Manitou Canyon

Cork O’Connor, Krueger’s main character, is a likable and very human character with a strong sense of honor and family. Half Irish and half Native American, he makes a great lead character for this series. Some of the best themes of his books are the strength of family and the mysticism and the strong spirituality, as well as mysticism of the Native American characters. In Manitou Canyon, an unexplained disappearance, a mysterious vision, and a clever con combine to make an exciting and suspenseful read. Almost from the beginning page, an atmosphere of danger and foreboding drew me quickly into the story and had me reading tensely to discover how the plot turns out. Cork and other characters sensed that something was not quite right during the novel, and it wasn’t, but the book and Kreuger’s writing are definitely right.

William Kent Kruegers MANITOU CANYON is one of his best works.
His writing is so descriptive and insightful, thoughtful and provocative.
His writing evokes such a sense of place that I feel that I know this Boundary Waters Area intimately.
The trees lining the path felt like dark walls that day, and the narrow strip of sky above was like a ribbon torn from some soiled and shabby fabric.
His characters are familiar to me, like close friends or neighbors. The plots play out as morality plays. Tensions weave in and out of every character, movement and place.
MANITOU CANYON does not disappoint in any way.

As William Kent Krueger fans know, the author has been wrestling with his writing and has fallen a bit behind on his schedule. After a two-year break in time, Cork OConnor is back and Manitou Canyon is a solid contribution to the saga of his life and works.

The dust jacket blurb reads as follows: A taut, masterful thriller, Manitou Canyon features everything readers love in a Cork OConnor novel: a dramatic Northwoods setting, an intriguing view of the Ojibwe culture, an enigmatic crime, brilliant storytelling, and a profound understanding of the natural world.

If I might editorialize on that statement . . . the Northwoods setting (principally in the Boundary Waters and points north) is superb; the exploration of Ojibwe culture is more extensive than it is in the standard Cork OConnor mystery. We learn more vocabulary and hear many words of wisdom from Henry Meloux. The view of the natural world (particularly its geology) is expert and fascinating. The crime itself, however, is not terribly enigmatic. The storytelling is most impressive, because WKK is working with fairly small materials. A wealthy man known to Cork in his youth has gone camping and disappeared. The local officials (and Cork) have been unable to find him. Cork is hired by his grandson and granddaughter to give it a second shot and he (with the granddaughter) promptly disappears.

The general outline of the mystery is telegraphed fairly early and the thrust of the narration is twofold: Cork struggles to understand the underlying storys details and the folks back home worry about him and try to find him.

These novels always carry a strong family subplot, one reinforced by the fact that WKK is willing to see his characters lives develop and change (and, even, end). This is heightened in this novel because Corks daughter Jenny is scheduled to be married (in two weeks), Corks lover Rainy is thinking over her options with him, Aunt Rose has come to visit and help the family prepare for the wedding and an old friend of Henrys has come for the wedding but also in hopes of rekindling her relationship with him. In short, there is a great deal of activity at Crow Point and on Gooseberry Lane in Aurora. The family subplot (with all worrying about Cork) is half of the story and WKK cuts between the mystery plot and the subplot chapter by chapter, adding to the suspense. The storytelling is excellent but the mystery, per se, is clarified (or telegraphed) fairly early on. The end result is nevertheless the samea first-rate novel and solid literary mystery that readers will want to read straight through.

Highly recommended.

I am a devoted fan of Krueger’s Corky O’Connor series, In fact, I will often put off reading the next one in the series so I can select a good relaxed time in my life when I know I will have time to savor the read. I particularly enjoy the setting and the integration of Indian culture and customs into the lives of the primary characters. Another favorite is the gradual changes that are integrated into the lives of the main character as well as those of his family and friends. This is not a static series where important people and relationship never undergo growth; indeed, it is a “living” group picture.
If you enjoy adventure as well an on-going narrative of life, try the first Cork O’Connor book.

I’m in the minority opinion here, but I think WKK must be running out of engaging/compelling ideas for Cork, his family, and their extended circle of friends (in the police community and in the local Ojibwe community). This one was a bit of a yawner for me, with a VERY slowly unspooling plot and a quasi-mystery that anyone paying attention could piece together pretty early on. Also, WAY too many characters to keep track of, which only serves to dull the plot’s impact and/or confuse the multiple overlapping motives. The plot itself is actually very basic and, in my opinion, not that original. Also, at a certain point the reader has to ask himself (or herself), “is this really a believable scenario?”. Why set up such a confusing and illogical strategy to (a) ensnare your brother and your grandfather; and (b) once the basic ‘evil plan’ goes awry, ensnare Cork in the situation. Perhaps the best way to describe the basic plot is unnecessarily convoluted and way too contrived. And as others have noted, the climax was somewhat quick (blink and you’ll miss it) and anticlimactic. I think it may be time to retire Cork O’Connor, but given the feel-good happenings at the very end of this one, it appears we are in for more of the same.

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