Red Knife

I dont usually do book reviews. Does anyone really need to add a review when there are already more than 100? 200? 5000? Only if there is something that perhaps is left unsaid about the book. I feel there is something to say about this book that as far as I know hasnt been mentioned.
I read books like this for entertainment. I hate when an author adds his personal political agenda to the otherwise fairly good book. William Kent Krueger did this in Red Knife. At the end of the book.
The last chapter of the book adds nothing to the story and is the most opinionated thing Ive ever seen in a fiction book.
I have been reading this series and enjoying it until I got to this. I have the entire series and may not finish it.
We live in a time of hot political debate over abortion, gun control and other problems that divide us. I hate that I paid for Krueger to surprise me by adding this crap to the end of the book. I can see this every day on any news channel or news publication.
If you dont mind things like this then the book is still just OK in the series.
Maybe the author has run out of ideas for the Cork character. What a shame. I’ll try the next book and if this continues I’m done with this and anything else Krueger writes.

I am a devoted fan of William Kent Krueger and his Cork OConner mysteries, but this one (#8 of the series) didnt quite make the grade, at least in my opinion. I was enjoying it fairly well until near the end. I thought the story was essentially over with almost all the loose ends tied up, when he added a major, violent incident that wasnt necessary and really didnt need to be there; he could have easily crafted a softer close to the story that would have left me with a completely different overall opinion of the book. This was likely just a stumble by this talented and engaging author. I have already ordered the next book in the series and suspect Krueger will be right back on track. David B. Crawley, M.D. Author of

Steep Turn: A Physician’s Journey From Clinic to Cockpit

” and ”

A Mile of String: A Boy’s Recollection of His Midwest Childhood

.”

I was shocked when I opened the package and found a badly used and abused case for the disc, clearly marked ‘library discard” when I thought I had purchased a new edition. The case was cracked so I didn’t have high hopes for the disc and thought I would return it. However I purchased it to listen to while traveling and will be leaving in a matter of days so there isn’t time for a replacement. The disc did play when I tried it in my car, but with all the damage to the case I’ll be surprised if we get to listen to the complete story. I had ordered three Cork O’Connor series audio stories. I received the other two directly from Amazon and they arrived new and never opened, as I had expected this one would. And to top it all off, the two new mp3 discs from Amazon cost less than this one with the damaged case and stamped “Library Discard”! Aggravating to say the least.

I am a life long reader – and I read the whole genre of literature from Politics to basket weaving
with one exception, I dont read romance novels. Krugers books, all 18 + of them, are without
exception the overall best writer I have ever read. After reading the first one I was hooked – I now
have all of them. He tells the story in such a way you are there with him, walking in the woods,
or facing whatever obstacles he encounters. He has a sit on the front porch rocking chair demeanor
that comes thru in all of his novels. I have but one promise & that is you wont be disappointed.

Well, I knew sooner or later Krueger would have to write a bad one in this series, and this is it. Fairly standard and somewhat predictable plot about a drug war on the rez is the central story. Then he tacks on a coda about (SPOILER) a Columbine-like shooting in the local high school. It’s to the point where it’s getting more and more difficult to suspend disbelief; disbelief that ALL THESE HORRIBLE PEOPLE AND HORRIBLE THINGS could occur year in and year out in one small town (and surrounding communities, including the Ojibwe Reservation) in northern Minnesota. If I were Cork, I think by now I would have moved my family as far away from Aurora as possible! I mean, that would be the responsible thing to do — if you care about the safety of your loved ones anyway. Geez! Not sure I can continue on with the series, even though Krueger IS a very good writer. Just think he needs to get some new material.

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