Manitou Canyon: A Novel (Cork O'Connor Mystery Series)
Manitou Canyon: A Novel (Cork O'Connor Mystery Series) book cover

Manitou Canyon: A Novel (Cork O'Connor Mystery Series)

Hardcover – Big Book, September 6, 2016

Price
$14.73
Format
Hardcover
Pages
336
Publisher
Atria Books
Publication Date
ISBN-13
978-1476749266
Dimensions
6 x 1.2 x 9 inches
Weight
1.1 pounds

Description

"Exploresxa0the tension between belief and truth, between protecting a sacred place and embracing technological progress, between having empathy for a cause and taking action to defend it...Krueger has crafted a gripping thriller...steeped in the mythology of American Indian tribes of Minnesota...[a] deeply spiritual novel. Read it with your heart." ( Minneapolis Star Tribune )“A mystery made up of several shiver-inducing levers . . . [with] a plot that keeps tightening around O’Connor and the granddaughter—and the reader’s nerves. A first-rate addition to this series.”xa0 (Booklist)"A gripping thriller." ( Milwaukee-Wisconsin Journal Sentinel )"Krueger keeps the tension high." ( Twin Cities Pioneer Press )“The characters, story and plot will haunt you long after you’ve read the last page, but it's Krueger’s strong and sure descriptive prose that lingers the longest.”xa0 ( Bookreporter ) Praise for Windigo Island : “A punch-to-the-gut blend of detective story and investigative fiction.... Krueger has written an investigative novel as blistering and crucial in its indictments of contemporary evil as The Jungle .” ( Booklist (starred review) )“Krueger paints a vivid picture of the sordid cycle of poverty, abuse, alcoholism, and runaway (or throwaway) children on the reservation, and reminds us of the evil of men all too willing to exploit the innocent.” ( Publishers Weekly (starred review) )“Krueger at his page-turning best — but this time with a higher purpose.” ( Duluth News Tribune )“Krueger demonstrates his penchant and ability for finding deep, rich and new veins of stories from the seemingly inexhaustive mine of the rural and deceptively peaceful northern Minnesota and its surrounding environs." ( Bookreporter )“William Kent Krueger…writes with fresh passion and purpose in Windigo Island.” ( New York Times Book Review )“Krueger juggles a large cast of characters deftly and doles out clues to the mystery judiciously. More important, he recognizes the complexity of this place and its people.” ( Columbus Dispatch )“Krueger is skillful in many things — creating strong characters, building drama and conflict, braiding in Indian legend and spirituality, and spinning a good yarn — but sense of place may well be his forte.” ( Minneapolis Star Tribune ) Praise for Tamarack County : “...a winter’s tale that will both break and warm the reader’s heart.... Krueger’s evident empathy for the Ojibwe and their traditions and values blends seamlessly with horrific violence played out against O’Connor’s struggles to heal his family’s wounds—and his own.” ( Publishers Weekly (starred review) )“...hold-your-breath suspense, heightened by the isolating blizzards of a Minnesota winter and the eerie presence of a stalker.... Because Krueger works in the history of his characters’ relationships in a clear and elegant way, this exceptionally scary suspense story will prove riveting for both newcomers to the series and readers who have followed Cork as he and his family have aged and grown.” ( Booklist (starred review) )“Krueger is in fine form in this superb, highly atmospheric tale, deftly capturing a wide range of emotions and conflicts between assorted characters. . .you’re in for a real treat.” ( Lansing Journal (Michigan) ) William Kent Krueger is the award-winning author of the New York Times bestselling Ordinary Grace, winner of the Edgar Award for best novel, as well as eighteen Cork O’Connor novels, including Desolation Mountain and Sulfur Springs . He lives in the Twin Cities with his family. Visit his website at WilliamKentKrueger.com.

Features & Highlights

  • “One of today's automatic buy-today-read-tonight series...thoughtful but suspenseful, fast but lasting, contemporary but strangely timeless.” (Lee Child) In the extraordinary new Cork O’Connor thriller from
  • New York Times
  • bestselling and Edgar Award–winning author William Kent Krueger, the lives of hundreds of innocent people are at stake when Cork vanishes just days before his daughter’s wedding.Since the violent deaths of his wife, father, and best friend all occurred in previous Novembers, Cork O’Connor has always considered it to be the cruelest of months. Yet, his daughter has chosen this dismal time of year in which to marry, and Cork is understandably uneasy. His concern comes to a head when a man camping in Minnesota’s Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness goes missing. As the official search ends with no recovery in sight, Cork is asked by the man’s family to stay on the case. Although the wedding is fast approaching and the weather looks threatening, he accepts and returns to that vast wilderness on his own. As the sky darkens and the days pass, Cork’s family anxiously awaits his return. Finally certain that something has gone terribly wrong, they fly by floatplane to the lake where the missing man was last seen. Locating Cork’s campsite, they find no sign of their father. They do find blood, however. A lot of it. With an early winter storm on the horizon, it’s a race against time as Cork’s family struggles to uncover the mystery behind these disappearances. Little do they know, not only is Cork’s life on the line, but so are the lives of hundreds of others. A taut, suspenseful thriller,
  • Manitou Canyon
  • features everything readers love in a Cork O’Connor novel: a dramatic Northwoods setting, an intriguing view of the Objibwe culture, an enigmatic crime, masterful storytelling, and more than a few surprises.

Customer Reviews

Rating Breakdown

★★★★★
60%
(2.5K)
★★★★
25%
(1K)
★★★
15%
(614)
★★
7%
(286)
-7%
(-287)

Most Helpful Reviews

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Cork Disappears

I have now read all 15 installments of the Cork O'Connor series with his latest "Manitou Canyon". New readers may be somewhat distracted by the appearance of so many O'Connor family members and friends because there is little backstory here for newbies. As Cork prepares for his daughter's wedding in a matter of weeks, he is hired by the grandchildren of a famous dam builder to launch one more search for their missing grandfather who disappeared from the bleak Boundary Waters Wilderness Area and a subsequent massive search proved fruitless.

Cork returns to the search area accompanied by the stepdaughter, Lindsay Harris, and they promptly disappear also. Where have the missing gone? Are accidents or criminal activity responsible? Have they been kidnapped, and, if so, why? Cork's disappearance galvanizes his family into action as Stephen, Rainy, Henry, Aunt Rose and others try to unravel a mystery that may include answers helpful to finding Cork and the missing family members. Soon family and friends are flying around the area desperate to find and rescue Cork. Chapter flipping ensues as chapters alternate between Cork's reality and that of his searchers.

As in all of Krueger's Cork O'Connor novels, there are multiple subplots and themes, most centered around family interweavings, Ojibwe culture, and the special bonds between Cork, Henry Meloux, and Rainy. My quibbles for "Manitou Canyon" include inconsistent pacing at times, a seemingly too rushed climax that suddenly introduces a slew of new and forgettable characters, and, in general, a wrap up that was too abrupt and too contrived. The Cork O'Connor novels are an excellent series but should be read sequentially from the beginning to develop the full back story so that the characters and places come alive for the reader.
5 people found this helpful
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Thought-Provoking! Master storyteller delivers an emotional gripping suspense thriller.

A special thank you to Atria and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

William Kent Krueger returns with Cork O’Connor #15 MANITOU CANYON, with yet another suspenseful gripping ride in the Northwoods steeped in the mythology of American Indian tribes of Minnesota--with his signature storytelling, and lots of twists and soul searching, for his protagonist.

Corcoran O’Connor knew that November was the bastard of all months. Anyone who thought different had never been in Minnesota’s North Country during this time.

His own father who had been sheriff of Tamarack County four decades earlier, had been mortally wounded in the last week of October, had lingered for two days and had finally succumbed in the first hour of the first day of a long ago November.

His wife had had gone missing and for all intents and purposes was dead to him in a November, not so long ago. On top of this, his good and true friend George LeDuc had been murdered in that same November. Not only was this a dreary month, a deadly one. From ghosts, demons, and regrets.

Yet, his daughter Jenny has chosen this dismal time of year in which to marry, and Cork is understandably uneasy. Was she doing this on purpose to change his thinking?

Now, his is asked to find a wealthy man who has vanished without a trace in Minnesota’s Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. He agrees and embarks on the hopeless mission, only to vanish in that vast wilderness himself, just days before his daughter’s wedding.

In a race against time, as the tension and dangers mount, Cork’s family has to uncover the mystery behind the disappearances. The land that Native Americans call their home versus the interests of big mining. How do Native people battle these deep pocket interests? History, family, a dam and those fighting against it. An environmental disaster.

Between Cork’s need for survival while on this perilous trip through the Boundary Waters to Canada and his family’s desperate search for him, mixed with the reason behind his captive--he finds himself conflicted while in a dangerous place, both physically, spiritually, and morally.

November had been a month full of nothing but loss and despair in the past. Will Cork’s outlook on the month change, after his latest adventure?

Thought-provoking! As always, Krueger continues to deliver masterful storytelling, mixed with the rich, vivid settings of the great outdoors and wilderness, tantalizing literary tidbits, Objibwe culture, and of course plenty of mystery, suspense, intrigue and great crime writing. (with substance).

So excited to learn from an online interview with the author, Krueger is working on a companion to Ordinary Grace, called “This Tender Land,” coming the Spring of 2018.
3 people found this helpful
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ALMOST...BUT NOT QUITE

I discovered WKK with his book, Ordinary Grace, and then read all of his books in the Cork O'Connor series, all of which I could not put down. While I enjoyed this book, it didn't give me the I-don't-care-how-late-it-is-I-have-to-read-this-next-chapter-because-I-HAVE-to-find-out-what-happens-next experience. Still, it was enjoyable. I like the Native American lore, and unlike another reviewer, I did not think the words and meanings were excessive or detracted from the plot, bur rather added to it immensely. I think the detail about family relations and WKK's weaving of their lives into the story(s) give them uncharacteristic (in the mystery genre) depth.
2 people found this helpful
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Mediocre damn entry

A talented writer produces a convoluted plot that doesn't succeed. A kidnap made too complicated for its own good. Too much family. Everybody goes to help. Fails under the weight. Logic ignored. Maybe next time.
2 people found this helpful
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Hey Krueger if you can't do any better than this then you'd better hang it up

Hey Krueger if you can't do any better than this then you'd better hang it up. This book sucked big time and you know it.
2 people found this helpful
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Truly a horrible book.

Truly a horrible book...Characters one dimensional. Plot rather ridiculous. Ending contrived. save your money and read elsewhere!!!!!!!!
2 people found this helpful
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A struggle to finish reading.

I finished reading this novel through sheer persistence, but it was a struggle. To me, the Native American lore, the words and meanings were excessive and detracted from the plot or foundational story. As did the detail about family relations and life. These cluttered up a basically good plot line and made it a drag to read. Others may feel these add to the book, but to me, they detracted from it. I cannot recommend this book as a good read, though, obviously, others who awarded it five stars disagree.
2 people found this helpful
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great author

good read
1 people found this helpful
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Eerily Prescient for a Work of Fiction

It's amazing how prescient William Kent Krueger's latest Cork O'Connor book is. Published not long before the Dakotas Pipeline protests, this latest in the Cork O'Connor series is eerily predictive of the conflicts between big money, the environment and Tribal rights. Given the new political climate it is a very timely work of fiction. As usual Kent's writing style and storytelling skills make for an engaging, yet surprising story that keeps the reader guessing as to where it's going for the majority of the story. Thanks again Kent for a wonderful addition to the series!
1 people found this helpful
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Happy camper to get another one in the series. This one was a bit longer wait. He's a careful and carrying author.

So far love all of this series by Krueger. Look forward to continued good reads. I've read one of his non series books and enjoyed it too. I've recommended this author numerous times.
1 people found this helpful