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Summary: Iron Lake
Review: I cut my mystery/suspense teeth on William Kent Krueger's Iron Lake. It held an incredibly strong and poetic sense of place. The character development was masterfully woven into the landscape Mr. Krueger paints. More than a mystery/suspense novel, this is good literature. I hope to read more of him.
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Summary: Perfect summer reading. Takes the heat out of your 'summer'.
Review: I don't want this book to end! But you'll not be able to keep it out of your hands. Krueger's IRON LAKE takes you to a virtual reality blizzard in Aurora; his own Wobegone on the edge of the virtual wilderness. If you've visited Minnesota, get the book!
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Summary: Great first book to an exciting series!
Review: I have to jump on the O'Connor band wagon. This was a great one. Couldn't put it down. Krueger has proven he can compete with the big boys. This takes place in a small Minnesota town on the fringe of a reservation. Cork is trying to get over losing his job as sheriff. Some strange murders are happening in Aurora and he is lured to the investigation. In the mean time, he is also trying to figure out his personal life. He is attracted to a younger woman but is also trying to figure out what to do with his crumbling marriage.
I liked the way Krueger developed the characters while keeping the reader hooked on the mystery. Not many authors have mastered this. Krueger is working on becoming the master...
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Summary: Very good book
Review: I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Although I suspected who the villain was, there were a few surprises along the way. I would recommend this book. I am currently reading Boundary Waters and am enjoying it. I can see Cork O'Connor having many more adventures.
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Summary: A compelling thriller set in the iron range of Minnesota.
Review: If you like James Lee Burke and Tony Hillerman, you will find "Iron Lake" to your liking. Deeply intricate plot, good local color, plot twists and good characterization. Add Cork O'Connor to your list of favorite characters along side of Dave Robichaux, Jim Chee and Joe Leaphorn.
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Summary: A first-class debut mystery novel
Review: Iron Lake is certain to focus attention on Mr. Krueger as a first class mystery writer. He weaves a taut tale whose tension builds until the very end of this explosive novel.Krueger's first novel is rich with the ancient lore of the Anishinaabe Indians juxtaposed with the white man's world of today. Krueger plays those two distinctly different cultures at a rapid pace to develop his characters. Krueger's writing is richly descriptive. His imagery captures the essence of his characters as well as the accelerating momentum of the action in his story. Even Nature becomes an essential, almost lifelike chacter in the novel. We can only hope that Mr. Krueger will give us more mysteries of this caliber.
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Summary: Great Characters & Setting
Review: Montgomery magically interweaves Chippawa traditions into the Boundary Waters setting. Great style - easy to read, good characters that become your aquantances & good plot. Mongomerery's love for the Northwoods & admiration of the Chippawa is evident. I actually enjoyed a 7 hour delay at the airport because of this book!
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Summary: Great Characters & Setting
Review: Montgomery magically interweaves Chippawa traditions into the Boundary Waters setting. Great style - easy to read, good characters that become your aquantances & good plot. Mongomerery's love for the Northwoods & admiration of the Chippawa is evident. I actually enjoyed a 7 hour delay at the airport because of this book!
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Summary: The mystery book for those who don't read mysteries...
Review: One of the most captivating books I've ever read! I read it twice. The only other author I've read twice is John Steinbeck. This book is THAT GOOD! I usually don't read mysteries but, like the Ellis Peters mysteries (Brother Cadfael), I would have enjoyed reading this one even if there was no suspense or intrigue in the plot at all. Krueger demonstrates a deft touch in developing his charactors. I would have wanted to know more about them even if they weren't constantly in jeopardy of taking their last breath. Krueger gives us a peek into the lives, hearts, minds, dreams, deceptions and bedrooms of every class and culture in northern Minnesota. Let me give you a hint... a lot of people don't come out alive at the end. As a Minnesotan, I've been to that part of the state many times. Thanks to Krueger, now I'm afraid to go back there! I can't wait to hear more about Cork O'Çonnor's next case. John O'Loughlin
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Summary: An outstanding mystery rooted in two cultures
Review: Strong writing, a good story, and well-drawn characters in an unusual setting, distinguish this first novel by a writer who obviously knows his material. The central character is Corcoran O'Connor, an ex-Chicago cop who returns to his home, the small northern Minnesota community of Aurora with his family to establish a new life as the sheriff of the mostly rural area. But below the surface, as is true of many small communities, are conflicting values, white versus Indian, political ambition, and greed. O'Connor, in a failed attempt to deflect rising animosities between two long-established cultures over fishing rights, loses his job as sheriff, sees his marriage deteriorate, and finds himself adrift, philosophically torn between Indian and Caucasian. Then, as winter lays its heavy hand upon the town, an Ojibwa boy disappears and a prominent judge is found dead. With considerable care and art, author Krueger weaves a strong plot that carries the reader along and enthralls us with interesting characters caught up, each in their own context, with the opposing forces that beset the town. Sometimes moody but always suspenseful, the lyrical writing will help carry the reader through the rare rough spots. Cork O'Connor is an appealing character on which to build what is likely to be a long-running and very successful series.
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