Blood Hollow

Rating:
Summary: A well paced, compelling and highly satisfying read
Review: Cork Corcoran, ex-sheriff of Aurora, Minnesota is searching for answers as to the death of Charlotte Kane, a young woman who disappeared several months before and whose body has turned up after the snow has melted. Cork wants to find the killer in order to exonerate his friend, Solemn Winter Moon. Complex interrelationships among the locals complicate the investigation. However, nobody is prepared for Solemn's claim that he has seen Christ in a vision or the miracles that soon follow.
William Kent Krueger is one of perhaps a dozen American midlist authors who through his style of writing and creation of characters sets the standard for the rest of the genre. Kent is not capable of writing a bad book. Some may be better than others but the work will always have a high standard. This is of no exception. Well paced, compelling and a satisfying solution make this an all around highly recommended read.

Rating:
Summary: A well paced, compelling and highly satisfying read
Review: Cork Corcoran, ex-sheriff of Aurora, Minnesota is searching for answers as to the death of Charlotte Kane, a young woman who disappeared several months before and whose body has turned up after the snow has melted. Cork wants to find the killer in order to exonerate his friend, Solemn Winter Moon. Complex interrelationships among the locals complicate the investigation. However, nobody is prepared for Solemn's claim that he has seen Christ in a vision or the miracles that soon follow.
William Kent Krueger is one of perhaps a dozen American midlist authors who through his style of writing and creation of characters sets the standard for the rest of the genre. Kent is not capable of writing a bad book. Some may be better than others but the work will always have a high standard. This is of no exception. Well paced, compelling and a satisfying solution make this an all around highly recommended read.

Rating:
Summary: A Solid Entry in a Good Series
Review: From the mood-setting opening chapter with Cork O'Connor searching the frozen landscape of Aurora, Minnesota for a missing teenager you know you're in for another great read from William Kent Krueger. In this, the 4th in a solid mystery series, Cork works as his wife Jo's private eye while she defends the accused murderer of the missing teenager. Small town secrets, the demands of religious faith and miraculous happenings are themes throughout the story. It's a well-plotted mystery with great characters, and I can't wait for the next installment.

Rating:
Summary: A satisfying read
Review: I always enjoy the mysteries by William Kent Krueger. For one thing, his descriptions of the Minnesota winters are so real and evocative that one is almost freezing reading them; and happy not to be suffering through the cold. His characters are well developed and believable in most of his books.

Solemn Winter Moon is a young Ojibwe Indian who has been in trouble with the authorities in the past. The victim, a beautiful high school student, Charlotte Kane, and he had been an item and then she broke up with him in a contentious manner. So when Charlotte's death is deemed a murder, Moon is the immediate suspect. Krueger explores the prejudices against the Indians in a realistic manner. The sheriff and the townspeople don't even consider any other suspects. Solemn runs away from certain conviction and while away, has a vision of talking to Jesus Christ. The story of Solemn's vision is handled in a sympathetic manner with interesting repercussions.

The final solution to the murder and the unmasking of the murder is rather convoluted and seems to me to strain credibility a bit but all in all, this is a satisfying read.


Rating:
Summary: strong private investigative tale
Review: In Aurora, Minnesota, seventeen years old Charlotte Kane vanishes after being seen at a New Year's Eve Party. A search led by Sheriff Wally Shanno of the Northwoods in frozen January turns up nothing. Four thawing months later, the daughter of wealthy recluse Dr. Fletcher Kane is found dead. The locals have no confidence in Shanno and his staff solving the hideous homicide so many encourage former sheriff turned hamburger establishment owner Cork O'Connor to investigate the crime.

While Shanno leans towards Ojibwa Solemn Winter Moon, whom the victim romantically toyed with, Cork sees several possible other suspects with stronger motives and opportunities. He beings questioning Charlotte's father and Catholic Father Mal Thorne as the former law enforcement official tries to do what he perceives is the right thing, justice for the dead that no longer can obtain such on their own.

BLOOD HOLLOW is a strong private investigative tale with obvious police procedural elements involved due to the official inquiry and the hero's background. The story line brings home the unbearably cold and desolate landscape (keep the heat on) as few novels can so that the background makes the investigation seem even bleaker yet also shows the strength of character of some of the cast especially Cork. Though he makes progress in his family relationships, he sees a bit too ideally perfect unofficially wearing his old sheriff's hat, but fans will appreciate a moral outstanding citizen seeking resolution for someone who is beyond caring what happens.

Harriet Klausner

Rating:
Summary: strong private investigative tale
Review: In Aurora, Minnesota, seventeen years old Charlotte Kane vanishes after being seen at a New Year's Eve Party. A search led by Sheriff Wally Shanno of the Northwoods in frozen January turns up nothing. Four thawing months later, the daughter of wealthy recluse Dr. Fletcher Kane is found dead. The locals have no confidence in Shanno and his staff solving the hideous homicide so many encourage former sheriff turned hamburger establishment owner Cork O'Connor to investigate the crime.

While Shanno leans towards Ojibwa Solemn Winter Moon, whom the victim romantically toyed with, Cork sees several possible other suspects with stronger motives and opportunities. He beings questioning Charlotte's father and Catholic Father Mal Thorne as the former law enforcement official tries to do what he perceives is the right thing, justice for the dead that no longer can obtain such on their own.

BLOOD HOLLOW is a strong private investigative tale with obvious police procedural elements involved due to the official inquiry and the hero's background. The story line brings home the unbearably cold and desolate landscape (keep the heat on) as few novels can so that the background makes the investigation seem even bleaker yet also shows the strength of character of some of the cast especially Cork. Though he makes progress in his family relationships, he sees a bit too ideally perfect unofficially wearing his old sheriff's hat, but fans will appreciate a moral outstanding citizen seeking resolution for someone who is beyond caring what happens.

Harriet Klausner

Rating:
Summary: Gets Better And Better!
Review: William Kent Krueger is amazing. Each book gets better and better. You can really see the spiritual, cultural, and community issues come to a boiling point in this novel. I will spare you all the details, you can read them in other reviews, but give you the big picture of you will love this book if like any or all of the below: a) you like a great mystery b) appreciate the upper midwest c) like Native American issues/culture d) are a spiritual person.

It is a darn good read, can't wait for the next!

Rating:
Summary: Getting better every time.
Review: You can feel an author becoming confident and skilled. Krueger has produced a great book. The hero, torn by two cultures, searches for the nature of faith. Around him people fall short, losing or betraying their own faith and self-esteem. A real good read.