Cork O’Connor is contacted by his son, Stephen, who is working for an innocence project. He tells Cork that he believes one of his first cases as sheriff convicted an innocent man. Then Krueger takes us back in time to that case. Cork was never convinced the suspect was guilty but he confessed and was then convicted. Back to today Cork reworks the case. Fast paced. Good read. Cork O’Connor series is one of my favorite characters.

“Apostle’s Cove” by William Kent Krueger, the 21st installment in the Cork O’Connor series, is a captivating blend of past and present that kept me hooked from the first page. Though this was my first entry into the Cork O’Connor universe, Krueger’s vivid character development and seamless storytelling made it easy to dive in without feeling lost. The dual timeline structure was executed beautifully, weaving together history and mystery in a way that deepened the narrative and heightened the suspense. Krueger’s prose is atmospheric and emotionally rich, and the pacing never lagged. I truly couldn’t put it down. This book definitely left me eager to explore the rest of the series.

Thank you, NetGalley and Atria Books for the ARC.

A 4.5* read!

Cork O'Connor, a retired Sheriff and sometime PI, has his life thrown for a loop, when his son calls him
to tell him that a person who was convicted and jailed for life for a brutal murder he investigated as sheriff, may actually be innocent. His son work's for a Justice program that helps find evidence to free wrongly convicted people.
As Cork goes full on in investigating the new information from his son, the story takes you back to the time of the crime and subsequent investigation and conviction of a local native who was married to the victim at the time of her death.
Great suspense with riveting characters and a story line that pulls you right in.
Krueger does a good job with the transition from then to now: a writing tool I am not usually fond of.
Goid read.

Another winner from author William Kent Krueger in the Cork O'Connor series. A case that sent a man to prison twenty-five years ago is being reviewed by a group who feel the man is innocent. Cork was the sheriff when the man was sentenced to prison for the death of his wife. The novel is written in two parts. The first part revisits the case and Cork's involvement in it. The second part revolves around Cork's search for the truth and for justice. Am an avid Krueger fan and love the characters he has created. Cork is a man with a conscience and a man aware that he may also have faults. This particular entry really shows the familial basis of Cork's character. Thanks to Net Galley for the arc.

If you’re craving a cozy fall read that mixes small-town secrets, a dash of the supernatural, and Cork O’Connor’s trademark grit, then Apostle’s Cove is your perfect ticket. Krueger delivers once more with a compelling tale set in Tamarack County where a decades-old wrongful conviction becomes the center of a tense investigation—and maybe even a supernatural twist! Cork is feeling the birthday blues when a call from his son, Stephen, sparks a ride through the shadowy corners of justice. Decades ago, Cork locked up Axel Boshey for a brutal murder, but now Stephen’s convinced the man is innocent. Trouble is, Axel isn’t exactly eager to clear his name, and someone—or something—is willing to go to murderous lengths to keep the truth buried. And just to add some spooky spice, Cork’s grandson has a wild theory that a Windigo is lurking around, hungry for blood. This story is equal parts mystery, family drama, and folklore-fueled fun. Krueger expertly balances suspense with heartfelt moments, all sprinkled with his signature humor and wit. Whether you’re a fan of true-crime intrigue or tales of legendary monsters, this book will keep you guessing—and slightly spooked—until the very last page. So, grab some popcorn, settle into your favorite chair, and enjoy a rollercoaster of a read that proves William Kent Krueger is a master of blending the real with the rumored—and making it all utterly captivating. Four stars!

Apostle's Cove by William Kent Kreuger is a captivating read that kept me engaged until the very last page. This book marks my first encounter with the Cork O’Connor series, although I am familiar with other works by Kreuger and regard him as an outstanding author. The narrative revolves around Cork's quest to unravel the brutal murder of a young mother.

The story unfolds in two timelines: the first depicting the murder as it occurs, leading Cork to send an individual to prison following an investigation that leaves him with lingering questions. Fast forward twenty-five years, and Cork’s son reveals his belief that an innocent man has been wrongfully convicted for the crime, prompting Cork to resume his search for the truth.

Cork is a compelling protagonist, and the novel is populated with a diverse cast of characters. As a part Native American, Cork's investigation leads him into the reservation, where I enjoyed discovering the rich cultural beliefs and practices. Overall, I would rate this book a solid 4 stars!

William Kent Krueger, never disappoints his readers. I only started reading Cork O’Connor mystery series a couple of years ago. After I read This Tender Land. I love Cork, I love his family. I love his story. And you really don’t need to read his books in order. Cork is part Indian.so this is a main part of his stories.
His son Stephen, brings to his father, an old case, where a man was accused of killing his wife. The man who Cork was responsible for sending this man to prison. I hate to give away more. This is just a must read for Cork fans. Just go out and buy this book.
I would love for someone to develop these stories for Netflix or Prime.

What a story!! Thank you NetGalley and Atria books for this ARC! This grabbed me from the very beginning—just the right amount of rich description to really paint and picture but keep you interested. I felt like I was watching a miniseries! Great character development and story development starting with the case 25 years prior and then in the now. Will be highly recommending to those that love drama, mystery and crime! One of my favorites so far this year.

A wonderful return to the Cork O’Connor universe! In this novel we have the pleasure to return to Aurora back in the day and again meet some much beloved characters we’ve lost along the way in this long series.
As always I devoured this story in a very short time. It keeps you on your toes from beginning to end, with no guess as to the actual whodunnit.
Kent is truly the master of mystery!

Another great book in the series. It is really two books in one. The hunt for a killer 25 years ago and the. reverts to current day. I like how the characters have evolved over the series.

Another terrific book in the Cork O'Connor series! I enjoyed the split timeliness and the ending was just right.

Poignant, evocative and completely engrossing, Apostle’s Cove is a corkscrewing mystery that will exercise your brain and stir your emotions. William Kent Krueger has done it again, delivering another impressive and moving story in this incredible series. From the littlest details to the big picture, everything is crafted with precision and purpose to achieve storytelling perfection.

Cork O’Connor receives a call from his son Stephen, who tells him that while working for a nonprofit dedicated to freeing wrongfully convicted prisoners, he has come across a murder case involving an Ojibwe man whom Cork helped imprison. A man who now appears to be innocent. Cork is compelled to reinvestigate the case but must do so without the help of the very convict he put away, who has found purpose and peace behind bars. As he digs deeper, old feelings that something was always off about this case arise and are further stoked when he becomes a target by those in Tamarack County who want to leave the past buried. However, Cork will not be deterred in his quest to find the truth and defend his honor as a law enforcement officer and as a person with a strong moral compass. Even if there are others who would do him harm to keep him from finally figuring out what happened 25 years ago.

Apostle’s Cove is structured in two parts: part one is an uninterrupted flashback to the crime and the initial investigation and part two is the current day reexamination of the case. Which makes this feel like two stories in one book that each provide an undisturbed narrative of the events as they happened, rather than a slow drip of info that goes back and forth between past and present. Both methods can work, but in this case, it was the perfect choice to grab the reader’s attention and hold it throughout, essentially having us ride shotgun during both investigations and asking us to continuously theorize what really happened and who was involved.

And it is one hell of a well-written story that has everything you would expect from a Cork O’Connor novel. Crime, investigations, a divided community across Native American and Caucasian lines, tremendous character development, dangerous situations, gruesome and lewd descriptions balanced out with moments of love and tenderness, and the truth finally revealing itself after a twisting and turning examination where Cork seeks the help and wisdom of others.

And of course there’s a healthy dose of family, spirituality, emotion and life lessons that make your heart feel full and your soul feel free as you close the back cover. Marking the twenty-first example of William Kent Kruger’s literary brilliance in telling Cork O’Connor’s stories. And resulting in the annual confirmation that this is the best, and my favorite, series in print today.

Cork is back. I loved this wonderful well-written novel about a women's murder in the reservation in Minnesota and the legal ramifications tha occur after her lover is charged with murder. Brilliant characterization, well described setting, and a plotlinw that keeps you guessing. Not to be missed.

William Kent Krueger never fails to impress. His books are always fantastic. Thus being about murder was also very heartfelt. He brings people together. He's never written a book I haven't liked. Perfect ending.

Thanks to the author, the publisher and Netgalley for an early release of this book.

“Apostle’s Cove” by William Kent Krueger is another gripping addition to the Cork O’Connor series, and it does not disappoint. This time, Cork and his daughter Jenny must prove the innocence of a man who has confessed to murder and was convicted long ago when Cork was sheriff. As they unravel the truth, they’re pulled into a web of secrets, lies, and small-town tensions that keep the suspense high. The plot is full of unexpected twists and emotional depth, making it both a thrilling and heartfelt read.

Krueger once again proves he's a master storyteller. The dynamic between Cork, Jenny and family adds warmth and humanity to the mystery, and the pacing keeps the pages turning. I couldn’t put it down—each chapter draws you deeper into the story. If you’re a fan of the series, this one will feel like a homecoming. And if you’re new to Cork O’Connor, Apostle’s Cove is a fantastic place to start. Krueger has pulled off another hit.

The next installment of the Cork O'Connor series by William Kent Krueger, Apostle's Cove, is a story told in dual timelines. In the first half of the novel, Cork revisits an old case from when he was sheriff. A woman was brutally killed, and her husband, a Native American with a history of violence and alcohol abuse confesses to the murder. The second half of the book, in the present day, finds Cork reliving that crime and discovering that the wrong man was convicted. It becomes Cork's duty to fix the mistake and find the real killer.

I love this series and this one is so very well done. I love the characters we've come to know over the course of this series, and many of them make an appearance in this book as well. I appreciate the way the author helps the reader understand the Ojibwe culture and life on the reservation. And as in Krueger's other books, the prose is so beautifully written. The entire book pulled me in, and if I hadn't started it so late, it would have been finished in one sitting. I just couldn't put it down.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for an advanced copy. It's set to be published on September 16, 2025. 4 ⭐s from me!

Apostle’s Cove pulled me in from the very first page. William Kent Krueger has this incredible way of creating a rich, layered mystery while also delivering characters you truly care about. You feel the weight of the setting, the history, and the people in every chapter—and it makes the story all the more gripping.

This time, Cork O’Connor is facing ghosts from his past. Just a few nights before Halloween, as he’s feeling reflective about his upcoming birthday, he gets a call from his son, Stephen. Stephen works for a nonprofit that helps free wrongfully imprisoned people, and he’s convinced that one of Cork’s earliest cases as sheriff—one that sent an Ojibwe man named Axel Boshey to prison—was a mistake. Cork starts digging into the old case, but it’s not easy. Axel won’t talk, the case is long closed, and it becomes very clear that someone in Tamarack County will do whatever it takes to keep the truth buried.

Adding to the tension, Cork’s grandson has his own theory—he believes the Windigo, a terrifying Ojibwe legend, is back and feeding off blood in their quiet town. Whether it’s myth or metaphor, that fear lingers in the background and adds an eerie, almost haunting edge to the whole story.

The character development is amazing in this one—Cork, Jenny, Stephen, even the side characters all feel like fully fleshed-out people. Watching them interact, investigate, and struggle through old guilt and new danger was emotional, honest, and so well done. There’s a strong sense of justice and heart in this book, wrapped up in a suspenseful, well-paced mystery.

Krueger blends small-town atmosphere, Ojibwe culture, family drama, and true-crime tension into one seriously unputdownable story. This one has it all—mystery, mythology, heart, and a whole lot of truth.

Huge thanks to NetGalley and Atria (Simon & Schuster) for the ARC—I coveldn't be happier I got to read this early!

What can I say about an author that never fails to impress me? Only that every book he writes, and especially with this series, leaves me anxiously awaiting the next one. His knowledge of the area he sets his books in, the small town background, the indigenous peoples who color his pages, are above reproach.

Cork O’Connor finds himself investigating a case from his past when he was sheriff. The conclusion had always haunted him, questioning himself about the verdict that sent a man to prison for murder. Until his son asks him to take another look and sets Cork and his daughter, Jenny, on a collision course with hidden evil and a surprising conclusion.


Please, put this one on your to read list. Mr. Krueger, I await your next.

Thanks to NetGalley and Atria for the opportunity to read Apostle's Cove by William Kent Krueger. This book helped me remember all the reasons I fell in love with this series back in the very beginning. The writing, the setting, the characters - all written with such heart.

When I received notification from NetGalley that they were sharing an ARC with me, I knew that I would probably read all night! Every William Kent Krueger book is a treat, but this one was especially enjoyable. Cork O’Connor finds himself opening a new investigation into a 25 year old murder case. The case had been closed with a confession, but Cork was never comfortable with that outcome. The plot takes us back 25 years then moves forward again to present day. Being able to visit with a younger Cork was great fun. As always, his investigation puts him in harms way at times but he never turns away from his quest for the truth. This book works well as a standalone but if time permits, start at the beginning of the series and savor all the books.

As always, the writing was superb with enough twists and turns to keep the reader totally engaged. I did fall asleep , but found time to finish it the next afternoon. Now, I plan to reread it so I can savor the writing again . This opinion is totally my own. Thank you NetGalley!