Spirit Crossing

It is always such a joy to read another Cork O’Connor tale. They are all infused with raw emotion, warmth, and an overwhelming sense of family and love. This is an excellent jumping-off point for new readers, as Krueger eloquently supplies the necessary backstory to make this a poignant standalone. His almost poetic prose provides a perfect blend of suspense and mystery, infused with his ever-present insights into human nature.

A cast of eclectic characters are deftly developed, surrounding Cork, who is now a retired sheriff from Aurora, Minnesota. Although he spends a lot of time working at his long-term fast-food eatery, he is often drawn into private investigation for friends and close locals.

Krueger provides an immersive tale that effortlessly weaves together three major plotlines. Olivia Hamilton, the privileged daughter of a wealthy and influential politician, goes missing. Last seen at a rowdy biker bar, the “Howling Wolf,” full of drunks and assorted low-lives. At the same time, a standoff is ramping up at Spirit Crossing. Construction of the controversial Stockbridge oil pipeline is approaching the critical wetlands of the Jiibay River. This area, known as Spirit Crossing, is sacred to the Anishinaabe of Minnesota. The pipeline has a history of catastrophic spills, and protestors are amassing, attempting to stop the inevitable. Meanwhile, Cork’s daughter, Annie, returns home from Guatemala with her partner, Maria, and a deep secret.

The pot is stirred when the men of the O’Connor clan go out on a wild blueberry-gathering outing. In attendance are Cork’s twenty-three-year-old son, Stephen, his son-in-law, Daniel England (a full-blood Anishinaabe), and his seven-year-old son, “Waaboo” (a nickname meaning “little rabbit” in Ojibwe). While foraging, Waaboo comes across a small mound of earth where he sees a vision of a dead woman. He insists she is lost and sad as she attempts to walk the Path of Spirits. This discovery results in an intense involvement of the FBI and state and local law enforcement. However, this interest quickly dissipates when the exhumed body is that of a Native woman. A local indigenous woman, named Crystal Two Knives, has been missing for six months, with little, if any, ongoing investigation. Cork takes it upon himself, with the aid of the local tribal police, to further investigate the murder of this unknown woman. The news of Waaboo’s vision goes viral, and the O’Connor family home is besieged by the media.

William Kent Krueger proves to be a masterful storyteller as he deftly weaves and collides these plotlines together. The suspense and intrigue culminate in a masterful denouement. His mesmerizing prose and character development rival that of James Lee Burke’s best. He continues to speak for the powerless while acknowledging the importance of love and family. Krueger explores themes of native trauma, social inequities, the ravages of addiction, the horrors of human trafficking, and the struggle against big business.

Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for supplying an uncorrected proof in exchange for an honest review. Hopefully, we will be treated to another Cork O’Connor tale from this master of the genre