| Title | : | Thunder Bay (Cork O'Connor, #7) |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 0743278410 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9780743278416 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Hardcover |
| Number of Pages | : | 288 |
| Publication | : | First published July 24, 2007 |
| Awards | : | Anthony Award Best Novel (2008), Dilys Award (2008) |
Thunder Bay (Cork O'Connor, #7) Reviews
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Thunder Bay (Cork O'Connor #7) by William Kent Krueger ( Author), David Chandler (Narrator)
Henry Meloux has been old for as long as Cork O'Connor has known him, which as been for over forty years. Now Henry, a medicine man, Cork's spiritual advisor, and as good a friend as a man could have, has asked Cork for help. At 90 years old, Henry wants to find his 70 year old son. Henry has never seen this son and no one told him he has a son but he knows he exists due to his visions and the brief time he spent loving his son's mother. This is Henry's story and I enjoyed learning the background of this long time, quiet, strong character.
Cork is a private investigator now and his search takes him to Thunder Bay, Ontario. The son wants nothing to do with anyone and it appears impossible to meet him face to face. Just trying to contact this man leads to bloodshed but Henry will not be put off from this quest. While Cork feels obligated to help Henry, who will go off on this mission alone, even if he has no help, things are not peaceful at home. Cork always seems to be pulled between family and work even though he's no longer a sheriff.
Published July 23rd 2019 by Recorded Books (first published July 24th 2007) -
A full five stars for this, possibly the best book in the series so far! At last Cork has achieved some work/ life balance and does not disappear into the wilderness leaving his family to manage major issues on their own.
Of course he does go into the wilderness, this time in Canada, and he does get involved in plenty of very exciting action centred around the wonderful Henry Meloux. However for once he manages to get home in time to support his family and do the right thing by them. It was all very comforting and there is a splendid last paragraph about love that demands to be read at least twice.
William Kent Krueger is an excellent writer and this is a very, very enjoyable book. -
We finally get Henry Meloux's story. He's the Ojibwe medicine man and Cork’s spiritual adviser who's been so mystical throughout this series. Apparently, he has a son that he's never met and asks Cork to help find him.
This was an absolute gem of a story. I was fascinated to learn Henry's origins and how he came to be living alone and reclusive in Aurora. It's Cork's first case as a private investigator and he shows some skills in pursuing Henry's son. There's lots of action (not necessariy involving Cork) and some significant events on the home front that dovetail into the themes related to Henry's life. It may be my imagination but it felt like a more mellow, contented Cork...a nice change of pace.
While I miss David Chandler as the narrator (he just lives as Cork in my head), Buck Schirner delivers a fine performance.
I keep waiting for this series to begin fading but after seven books, it just keeps going strong. It's one of my most favorite. -
”The biggest word in the human vocabulary has only four letters and no definition that’s ever been adequate. We love our dogs. We love our children. We love God and chocolate cake. We fall in love and fall out of love. We die for love and we kill for love. We can’t spend it. We can’t eat it when we’re starving or drink it when we’re dying of thirst. It’s no good against the bitter cold of winter, and even a cheap electric fan will do more for you on a hot summer day. But ask most human beings what they value above all else in this life and, five’ll get you ten, it’s love.”
I loved this book and will always see Henry in a different light now. I loved reading about him as a young man. We are shown love in many forms in this book: Stevie for Walleye, Jenny and Sean, Milou and Maria, Cork for Henry and we also see what happens when love is blocked or distorted. Another great addition to this series. -
3.5 Stars, rounded up
This book is really all about Henry Miloux, not Cork O'Connor. It delves into Henry's past and the son he's never met. It's a well told story but there really isn't much of a mystery here. And who is trying to kill Henry was apparent to me from an early stage.
I listened to this and the narrator did a wonderful job.
This might not be my favorite of the Cork O'Connor books, but it's still a well told tale. -
Once again, William Kent Krueger has provided me with many hours of extremely worthwhile reading. This is book number seven in the Cork O'Connor series and it was just as wonderfully done as the rest of the books I have read by this talented author. In this installment we get a rundown on Cork's friend Henry Miloux, and his heritage, as he and Cork endeavor to find, Henry's son. Henry is an old man, ninety years old, and even though he doesn't really know he has a son, he knows through his senses, his medicine man ways that his fathered a son all those seventy plus years ago. Henry also senses the need for his son to see his father, for Henry sees danger in the path of his son. Their investigation takes them to Ontario to Thunder Bay and as the story progresses, we learn in full Henry's love for a woman and of course their doomed love.
It's a thrilling story as soon the men are placed in a dangerous situation, many of them because they are ferreting out a story that some want forgotten. If Cork doesn't help Henry, he knows the ninety-year-old Henry will undertake this mission alone. Cork, is a newly turned private investigator, so he gets to hone his skills on this his very first mission.
The friendship of a forty-year duration between Cork and Henry, is one that brings a fine fascination to the story and Henry is a captivating character who needs to find his son. As the men travel to Thunder Bay their lives are in peril as they endeavor to connect with Henry's son using an old watch as a way to get closer to him. His son, is both reclusive and seems to have surrounded himself by guards who seem hell bent on protecting him. This is where the mystery comes into play as we wonder why there is this impossible fence surrounding his son, Henry Wellington.
Will the mysterious Henry Wellington get to see his father and will the men return unharmed to a new life that Cork with the love of his family is pursuing? Or will this end in tragedy with a father desperately placing himself in danger to achieve reaching his son?
I loved learning about Henry Miloux and the background of this man who lived alone and practiced the ways of his heritage. Of course Mr Krueger's writing is impeccable and the flow of the story is fabulous. -
This should have been stronger (end) and more positive. 7 of 10 stars
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Meloux’s story. Finally.
Possibly my favorite character in the entire Cork O’Connor universe—I have been hoping we would get the story of the old Mide—and here it is, and Krueger delivered in spades.
Henry Meloux has been an ever-present character throughout the entire Cork O’Connor series, and he is always a welcome friend when he shows up. He is a wise old Ojibwe man who has been somewhat of a mystery throughout the series. Nobody, including Henry himself, knows his real age but he’s, at this point, likely somewhere around 85. The book starts with Henry in the hospital asking Cork to help him locate his long lost son. Soon after the main plot starts, we are treated to an extended flashback sequence where we finally get the story of Henry as a boy, and it was every bit as good as I had hoped. He was the perfect mix of hard, realistic, smart and compassionate. Krueger is able to handle a character, a wise old American Indian man, in a way that always feels genuine and respectful. With something like this, the quality of the writing comes into play big time; even with good intentions, a character like Henry could quickly become cartoonish and insulting stereotype in the hands of a lesser skilled writer. Throughout the first 7 books, of which Henry Meloux appears in all to varying degrees, Krueger never allows this to happen. Granted, I’m just a corny white guy. I mean, I literally play the banjo and bluegrass music. But this character has always felt well-done, I have been a Henry fan since day one, and this installment just made me love him more.
This is my favorite book in the series so far, easily (though I’m sure I’ve said that before). This was very close to on par with Krueger’s best work, including Ordinary Grace. As is often the case with this series, Krueger switches up his approach and writing style, this time opting to tell the main story in first person from Cork’s point of view, and I think it works wonderfully. Also, the character of Maurice is an absolutely wonderful addition to Henry’s story.
Overall, another classic by Krueger. Masterful storytelling, the best characters, wonderfully painted settings and written straight from the heart. This is precisely why Krueger continues to stand high above the rest in this genre. -
Starts out well, then for some reason, Krueger has made both Cork and Jo stupid. It's insulting, really.
Tons of "TV family" melodrama, leaden dialogue, shallow characters, and cartoon action. From 28% on, I skimmed to the end. Dull, dull, dull soap opera. This is just as bad as book #3, Purgatory Ridge.
I think I'm done with Krueger. Each book contains less lyrical prose, and more stupid plotting and dull dialogue. And everywhere Cork goes now, innocent people die. Stay home, you dork.
...
Saving graces, lyrical exposition, wonderful:
Wow, what a Great first line!
The promise, as I remember it, happened this way.
The first chapter of this book is exactly why I read Krueger.
... and on first page ...
Iron Lake is glass. East, it mirrors the peach-colored dawn. West, it still reflects the hard bruise of night. Tall pines, dark in the early morning light, make a black ragged frame around the water. The dock’s old, weathered, the wood gone fuzzy, flaking gray. The boards sag under my weight, groan a little.
.....
Now we’re alone on the lake—me, Schanno, and a couple of loons fifty yards to our right diving for breakfast. The sun creeps above the trees. Suddenly everything has color. We breathe in the scent of evergreen and clean water and the faint fish odor coming from the bottom of Schanno’s boat. Half an hour and we haven’t said a word. The only sounds are the sizzle of line as we cast, the plop of the lures hitting water, and the occasional cry of the loons. I’m happy to be there on that August morning. Happy to be fishing, although I hold no hope of catching anything. Happy to be sharing the boat and the moment with a man like Schanno.
....
Nights when I cannot sleep and the demons of my past come to torment me, the promise I made to Wally Schanno that fine August morning is always among them.
....
Thinking about why Krueger's dialogue so often irritates me, I have to imagine that Cork thinks just like Krueger - both are a bit immature.
Cork stumbles around, asking questions without any sense or care of the repercussions. You must consider Why Cork is a detective... Why does he pursue the solutions to the mysteries? Why is he so driven regardless of consequences? His is really a very selfish pursuit, the way he goes about it.
Is Cork a hero like Bosch, Marlowe, Hammer or even Spenser? I don't think so, but I love him anyway, in spite of Krueger's abuse.
....
... and of course nothing's simple in a Cork story. More and more, Krueger writes him as a careless bull in a china shop. It's getting tiresome that Cork's so stupid... And that Krueger abuses us this way.
...
OMG are they stupid. Cork and Jo. Why would Kreuger cut 20 points off their IQ?
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How does he do it. I listen to a few minutes of this book and I'm hooked--don't want to stop. It helps that Ive read the books about Cork O'Connor; so it's like getting back in touch with an old friend. I like the connection with Native American culture that is in Krueger's books. In this one it is a major part of the plot. Henry Meloux, friend and aged spiritual advisor seems to be dying, and he asks Cork to go on a quest for him. In a flashback, we learn about the early life of Meloux and the reason for the quest. There is danger involved and anxious moments. Also, Cork and His wife have to deal with some family problems during this same period. All in all, another. Very good chapter in O'Connors life.
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We finally get the back story of Henry Meloux, the Ojibwe Mide who has been a father figure to Cork. Henry reveals a pretty big secret, but that's not Cork's only surprise [looking at you, Jenny].
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I listened to the audiobook with Simon. We enjoyed learning the story of one of our favorite characters, Henry Meloux.
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Henry Meloux has been a great friend to Cork O’Connor for as long as he can remember. The medicine man and spiritual advisor has helped Cork on more than one occasion so when Henry asks Cork to find his son, Cork although shocked, agrees. Cork knows next to nothing about the old man’s history although he has known him for many years. Henry’s story was so interesting, especially since he has never seen or met his son. He learned he had a son through one of his visions.
It turns out that his son is a very wealthy and well-known industrialist living in Thunder Bay, Canada. Now a private investigator, Cork learns that the son, Henry Wellington, is seventy-two years old and a very reclusive widower who does not see anyone.
I very much enjoyed learning about Henry Meloux’s history. This story as well as the rest of book and the mystery involving the Wellingtons was quite intriguing. I listened to this via Audible and the narrator, David Chandler, did an excellent job telling the story, both from Henry’s perspective as well as Cork’s. I gave this great story by Krueger four stars. -
Another great entry in the Cork series. I found this one to be a bit lighter in tone (a good thing in my book!), but always interesting with the Ojibwe culture and Northern Minnesota angles.
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How does he keep doing this? William Kent Krueger just gets better and better.
Proof? He had me laughing AND tearing up at the end.
Highly recommend.
Note: some language and brief reference to sexual incidents--all handled well as usual. -
Writing reviews for books by William Kent Krueger is getting boring. I'm tempted to automate it by rating them 5 stars and writing "great book". Not because I'm lazy, but because it's not easy for me to verbalize why I like his writing so much. The stories are good, but not really outstanding. I guess the real draw are the characters. There are so many I'd like to meet, and to be friends with. Even if I had to live in Minnesota to do so, although this one was mostly in Canada, which isn't that different in a lot of ways. The books make me see that people are what makes life interesting, not good cell phone coverage and fast internet. Those things are just poor substitutes.
If you are a fan, you know this already. Also, if you are a fan, you will want to read this one, because it tells a lot about one of the more interesting recurring characters, Henry Meloux. He had quite an interesting and unusual life. That life is the subject of this book, and Henry is the main character.
There's also a bit of drama in Cork's family life, but that's just a side issue - so far, at least.
I was tempted to continue on to the next book in the series, but I decided to slow down so I'd have something to look forward to as I get near the end of available books in the series. -
Another excellent Cork O'Connor Book. This is one of my favorite series.
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This is another great book by Krueger. I was enthralled with Henry Meloux's life story. Cork's family continues to change and evolve. I'm looking forward to the next book to see what the future holds.
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Every time I read a book in the series I can't put it down. Another excellent addition to the Cork O'Connor series.
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William Kent Krueger's
Cork O'OConnor series comprise a series of stories set in Aurora Minnesota, an area of the country of which I'm blatantly ignorant. Frankly, in reading the reviews of this setting I managed to barely stifle a yawn. Small town mysteries set in a frozen wasteland? With boring backgrounds that involve Indian supernatural folklore - I don't stomach mysteries that resort to such subterfuge, avoid beyond this world explanations when the genre is detective/mystery, decry irrational explanations of the crime which to me defeat the whole purpose of reading the damn book (unless of course you are
Michael Gruber and you're reading the
Jimmy Paz series - yeah, I'll read anything Gruber puts out there!) - boring red neck characters (is there such a thing as a Minnesota red neck?), small town corruption and politics, incompetent forensics and pathologists, petty motivations,and what not. Needless to say, I wasn't thrilled.
And yet: In 2005 and 2006,
Krueger won back to back Anthony Awards for best novel - a feat only matched by one other writer since the award's inception. Normally, as this
essay so eloquently states, I don't ascribe to popularity, or the NYT Best Sellers list as those manuscripts inevitably disappoint but where it comes to mystery/detective awards, the final vote is usually something I can go for. And, as I was in a hurry and needed something to download to my Kindle, fully prepared to read yet another book full of flat characters, resigned myself to boring ethnographic descriptions, I said: "Screw it, let's give Mr. Krueger a try."
I found myself marveling at this author's delicate handling and knowledge of the very thing that made me not want to read it: The spiritual undertones and affectations that guide human beings (which I am interested in) but that can come loose at the seams when bordering on superstition and surreal explorations. That he does this through the juxtaposition of Catholicism and the folklore and beliefs of the Anishinaabeg, or "Original People", and that he does so by fusing that carefully within the storyline so that it never seems gratuitous, over played, or cause the outcome to be dependent on irrationality is masterful. Nice! As Mr. Krueger says:
"In the mysteries that I write, I often deal with the whole question of the spiritual journey. It’s always intrigued me. I’ve never believed in the Christian view of heaven. But I certainly believe in eternal life. It’s a belief that goes back to a
black and white film I saw in a grungy movie theater when I was too young for all the esoteric considerations of the afterlife. It’s amazing, isn’t it, the things that can change your life."
In terms of the Anishinaabeg Mr. Krueger is careful to not enforce the stereotype to which most have come to:
[...]If you read my stories, please don’t read them as ethnography. The Anishinaabeg are far more complex culturally, rich historically, and textured spiritually, than I will ever be able to adequately portray in my writing. But if I’m able to give you a sense of the admiration I feel for them, then I’ve succeeded.
This book reminds me of my boyhood heroes. In the Netherlands where I was born, it wasn't cops and robbers we played while kids:it was cowboy and indians; my fictional heroes were Winnetou and Old Shatterhand a YA series published in the Netherlands but not available in the states. Krueger manages to convey the Native American culture spanning centuries, on into modern day America, in such a way so as to recall my boyhood dreams. There are terrifying moments, men bound to trees and being tortured, honor among killers, and dishonor and deceit within ordinary people.
As to Cork O'Connor the hero in this series. As most who read my reviews know, I thoroughly enjoy the loner as heroic, a man or woman who understands that despite social conventions (often designed to hide facing this) man is essentially alone, a creature running around on this planet with (hopefully) purpose. And, as most also know, I despise flat characters (
Vince Flynn comes to mind - sorry, Leon!). Cork is the former, not the latter. As a father I understand the inexplicable guilt one feels towards one's children upon facing divorce. And as a father I have come to admire, as Cork does, the resiliency children have to overcome such a situation and make the best of it (far better managed than us adults!). Everything is about juxtaposition. Cork O'Conner is a man who believes in justice, not as meted out by often corrupt law enforcement, but the justice of not denying reality, the justice of truth. When Cork sets his mind to resolving a mystery that to others seems clear cut, ready to be put to rest, he is like a rabid dog unwilling to lessen the vice like grip of his jaws no matter what the consequences to himself and those he loves. We feel his struggle with morality, his disappointment with an almighty being, and yet feel his empirical longing for a peace that the world has consigned to other worldly systems. Cork is, forever, the man in between.
The plot is superb. The writing carefully edited so as to give us a straight mystery detective while infusing us with a pleasurable knowledge of Aurora, it's inhabitants, and the evil that belies even the most tranquil of locations.
Yeah, I liked it! And, the usual disclaimer, if you've read this review of one of the O'Connor series, you've read 'em all. Good reading! -
BOOK REVIEW: Thunder Bay by William Kent Krueger
Series: Cork O'Connor Mystery Series | Book 7
Publication Date: 2007
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐
T.I.M.E. Favorite Books To Read
T.I.M.E. Recommended Books By Genre | Thriller
CONNECT WITH THIS BOOK | T.I.M.E. SIMPLE LIVING TIP
Trust your inner voice... ✨😎✨
T.I.M.E. Book Review: My ongoing love affair with the Cork O'Connor Mystery Series continues with Book 7!... Great audiobook choice too. Just make sure you start the series with Book 1... Skipping ahead will definitely handicap your reading experience... ✨😎✨
Pages: 292
Genre: Thriller
Sub-Genre: Mystery Series
Time Period: Present Day
Location: Minnesota | Boundary Waters Region
IF YOU LIKE THIS BOOK THEN TRY…
Book: Cork O'Connor Series by William Kent Krueger (Read in order!)
TV Series: Wallander
--------------------
All my book reviews can be seen at This Is My Everybody | Simple Living | Denise Wilbanks at
https://thisismyeverybody.com/blog/wh... -
When Henry Meloux, Ojibwe medicine man and longtime friend, asks Cork to locate his long lost son how can he refuse? The search leads to Thunder Bay, Ontario--to a remote island inhabited by a well-known recluse named Wellington, who clearly wants nothing to do with his Native American father. But Henry has had visions and is stubbornly convinced his son needs him. Cork has no choice but to take him up to Canada, despite an attempt on Henry's life and the suspicion that Wellington is probably behind it.
I enjoyed this one and didn't mind at all that much of the book is spent relating Henry's history. There's also a nice balance of action and intertwining family themes between Henry's story and Cork's. -
An excellent entry in the series. I love Henry Meloux and it was great to get his backstory.
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Notes:
Yay for libraries!
Sadly, I found out that my library only has up to #9 of the series. At least I can read up to #9! =)
I'm reading the series with a group of friends. After the first few books, I stopped reading the blurbs. Imagine my delight when I realized that this book was focused on Henry. I enjoy the Native American aspects of the stories the most.
I don't consider the cases to be much of a mystery in the series. It's a plot device to draw out different elements. I really enjoyed the journey that was presented in this one.
#7 is the current fav out of the series for me. -
This continues to be one of my favorite series.
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I've started this series at book 7 on accident. You see, I received this book for free from my library as part of a summer reading program they do every year. Despite starting somewhere other than book one, I don't really feel like I missed much of anything. A lot of the time that's how mystery series work anyway. There were a few incidents referenced that I didn't understand the background to but it wasn't essential to the plot so they were easily forgotten.
All that being said, this was okay at best. The main character, Corcoran O'Connor, is a retired police officer and newly registered personal investigator. His first job is to find the unknown son of a local medicine (Mide) man named Henry. To do this, he has no problem trespassing and breaking and entering to achieve this goal since Henry's son is an apparent recluse. He's okay with doing it because he promised Henry and believes him, the law be damned. Let me mention that there isn't much actual detective work. Most of the information is collected through dreams or visions that Henry has had followed by minimum internet research.
The best part of the story was the part that had nothing to do with the MC whatsoever. It's the tale that Henry regales him with about how he came to have a son that he's never met and it goes back to his youth on the reservation. This is the only part of the book that is truly interesting as it dates back to the Canadian gold rush and highlights how Native Americans were treated by whites in those times. I mean, we all know how they were treated but it was the only part of the book that felt real. Otherwise, there wasn't anything likable about the MC or his family, other than his lonely son who just needed a damn doggy friend.
In conclusion, I've read a hundred mysteries that were better than this. It wasn't bad it just wasn't anything special. -
This reader was enthralled with this story. The author's writing flows wonderfully, and displays his affection for his characters. While Cork O'Connor is the main protagonist in this mystery series, this story belongs to Henry Meloux, one of the supporting characters in the previous books and one of this reader's favorite characters in this series.
This is ostensibly a mystery, and readers who enjoy mysteries will enjoy this one, but this reader found that this is more of a story of the different facets and power of love. Cork tells the reader, "There's no adequate measure of the human spirit, no scale to weight the courage of the human heart. Just when you think you've plumbed the depth, dredged the last bucketful from the well, you discover how wrong you are." The story delivers on this theme so well that readers can enjoy this story without having read any of the other books in this series.
This reader's affection for the author's writing style & the characters the author has created, the focus on Henry, and the way the author explores love accounts for my high rating.
Cork O'Connor sums up this story best with his rumination, "The biggest word in the human vocabulary has only four letter and no definition that's ever been adequate. We love our dogs. We love our children. We love God and chocolate cake. We fall in love and fall out love. We die for love and we kill for love. We can't spend it. We can't eat it when we're starving or drink it when we're dying of thirst. It's no good against the bitter cold of winter, and even a cheap electric fan will do more for you on a hot summer day. But ask most human beings what they value above all else in this life and, five'll get you ten, it's love." -
Cork O'Conner has just retired as Sherif of Aurora, Minnesota to spend more time with his family. Daughter, Jenny, actually does seem to need more attention as she has decisions to make now that she's graduated from high school. But Cork's good friend, Henry Meloux, the Ojibwe medicine man, asks Cork to help him fine his son whom he's never seen. Cork never knew that he had a son, and that son is now 73 years old, so he wonders at the sudden need to find him. This story goes from present day, to the 1920's to tell Henry's story, back to the present again. When someone tries to kill Henry today, the mystery grows.
I have thoroughly enjoyed every one of these Cork O'Conner western mysteries. The inner connection between all the peoples in that area have added much to these mysteries. Cork is such a complex character as sherif, family man, park Ojibwe and part white, and outdoorsman. Kruger's writing is spectacular, setting scenery that sets me right there in my immagination. I listened to this on Audible and highly recommend it. -
This one was a 3.5 for me - I enjoyed getting some history on Henry Meloux (fans of course know who this is), but I thought this book lacked a bit of the "heebie jeebies" that Copper River and others did - but on the flip side, I also thought that Krueger really came into his own with descriptive writing and I was glad to once again be AWAY from Aurora, MN!! This is definitely a fabulous series of books. Onto the next! I could've done without the part with Jenny (no spoilers) and get kind of annoyed with the Catholic references and obvious POV of the author (clear feelings on gun control, abortion, etc! GOT IT!) but again - still a fast-paced read.
