This book grabbed me from the first sentence. Very exciting to read for the first 1/3 of the book, very suspenseful!...then it just fell flat for me. This is the first I have read from this author and would probably give him another shot based on other reviews of his previous books. With this book I just felt that I did not really care what happened with the characters at the end. Maybe I would have if I didn't come into this series at book 11?! William Kent Krueger is an excellent author; his writing is cerebral and well organized. In NORTHWEST ANGLE he continues his series featuring Cork O’Conner and his adventures in northern Minnesota. I was engrossed with the story and enjoyed the time I spent traipsing through the Lake of the Woods region. I’m not sure I’d return.The author’s intent, according to an interview, was to present the O’Conners, a family in disarray from a tragedy, trying to pull their relationship together. Outside forces threaten to disrupt the attempt with serious threats, forcing family members to pull together, mend broken rapport, and focus on in-sync survival strategy. Some of it works and some doesn’t.Krueger has a lot of characters in his story. He tries hard to make them authentic and familiar to the reader. But, for the most part, they come across as sketches, somewhat misty entities without depth. Some of them could have been left out of the picture entirely without damaging the premise. Others seemed gratuitous and too desperate in their attempt to fit in with the O’Conner clan. Their purpose is not well defined.The author’s descriptions of the wild country and difficulties of trying to escape deadly pursuit in a land of water and rugged landscape are well done. The main villain is discovered late in the story but is somewhat lame; all mouth and bluster. Krueger needed to provide more menace and terror to the persona of the evil scoundrel.This book has intriguing elements that are somewhat diminished by confusing character relationships and a weak undercurrent of religious and political opinion. A little more intensity would have raised my rating.
What do You think about Northwest Angle (2011)?
These books are like candy to me. Once I pick them up I can hardly put them down till I'm finished.
—jen
Liked this author and need to see if he's written other books.
—tringaa
I enjoy watching the kids grow up in the series
—harhar42
