Two distractions right off the bat: WKK switched to first person POV for Corks voice. It was...off for me. Next distraction was the audiobooks fault, they changed the narrator. The narrator they switched to has done the five PJ Tracy Monkeewrench books, so instead of hearing "Cork's voice", all I heard was the characters from Monkeewrench. Again, put the book off for me. However, POV and narrators aside, this was just a meh read. If you've been following the Cork O'Connor series (which has taken the reader to the North Shore, Chicago, and the Upper Pennisula of Michigan) we are now invited into Henry Meliu's past in Ontario which I found to be one huge cliche. Which I won't spoil for those folks who like the series. Actually the whole book felt like one large cliche. And what is it with WKK's characters getting shot in the leg? First Cork, then young Meliu and Wally Shawno. As I grumped to the Husband about the book he pointed out the leg has replaced the shoulder for the 'injury' of choice in books now, due simply to the fact that some authors are trying to be medically correct. Getting shot in the shoulder is a complicated injury. Getting stabbed or injured in the leg, while painful, is not as complicated from an anatomical standpoint. Unless you hit a major artery. Then your character should be done for. Two minor complaints: WKK noted Woodruff (or Henry, I forget) shot a Wild Turkey. Ahh, there are no Wild Turkeys in the area north and east of Ely, MN as represented in the book. The wild turkey is traditionally found well south of Duluth, dependent upon a hardwood forest and prairie interface to provide forage. The aspen and pine cover type that dominates the northeastern part of MN does not support this fine bird. Given the time frame of said shooting would have been 1940's/1950's? Bit of guessing here...the turkey had been hunted almost to extinction and even less likely to have been found in this corner of the States. Just sayin'....Cardinals. Not a northern bird. This one surprised me too when I found it out. Last I heard, there were about 10 pairs known to be in the Duluth area. Not gonna find this little guy north of that. Maybe a Scarlet Tanager though. So Henry or Maurice are not going to be seeing a Cardinal in Ontario. Again, just sayin'....So a star deducted for pulling me out of an already mediocre story.
This is my first Cork O'Connor, which I picked up after enjoying Ordinary Grace tremendously. Like Ordinary Grace,I would have a hard time deciding where to shelve it in a library, Mystery or Literature. It is a beautifully written book with a mystery at its center and should appeal to non-mystery fans as well and mystery readers.It reminded me of the the things I like best about C J Box's Joe Pickett series.Both feature a decent man as protagonist with a strong family presence and a beautiful outdoors setting that makes me want to hop a plane and go out West! Kreuger excels in his writing, however, and, although there is plenty of action, the book lacks the extreme nastiness that has turned me off of Box's books.This book deserved more stars than 3, but its flaws happen to be a BIG pet peeve of mine and got in the way of my enthusiasm. The Native American portrayal was just too PC. I am past being tired of books where the Native Americans have dream visions and are painted as perfect people in tune with nature, etc., and all the bad guys are white. I'd love to see them portrayed as people just like the rest of us, affected by their cultural heritage but with a lot more in common with me than different. I hope this aspect will not be true of the whole series, because I DEFINITELY want to read more about Cork and his land and his family.
What do You think about Thunder Bay (2007)?
While I did enjoy this book, I'm not sure how I felt about it in comparison to the rest of the Cork O'Connor books. I'll talk negatives first, then switch to positives. First of all, I wish that it had been a little longer. Maybe even a lot longer. When I finished Meloux's section I felt like there should be another 300 pages. I felt like we were just getting started. Don't get me wrong, I like that specific section but I thought that the follow-up fell short. On the upside, Meloux's section was a nice step out of Krueger's comfort zone and it had a lot of emotional impact that carried me through the rest of the book. I also enjoyed Cork's 1st Person Perspective. It allowed a slightly deeper look into the workings of his mind.I think that I would have liked this if it was significantly longer, more in-depth, and marketed more as a fiction book (though I'm sure that part is up to the publisher.) All in all, I liked it but I felt like it was held back by the tropes of the genre and after reading Ordinary Grace, I know that William Kent Krueger can successfully step outside of a strictly "mystery" structure. (I understand that Ordinary Grace is shelved in Mystery, but I believe that it would be shelved in the general fiction section if it weren't for Krueger's success with the O'Connor books)
—Justin Luther
Another fantastic read by Mr. Krueger, just when you think it can't get any better he delivers another book that you can't put down!! This one was special as if you have followed his main characters in his books along the way, you will come to love Henry Meloux the Ojibwe medicine man, and his views on life, nature, and the spiritual world, but as for me would always like to know more about the mystery behind him. In "Thunder Bay" Krueger unfolds the story and the mystery behind the man. For those of you that have followed Krueger and his main character former sheriff of Aurora, MN, Cork O'Connor, this book will have a special meaning and one that will be special to your heart as a fan of Krueger's! Just like all the rest of his book the story unfolds and along with it much suspense, mystery, and plenty of intrigue sprinkled in. Quite the page turner and one you can't put down. I have read a lot of authors in my life, but Krueger is one of my favorites and one I keep turning back to as I know his books will take me on an adventure that I will always enjoy!!
—Kevin
Cork is asked to find the son of Henry Meloux the tribe mede. The son is a surprise to all who know Henry. All Cork has is a woman's name and the idea to begin looking in Ontario Canada. The search winds up being easier than expected with the help of the internet. But things take on a bizarre spin as the son is reported to be a Howard Hughes type recluse. When someone tries to kill Henry Cork begins to believe the find was much too simple. At the same time Cork and Jo are struggling to support their eldest daughter just graduated from high school and pregnant.
—Jane
