Iron Lake (20th Anniversary Edition): A Novel

William Kent Krueger

Jul 1999 · Cork O'Connor Mystery Series Book 1 · Sold by Simon and Schuster

About this ebook

The first in the New York Times bestselling Cork O’Connor mystery series follows Corcoran “Cork” O’Connor as he delves into the dark side of small-town Minnesota while investigating a tangled web of corruption and danger. “A brilliant achievement, and one every crime reader and writer needs to celebrate” (Louise Penny, #1 New York Times bestselling author).

Cork O’Connor, the former sheriff of Aurora, Minnesota, is having difficulty dealing with the marital meltdown that has separated him from his children. Part Irish, part Anishinaabe Indian, he is getting by on heavy doses of caffeine, nicotine, and guilt.

Once a cop on Chicago’s South Side, there’s not much that can shock him. But when the town’s judge is brutally murdered, and a young Eagle Scout is reported missing, Cork takes on this complicated and perplexing case of conspiracy, corruption, and a small-town secret that hits painfully close to home.

With white-knuckled suspense and unforgettable characters, Iron Lake demonstrates why “among thoughtful readers, William Kent Krueger holds a very special place in the pantheon” (C.J. Box, #1 New York Times bestselling author).

Ratings and reviews

The setting is Aurora, Minnesota during the winter. There are as many people who travel by skis and snowmobiles as by cars in Aurora. Judge Robert Parrent is found dead, a possible suicide. The newspaper delivery boy, Paul LeBeau, is missing. All of Paul's deliveries were made, up to the Judge's home. Cork O'Connor, once a cop in Chicago and a former sheriff in Aurora, feels compelled to take action when there is need to solve a crime and Paul's mother, asks him for help. Cork is undergoing a time of turmoil. His wife, Jo, wants a divorce and he is separated from his children as Chirstmas approaches. He does find emotional refuge with Molly Nurmi, a kindly waitress at the local coffee shop. One winter day, he gives a ride to an old Indian wise man, Henry Meloux, who tells him that the Windigo has called Harlan Lytton's name. This is an Indian legend death is imminent. When Cork goes to Lytton's home to warn him, he's attacked by Lytton's guard dog and forced to kill it. Not long after, Lytton is murdered and it is learned that he had been spying on the local residents and attempting to benefit from his spying. Cork doesn't believe that the Judge committed suicide. He feels that the Judge may have had something that the killer wanted. Cork also learns things about his own family that shake his well being. Despite personal issues, Cork continues the investigation while pondering his own faith and his relationship with his children. This is a find debut novel that won the Anthony and Barry Awards for best first novel. The author can certainly write a story that captivates the reader. There are memorable characters and the setting is vividly described with the frozen countryside of Minnesota. With his use of Indian folk lore, the author places himself as a successor to the legendary Tony Hillerman.

Cork O'Connor is original, but the rest is just so same - same. No originality, each statement sounds like it was borrowed from the many before it. A captivating story has a freshness about it, makes you want to immerse yourself in the world they have created. This makes me shake my head in embarrassment for the writer. Clearly they dont respect the writing process and so they will never have a bestseller. Unfortunately, not everyone has what it takes, but at least you tried.

A moving pace. Suspense enough to keep the reader's attention, without the jittery feeling that comes with to much tension.

About the author

William Kent Krueger is the New York Times bestselling author of The River We Remember, This Tender Land, Ordinary Grace (winner of the Edgar Award for best novel), and the original audio novella The Levee, as well as nineteen acclaimed books in the Cork O’Connor mystery series, including Lightning Strike and Fox Creek. He lives in the Twin Cities with his family. Learn more at WilliamKentKrueger.com.