook

* This 9th book is my favourite in the series so far.
* Familiar characters that grow in fondness as the series continues.
* This was the most twisty of the series with plots that you didn’t see coming.
* A shocker of an ending that hurts your heart.
* I am excited to see how the family moves forward but I need a bit of break before I return to the 0’Connors.

I am also excited to see that Krueger has just added another book in this series. 👏🏻

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you plan to read this series. Make sure you don't read the blurb on this book. I thought the blurb was quite a spoiler for the book if you use your powers of deduction.

This was a pretty heartbreaking read when I've come to know and love the characters. I don't know where the story can go on from here. I know it will, but still I can't quite believe how events transpired overall in Heaven's Keep and I wonder why the author took the direction this books lays out for the future.

All in all though, another good addition to the series. The mystery was compelling and it was a little harder to work out the culprits or the elaborate lengths that can be taken to hide the truth.

[LJ · Rating 3 out of 5]

First Sentence: In the weeks after the tragedy, as he accumulates pieces of information, he continues to replay that morning in his mind.

Cork O’Connor and his wife, Jo, parted in anger as she left on a business. He learns her plane has disappeared from radar over the Wyoming Rockies and, with his son, travels West to be part of the search, but to no avail. Months later, the wife of the pilot, who was said to have been drunk while flying, turns upon Cork’s doorstep saying it wasn’t her husband flying the plane. His investigation causes him to think the accidental wasn’t accidental. So where is Jo?

There were things I loved and things I didn’t love about this book.

Krueger creates interesting characters that seem very real. However, I don’t always feel he uses them to full advantage. Cork’s friend, Henry Meloux, is one of the most interesting recurring characters. Here, he had almost a cameo role. We see Cork’s son Stephen growing up. Henry sends him on a vision quest, but we have no idea what happened as it was all off-stage. At the same time, Krueger’s incorporation of the metaphysical is both interesting and well done, never overpowering the story.

This descriptions are wonderfully evocative and his dialogue true to the ear. I would not have been appropriate to the story, but I missed the wry humor usually apparent in this books.

What I didn’t love was the plot. Killing off the protagonist’s mate seems to be a popular theme these days and one that, to me, seems easier than keeping the relationship realistic and progressing; of which I felt Krueger had done a good job until now. I was, however, impressed by Krueger’s ability to convey emotion. The motives didn’t work for me. It seemed a bit over the top and lacking the usual suspense.

Most of the book I felt was very good, but it did fall apart toward the end. Krueger is still an author whose style I very much enjoy. By no means is he off my buy list. I’ll be there for the next book as soon as it comes out.

HEAVEN’S KEEP (Unl Invest-Cork O’Connor-Minnesota/Wyoming-Cont) – G+
Krueger, William Kent – 9th in series
Atria Books, 2009, US Hardcover – ISBN: 9781416556763

[Karen J · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I have read almost all of William Kent Krueger’s series Cork O’Connor.
This is definitely the best of all of the series I have read. Challenging to read and very heartbreaking.

[Brandi Gray · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well I didn't see that one coming! Krueger always keeps me on my toes. Such an amazing author! I am loving this series.

4.5 stars

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a buddy read with my husband. We are reading through this series together. I thought he strung this one out just a bit too long.

[LeeAnne · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think I am growing weary of this series. The "cliffhanger" at the end of Mercy Falls had me chucking that one across the room and vowing never to read another in the series but...I'm back. This one was just sort of okay. More drama/soap opera than mystery with a shocking ending meant to send the reader running full-tilt to the next book in the series. Meh. I'll get there when I get there. I am finding Cork's vacillation between the Native American religious practice and Catholicism to be irritating. The moral grandstanding is irksome. I guess this one really deserves only 1.5 stars from me.

[Kris (My Novelesque Life) · Rating 3 out of 5]

RATING: 3 STARS
(Review Not on Blog)
Listened to on audio

It has been 4 months or so since my last Cork O'Connor book. I have been trying to find this one on audio as that is the only way I can do this series now. I love the narrator and since I don't know how to pronounce some of the words it is nice to hear them said correctly. Warning you now, this is a book with lots of emotion. Jo's plan has gone missing and thought to have crashed. Her and all those on the plane are considered dead. Cork won't believe it till he sees for himself. I don't know if it was the plot or what but it's like I refused to connect with this book. I just wanted to get through it.

[Andrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am very invested in this book and the series. I am so disappointed that Jo died in this book. I kept holding out hope that she would somehow be found alive. I realized that was unlikely, but it felt even more cruel to me for Cork and Stephen to discover that she survived the original massacre, only to die after being in a coma at a hospice in Mexico. What. The. Hell.

[Ali · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book never engaged me...the investigation details were too tedious; they bogged down the pace and overshadowed the personal elements. However, one of Krueger's other books, Ordinary Grace, is one of my favorites so I'll put in a plug for that one!

[Linda Branich · Rating 5 out of 5]

Krueger hits another one out of the ball park with Heaven's Keep--all the way to Wyoming, and at the end, even further. Cork O'Connor's wife's plane disappears from the radar screen somewhere over Wyoming, when it is
en route to a Seattle conference, carrying not only attorney Jo, but also several other prominent Native Americans. One plot twist after another keeps the reader guessing about motive, method, and reason behind the plane's disappearance.

Although Krueger takes Cork and his son, Steve, far from the northern parts of Minnesota, he sets a great stage that contrasts with Minnesota. Even the snow in the Wyoming Mountains is far more severe and dangerous than what is found in Minnesota. The reservation is stark compared to the one in Minnesota. Different tribes and different languages, yet still the same basic problems and discrimination that residents of the Rez face.

Together, Cork and Steve search for wife and mother. Hope rises and falls. Father and son bond even closer during their quest. Steven skips carefree young adolescence when faced with a man-sized challenge.

This is well worth reading. As always, Kreuger's style draws the reader right into the story, where one feels the bitter cold, the anger, the fear, the frustration, and the beauty, ruggedness and majesty of this part of the country. I especially enjoyed the sub plot and relationship between Cork and wealthy developer, Hugh--from enemy to supporter, and finally ally and friend.

[Valleri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well, this one was a shocker and I'm still trying to figure out exactly how I feel about it. Sometimes, when you get hold of a good mystery, it’s natural to think you’ve got it solved before the killer is revealed. You can forget about that here! As usual, Mr. Krueger included much about Native Americans, which always fascinates me. He then added in a suspenseful story of corruption, fraud, murder, and the men who thought they were untouchable. Greed runs deep in the core of all that happens.

I so enjoyed reading about "It's Stephen". He's growing into a fine young man. I also very much liked Hugh Parmer, and hope he will be included in future books. I'm glad Henry Meloux is still around!

I struggled a wee bit with the oxygen masks on the plane pumping pure nitrogen and incapacitating everyone, enabling them to be shot and killed. It seems to me that if someone took a breath (or two) of pure nitrogen, they'd be ripping the masks off their faces so they could breathe. Maybe they were too terrified by the thought of the plane crashing to think logically? Obviously, I'm not a doctor, haha.

[ScrappyMags · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another Cork book that I read in merely a day. This one ROCKED, though I think some fans were probably disappointed. Now, in case it's not hidden.. there ARE spoilers ahead, so stop reading!! Okay, this book had me turning and turning the pages. Now, I accidentally read book 10 first, which spoke of his wife being dead, so I was expecting it, but then I sort of hoped that maybe it turned out she was "missing". Hmmm... I guess in a way, I like to see Cork on his own. I expect he'll be a whole lot more reckless with kids grown & no wife, etc. Thought this was an excellent, probably my 2nd favorite of the series..

[Judy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one tugs at your heartstrings. Cork refuses to give up finding the answers to the crash of the plane in which his wife dies. He searches along with Steven, who is following his vision concerning his Mom. Thanks to the help of new and old friends, cork and family find peace.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was hoping it ended differently.

[Harry · Rating 5 out of 5]

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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