I borrowed the audiobook from the library.
Publisher: Recorded Books
Published: September 2, 2008
Summary:
When the daughter of a powerful businessman dies as a result of her meth addiction, her father, strong-willed and brutal Buck Reinhardt, vows revenge. His target is the Red Boyz, a gang of Ojibwe youths accused of supplying the girl’s fatal drug dose. When the head of the Red Boyz and his wife are murdered in a way that suggests execution, the Ojibwe gang mobilizes, and the citizens of Tamarack County brace themselves for war, white against red.
Both sides look to Cork O’Connor, a man of mixed heritage, to uncover the truth behind the murders. A former sheriff, Cork has lived, fought, and nearly died to keep the small-town streets and his family safe from harm. He knows that violence is never a virtue, but he believes that it’s sometimes a necessary response to the evil that men do. Racing to find answers before the bloodshed spreads, Cork himself becomes involved in the darkest of deeds. As the unspeakable unfolds in the remote and beautiful place he calls home, Cork is forced to confront the horrific truth: Violence is a beast that cannot be contained.
My thoughts:
The 8th book in the Cork O’Connor series and this might be the tensest one to date! These books really do such a great job showcasing the tensions between the Ojibwe and the local citizens and it was so palpable at times. The story was a complicated one, yet I never felt lost, a true testament to Krueger’s writing!
I don’t really want to talk much about the plot itself as I feel it could get into spoiler territory, so all I will say is that once again, Cork finds himself pulled in all directions and his daughter gets caught in the middle, too. This one leans heavily into family ties, both biologically and emotionally, and it hits hard at times.
What I love most about this series, besides the incredible sense of place and continued character development, is that you never know what to expect in terms of storytelling. Last book involved a flashback for a good part of the story, and this time, there is a section that flashes to the future. It’s just brilliant storytelling and why I keep coming back to Krueger’s books time and again!
Audio thoughts:
David Chandler narrated this, the same narrator we’ve had all along, and I’m so glad. His consistency from book to book with the voices is amazing and it’s like reuniting with friends at this point.
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