Iron Lake: A Novel (Cork O'Connor) (edition 2009)

I enjoyed this long awaited read, but boy, was it long and I felt it ended a bit abruptly after all the meandering between Indian spirit stories. At times, I thought they were almost intrusive to the flow of the story, albeit, interesting. In particular, the Windigo plays an important role as it is a portent of death, and Krueger seems to be pulling from Ojibwe stories, which is indicative of the setting of the novel. Cork O'Connor is the ex-sheriff of Aurora, MN. When a judge is found dead of an apparent suicide and a young boy is missing, Cork takes it upon himself to poke around crime scenes and questions witnesses. I half expected current sheriff Wally Schanno to deputize Cork, but that never happened. The boy's disappearance takes a back seat to the political machinations of this small town and its' nearby (and new) Indian Casino. I'm not quite sure if I've found Minnesota's answer to Walt Longmire, but with a dozen or so more already written, I'm sure I'll pick up another one eventually. ( )

I really enjoyed this book, from start to finish. My only regret is that I didn't discover William Kent Krueger sooner. I especially loved how he expertly portrayed a sense of "place." He really nails what it is like living in Minnesota and I found myself nodding along at his descriptions. It's really beautifully done—almost as if the location is one of the characters. I was a tiny bit disappointed in some parts of the ending, which is the only thing that's keeping me from giving this five stars. Overall it was excellent, though, and I'm looking forward to more from Krueger. ( )

It took me a few chapters to get into this book, which I actually listened to instead of reading. But, after a bit of a slow start this books truly tells a wonderful story that involves Native American issues, racial and just facts of life, a compelling mystery, complicated personal issues and a satisfying race to the finish. I've already downloaded the second book in the series and can't wait to get back into Cork O'Connor's world. ( )

This first mystery in the Cork O'Connor mystery series introduces the reader not only to an interesting "detective" in the main character (an ex-sheriff, with a failing marriage) who doesn't mind trying to do the job he is no longer being paid to do, but also an environment and cultural background of the Native Americans of a small town in Minnesota.

Because Cork is half-Irish and half-Anishinaabe Indian he can get more information from the tribal members than the sheriff so when a high placed official apparently commits suicide and an Indian teen goes missing, Cork decides to investigate himself and the story that is told is entertaining as well as riveting.

The writing has the reader on the edge of their seat all the while picturing the beautiful nature that is used as the backdrop. ( )

Cork O'Connor is my kind of detective/police person. In this introduction to his character, we see a disgraced de-frocked sheriff, whose marriage is on the rocks, who adores his children, and who suspects that an apparent suicide of a local magistrate is really a murder. He has no jurisdicational authority to investigate but pushes ahead anyway. So far that sounds like a straight forward police story.

What sets the book apart is the setting, and the people. O'Connor is half-Irish (white) and 1/2 Anishinaabe Indian, who owns land on the reservation in up-state Minnesota, and who is trusted by the tribal council whose members are wary of talking to the local (white) sheriff about the whereabouts of a missing Indian boy. Cork sets out to find the missing teen, and tries at the same time to revive his all but over marriage by disentangling himself from his affair with a local diner waitress.

Krueger uses Anishinaabe folklore, outstanding plotting, and a spectacular setting to weave his story. I read this during one of the coldest weeks of the year here in Maine. It was easy for me to visualize the frozen lake, the treks through the drifts, the ice buried vehicles because they were right out my window. But it was just as easy for me to close my eyes and visualize those elements I didn't have - the black bears, the blizzards, and the tribe's traditional buildings and transportation. ( )