Review copy was received from NetGalley, Publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Spirit Crossing by William Kent Krueger Narrator: David Chandler
Series: Cork O'Connor #20
Published by Atria Books, Recorded Books on August 20, 2024
Genres: Mystery
Pages: 336
Length: 10 hours, 2 minutes
Format: Audiobook, eARC
Source: NetGalley, Publisher
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The disappearance of a local politician’s teenaged daughter is major news in Minnesota. As a huge manhunt is launched to find her, Cork O’Connor’s grandson stumbles across the shallow grave of a young Ojibwe woman—but nobody seems that interested. Nobody, that is, except Cork and the newly formed Iron Lake Ojibwe Tribal Police. As Cork and the tribal officers dig into the circumstances of this mysterious and grim discovery, they uncover a connection to the missing teenager. And soon, it’s clear that Cork’s grandson is in danger of being the killer’s next victim.
I love this Cork O’Connor series and each book is a gift. There is the diversity of cultures, and even different tribes of Native Americans. I easily recall the natural beauty of Minnesota. The family is a solid support to their community with Cork investigating lost and missing on his own time, a few members of the family pursuing religious work, and others law enforcement. Many social and environmental issues come to light in the pursuit of their daily lives.
In Spirit Crossing, the fight is against a pipeline ruining the unspoiled forests and waters of Minnesota. Waaboo is a native boy who was rescued and adopted by Cork’s daughter, Jenny. When they all go blueberry picking, he has a vision and talks to a ghost which leads him to a dead body or two. There are a few Native teens missing but for two weeks the white teen daughter of a state senator teen has been missing.
Cork and numerous branches of law enforcement search for the missing girls and the killers of the bodies they have found. What they find is heart breaking. And the perpetrators don’t want interference so they go after Waaboo and others that might unveil them.
The personal family story paired with these events include Stephen’s wedding. Annie and her partner, Maria, come to Minnesota from Guatemala where she has seen some similar social justice issues in her work. Henry tries to counsel Waaboo to be strong and handle his gifts which he manages well for a 7 year old.
The combination of police investigations, diversity, native cultures, social and environmental issues, natural beauty, and family form a compelling read. I highly recommend this series and I would start at the beginning so as not to miss anything.
Narration:
David Chandler is the voice of this series and the one I hear in my head. The Minnesota locations were pronounced as I expected. I enjoy his distinct voices for all the characters which I can recognize easily. I was able to listen at my normal 1.5x speed.
Listen to a clip: HERE
About William Kent Krueger
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.
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I read all types of books but my favorites are urban fantasy and romantic suspense.I like some romance and some action / adventure / mystery in everything.I like sex in my books but please, only between TWO people.Intimate conversation is equally important to the sex in a book.It lets me see the characters.The other thing I enjoy is humor.
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Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
- 24-COYER
Lovely review, Anne. I’m glad the story is so strong even after 20 books, that’s the sign of a talented writer😁
These are just amazing books. Every one is a joy with its real characters and world.
You remind me that I wanted to keep listening to this series after really enjoying the first book. Strong series, I see!
It’s awesome. If it wasn’t so long I’d do it as a Read-along.
I’ve enjoyed this author and hope to one day listen to the series. Lovely review Anne.
Thanks Kimberly. I enjoy all his work but especially this series where I started.
So glad these are still such great books for you. Twenty is a lot of books!
They are so amazing they are easy to read.
I can’t wait to catch up! I’m one book behind. Wonderful seeing all the love, Anne💜
Thank you! I do love them.
Wow! 20 books and still going strong. I like the sound of this series! I’ll look into the first one.
I highly recommend them. It’s one of my favorite series and authors.
This does sound compelling!
I love everything about this series. It is set in Minnesota where I lived for many years so that’s a plus for me.
I read the first books in this series ages and ages ago and I remember enjoying them. I really need to get back to this series as all the books sound really good.
They are excellent and the characters go through a lot of personal changes and growth.