God's Country

 

God's Country by William Kent Krueger
8/18/26; 256 pages
Atria Books
Cork O'Connor #21

God's Country by William Kent Krueger is a highly recommended thriller and the 21st addition to the Cork O'Connor series. This can be read as a standalone novel, but would best be appreciated by those following the series.

Cork O’Connor, former police officer in Tamarack County, has his whole family coming to visit for Memorial day. Planned is a father and son canoeing/camping trip, including Cork's two grandsons, out on the Boundary Waters. It will be the first trip for Luke, 7, while Waaboo, almost 8, has went once before. Before the trip both Waaboo and Stephen had a vision about Cork that seemed ominous. As Cork picked up the canoe, he learned his friend and guide Cordell Bishop went out with a group of suspicious men. 

As the trip starts, Cork finds signs that make him become increasingly concerned for his friend. Then when the group finds trash, blood and rope marks on a tree, Cork sends the rest to return home as he sets off to rescue Cordell. Soon the words given to him when they went to talk to elder, grandfather Henry Mishomis, become clear. Henry told Cork, "Maybe you are the wolf," as he ends up dealing with a pair of dangerous criminals, the Kennedy brothers, who are looking for something valuable their father hid.

The pace is fast, assisted by short chapters and abbreviated page count. Once the action takes off, it escalates quickly, and violently. Because Cork knows the Boundary Waters and what he's doing, he is able to negotiate with the duo to some extent, but there are still shots fired, people wounded, and several deaths along the way to the expected violent conclusion. Having actually canoed in the Boundary Waters many years ago, it was easy to picture what was going on and understand the effort needed to traverse the area and any portages.

There isn't a great deal of character development or subtle insights into anyone, especially the antagonists, the Kennedy brothers. Since this is the 21st book in the series, however, those following it know the characters, especially Cork, and background information. Krueger does a good job introducing the whole family at the opening, but then this information dump doesn't really matter for the majority of the plot which focuses on the current precarious situation and Corks ability to manage it with finesse.  

God's Country is a good choice for those already following and enjoying the series. Thanks to Atria Books for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.