Windigo Island

By: William Kent Krueger

Narrated by: David Chandler

Length: 11 hrs and 46 mins

Publisher's Summary

The award-winning author of the best-selling Cork O’Connor series, William Kent Krueger pens novels with pulse-racing suspense. In Windigo Island, the corpse of an Ojibwe girl washes ashore, and locals at the Bad Bluff reservation believe it to be the work of the mythical Windigo. But the dead girl’s friend is also missing, and sheriff-turned-PI Cork O’Connor will brave any danger to bring her home.

©2014 William Kent Krueger (P)2014 Recorded Books

All Saints

I love the characters in Krueger's Cork O'Connor series. They are mostly back for this adventure, and, as always, adventure it is!

The story line involves rescuing girls of Ojibwe ancestry from the evils they often find when they run away from the reservation. As young as 13 or 14, they are often enticed into lives of prostitution and have nowhere to turn for safety. This brings Cork, along with Jenny and Henry and others, into the dangerous world of the Lake Superior docks in Duluth.

As is usually evident in this series, there's a spiritual element involving the "Windigo," a demon of myth and, in this case, a real man and his cohorts. Cork, Henry, and Jenny face physical danger and their personal devils and anxieties along the way.

So, the story moves along, and we are happy to be in the company of these people. My one concern is that Cork and his family (and extended family) have all become quite saintly. I miss the old conflict that Cork had with his wife. Henry has always served as the conscience of this world, and his spirituality and wisdom are believable and inspiring (although his physical exploits at nearly 100 stretch the imagination). I'm not quite ready to accept that all the characters have joined him in perfection.

Not sure where such flawless characters can go from here!

6 of 6 people found this review helpful

Last Book

I guess this is the the end of Cork O'Connor series! I'm going to miss it because Windigo Island is one of the best with a lot action. With his daughter Jennie
Being a big part of the story. KRUEGER has other books that I will check out while I wait for his next O'conner book. Oh Chandler does a bad Indian voice.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Another great story by William Kent Krueger

What made the experience of listening to Windigo Island the most enjoyable?

It was enjoyable to listen to the story but the story itself was very dark.

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

Not quite on the edge but it certainly carries one along.

Which character – as performed by David Chandler – was your favorite?

It is hard to name a favorite character as they are all great but Cork O'Connor, of course, as the main character is my husband's favorite.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

A look into the underside of what happens to the young Native American girls who leave home.

Any additional comments?

This series of book by William Kent Krueger is my husband's favorite. We travel quite a bit so we listen to books in the car a good deal of the time and Cork O'Connor is his favorite.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Best of the Series

An intense look at a side of Minnesota (and many places) that is less magical than most of what we expect in the lake country. Familiar characters develop well, and the villains and victims are realistic. The narration has a roughness that is appropriate for the story in which the characters really have to fight the Windigo.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

one of my favorite books in the series

I've read all the series, but this is probably my favorite. Intertwines the struggles and spirituality of the First People, while delivering a gripping (albeit fictional) story of the exploitation of girls - which happens everday, in every country.

As a women's health care worker, I am aware that 80% of sex trafficked women and children will present to a healthcare facility at some point during their trafficking.

Hats Off to William Kent Kreuger and David Chandler for an educational, entertaining, and compelling listen!

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Finished all Cork

Last Cork book for now. I'm going to miss him. I have thoroughly enjoyed all of them. Some more than others. The subject of this one was heartbreaking and for 2 had a good end but how many don't get to be found. It never ceases to amaze me how people can be so evil in their treatment of those who are weak and vulnerable. Something animals don't have in them. It was nice too to see Jenny learn firsthand what her dad does. I always thought she and her mother always demeaned what he does. Oh, and I am sooooo glad I don't have to listen to Jo's constant selfish nagging anymore. All in all this is ONE SUPER SERIES and I can't wait for the next installment.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Grabbed my interest from page 1

An involving, frustrating, exciting story. Read by a masterful narrator.. Makes the case for the native need for cultural protection.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Highly Recommend Listening

William Kent Kruger has crafted another Cort O'Conner mystery of high quality. For the characters that were in previous books, her has stayed true to their character. Really keeps you interested constantly.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Not the best

I got hooked on this series a few months ago, and listened to a lot of them back-to-back. Most were interesting, but as the series progressed, I found myself getting a little annoyed with the 'visions' and references to the spirit world. I even found myself wishing that the old man Henry would bite the dust.

Mr. Krueger has gotten enough of my time. I'm done with this formula soap-opera

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Complex story with lasting impressions

Two young girls ran away from their homes in Bad Bluff, Wisconsin a year ago and one of them, Carrie Verga, just washed ashore. It’s uncertain what happened to her and where she’s been. Now the family of Mariah Arceneaux, Carrie’s runaway companion, seeks help from Henry Meloux to find her. Mariah is his great, great niece and he asks Cork O’Connor to assist preliminarily in his stead. As Cork makes plans to leave, his daughter, Jenny insists that she accompany him. She believes this mission is her destiny based on dreams she’s had since finding her son a few years ago.

There were so many, many angles to this story, not the kind that make it difficult to follow but the kind that are thought provoking. It also includes a narrative in Jenny’s voice for a portion of the book, which I found important because it’s the first time I’ve learned how Cork’s children perceive him. They seem to get him more than he knows but still not enough for my sensibilities.

The subject matter is disheartening as it deals with human trafficking of young girls (under 15-years old) but even sadder are the situations that made them first run from home. Even more insidious was how the girls were seduced into believing their handlers are their family and cared about them. Cork’s moral compass is seriously tested and Jenny gets an opportunity to explore gray areas as she’s now seeing things through a maternal lens.

It’s a complex story that unfolded very well and left me pondering some of the issues long after it was over. I’m so glad David Chandler narrated this one as he captured Henry as well as he always does Cork, which was critical as he factors importantly throughout.