Iron Lake (by William Kent Krueger)
I didn’t really need to start another book series, especially one that’s growing and already has numerous installments. However, a few months ago, I read my first book by William Kent Krueger, This Tender Land, and thoroughly enjoyed it! Many people recommended the Cork O’Connor series, and I was an instant fan of Krueger’s writing, so I decided to begin the series with Iron Lake.
Cork O’Connor, a former Chicago police officer and former sheriff of his Minnesota hometown, possesses an innate talent for solving mysteries. Despite being fired and blamed for a tragic death on the Anishinaabe Indian reservation, his community continues to seek his assistance. A young boy goes missing, and a local judge is found dead, presumed to have committed suicide. As Cork delves deeper into these events, he uncovers corruption that puts his life in danger. Moreover, he is grappling with the prospect of divorce while separated from his wife and children.
I genuinely enjoyed Iron Lake by the time I finished reading it. I had high expectations for this book, given my love for This Tender Land. However, I was a bit worried about Iron Lake for the first half of the book thinking it was just okay. Disappointingly, I felt underwhelmed by the story.
Despite the initial disappointment, the well-written narrative and the pace of the story gradually increased my interest. It took me a while to develop an emotional connection with Cork O’Connor. I had expected the narrative to be emotionally intense, but it wasn’t until the end that I finally felt the connection I had been waiting for.
After completing the book, I realized that I enjoyed it and decided to continue the series with the second installment, Boundary Waters. I’m curious to see what’s next in store for Cork.
I listened to the audiobook of Iron Lake using my Audible membership. David Chandler’s narration was exceptional, and he effectively brought the story to life.
You’re welcome to check out my review of William Kent Krueger’s other book, which I’ve read and is linked below.
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