Boundary Waters (Cork O'Connor) (Mass Market Paperback)

~ (Author) "HE WAS A TOUGH OLD BIRD, the redskin..." (more)
Key Phrases: raspberry vines, lilac hedge, small bear, Two Knives, Arkansas Willie, Willie Raye (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Krueger follows up his sure-handed debut novel, Iron Lake (1998), with an equally effective second thriller featuring former Chicago cop, now former local sheriff Cork O'Connor and his adventures in the warm-spirited little town of Aurora, Minn., and the harsh wilderness that surrounds it. The durable O'Connor, who used to watch over the territory as sheriff until he was voted out of office in a personal and professional meltdown, now tends a burger stand but still has a reputation as a go-to guy when trouble arises. It does so in the form of William Raye, an aging country singer who's looking for his daughter, Shiloh, a famous rock musician who disappeared several months earlier into the Boundary Waters, the thickly forested, lake-dotted area to the north. O'Connor isn't looking for work, but he takes the case because Shiloh is an Aurora native, and O'Connor hopes someone would do the same for him if any of his three kids were lost. Before he can even head into the woods, FBI agents show up, as well as an old casino gangster from Las Vegas. They, too, all want Shiloh found, but none will say exactly why. O'Connor, accompanied by two agents plus Raye, and a father and son from the local Anishinaabe tribe, packs up and heads out by canoe in what becomes a gritty, bloody adventure of considerable emotional depth. The action is deftly interspersed with glimpses of the terror Shiloh is enduring in the wildernessAat the hands of those who would bury an old crimeAand with tense scenes back in Aurora, where O'Connor's family and other townsfolk worry about the operation's success. Krueger's writing, strong and bold yet with the mature mark of restraint, pulls this exciting search-and-rescue mission through with a hard yank. Author tour.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From Kirkus Reviews

Krueger's second novel (Iron Lake, 1998) again features ex-sheriff Cork O'Connor of hardscrabble Aurora, Minnesota, and plenty of harsh weather. Here, a top-of-the-charts but depressed, ex-druggy country-western girl singer, Shiloh, disappears into the two-million acres of the Quetico-Superior Wilderness on the Canadian border. Cork, an old buddy of Shiloh's mother, whose murder remains unsolved, heads a search party that includes include two FBI agents, an ex-con, a ten-year old kid, and Shiloh's father. Permeating the tale is the spirit of the Anishinaabe Indians, while the heavy pelts on the muskrats point to a huge, bitter winter ahead. Meantime, some bad guys have tortured to death Wendell Two Knives, the Anishinaabe guide, trying to get him to tell where Shiloh has gone, since they want her just as badly as Cork's search party. Shiloh witnessed her mother's murder, then had amnesia, and through regression therapy seems to have brought up the killer. Was he her mother's lover, a Vegas casino owner named Benedetti, who now wants Shiloh dead? Does all this have to do with the Ojibwa's cash-rich Grand Casino on Iron Lake? Why was Shiloh's therapist murdered as well? Will Shiloh survive to rebuild Ozark Records into an outlet for indigenous music? Cork remains a spritely, intriguing hero in a world of wolves, portages, heavy weather, and worrisome humans, with a third entry on its way. -- Copyright ©1999, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

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Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 416 pages
• Publisher: Pocket Star (July 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0671016997
• ISBN-13: 978-0671016999
• Product Dimensions: 6.6 x 4.2 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (29 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #49,604 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating Trip to the North Woods, December 4, 2001

By	sweetmolly (RICHMOND, VA USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

This is my first outing with Mr. Krueger. Somehow I missed his acclaimed "Iron Lake," and I intend to correct that as soon as possible. This is a fine story with the added bonus of magnificent descriptions of the great forests and lakes between the borders of Minnesota and Canada. An added plus is the author's obvious expertise as a hunter, tracker and outdoorsman.

The heroes of this story are the Ojibwe Native Americans. They are known for their story telling abilities, and Mr. Krueger shares a few fascinating tales. The Ojibwe characters are not stereotypical (though maybe a mite noble) and are carefully drawn. The lead character, Cork O'Connor, is a troubled, but satisfyingly invincible man. I particularly liked the characterization of a professional hit man, a stone killer.

Shiloh, a celebrity country singer, is missing after a month's stay in a secret and remote part of the wilderness called the Boundary Waters. The search parties are not all benign and want to ensure that Shiloh stays missing permanently. The hunt is fast, furious and not for the faint hearted. The casualty rate is high and the painful injuries are many. Meanwhile, Shiloh is doing her own level best to get to civilization in one piece. The wait on the home front is agonizing as the body count rises.

Mr. Krueger delivers a hard-hitting, fast paced novel without sacrificing some lyrical prose. Recommended.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Terrific second adventure drama for this talented author, March 31, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Boundary Waters (Cork O'Connor Mysteries) (Hardcover)

Country-western superstar Shiloh has purposely disappeared into the Boundary Waters of Minnesota in order to get away from things. However, her vanishing brings hordes of individuals and groups into the area trying to locate her. Not all the parties are benevolent as some folks want her dead apparently because she has recovered a lost memory of who killed her mother. Her idyllic escape turns ugly when her guide Wendell Two-Knives fails to return as expected. He was to bring her back to civilization.

Everyone seems to converge on retired sheriff Cork O'Connor. The FBI demands his help. Shiloh's father begs for his help. The son of the mobster who allegedly killed Shiloh's mother pleads for his help. Escorted by the young son of Wendell's nephew into the wilderness, Cork, Shiloh's father, and the FBI begin their hunt for the missing singer. However, the danger does not just come from the approaching wintry weather, but from people who have no compunctions about employing brutal murder to obtain their desires.

The return of Cork O'Connor (see IRON LAKE) should elate fans of Native American mysteries. The current tale, BOUNDARY WATERS, is a wonderful wilderness mystery that will remind readers of THE TREASURE OF SIERRA MADRE, except placed in the icy north. Avarice, violence, and survival rule the action-packed story line that requires gloves because the bitter cold can be felt emanating from the pages. Cork remains a fine character as he struggles with his feelings for his estranged spouse and the recurring support cast add local color and depth to the plot. The remaining players propel the tale forward to its climatic clash. Kent Krueger is quickly attaining star status with his O'Connor series.

Harriet Klausner 3/6/99

9 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An outstanding north woods saga, June 21, 2000

By	Carl Brookins (Roseville, MN USA) - See all my reviews

A worthy installment in the Cork O'Connor series. Author Krueger has again brought together his endearing O'Connor family, this time with a country singer, the FBI and other interesting characters in a story of loss and finding, of murder and coverup. Krueger's ability to use the language to evoke just the right atmosphere for each scene is obvious. His descriptions, pacing, and inventivness are all of a high order. This is an excellent novel to be savored.