Boundary Waters (Cork O'Connor Mystery Series)

This is my first outing with Mr. Krueger. Somehow I missed his acclaimed "Iron Lake," and I intend to correct that as soon as possible. This is a fine story with the added bonus of magnificent descriptions of the great forests and lakes between the borders of Minnesota and Canada. An added plus is the author's obvious expertise as a hunter, tracker and outdoorsman.The heroes of this story are the Ojibwe Native Americans. They are known for their story telling abilities, and Mr. Krueger shares a few fascinating tales. The Ojibwe characters are not stereotypical (though maybe a mite noble) and are carefully drawn. The lead character, Cork O'Connor, is a troubled, but satisfyingly invincible man. I particularly liked the characterization of a professional hit man, a stone killer.Shiloh, a celebrity country singer, is missing after a month's stay in a secret and remote part of the wilderness called the Boundary Waters. The search parties are not all benign and want to ensure that Shiloh stays missing permanently. The hunt is fast, furious and not for the faint hearted. The casualty rate is high and the painful injuries are many. Meanwhile, Shiloh is doing her own level best to get to civilization in one piece. The wait on the home front is agonizing as the body count rises.Mr. Krueger delivers a hard-hitting, fast paced novel without sacrificing some lyrical prose. Recommended.

I've been vacationing in Northern Minnesota for 17 years. I've spent time in the eastern Iron Range and Quetico/Superior wilderness. Krueger creates characters that you'll love. From the Grain Belt beer to the Duluth packs, he does a great job of capturing the lifestyle and spirit of this region in Boundary Waters and its predecessor, Iron Lake. However, what's with a black bear (or any bear) standing up on its hind legs in a show of aggression? My favorite novels anyway.

A worthy installment in the Cork O'Connor series. Author Krueger has again brought together his endearing O'Connor family, this time with a country singer, the FBI and other interesting characters in a story of loss and finding, of murder and coverup. Krueger's ability to use the language to evoke just the right atmosphere for each scene is obvious. His descriptions, pacing, and inventivness are all of a high order. This is an excellent novel to be savored.

Boundary Waters is an opportunity to get lost in a vast, cold wilderness. It is a look at treachery and salvation. I was grateful for the opportunity to fall into the drama of the world William Krueger created. He touches on more than mystery . . . I am looking forward to reading his next work - may it have the action of Boundary Waters coupled with the great character development of Iron Lake. He's a magician.

Country-western superstar Shiloh has purposely disappeared into the Boundary Waters of Minnesota in order to get away from things. However, her vanishing brings hordes of individuals and groups into the area trying to locate her. Not all the parties are benevolent as some folks want her dead apparently because she has recovered a lost memory of who killed her mother. Her idyllic escape turns ugly when her guide Wendell Two-Knives fails to return as expected. He was to bring her back to civilization.Everyone seems to converge on retired sheriff Cork O'Connor. The FBI demands his help. Shiloh's father begs for his help. The son of the mobster who allegedly killed Shiloh's mother pleads for his help. Escorted by the young son of Wendell's nephew into the wilderness, Cork, Shiloh's father, and the FBI begin their hunt for the missing singer. However, the danger does not just come from the approaching wintry weather, but from people who have no compunctions about employing brutal murder to obtain their desires.The return of Cork O'Connor (see IRON LAKE) should elate fans of Native American mysteries. The current tale, BOUNDARY WATERS, is a wonderful wilderness mystery that will remind readers of THE TREASURE OF SIERRA MADRE, except placed in the icy north. Avarice, violence, and survival rule the action-packed story line that requires gloves because the bitter cold can be felt emanating from the pages. Cork remains a fine character as he struggles with his feelings for his estranged spouse and the recurring support cast add local color and depth to the plot. The remaining players propel the tale forward to its climatic clash. Kent Krueger is quickly attaining star status with his O'Connor series.Harriet Klausner 3/6/99