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    Iron Lake
    Iron Lake
    Iron Lake
    Audiobook11 hours

    Iron Lake

    Written by William Kent Krueger

    Narrated by David Chandler

    4/5

    ()

    About this audiobook

    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.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherRecorded Books, Inc.
    Release dateMay 14, 2010
    ISBN9781449814427
    Iron Lake
    Author

    William Kent Krueger

    William Kent Krueger is the New York Times bestselling author of The River We Remember, This Tender Land, Ordinary Grace (winner of the Edgar Award for best novel), and the original audio novella The Levee, as well as nineteen acclaimed books in the Cork O’Connor mystery series, including Lightning Strike and Fox Creek. He lives in the Twin Cities with his family. Learn more at WilliamKentKrueger.com.

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    Reviews for Iron Lake

    4/5

    716 ratings69 reviews

    What our readers think

    Readers find this title to be a wonderful series with interesting characters and plots that hold their attention. The setting and Native American influence are enjoyable, and the flawed but good main character is endearing. While some found it slow at first, it picks up and becomes worth the read. Many readers couldn't put the book down and highly recommend it. However, there are a few negative reviews mentioning a disliked ending and a lame main character.

    What did you think?

    Tap to rate

    Review must be at least 10 words

    • 5/5
      Excellent! Great characters. It was a compelling story of passion and conspiracy.

    • 5/5
      Couldn’t put this book down. Can’t believe I’m just finding this series.
      Interesting characters and plots that held my attention throughout the book.stayed up way to late some evenings just to read one more chapter.
      Highly recommend.
    • 5/5
      This is the first book of the Cork O'Connor mystery series. I know that several of you are fans of this series, so when this was the Kindle Daily Deal a few weeks ago, I grabbed it. This is a strong opening to the series. Krueger wastes no time in introducing us to Cork O'Connor, former sheriff of Aurora, MN who has recently separated from his wife. Cork is part Irish, part Anishinaabe, and he understands the tensions present in the small town of Aurora. When a powerful judge is found dead by his paper boy, who then disappears, Cork is called in by the boy's mother to look into the situation. As one thread leads to another, we meet a cast of characters engaged in shadowy dealings. Even as Cork unravels one mystery, more present themselves. A strong main character, an engaging plot, and a deep sense of place - what more do you need in a mystery?
    • 1/5
      Not much original here. Lame main character. Wasted time hoping it would be better.
    • 4/5
      I really enjoyed this book, from start to finish. My only regret is that I didn't discover William Kent Krueger sooner. I especially loved how he expertly portrayed a sense of "place." He really nails what it is like living in Minnesota and I found myself nodding along at his descriptions. It's really beautifully done—almost as if the location is one of the characters. I was a tiny bit disappointed in some parts of the ending, which is the only thing that's keeping me from giving this five stars. Overall it was excellent, though, and I'm looking forward to more from Krueger.
    • 4/5
      Surpisingly good book that traces murders and goings-on in a small town in upper Minnesota. I very much enjoyed the main character of Cork who was a former sheriff going through a separation and divorce from his wife. I enjoyed the character development and felt the pains and joys he went through.

      The plot is typical of mystery novels and it was pretty easy to figure out who the bad guy was. I enjoyed this more for how the story was told than any surprise type of ending.

      There were a couple of places where you had suspend belief as a reader. Nothing fantastical, but the fact that characters keep going back and sneaking around in places and keep getting away with it stretches the imagination. But I didn't care - this was not mean to be great literature.

      Good stuff - want to read the next one in the series.
    • 3/5
      I enjoyed the setting and the Native American influence, and Cork is an endearingly flawed character that doesn’t always make the right choices but is a good man. It was a bit slow and meandering, but about halfway through it picks up and is definitely worth the read. I’ll be reading the next book, for sure!
    • 4/5
      This book made me cold to read it since it begins with a heavy snowstorm on the shore of Iron Lake in Aurora, MN. This is my first Cork O'Connor book, and it appears that it is the first in the series. Lots of bodies appear throughout the book so it's a little rough. There's also a lot of Indian lore tossed in for the reader's edification. It was a fun read, and I will probably eventually read more of the series.
    • 4/5
      Favourite part was I didn’t figure out who done it until the end
    • 5/5
      The characters always pull you in until you’re a part of the story. This series is wonderful!!
    • 4/5
      A great book. I did not like the ending. Killing off Molly was a mistake in my opinion. Not my favourite of his books but a good read.
    • 4/5
      Northern Minnesota. Cork O’Connor, part Native Anishinaabe and part French, was the sheriff in a county abutting the Anishaabe reservation. He was proud of being the face of justice for both his worlds, until one day, in a dispute over Native Fishing rights, tragedy happened.It left Cork broken and disrespected by both factions. Deeply depressed, the sheriff job slipped away as did his marriage.Now his life is coming back together. He’s found a wonderful woman, and even though he doesn’t like his ex-wife’s politically ambitious boyfriend, the ex’s are able to cooperate for the kids.Then a blizzard hits, and a native boy disappears delivering newspapers. In looking for him, Cork finds a murdered (suicide victim?) judge at the boy’s last stop. No one else seems to think the coincidence is suspicious but the boy remains missing. Rumor says that the boy and his father have disappeared into the nearby Reservation.I liked the characters – both white and Native American. I also enjoyed that the woods and lakes of Minnesota and the Reservation also are wonderful, unique settings. I’ll be returning to this series.
    • 4/5
      Very solid mystery novel with elements of a thriller. The setting is a small, frozen town in the Northern corner of Minnesota in Winter and the author makes good use of it. Adding to the regional color are interesting characters and a dollop of Native American culture. The prose is smooth and solid.

      The one weak point is the actual story, which remained oddly aloof for quite a while. Things were happening, but only in a vaguely mysterious and threatening way. Bodies were piling up with no actual clues about why. The dénouement felt a stitched together and the motivations of all a bit stereotypical. But that did not detract from this reader's emotional attachment to the characters and satisfaction with the resolution.

      I look forward to reading more of the adventures of Cork O'Connor and the denizens of the Iron Range.
    • 4/5
      I really enjoy this series about Cork O'Connor and his investigations on the Ojibwe reservation and community. This is the first book in the series. I wish I had started here. In this book, deaths are occurring and a child is missing. Cork's soon-tobe-ex-wife is having an affair with a power hungry local. Cork ends up beaten and bruised, losing someone he loves, but he solves the crimes.
    • 3/5
      Having seen William Kent Krueger several times at events held at my local independent bookstore, I've always intended to read his Cork O'Connor mysteries-- especially since I loved his book, Ordinary Grace. A few years have passed since I first had that intention, so it was time to pry that particular paving stone out of my personal Highway to Hades. Iron Lake is the first Cork O'Connor mystery and introduces us primarily to Cork, his estranged wife, Jo, his girlfriend, Molly, and his mentor, Sam Winter Moon. Cork is one-quarter Native American, and I loved the way Krueger wove the Ojibwe and Anishinaabe culture and folklore into the story. The winter landscape of northern Minnesota also figured prominently, and I don't think anyone is ever going to be able to convince me that sweating myself silly in a sauna and then running out and jumping into a lake through a hole in the ice is a fun thing to do.The mystery is solid, and the pacing is steady and true as Cork works his way through all the secrets that have been kept over the years by several of the townspeople. Some extremely suspenseful situations and a chase over the lake ice kept me glued to the story.Was there anything that I didn't care for? Yes. The two women were a bit too stereotypical for me. Jo was such a "wronged woman" that I rolled my eyes so far back in my head that they almost stuck. As for Molly, she was the typical love interest of the hero. Even though I hate to admit it, I never really warmed up to Cork himself, and I'm not sure why. As much as I did like Iron Lake, I can certainly see myself reading the next book in the series to see if Mr. O'Connor improves upon acquaintance.
    • 4/5
      The first half of the book is wonderful. I began to tire of the somewhat contrived continuing of the plot as I read on. Yet, I am hooked and will continue Cork O’Connor.
    • 4/5
       I’ve seen this one pop up on “best of” lists for years. It’s a good mystery. A disgraced sheriff who has lost his family and his job, stumbles upon the body of a dead judge. He soon realizes everyone in his small Minnesota town has secrets. It kept me interested and I think I’ll continue the series, but don’t feel any desire to pick the next one up immediately. The priest was one of my favorite characters.
    • 5/5
      I enjoyed this book on several levels. First of all it is a cleverly plotted mystery/thriller. It also deals with the harsh conditions of a Minnesota winter and as I spent 8 years in Minnesota I enjoyed that particularly since I now divide my time between Northern California and southwest Florida. Having the Windigo put in an appearance was an extra treat. When I was growing up one of the campfire stories my father used to tell was the story of the Windigo. I must have heard him tell it a dozen times and always found it exciting. I am looking forward to reading some of Kruger’s other books.
    • 4/5
      A very well written tale of murder in a rural community in Northern Minnesota. A disgraced former sheriff doggedly looks beyond an apparent suicide and ends up on the trail of ugly secrets and loss. I liked the characters a lot. The story touches on the seemingly neverending distrust and hostility between local Native Americans and non-tribal members. A solidly enjoyable mystery!
    • 5/5
      This is the first book in the Cork O'Connor series by William Kent Kruger. I had heard of this series for quite some time; in fact, In fact seven years ago I bought the third book in the series from the wonderful, but now destroyed, Uncle Edgar's Bookstore in Minneapolis. Since I try not to start a long mystery series in the middle I have not yet read that book but last year I did read Krueger's stand-alone book This Tender Land and I was so impressed by his writings that I knew I had to start reading this series. Although Krueger and his fictional detective are American the land they inhabit seems to share so much with Canada that I felt I knew the land.At the start of this book Cork O'Connor is living in a small shack that is part of a seasonal burger joint in the small town of Aurora, Minnesota close to the Canadian border. He is recently separated from his wife Jo, a lawyer, and before that he was recalled as the sheriff of Aurora for an incident that resulted in the death of two men. Although he is no longer the sherriff some people still call on him for help. As a winter blizzard rages one such call comes from the mother of a teenaged boy, Paul Lebeau, who has not returned from his paper route. Cork goes to the last place on the paper route, the home of Judge Parrant and finds the body of the judge who seems to have committed suicide by shooting himself in the head. Cork can't find any trace of Paul so he doesn't know if he made it to the judge's house. Paul doesn't turn up at his home and his mother tells Cork that she has heard from him. She tells him that Paul's father, Joe John, has returned to Aurora from wherever he has been for a number of months and wants Paul to spend time with him prior to Christmas. Something about this explanation doesn't sit right with Cork and he also has his suspicions about the judge's suicide. Despite having no official capacity he starts looking into things and the farther he gets the bigger the issues seem to be. Cork is part Irish and part Ojibway and his native heritage has him listening to tales about the Windigo hunting certain men. Cork may be one of the men whose name the Windigo has called. He has learned not to discount such feelings. Cork is also feeling torn between his relationship with Molly, a free spirit type with whom Cork has been sharing a bed, and wanting to get back with Jo so that their three children can have two parents. I was reminded of Giles Blunt's Cardinal mystery series as I read this book. Those books are set in a small city in northern Ontario and the landscape evoked by both writers is similar. Cardinal starts out happily married but his wife is killed in one of the books and he struggles to carry on. I don't want to spoil the ending of the book but there are some similarities. I will be getting my hands on Book #2 in this series soon.
    • 4/5
      Saunas and SheriffsReview of the Pocket Books paperback edition reissue (Jan. 2021) of the original Atria hardcover (1998) w/ bonus short story "Corpus delicti"Somehow I missed picking up on the country sheriff (sometimes ex-sheriff) Cork O'Connor's mysteries up until now but this first one of the series was a great blend of cozy combined with country noir. There are nefarious doings in the upper Minnesota (fictional) town of Aurora and O'Connor investigates despite being currently voted out of office due to a shooting incident. The story has a good blend of Anishnawbe indigenous characters along with a Finnish-American element, and the taking of saunas with dips in an icy lake is a regular feature, which warms my Estonian heart, so an extra point for that alone.This new 2021 edition has the added bonus of an early O'Connor story "Corpus delicti" which was previously only available on a rare Mystery Writers of America Anthology audiobook or a rare hardcover edition.I read Iron Lake thanks to a recommendation from Marian at my favourite independent Toronto bookshop Sleuth of Baker Street.
    • 4/5
      I am glad to find this author. This was his first novel and I look forward to reading more. The plot is well developed as were the characters. Here is just enough action and suspense to keep the story moving smoothly without getting overly complicated and obtuse. Woven into the story is a lot in reference to Native American culture - this adds richness to the book.
    • 4/5
      Over the course of several books now I find myself a WKK fan. I had read one of his Cork O'Connor mysteries before this and really enjoyed it - the characters are complex and relatable and the plot was well done. He adds touches of Minnesota and the Ashinashabe tradition to make them even more authentically placed geographically. I was so impressed that i read two more of his books that were not in this same vein and was enthralled. So I came back to this first of the O'Connor mystery series and was again very pleased with the characters, the plot, the setting, everything making it an excellent read. One thing I really enjoy about his books is its not always the storybook ending - just as in life, everything doesn't always work out, hearts get broken and some of heroes die. All of these factors togehter make for poignant reading. I highly recommend his books.
    • 4/5
      Great little detective drama set in Northern Mn. Really enjoyed the story and the plot, the characters were fully realized and it made sense with a little supernatural twist thrown in to boot. Am definitely looking for book 2.
    • 4/5
      Pretty good for the first in a series and the first by the author. Northern Michigan territory, Native American and white community. I had some regrets about the ending.
    • 5/5
      An easy intriguing read. I especially like how the ending did not wrap everything up neatly in a couple pages. Are
    • 4/5
      I'm not sure how I missed William Kent Krueger all of these years, but the man can flat out write. His dialog is crisp, his characters are sharp, and his narrative flows. Iron Lake is among the best I've read over the last decade. Set in upstate Minnesota, Iron Lake is a tale of greed and an indigenous people. It's also the tale of a man struggling to find himself in a sea of uncertainty. Cork O'Conner is a man who is fighting to hold his family together while trying to re-establish his place in the world after tragic events tore him apart. In the process, he must protect a community that no longer welcomes his protection.I can't recommend this book enough. Like the best of its genre, it will make you think while delivering a thrill ride.
    • 4/5
      The first William Kent Krueger book I ever read or listened to was This Tender Land, and I loved it. So I tried Ordinary Grace, and I loved it as well. Moving on to the first book of this Cork O'Connor series. I tried reading it before, but it starts with bear trapping, and I have trouble reading about hunting or animals in pain, so I gave up. Having enjoyed the two standalone novels, I tried again and soldiered on. It's a good mystery, and I enjoyed it, but not nearly as much as the two novels I mentioned.At the beginning of the book, a paperboy disappears, and a judge is found dead of apparent suicide. It gets pretty complicated from there. Multiple deaths, red herrings, suspicions, intrigue. I enjoyed the flawed by likable Cork O'Connor. I enjoyed reading about the interplay and conflicts of the Native Americans and the non-natives. And I appreciated that there wasn't too much animal paiin to read about. Although I enjoyed this and am likely to read more in the series, it didn't have the depth and I didn't have the connection to it that I did with the two previous novels I read.
    • 4/5
      This is a very good start with what looks to be a good series. Cork O'Connor is an intriguing protagonist. He is half-Irish (as evidenced by his name) and half-Anishinaabe He lives in Aurora, Minnesota, and even though it's a small town, a lot seems to be happening there. Cork is on a downward slide in his life. He is the ex-sheriff for the County who left under a cloud. His marriage is breaking up, and he doesn't get to see his children as much as he'd like. Then things start happening. Bodies are piling up, people are missing, and there is a rank odour of corruption and dishonesty in the region. Cork is drawn into the fray and begins a hard fight for his life and the lives of the people that he loves. The characters are very real and complex. The plot is a good one that keeps you reading on, and the descriptions of the scenery around Aurora are breathtaking. It is mid-December when the book opens, and Aurora is in the grip of a snowy and very cold winter. Loved the book, and look forward to others in the series.
    • 4/5
      William Kent Krueger writes beautifully. This novel is no exception. Iron Lake gives us a look at corruption and secrets in an area of Aurora, MN called Iron Lake. The story weaves love, loss, politics, and scandal together with the struggle between the white people and those on the Ojibwe reservation. This is a mystery of a suspicious suicide and the town's cover-up.

      #IronLake #WilliamKentKrueger