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

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.

Outstanding

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

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

Excellent read

I really super like mr Krueger s books. I have not read them in order. Started with tamarack county and higgely piggelly on from there. I like the o Conner family and how they love s and support each other verbally. I like the area of north eastern Minnesota even though I have not been there. I like that I learn some wonderful truths from Corc and Henry. There is nothing I don’t like. The narrator is also very good and the same one in all the books I’ve listened too. I gave 5 stars in all areas because the book earned them. Mr Krueger is an amazingly awesome author. Keep on writing please sir.

A great read but a little preachy at the end

I have been binge reading this series during the pandemic. It did not disappoint! I am enjoying the Cork O'Connor series and would suggest reading them in sequence but clearly they each works on it's own. I read a lot of mysteries and this series offers plot lines with interesting twists and turns. It is not always obvious who the good guys and bad guys are until the final chapters. I feel that showing folks with character flaws and individuals like Henry enhance the story line. In this plot, Cork, usually with a very strait forward moral compass goes beyond his usual comfort level as he joins his tribal roots and they take the law into their own hands. I have always appreciated how Krueger shows respect for the first peoples traditions and subtlety weaves in hints of faith and an appreciation for life's simple blessings. My only minor criticism is the last few chapters got a little "preachy" perhaps to compensate for the tribes actions. I suspect Henry's predicitons that Cork will want his guns back sometime in the future will be correct. Henry is rarely wrong.

Another fine story

Not only do I always enjoy WKR's Cork O'connor books, the narration by David Chandler is the best!

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.

Not one of his best

Love his novels but this wasn't one of the better ones. This plot seemed to be two distinct stories put together as one. It didn't have the same fast pace. Didn't hold my attention as did the others.

Sloppy ending!

Was disappointed in the way the author ended this book. Big fan of Mr. Krueger but felt he rushed the end on this one.

sad but good plot

I did not react well to the narrator. I felt that he often emphasized the wrong words in a sentence and paused randomly. I played the recording at 1.25 speed and that helped. He was good with dialog and with different voices, but in the straight narrative parts he didn't seem to pay attention to the content.