Red Knife

Cork O'Connor Mystery Series, Book 8

By: William Kent Krueger

Narrated by: David Chandler

Length: 10 hrs and 23 mins

Publisher's Summary

Private investigator Cork O'Connor finds himself caught in the middle of a racial gang war that's turning picturesque Tamarack County, Minnesota, into a battlefield.

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.

In Red Knife, Krueger gives his listeners a vivid picture of racial conflict in small-town America, as well as a sensitive look at the secrets we keep from even those closest to us and the destructive nature of all that is left unsaid between fathers and sons, husbands and wives, friends and lovers.

©2008 William Kent Krueger (P)2019 Recorded Books

Violence and Acceptance

Book eight is a bit complicated and somewhat hard to keep track of everything happening and everyone involved. One must wonder if this community can ever co-exist peacefully. This story is full of gangs, murder, drugs and mistrust between the white and Indian communities. Cork’s wife Jo asks him to stay out of the investigations this time and he agrees for the good of his family. Despite his good intentions, he ends up being dragged into the middle of it all once again.

It would be impossible to describe everything that occurs, but this story hits close to home for Cork. Violence is the main character and Cork must come to grips with it. This time his daughter Annie is involved and although the ending is a bit cliched, I was overwhelmed with emotion. Krueger always seems to hit a home run with me. I listened to this via Audible and the excellent narrator, David Chandler, once again brought this story to life making these characters seem real to me. I gave it 4 ¼ stars.

Disappointed in the author

The book was well written, just like the others in the series.
The book was ruined at the end, when the author took on an anti gun stance. He has put several liberal views into his books before.
Now he has shown his spots.

I’m done with him.

chilling narration

This series of books continue to be captivating. The family continues to age and the characters become more numerous as you read on. I do not want to spoil the ending as it took me by surprise and that was very well narrated...I felt like I was there.

I'm wondering if I should continue....

2/3'rds of the book was OK. IMO this is least enjoyable of the series by a long shot. I have seen others talk about Mr. Krueger getting "preachy" and I think that is a pretty appropriate and an accurate assessment.
One of the things I have enjoyed about the series is that he has set up the family pretty well. We know them...somewhat care about them...and then he kind of cuts the legs out from underneath some of them. He makes comments about the future and really changes some of the direction.
Sometimes a series runs its course and maybe we are here for Cork and the O'Connor family.
The last bit...well...just not very good and frankly poorly written. Really makes me wonder whether or not I will get the next one in the series. For sure...not today.
I really do enjoy David Chandler. His cadence for this series is impeccable.

Outstanding

Another outstanding book by William Kent Krueger! One of my favorite authors and from the great state of Minnesota!

This story was not like the others

The narration was different, they pronounced words differently from the previous books, there was a lot of repeating of the storylines from the other books and who the O’Connor’s are. Eight books in to a series you don’t need that much explaining. I love this series and these characters. Don’t mess with the flow so much.

Entertaining

Some reviewers have said they don’t like Chandler as a narrator. I would be disappointed if he weren’t. I consider him to be the voice of Cork O’Conner. I enjoyed this book from start to finish..

So touching

I have listened to many of this author’s books. He brings so much of human nature to all his books, good vs depravity and not so well directed.bringing First Nation traditions and knowledge of life into lives of main characters is impressive. All books are very well done. I can’t imagine any other narrator doing these books, wouldn’t be the same! Not a light read but excellently done

Narrator and Story are Great!

This book was outstanding, especially because of the narrator. His performance was spectacular and unforgettable. The characters came alive through his voice.

Kreuger disrespect in this story is appalling.

The book was fine until the ending. William Kent Kreuger took the Red Lake School Shooting and played it into his book. Had Kreuger had the respect he claims for Native people he writes about, Kreuger would not have done this; he's more concerned about lining his pockets than his readers replaying their traumatic life events.