IRON LAKE BY WILLIAM KENT KRUEGER (1ST IN SERIES)

Published:  1998

It's About:  This is the first in a series of 11 (so far) books featuring detective Corcoran (Cork) O'Connor.  Cork is part Ojibwe and part Irish.  He walks the line between his Native American roots and his white man's upbringing in Northern Minnesota.  Cork is the past sheriff of a small town, Aurora that borders the Reservation.  The book is written at a time, 1998, when the casinos were bringing the Native Americans back to some sort of prosperity in Minnesota (referred to in the book as the new buffalo).  Cork becomes entangled in a mystery involving the death of famous Judge and disappearance of a young, Native American newspaper boy.  The book takes all the expected twists and turns before the mystery is finally solved.

I Thought:  The writing was fresh and realistic.  It may be a local preference as the author essentially wrote his book in a diner not too many miles from where I reside.  I have been meaning to read these books for many years now.  The book is not short on action and the mystery is a page turner particularly towards the end of the story.  I feel like Krueger researched the Ojibwe people, customs and language well.  I think I liked the book as much as I did because it was rich in Native American culture and the majority of the book was spent outdoors in the northern winter landscape. 

Wisdom:  The priest drank and made a satisfied sound.  "Sure hits the spot, Cork."  He looked down where Cork sat on the folding canvas chair.  "Everything disappoints us sometimes.  Everybody disappoints us.  Men let women down, women let men down, ideals don't hold water.  And God doesn't seem to give a damn.  I can't speak for God, Cork, but I'll tell you what I think.  I think we expect too much.  Simple as that.  And the only thing that lets us down is our own expectation.  I used to pray to God for an easy life.  Now I pray to be a strong person.

My Recommendation:  Considering I just did a post on all of the series that I have not finished, one would think I would be cautious to start yet another series.  All true.  However, having given this a go, I will continue forward with this series.  But this is the last one, I promise!