2-3-4 Challenge Book Discussions #1 discussion

The dying don’t easily become the dead.

The next novel in William Kent Krueger’s New York Times bestselling series finds Cork O’Connor sitting in the shadow of a towering monolith known as Trickster’s Point, deep in the Minnesota wilderness. With him is Jubal Little, who is favored to become the first Native American elected governor of Minnesota, and who is slowly dying with an arrow through his heart. Although the men have been bowhunting, a long-standing tradition among these two friends, this is no hunting accident. The arrow turns out to be one of Cork’s, and he becomes the primary suspect in the murder. He understands full well that he’s been set up. As he works to clear his name and track the real killer, he remembers his long, complex relationship with the tough kid who would grow up to become a professional football player, a populist politician, and the lover of the first woman to whom Cork ever gave his heart. Jubal was known by many for his passion, his loyalty, and his ambition. Only Cork knows that he was capable of murder.

Full of nail-biting suspense, plus a fascinating look into Cork’s teenage years in Aurora, a town blessed with natural beauty yet plagued by small-town feuds and heated racial tension, Trickster’s Point is a thrilling exploration of the motives, both good and ill, that lead men and women into the difficult, sometimes deadly, political arena.

Setting
Aurora, Minnesota
Furlough, Oregon

Character List
(view spoiler)[
Corcoran (Cork) O'Connor: Former sheriff of Tamarack County who is back to running Sam's Place, a hamburger restaurant and is also a private investigator. He was previously fired as sheriff, ran the restaurant for three years and then agreed to return as sheriff. He lasted about four months. He's half Irish, half Anishinaabe. He's was married to Jo until she was murdered two years ago and father of their three children. He had previously been a policeman in Chicago before moving back to Aurora.
Nancy Jo McKenzie O’Connor: Cork's wife who was murdered three years ago.
Jenny O'Connor: Jo and Cork's 25-year old oldest daughter who is a graduate of the University of Iowa’s Writer’s Workshop. She’s taking a break from being a journalist while she raises Waaboo, her adopted son. She writes short stories and is working at Sam's Place.
Aaron Smalldog O'Connor: Jenny’s 2-year old adopted son. His Ojibwe name is Waaboozo, or Waaboo for short.
Anne O'Connor: Jo and Cork's 22-year old youngest daughter. She recently returned from an El Salvador mission program sponsored by St. Ansgar College where she’s completed her junior year.
Stephen O'Connor: Jo and Cork's 16-year old son. He’s very much connected to his Ojibwe roots. His Ojibwe name is Makadewagosh, given to him by Henry, and it means Silver Fox.
Rainy Bisonette: Henry’s niece who’s a trained nurse and is caring for him these days. She’s studying to be a Mide, a healer and member of the Grand Medicine Society, learning from Henry. She’s in a relationship with Cork.
Henry Meloux (Mad Mel): Elderly Anishinaabe Indian, an Midewiwin medicine man who lives with his niece, Rainy, on the remote point around the northwest end of the lake. He's a member of the Grand Medicine Society and a good friend of Cork's. He’s well into his 90s.
Sam Winter Moon: Cork and Cork's father’s friend. He left Sam's Place to Cork when he died.
Marsha Dross: Tamarack County sheriff.
Ed Larson: Captain and Tamarack County deputy. He heads up major crimes investigations for the department.
George Azevedo: Tamarack County deputy.
Cy Borkman: Retired Tamarack County deputy.
Phillip Holter: Agent in charge of the BCA (Bureau of Criminal Apprehension) team.
John Berglund: FBI agent working on the investigation.
Leon Papakee: Cork's lawyer.
Jubal Little: Lifelong friend of Cork who was a Minnesota gubernatorial candidate and was murdered. Cork is the prime suspect.
Camilla Jaeger Little: Jubal’s wife who comes from a political family with money. She is as politically ambitious as Jubal.
Judy Madsen: Manager of Sam's Place.
Winona Crane: Cork's first crush when he was in junior high school. She's Willie's twin sister.
Willie Crane: Winona’s twin brother who has cerebral palsy and is a well known wild life photographer and nature writer.
Donner (Bigs) Bigby: Bully from Cork's junior high school days.
Lester Bigby: Donner's younger brother.
Lance Bigby: Lester's son.
Emily Bigby: Lester's wife.
Clarence (Buzz) Bigby: Donner and Lester's father. He owns a lumber company.
Alice BigbyLester and Donner’s mother. She's married to Buzz.
Isaiah Broom: Member of the tribal council and a man active in Indian affairs. He also hunts in the manner in the old way.
Kenny Yates: Runs personal security for Camilla Little.
Alex Jaeger: Camilla’s brother and a Naval Academy grad who was assigned to the USS Cole when it was attacked by terrorists.
Nicholas (Nick) Jaeger: Camilla's brother, an adventurer.
Arnold Yeager: Camilla's father, a former US senator.
William Graham Chester: Man Cork and Stephen discovered dead in the woods. He was a resident of Red Wing, Minnesota.
George LeDuc: Former chair of the Iron Lake Ojibwa tribal council who was murdered along with Jo.
Sara LeDuc: George's widow. She runs the Mocha Moose, a coffee and sandwich shop.
Dale Basham: Owner and operator of Straight Arrow, Inc., an archery and bow hunting supply store.
Heide Steger: Waitress at Johnny's Pinewood Broiler.
Johanna Sesseu: Waitress in Oregon.
Crandall McMurphy: Marijuana grower who owns a "fruit" ranch with his two brothers.
Caleb McMurphy: Crandall’s brother.
Petra: Woman who lives with Caleb in the communal residence.
Beckett (Beck) McMurphy: Caleb's teenaged son.
Cole McMurphy: Crandall’s youngest brother who is holding Winona.
Rhiannon: Name mentioned by Jubal before he died.
Chet Carlson: Former linebacker for the Kansas City Chiefs when Jubal was their quarterback.
Ken Hildebrandt: English teacher and assistant football coach.
Mr. Guerrero: Janitor at thr high school.
Hooty Nelson: Ojibwe Indian on the Reservation.
Gloria Agostino: Girl from Cork’s junior high school.
Mattie: Dale’s cat.
Trixie: Cork’s dog.
(hide spoiler)]

Spoiler Info
(view spoiler)[
Jubal planned to kill Cork because if he was elected, Cork planned to expose him for killing Donner Bigby. He hired Chet Carlson (he was the John Doe originally identified as William Chester) to kill him but he was killed by Willie before he could do the deed. Willie killed Jubal and Winona committed suicide. Jubal died thinking Cork had killed him.

Willie went to where he buried Winona and committed suicide.

Jubal and Winona had a stillborn baby girl they named Rhiannon. (hide spoiler)]