William Kent Krueger's FOX CREEK is an unfortunately weak entry in his long-running series. While the premise and setting (a life-or-death chase through the Boundary Waters) ought to provide Krueger to do what he does best, instead, the book quickly becomes a morass. Shifting points of view repeat the same information, and the chunks of dialogue recur again and again--it almost feels as though no one read this book before it was published. While the ending is suspenseful, it is resolved too easily (and some threats turn out not to have been threats at all).

My thanks to Atria Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read Fox Creek by William Kent Krueger. Mr.Krueger is one of the finest writers writing today. Fox Creek is the latest in a series which focuses on important and timely matters, while also embracing matters of timelessness. His prose is poetic, his characters appealing. I love this series.

Wow! I loved this book! It is a riveting, twisting mystery with a plot not fully revealed until the end. While the mystery kept me turning pages, it is the characters that William Kent Kruger has created, and the way he weaves the mystical beliefs and troubled history of mistreatment of indigenous people, into the plot that make this such an amazing book. It is told by multiple narrators throughout, each with their own perspective on the unraveling mystery. The writing is brilliant and very topical. Be sure to read the author's notes at the end! I did receive an advanced copy of the book from Atria Publishers, the author, and Netgalley, and I am extremely glad that I did!

“Fox Creek” by William Kent Krueger, Atria Books, 400 pages, Aug. 23, 2002.

Henry Meloux had a vision of his death. The Ojibwe healer is over 100 years old. He is still able to walk in the Northwoods.

Former sheriff Cork O’Connor is now a private investigator. He also owns and operates a food stand. A stranger, Louis Morriseau, wants Cork to find his wife, Dolores, who has been missing for a week. Morriseau, who knows nothing about Meloux, thinks his wife is having an affair with him. She has gone to Meloux for shelter and advice. Cork takes the case to keep Morriseau off Henry’s back.

Cork’s wife, Rainy Bisonette, is helping Meloux at his home in Crow Point. Rainy is Henry’s great niece. But when Cork shows Dolores the photo he took of her husband, she says that isn’t him. Cork returns home, but when Rainy doesn’t come home for dinner, he goes back to Henry’s. Henry and the two women are not there.

Cork meets up with Morriseau’s brother, Anton, and they go looking for Henry and the women. They soon realize that three men are also tracking them. And the three men leave a trail “that any idiot can see.” As snow begins falling, Cork is afraid he won’t be able to save those he loves. He knows that it’s now up to Henry to save Rainy and Dolores.

This is the 19th in one of my favorite series. It is one of the best. The characters are complex and well-formed. The setting is almost idyllic. It is an excellent mystery with in-depth cultural details of an oft-ignored community. I never would have guessed the reason behind why the mercenaries are looking for Morriseau.

In accordance with FTC guidelines, the advance reader's edition of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for a review.

I loved William Kent Krueger's latest novel, Fox Creek, I've read every one of his books - the standalones and his entire Cork O'Connor series and this novel is up to and even exceeded his excellent standards. It was fast-paced and exciting. It kept me on the edge of my seat and up late at night reading. Krueger uses multiple POVs, which lends a sense of immediacy to the book. I love his characters and plots. I especially loved Stephen's story and hope the author continues to develop it in future books. Kent Krueger is my favorite author and I know when I read one of his books it will never disappoint. Keep these excellent, highly recommended novels coming.

I always look forward to the next Kent Krueger book. Cork is back in this one.

A man comes to Sam's Place and says he's looking for his wife. She's gotten into this "Indian" thing and was looking for an old man that she was trying to visit. With him arousing Cork's suspicion, he says he'll look into it. After the man leaves, Cork heads to Crow Point to visit Henry. With Henry is Rainy (Cork's wife) and Delores, the missing wife.

The next day, Henry feeling unsettled tells the women that they must go into the woods. This sets off the chase (not really, they're walking). A group of men are tracking Henry, Rainy and Delores. Why?

The suspense keeps building. With Kent's history of killing off characters, that makes it even more suspenseful. The chapters alternate between Rainy, Cork, the tracker with the group of men and Stephen who is doing some sleuthing of his own.

Another excellent book with a satisfying conclusion. No more...I've given enough spoilers.

Huge thanks to Atria Books, as well as to NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review an early copy of Fox Creek!!.

How I love the heart and soul found in this series! Fox Creek is #18 in this series that never gets old: Cork O’Connor. This time out, hunters fill the Boundary Waters woods seeking a woman who had come to healer, ancient Ojibwe Henry Meloux, for the gift of his wisdom. Cork, ex-sheriff, and a man of mixed heritage, works feverishly to identify the hunters and the reason for their relentless pursuit.

The author has a way of delving into Native philosophies and mysticisms that I NEVER tire of reading about. Mr. Krueger is also rather brilliant at consistently providing the reader with riveting, nail-biting plots!! I've found every earlier book in the series to be engrossing, and Fox Creek is definitely no exception.

This book can be read as a stand-alone but I highly recommend starting at the beginning of this fascinating series!

It is always a gift to read a William Kent Krueger book and I am beyond grateful to read this one. If you've not read any books in the series featuring Cork O'Connor, you can still read and enjoy this (and if you've ever read a Louise Penny Inspector Gamache book, it's very much in the same vein). Beautifully written characters bringing light to past and current (and future) atrocities done to indigenous peoples while highlighting the consistent theme of how we are connected via the land/earth and our greed to control it will eventually be our demise. There's always hope for redemption in these books and that light is what makes the surrounding darkness and sadness bearable.

This is a fast paced geo political mystery, rooted in native culture and appreciation. It's also extremely timely and I hope does not predict a future of the war for resources.

Bravo, another great read by William Kent Kruger. Thank you NetGalley for the early preview, the publisher Atria Books. And of course the author for the Cork series. The characters are so richly written, healer Henry, Corks wife, The tension in the novel is intense and so intriguing. Thinking it is over the ending just ballon’s into an overwhelming suspenseful ending. I enjoy the Indian traditions and the local towns by me.. Edina Tamarack can’t wait for the next Cork book!

Only in the last year have I come to know and love the writings of William Kent Krueger, first reading his stand alone novels, then last years Lightning Strike. So I was excited to read Fox Creek although I hadn’t read any of the adult Cork O’Connor series. It didn’t matter. This is the same brilliant, descriptive, character driven novel I’ve come to know and love.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an e ARC of this book.
Superb action thriller with well developed, likeable characters and a plot that keeps you reading. Love the major characters and I hope they return soon.

William Kent Krueger delivers a winner of a thriller in Fox Creek. It's been 4 years since Desolation Mountain came out and ended with it's cliffhanger of Stephen and Henry sharing the realization that they had shared visions of Henry's death. In the book only several monthes have passed and everyone is increasingly worried about Henry except for, of course, Henry who is increasingly disappearing for extended periods of time into the woods around his cabin. When Cork O'Connor is visited by a man apparently seeking his wayward wife, he finds himself drawn into a conspiracy that could just be what leads to Henry's prophecized death.

This book was fantastic. It was so good to get to spend sometime with the O'Connor clan on Gooseberry Lane and this book was a great reunion with the whole cast after FOUR years of not getting to do so. Krueger's characters are as fantastic as always. Cork remains his sorta curmudgeoney self but Krueger continues to let him grow and adapt which is something that is all too rare of thriller writers these days.

The supporting cast (Henry, Rainey, Stephen, etc.) is also great. After Desolation Mountain I was a little concerned that Kreuger would relinquish Stephen to just being a background character but Stephen is once again given a viewpoint perspective in this book and it's probably my favorite portion of the book. Rainey and a mysterious new character named LeLoup are also given viewpoint perspectives and both of these sections are fantastic as well. The only real complaint I have with the book (which is very very minor) is that there wasn't a single mention of Annie in the entire book and as she is my favorite member of the O'Connor clan I argue that if she's not given a viewpoint perspective in the next book, I'll be very sad.

I would also be remiss if I didn't mention that I've missed so much Krueger's loving descriptions of Tamarack County and Northern Minnesota. No one in the thriller business is as great in breathing life to his settings as Krueger and if it's another four years until I get to spend time with the O'Connors it'll be way too long.

I loved this book and I'm so thankful that Atria Books gave me an galley copy through NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. This book is probably my favorite book of 2022 alongside John Connolly's The Furies (September 2022).

Fox Creek is the latest the line of Cork O"Connor novels . Where the last novel is set in the past, this book is set in the present. The author departs from his usual writing method and tells this mystery/ adventure as personal points of view from the characters as the story progresses. The author delivers multiple stories within the main story line.    
 
Henry, Rainy, and a mystery woman are missing . Soon strangers show up asking where is Henry? When Cork goes to investigate he finds Henry’s cabin empty and all tracks have been swept clean. Now Cork and family come to action to solve the mysterious disappearance.  Lively Adventure! Could not put it down!

Fox Creek by William Kent Krueger
Rating: Stared Review

Summary: Long time great character Cork O’Conner is back in Aurora working the hamburger stand as summer is about to bloom in the North woods of the great Minnesota forests. Cork is approached by a man asking for help finding his wife who seemingly left him. Corks asks his good friend Henry and finds out the women is with him in the process of a “sweat” Things come together quickly as the women is being hunted by a group of men looking for her husband and the chase throughout the beautiful north Minnesota woods ensues.

Comments: Kent Krueger is a peer storyteller and at his finest once again. This is still at book 19 ago to must read series. Fantastic.

Wowza, the tension in this novel is intense and aided by the unique structuring of the story (which I disliked at first). Not until the book is nearly over does the novel reveal what and whys of all the hullabaloo. Quite an unusual format for a Cork O'Connor book but it really works for this one. Not wanting to give away the ending, I'll just say it sounds quite plausible and I'm glad there are people who fight for the greater good instead for greed.