This was an easy to read and easy to follow. It is part of a long standing series but I was able to jump right in. Told a bit in the present, as a former cop decides to pursue a possible wrongful conviction, someone he put in jail years before, 25 yrs and was uncertain about it. His son asks him to reinvestigate. This was a short segment, followed by the bulk of the book back in the past, leading up to the murder and conviction. Then jumps back to present as the case continues.

Apostle’s Cove, the newest installment in William Kent Krueger’s long-running Cork O’Connor series, was my first foray into Krueger’s work — and it’s a gripping, thoughtful mystery from start to finish.

The novel finds former sheriff Cork O’Connor facing a haunting case from his past. Days before Halloween and his sixtieth birthday, Cork receives a call from his son, Stephen, who now works with a nonprofit advocating for the wrongly incarcerated. Stephen believes that Axel Boshey, an Ojibwe man Cork helped convict for murder two decades ago, may have been innocent. Reluctantly, Cork begins to reexamine the case, only to discover that not everyone in Tamarack County wants the truth brought to light — and some may kill to keep it buried.

While this is my first O’Connor book, Krueger makes it easy to jump into the series. He smoothly provides enough backstory to orient new readers without slowing the plot. That said, the book does juggle a large cast of characters and multiple timelines, which can occasionally be hard to track — a challenge perhaps amplified by my lack of familiarity with previous books. The pacing also fluctuates; some chapters pulse with tension, while others linger in quieter, less urgent scenes.

Still, Apostle’s Cove shines in its emotional depth and its nuanced portrayal of a man torn between duty, guilt, and justice. Krueger’s deep care for his characters and setting is evident throughout. Cork, part Irish and part Ojibwe, is a compelling guide through the complexities of a community shaped by both culture and conflict. His ties to the reservation and the broader Tamarack County give the novel a rich sense of place and purpose.

Despite a few pacing issues, Apostle’s Cove is a strong, reflective mystery — one that balances crime-solving with conscience. Whether you’re a longtime fan or a newcomer like me, it’s well worth your time.

I want to start off by saying a big Thank you to Atria Books, William Kent Kruger, and NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Having read Ordinary Grace as my first WKK book recently, I knew this was an author I needed to read more of. I immediately read the rest of his stand alone novels and loved them all. When I saw Apostle's Cove come up I immediately requested it and was shocked to have been selected. Little did I know at the time that this was book #21 in the Cork O'Connner Series....... After this amazing story, that works well as a stand alone, since I have not read any of the other books in this series, I feel I need to get them all.

Great story. Great characters. Great writing.

William Kent Krueger has now been added to the instant buy list.

I've only read a few of the novels in the Cork O'Connor series, but they truly stand alone so well that I didn't feel as though I missed much jumping right in. Detective Cork O'Connor reopens a case from early in his career; he believes a man was wrongfully imprisoned for murder. It's a slow burn and dissects complex family dynamics, reservation life (and the horrifying treatment of the indigenous population by the justice system), and impossible choices.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

For readers who are unfamiliar with the Cork O' Connor series, this book, #21 is the perfect entry point because it reopens one of Cork's first murder cases as sheriff of Tamarack County, Minnesota. It is told in dual timelines with part one being 25 years ago which happens to be the start of the series.
The prologue opens in current day and Cork believes he sent the wrong person to prison for the murder of Chasity Boshey. Her husband, Axel Boshey was sent to prison for life without parole because all of the evidence lead to him. Now, new evidence is presented that the wrong man was sent to prison, and Cork has the case reopened. I loved the host of characters from part one. We get to know Cork and his family and the people he surrounds himself with. In part two, the crime is relived and we discover who actually killed Chasity. We also get to see these characters and how they've grown in present day.
As always, I enjoyed William Kent Krueger's style of writing. He paints a vivid picture of the small town and the deep culture of the Ojibwe people.
I loved that it is told in two parts and the timelines do not bounce back and forth every few chapters.

Investigating an old case puts Cork and his daughter in danger. No one is as they seem and the recounting of the murder of a young pregnant woman brings more questions to mind. Good resolution and furthers the reader’s impression that Cork O’Connor is destined for more installments in this series.

I've been a big fan of this series from the start, primary for the characters Cork and Henry. I'm not sure why this I didn't like this book but I didn't/don't. Despite multiple attempts to finish it I couldn't even get to 50%, which is unusual for me. Perhaps the storylines seemed too familiar or perhaps repetitive -- blame the drunk guy? Regardless, I appreciate the publisher granting me a chance to review one of my favorite authors and I regret this one was a rare DNF.

Apostle's Cove is book #21 in the Cork O'Connor series. I have only read a handful of books by William Kent Krueger. I didn't feel lost by missing most of the books in the Cork O'Connor series and jumping into book #21.

The first part of the book rehashes a prior case from decades earlier by Cork O'Connor, it looks likely that someone went to prison when they never quite got the right person. (I kept wondering when I read if there was a prior book in the series ... or not. But since it wasn't familiar to me, it didn't really matter. If there had been a prior book and I had read it, I wonder how I would have felt. I have a book by William Kent Krueger that was given to me by a friend. I keep starting it, but it seems so familiar. I think I read it, but didn't indicate it on GoodReads. And I can't quite get myself to re-read this other book ... as I'm rarely in the mood for a re-read.)

The second part of the book picks up in the present day when Cork begins reinvestigating the case.

Some interesting characters. I liked the young boy in the second half of the book. I'll probably look for more books in the series because I like the little guy (and especially his excitement over Halloween).

Many thanks to NetGalley and Atria Publishers for approving my request to read the advance review copy of Apostle's Cove in exchange for an honest review. Publication date is Sept 2, 2025; approx 336 pages.

This book is broken into two parts. The first part tells the story of how Cork investigated the brutal murder of Chastity and how her husband the went to jail for it. Axel admitted to killing her but Cork never felt that was the truth.

Twenty years later the crime has resurfaced and Cork agrees to look into it again.

This book has a lot of different dynamics at play, with affairs, drugs, and abuse. It's not particularly uplifting and somewhat slow.

Book 21 in the popular Cork O’Connor mystery series, taking place in rural Minnesota where O’Connor was once Sheriff. Part Anishinaabe Indian and part Irish, and previously a cop on Chicago’s South Side, in this book, O’Connor looks back at a case where he may have put the wrong man behind bars. Engaging, colorful, appealing characters. A little more filler than I like (or maybe the filler just wasn’t that interesting to me) but a good entertaining read.

The next installment of the Cork O'Conner mysteries doesn't disappoint. Revisiting an old case, Cork must dig deep to see if the wrong man was convicted. Will appeal to all mystery lovers even if this is their first read in the series.

I’ve read all of the author’s books, and I must admit, I’m starting to prefer their standalone novels to this series. The action is thrilling and fast-paced, but it’s beginning to feel a bit repetitive. Overall, it’s still a pretty enjoyable read, but maybe I’ve become accustomed to this genre. Thanks to NetGalley for the advance copy!

A new William Kent Krueger novel is always cause for celebration. That's especially true when it's a Cork O’Connor mystery. O'Connor, along with Walt Longmire, has been the best sheriff in the genre since his debut in Iron Lake. While Cork is no longer the sheriff of Tamarack County, Apostle's Cove is a reminder he's still got plenty of great adventures for readers to enjoy. Krueger has crafted another terrific thriller as Cork has the rare opportunity to right a wrong. Apostle's Cove centers around an incident which took place when Cork was a young sheriff. It seemed to be an open and shut case, but was it? Krueger does a great job of presenting both the original investigation and the revisited one. It's a fascinating glimpse into the past and present Cork O'Connor. Of course, no Tamarack County book would exist without the great supporting cast that populate the series. O'Connor has never walked alone and Apostle's Cove is a strong reminder of that fact. This is a winning addition to a legendary series. I'm already looking forward to Cork O'Connor #22. Thank you to Atria Books for the advance reading copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

I’ve read almost all of William Kent (“Kent”) Krueger’s Cork O’Connor mysteries and plus his stand-alone novels. I am always excited when he writes a new one. So, I was thrilled to receive Apostle’s Cove, number 21 in the O’Connor series, as an ARC. While not my favorite, it still has plenty to offer.

It’s late October, just a few nights before Halloween, and Cork is ruing the approach of his 60th birthday when his son Stephen calls with a request. He’s working as an intern for a nonprofit group that examines evidence in old criminal cases and seeks to overturn wrongful convictions if there is new evidence. Stephen reminds his father of the first major crime he investigated after he became sheriff. He pushes, saying he is convinced that an innocent man was sent to prison. There’s a catch, however. The man, an Ojibwe named Axel Boshey, had confessed to the murder.

Twenty-five years earlier, Boshey’s wife had been found bludgeoned to death in her home. Her husband was nowhere to be found, but there was strong evidence implicating him. He located, arrested, and questioned. He claimed to have little memory of the events of that night, which was not surprising, since he was a known alcoholic. Nevertheless, Cork did his due diligence. He questioned others. There were gaps in Boshey’s story, and there were other suspects. Because of his drinking and the problems in the marriage, Boshey stood out as a strong suspect. Still, Cork was not 100% convinced, even after the man vehemently confessed.

The story alternates between the past and the present. O’Connor interviews many of the locals, those who knew the victim and the suspect. When Stephen calls, Cork is now retired and working as a private investigator. He accesses the old records and attempts to question some of the old witnesses. His daughter, Jenny, accompanies him as “Watson” to his “Sherlock.”

As usual, Krueger throws in some typical O’Connor family life – in the time when Cork is re-visiting the investigation: daughter Jenny, husband Daniel, and her son, Aaron Smalldog, known as Waaboo (“Little Rabbit)In the past time period: his sister-in-law Rose, children, and his late wife Jo who was the attorney who represents Alex Boshey – yes, they managed do their jobs even though they were working for opposite sides, more or less, in those days. And of course, no book would be complete without the wise, Henry Meloux, past and present. Waaboo is excited about Halloween, but he also senses the return of the Windigo, and the entire family fears for Cork and Jenny as they hunt for the person who may be the true killer.

Could it be true? Could an innocent man have been sitting in prison all those years? Axel Boshey is a different man from the one who entered prison a quarter century earlier. He has a purpose now, and he’s not sure he wants to leave, even if he’s cleared of the crime that put him there. But to Corcoran O’Connor, this is about justice. Will justice prevail?

As in all of Krueger’s books, this is a character-driven novel with Cork at the center. He has a strong moral compass, and this time, he’s confused. He’s unsure of the signs, and he repeatedly turns to Henry for guidance until the elderly Mede must beat him over the head with words for O’Connor to see what is right in front of him. It’s hiding in plain sight. There is a lot of misdirection, but it is there to see. This would not be Krueger if there weren’t the obvious love for Native people and customs, justice, and family.

Thanks to NetGalley, Atria Books, and WKK. My thoughts are my own.

4 stars

This is my first time with the Cork O'Connor series, though I’ve read other books by Krueger and have always enjoyed his writing.

The novel weaves together two timelines: one follows the murder as it happens and the subsequent investigation, while the other jumps ahead twenty-five years. In the present, Cork’s son comes forward with concerns that the wrong person was convicted, leading Cork to reopen the case and seek out the real story. I think this organized the story well enough that it made it easy to follow.

I read this in a day. The mystery was fascinating, with clever twists and turns that kept me guessing until the end. The characters are genuinely likable, and the story is enriched by the vibrant cultural traditions and practices of the Ojibwe people. Their language, sense of community, and spiritual beliefs are woven beautifully into the narrative, adding depth and authenticity to the story.

Although part of William Kent Krueger’s Cork O’Connor series, Apostle’s Cove could be read as a standalone. Is crafted as a current story with a lengthy retrospective shift that explains the murder and the situation that follows. Expertly assembled, the mystery unspools rather quickly in the retrospective and resolves in the current. Is interesting and entertaining but a bit limp in the ending.

Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for the opportunity to read this ARC.

I'd like to thanks Atria Books, William Kent Krueger and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy of the 21st book in the Cork O'Connor series.
I was concerned that being so far into the series, I might be lost. But because Apostle's Cove takes place in the present and the past, it's a great entry point into the series.
I found the story genuinely entertaining. Most characters were layered with surprising experiences and secrets.. Some minor characters felt a little flat.
Cork O'Connor seems a little like he belongs in a traditional noir book. It works for me, as I've always enjoyed noir storytelling.
The setting was, in turn, lovely and atmospheric. I appreciate the respect for culture and spirituality.
The ending, overall, felt satisfying, though I'm still not sure who the real culprit is.

This books takes us back into the world of Cork Corcoran. This, the 21st book in the series, can be enjoyed two ways. First as a return further exploring the life and atmosphere of this northern Minnesota area or as a newcomer, This can be easily read as a standalone story.

As the book opens, although Cork is no longer sheriff, he is still fully immersed in town business. He receives a call from his son Stephen who in his work in the Innocence Project, has identified a case Cork investigated twenty years earlier. He is certain the convicted man, Axel Boshey did not commit the crime.. Cork was never fully convinced of the man’s guilt and wants to rectify this miscarriage of justice if it is, indeed, true.

The book is divided in two parts. The first is twenty years ago when the murder was committed; the second is the current investigation. I was happy it was structured this way in that you had the whole history first and didn’t have to flip back and forth between then and now as is common in so many books.

It is a compelling story that immerses us in the conflict between the white and native American cultures but it doesn’t preach. Although at its center is the investigation of the crime, the parts of the book that describe Ashinaabe/Ojibwe traditions are most absorbing. Cork often seeks counsel of an elderly Mide, a healer, named Henry Meloux, who always offers cryptic advice that Cork needs to interpret. Cork’s seven year old grandson has a special connection to this Mide and has visions and intuition. He has his own understanding about the investigation and fears that the Windigo, a mythical ogre, is lurking and won’t leave until blood is shed.

All in all, I’d say it is a compelling mystery, with great atmosphere and setting. Cork's changes, as he ages, makes him more complicated and interesting character.

Recommend.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Atria for this advanced reading copy and the opportunity to provide an honest review.

William Kent Krueger once again proves he’s a master of storytelling with Apostles Cove, the 21st in his Cork O'Connor series. Set in the Northwoods of Minnesota like most of the series, this one's a little different, as the first half of the book is set at the time of a murder 25 years earlier, and the second half focuses on present-day efforts to set right the conviction of a young Native American man 25 years before that was based on a confession that never felt right to Cork.

One of the nice things about going back in time is that the reader is reunited with a young Cork, his wife Jo, and both of his daughters, Annie and Jenny, as children. The dual timeline also allows Krueger to explore how some people and towns grow over time, and how some stagnate.

Krueger's writing doesn't disappoint, although this novel has less of a focus on the beauty of the Boundary Waters.

There's enough here for someone new to Aurora MN and the O'Connor family to enjoy without having read the previous books in the series, but anyone who reads Apostles Cove will almost certainly be delighted to find 20 previous books to add to their TBR list.

Highly recommended for readers who appreciate a well-written mystery and a fully realized cast of characters.

4.5 stars 🌟

I've only read one other book by William Kent Krueger ("This Tender Land") and none of the books in his Cork O'Connor series. I also preface this review by saying that I am a white reader with an interest in indigenous cultures, but that does not, in any way, make me qualified to assess the Native American lore or language in Krueger's books. "Apostle's Cove" is an enjoyable mystery, very well-written, and it appears to handle Anishinaabe culture in a thoughtful manner. The story is very interesting and kept me engaged throughout; as such, I'd highly recommend it to others. As a reader with interests in Native Americans, I will definitely be seeking out books like Marcie Rendon's 'Cash Blackbear' mysteries, Angeline Boulley's 'Firekeeper's Daughter,' and Linda LeGarde Grover's 'In the Night of Memory' because books by writers like these three will provide authentic representation of Anishinaabe life.