Iron Lake

Cork O'Connor, Book 1

By: William Kent Krueger

Narrated by: David Chandler

Length: 11 hrs and 57 mins

Publisher's summary

Anthony Award-winning author William Kent Krueger crafts this riveting tale about a small Minnesota town’s ex-sheriff who is having trouble retiring his badge. Cork O’Connor loses his job after being blamed for a tragedy on the local Anishinaabe Indian reservation. But he must set aside his personal demons when a young boy goes missing on the same day a judge commits suicide—and no one but O’Connor suspects foul play.

Solve another case with Cork O'Connor.

©1998 William Kent Krueger (P)2010 Recorded Books, LLC

Critic reviews

"Krueger makes Cork a real person beneath his genre garments, mostly by showing him dealing with the needs of his two very different teenage daughters. And the author's deft eye for the details of everyday life brings the town and its peculiar problems to vivid life." ( Publishers Weekly)

Good start to a mystery series

This is my first book by William Kent Krueger and I was really pleased. I really enjoyed the background of this upper Minnesota setting and the Native Indian culture. I figured out the "whodunit" too soon, but the story was still interesting. There were some parts of the story where my heart was really beating fast so I am looking forward to continuing this series. I love the main character, Cork O'Connor. The narrator, David Chandler, did a good job. I don't remember him using different voices for the different characters, but the writing was so well done that I always knew whose voice was talking. The dialogues were very well done and fun to listen to throughout the story.

Atmospheric, well plotted, slightly melodramatic

What I enjoyed most about this book was the strong sense of place and season - I could almost feel the clean cold of winter and the purging heat of the sauna - and the clarity and credibility of the various candidates for the "he did it" role.

The central character, Cork O'Connor, an white skinned, red haired man with a native American grandmother that seems to give him a foot in both of the communities of Iron Lake, has the makings of a tragic hero - a committed sheriff, a loving husband, a doting father who falls from grace in every way possible when disaster strikes but who remains a good man, albeit one who cheats on his wife. I could not find my way inside this man's head. He seems to be a talented and tenacious investigator but he is not gifted with insight into his own character or that of his wife. Add to this a willingness to buy into the reality of Windigoes and you have someone I found hard to believe in. He is a pizza with way too many toppings.

The book is well plotted. The twists and turns are satisfying and credible and they kept me guessing (although not always caring)

Unfortunately, Kreuger's women are almost cartoons - young, beautiful, forgiving and doomed or strong, silent, fierce but loving or confident, self-absorbed but still loving. I couldn't imagine any of them as real.

He also slaps on foreboding like plaster on a wall.

The two combined turn the death of one of the women characters into an instrument of emotional manipulation of the reader that I found myself resenting.

Perhaps it was a book of its time (first published 1999), I know the subsequent books of the series won prizes. From me this one only won a "What a pity. That was almost a really good book."

Good action but some poor development

Very disappointed in loose ends not resolved with family. Some actions do not fit with personalities of characters. Jo was much too intelligent and strong to be as naive as she appeared late in book.

Good Listen

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

I would recommend this book to a friend if they were looking for a listen that would keep them riveted but not so much they can't drive thru traffic and not miss something.

Would you be willing to try another book from William Kent Krueger? Why or why not?

I am currently listening to book 3..so yes.

Which scene was your favorite?

I was pretty impressed with the woodland scenes..the suspense while in deep woods was pretty authentic.

Great Series Start!

After reading Krueger's recent book Ordinary Grace, I was looking forward to reading the first in his Cork O'Connor mystery series. Set in Minnesota, I hadn't realized Native American culture figured so prominently in its rural areas. I also didn't expect someone named Cork O'Connor to be a Native American. In fact, there were a lot of surprises in the book that I found very satisfying...I'll definitely read another!

intriguing

I was enthralled and intrigued until the last chapter which I felt was a weak ending.

Great Read

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I enjoyed the development of characters, and knowing this is a series made me happy to get to know them all.

What did you like best about this story?

Exciting and believable.

Which scene was your favorite?

Great chases on ice. I can't pick just one and describe it so it won't give too much away.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes, kept me awake much later at night than I should have been.

Any additional comments?

Preparing to read the second book, knowing I won't be disappointed if it is anything like the first.

Great character development

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

Not really.

Have you listened to any of David Chandler’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Not that I know of.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes

Any additional comments?

I love the way the characters are "real". Credit goes to the author and reader on that.

solid story! nice characters.

good reading. looking forward to reading the next one! The main character is good. Happy day

A tale of skeletons.

Cork O'Connor is the former sheriff of a small town in northern Minnesota. A fatal shooting, although justified, left Cork jobless while questioning his own abilities. The disappearance of a young boy and an apparent unrelated suicide initiate the feelings that this is not a coincidence. On another front, the betrayal of Cork irritated me. After all the self-introspection and blame Cork amassed while examining the failures of job, friendships, parenting and marriage, ultimately he finds himself in the unenviable position of “the last to know”. This turn of events infuses Cork with new energy, clears his mind, and puts him back on a steady path. Utilizing his law enforcement experience Cork begins to put together seemingly unrelated puzzle pieces until a larger picture of embezzlement, conspiracy and murder appear. The story is well-done and quite interesting. The plot is tense and moves forward at a consistent pace. The characters are interesting and well-developed. All-in-all a pretty darn good thriller and an easy recommendation.