Desolation Mountain

Before getting into this review, I just want to say that I work on a reservation in North Dakota. Most of my colleagues are Dakota Sioux. A few are Lakota, from another reservation, and a good number are Chippewa, or Ojibway. (Many of these are Metis, which means they share an ancestry with French traders to the region). Among some of the latter, I have learned of visions and the reverence these people have for birds and turtles. This strikes a chord in me, because in parts of northern and southern Africa I was known as the Turtleman. Ironically, I, too, had visions in southern Africa that more or less proved true. Of course, none of the visions were of crimes forming the subject of this novel.

Why do I mention the above? Because it serves to show why I am able to suspend any disbeliefs I might have with regard to the plot in Desolation Mountain.

NOTE: Although this is the 17th book in a series. this is the only book I have yet read and I dont feel I missed anything. In other words, this is a stand-alone with no cliffhanger ending.

Read on to learn why I gave this novel a favorable rating

POV: Third person.

THE WRITING: Mostly it is very good. Smooth, easy flowing. Occasionally, though, this writer tends to tell us what to see instead of just showing us. Not to such a degree that it gets annoying, though. Im just saying that, when he could have pulled us into the story to witness events, he simply told us. One example would be when they took their muddy boots off when they sat down to eat Waaboos favorite dish. That brings up another point a missed opportunity, to use scent to describe the meal, or the burning fuselage of the downed aircraft.

Again, though, the writing is good and easy to read, so please dont take the above remarks as a reason to avoid this intriguing mystery.

BLUSH FACTOR: No worries here. Reading to your church prayer group is safe.

ADVENTURE: Yes, a good look at the north woods country of Minnesota. The discussion regarding a mountain in the area will bring knowing nods among those familiar with the Rockies, the Sierras or even the Green Mountains.

SOUL: Yes, but only to some extent. It was good to get exposed to another viewpoint, but I would have loved to see more of the way of life among the Ojibway of the Upper Midwest.

EXCERPT

after they entered the bog, brilliant tendrils of lightning crossed the sky to the west, and only a second passed before the air seemed to shatter. Roy Berg, the fire chief, hollered to everyone to clear the water. Although the broken section of fuselage still smoldered, Berg and his men abandoned their work and made quickly for the shoreline. Cork called to Stephen but got no response. Cork thought he understood. Stephen wanted to press forward, take the risk, find what there was to find, answer the questions. This fallen plane was part of his sons vision, and he had to know why.

Stephen, Cork called sharply.

Another bolt of lightning, then thunder like the end of the world. Reluctantly, Stephen followed his father to safety.

A driving rain descended. Cork and Stephen hunkered beneath the trees a good, safe distance from the marsh water. After a while Daniel English joined them, along with the other men from the reservation.

Anything? Cork asked.

Tail section and wings. Sheared off as the plane clipped the treetops, Daniel replied. Everythings pretty torn up.

You called it in, Monkey? What did you see? Cork asked.

Monkey Love looked like the Devil had walked all over him, the result of years of addiction to booze and drugs. He was emaciated. His face bore scars from drunken fights in bars and alleyways, and his damaged right eyelid was beset with a persistent droop. He had unusually long arms and fingershed been called Monkey all his lifeand more often than not, he could be found puffing on a cigarette hand-rolled from American Spirit tobacco. When he spoke, it was like a rasp over metal.

Was sitting on the crapper with the door open. Monkey and Ned Love had no running water at their cabin. They used an outhouse for taking care of business. Got a good view of the mountain from there. Saw the plane come over it. They all do when theyre headin toward the airport. But this one was strange, kinda cockeyed and real low. Going way too slow, seemed. I lost it, then heard a lot of popping, like gunshots or somethin. Then whump. I swear I could

Krueger, William Kent. Desolation Mountain: A Novel (Cork O’Connor Mystery Series Book 17) (Kindle Locations 377-392). Atria Books. Kindle Edition.

BOTTOM LINE

The best way to explain how I felt after reading this Adventure-Mystery. I bought The Devils Bed, a stand-alone novel Krueger wrote featuring Bo Thorson, a character used only in that book, and in this one. I intend to also purchase the other 16 books during the coming weeks.

Four stars out of five.

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The first parts of this book are filled with promise for the reader. A plane carrying a U. S. senator crashes near the titled mountain under sinister circumstances. Soon thereafter, Cork OConnors young son Stephen has a vision which equates to the crash as well as other events that can be loosely associated with this terrible event.
Desolation Mountain is located in northern Minnesota on an Ojibwe reservation and the native inhabitants view the mountain as a cursed place. The FBI is quickly on the scene and the locals who witnessed the crash and its after effects are soon barred from the area. Its pretty clear that a coverup operation is being managed by the government. There is also a hunt for the black box that will give clues about the aircrafts last moments but it cant be found.
There are many fascinating characters who seem to have a stake in what caused the crash and its outcome, including local law enforcement, native Americans from the reservation, and investigators from Washington, D. C. I felt the plot became slow and cumbersome as if the author had to pad the books center with unnecessary words. I was also disappointed with the plots resolution because there was little excitement or tension at the books ending.
At the start I felt like this book could be a five star experience but I ultimately downgraded it to three.

Arguably the most active, someone might say frenetick, of the Cork O’Connor books, Krueger’s most recent offering features non-stop action, at least three groups of unrelated villains, more gunfire than Gettyburg, double-dealing anti hero’s, overarching mysticism, and political commentary. A Minnesota Senator’s plane is mysteriously shot down, for reasons never completely clear, and large numbers of agencies and private manipulation l actors try to, about equally, find out what happened and cover it up. O’Connor, his friends and family, are drawn into this quagmire because one of their poo an is mysteriously killed. The rest of the book is a series of kidnappings, fire fights, and chases. This may not be Krueger’s best book, but it is his most exciting. Caveat: Do not take Krueger’s geography seriously. Tameraccounty (which can only be Cook County, Minnesota) has as its County seat Grand Marais, would have to be at least sixty miles from the fictional Aurora, O’Connor’s home town. So the County Sheriff, Martha Dross, would be headquartered at least an hour and a half from the scene of the action and would likely not be in on it. Of course, the geographical logic would have been even worse when O’Connor himself was sheriff, since he surely would have to live in or around Grand Mara is. Still, a fun read. Note to Ktueger: Either get rid of Henry, or tone down the cryptic, omniscient mystigogury.

DESOLATION MOUNTAIN by William Kent Krueger is Book 17 in Mr. Kruegers Cork OConnor Mystery series.
I have read every title and been impressed with each and every one. This new title is no exception.
Highlights include Visions, specifically a repeated (very troubling) vision experienced by Stephen; Ojibwe culture, customs and mythology; a plane crash with a notable US senator on board; right wing militias; a fast-paced detective story; dirty politics; friendship; family and tribal ties.
The writing is fast-paced and character-driven. There is a grand sense of place. We meet many familiar characters and a new character, Bo Thorson, is introduced.
*Note Bo was a main character in an early (stand-alone title by Mr. Krueger). He is very interesting and a conscience-driven character like Cork. I suspect (and hope) that we will see more of him.
I would heartily recommend this title. *****

Up to its usual high standard. I love the cork oconnor novels and have read every one. The knowlege of the First Nation peoples is fascinating and totally absorbing.

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