God's Country by William Kent Krueger

GOD’S COUNTRY by William Kent Krueger is the latest in his series about Cork O’Conner, former sheriff and half-Irish and half-Ojibwe who loves the Boundary Waters area of Minnesota. That’s where he heads with his son, grandson, and other family members only to find that his lifelong friend, Cordell Bishop, was guiding another group in the same area and sees signs that things are not right. Cork’s family decides to get to safety and, despite their protests, he stays behind to rescue his friend. It is the start of a grueling several days, including multiple dead bodies and battles over a gun and food supplies. Throughout, Cork is meditating on two wolves, one of hate and one of love, as he wishes to kill some evil men while trying to protect others from becoming their prey. There is a repetitive element here – perhaps evoking the constant struggle we face between good and evil. And Krueger has included more violence than I remember from his earlier works. GOD’S COUNTRY received a starred review from Booklist (“harrowing and fascinating”).

Wisdom Corner by David Heska Wanbli Weiden

WISDOM CORNER by David Heska Wanbli Weiden is the second book, following award-winning Winter Counts, to feature Virgil Wounded Horse, his girlfriend Marie, nephew Nathan, and mentor Jerome Iron Shell who live on the Rosebud Indian Reservation in South Dakota. Virgil is trying to move away from his past as a vigilante, but there are still aspects of violence in this novel as he tries to solve a murder, confront a rival gang, and deal with a devious politician. The action keeps coming, but this text also adheres to Weiden’s agreement with the view that crime fiction is “the new literature of resistance.” He deftly weaves in background information about Native American history, like life at the infamous Native boarding schools and “how the children there were compelled to abandon their Indigenous traditions, languages, and spirituality.” As another example, I particularly liked his recounting of the origin of football’s forward pass, involving Pop Warner, Jim Thorpe, and the Carlisle Indian School football team. The author’s note includes several recommended titles for further reading. Both S. A. Cosby (“a raw yet moving journey”) and William Kent Krueger (“riveting thriller that will surprise you to the very end”) have praised this compelling mystery.

The audio book of WISDOM CORNER is narrated by Shane Ghostkeeper who does an excellent job of relaying the action and differentiating the characters. In a recent Bookpage cover story, Weiden says, “I'm hoping that readers will leave the novel with a better understanding of the broken criminal justice system on reservations as well as a sense of life as a Native American in the 21st century.” He succeeds. Learn more about his thinking on this topic in Weiden's New York Times essay, “This 19th-Century Law Helps Shape Criminal Justice in Indian Country.”

Apostle's Cove by William Kent Krueger

APOSTLE’S COVE by William Kent Krueger (This Tender Land and Fox Creek) is book 21 in his excellent series which features lawman Cork O’Connor of the Boundary Waters area in rural Minnesota. This tale transports readers twenty-five years into the past with one of Cork’s first murder investigations as Sheriff. At that time, Cork had misgivings about the resolution to a brutal murder that involved an Ojibwe man named Axel Boshey. Once again, Krueger explores a crime of passion, substance abuse, and the prejudices against Indigenous peoples. Because it is telling a story from long ago, APOSTLE’S COVE could work as a stand-alone (the publisher calls it “the perfect entry point for anyone who might be new to the series”). The first half of this novel is set firmly in the past, but the case is revived in the modern day during the second half when Cork’s son gets involved through an Innocence Project like effort. Was the wrong person sent to prison? Is the killer still at large? The conclusion is full of evil and felt a bit rushed, but it’s balanced by the wisdom of tribal elder Henry Meloux and Cork’s persistence in solving a suspenseful mystery (as Cork says, “Truth is a tricky critter. Not always what it seems.”). 

The River We Remember by William Kent Krueger

THE RIVER WE REMEMBER by William Kent Krueger is a very reflective piece of writing. Just like a river flowing, there is often a calm leisurely pace interspersed with swift action. Krueger says, “I love this story... My heart and soul are in [it].” Set in rural Jewel, Minnesota during 1958, Krueger crafts a puzzling whodunit complete with strong character development and a definite feeling for the time. Attitudes toward “the other,” including women, Native Americans, and immigrants, are explored when an unpopular landowner is found dead and the sheriff, ex-soldier Brody Dern, seeks to find the cause. Kruger relays traumatic life experiences of a former prostitute and of soldiers having returned from World War II; all the while, the local prejudices are simmering in the background. The overall tone of this stand-alone mystery is definitely melancholy and there are multiple subplots with themes of sexual abuse and racial discrimination. THE RIVER WE REMEMBER received a starred review from Booklist (“recognition that postwar America was filled with shattered veterans and war widows”). Another well-written adventure (e.g., see Fox Creek, Lightning Strike, This Tender Land,) from a prolific, talented writer.

Fox Creek by William Kent Krueger

FOX CREEK by William Kent Krueger (This Tender Land and Lightning Strike) is the latest Cork O’Connor mystery, once again set near the Boundary Waters area of northern Minnesota. Dolores Morriseau is concerned about her missing husband, Louis, and asks for help from the tribal elder Henry Meloux. Others (including government officials, some ruthless criminals and a tracker named LeLoup) are looking for Morriseau, too. Henry senses the danger and guides Dolores and Cork’s wife, Rainy, into the wilderness to avoid capture. Soon, Morriseau’s brother, Anton, and Cork team-up to find the hunters and help protect Henry and the women. Meanwhile, Cork’s son Stephen meets other Morriseau family members and discovers issues related to tribal rights and environmentalism. Since this mystery is number nineteen in the series, it builds on previous events and character development, but FOX CREEK also works well as a stand-alone. The story is complex and the suspense is palatable as Edgar award-winner Krueger alternates perspective amongst major characters, often slightly shifting in time so as fill in details. On a recent road trip we listed to Recorded Books’ audiobook version narrated by David Chandler – it was excellent. FOX CREEK received starred reviews from Library Journal and Publishers Weekly.

Lightning Strike by William Kent Krueger

LIGHTNING STRIKE by William Kent Krueger (This Tender Land) is a new prequel to the best-selling and award-winning Cork O’Connor mystery series. In Kreuger’s latest work, Cork is just twelve years old (it is 1963) when he and his friend, Jorge, discover the body of an Ojibwe named Big John Manydeeds.  At first, Cork’s father, Sherriff Liam O’Connor, thinks that the death is clearly suicide, fueled in part by alcohol. Gradually, though his perspective shifts and murder increasingly seems likely. Tension arises as to whether the perpetuator is from the reservation or perhaps is the rich, white mine owner. Connor and his young friends are encouraged to “follow the crumbs” as they, too, try to solve the mystery and help Manydeeds’ soul to rest. The boys’ actions moved the story along, but I thought it was a bit unrealistic at times that they were privy to (and freely sharing) sensitive police investigation information.  Overall, this is a complex, entertaining mystery set in a peaceful, natural area of Minnesota – a wonderful introduction to Cork or suspenseful background for fans of the series. LIGHTNING STRIKE received a starred review from Library Journal (“perceptive coming-of-age novel”).