Customer Reviews

Purgatory Ridge

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I liked Purgatory Ridge as much as Iron Lake and Boundary Waters. I owe Amazon for suggesting Krueger's books because I've thoroughly enjoyed them (see my other reviews). I expected a let-down with this third one and was very pleasantly surprised to find that it's right up there with the first two. Krueger also has a nice touch for reminding you of past developments without it getting in the way of the present story. But as I said in my last review, you have to read these books in order.

I read Purgatory Ridge and Boundary Waters over the weekend. I won't rehash the plots as other readers here have already done a great job of that. Just want to add my highest praise for this author. I can't think of one negative thing to say. The characters are human and realistic and the description of the surounding area is captivating. But most importantly, WKK's mysteries are also great stories.

The bad guys were the most interesting characters in this story. The good guys are pretty boring. This puts me in position of deciding whether to continue reading this series as I don't expect the O'Conners to get very interesting but the stories are very well written with no idiotic endings. The main characters are Cork O'Conner, the ex-sheriff of small norhern Minnesota town who is part Ashinnabe (sp?) and his wife Jo, a lawyer who represents the local tribe.

This mystery evolves around the arson of a logging company and arson-related death of a tribal leader. Was it murder or an accident? Was he the arsonist or innocent? The story leads to the kidnapping of the logging company's owner's family and the kidnapping of Cork's wife and son.

Excellent read. Keeps you guessing right to the last page. Can't wait for more of Cork O'Connor.

This is a very good story, many twists and turns and the outcome is very surprising. This gentleman sure is a great writer. Have enjoyed all of his books in the Cork O'Connor series. Pick up this book and read it today, you won't be sorry.

I was introduced to Iron Lake, Krueger's first book through a St. Paul/Minneapolis Radio show (Garage Logic with Joe Soucheray). It was a great read. I read Boundary Waters, the next in the line of the Cork O'Connor books and just finished Purgatory Ridge.

Purgatory Ridge has everything you want in a good suspense mystery, great character development, excellent story line (this one actually had two), a couple of twists, and edge of your seat, page turning suspense.

It is obvious Krueger has done his home work. This may be a fiction novel, but the places he describes (Boundary Waters Canoe Area, North Shore of Lake Superior, Sawtooth Mountains) are all accurate. I spend a lot of time in Northern Minnesota. I associate with many of the landmarks in his books, and that makes me feel like I am part of the action.

Upon finishing the book, it is apparent that Krueger is going to follow up with another Cork O'Connor novel. I CAN'T WAIT!

This is the 1st Krueger novel I've read (I just found out its the 3rd in a "series") and I was totally captivated by it! The characters are incredibly lifelike, the storyline is well rounded, the plot is riveting, and the emotion is powerful.

When I first read the dust cover for a synopsis of the book, I admit I was unimpressed. But after reading only a few pages of the book, I was 100% interested in what was happening within the story (actually turned out to be multiple story lines - all receiving equal and adequate attention).

I'm on my way to get the remaining Krueger novels (excellent job, Mr. Krueger!) and I highly recommend this book as a very entertaining read.

Krueger is at the top of his game with the third of his Cork O'Connor series. Relationships, greed and revenge power this story of a timber war, Indian casinos, and marriages. O'Connor's marriage is three dimensional and the characters are real life adults. A fine read.

I've been following Krueger's work ever since IRON LAKE first hit and have to say he's on my must-read list of authors. He writes about his characters with such a deft and gentle touch I'm almost convinced they're real. While readers who are only looking for the thrill of the mystery can pick up his books in any order and not suffer confusion, I recommend savoring them in order to get the full impact of the character development.

PURGATORY RIDGE is perhaps the most thriller-ish of Krueger's work to date, but still satisfies those looking for a puzzle to solve. He's one of the few authors I enjoy reading who is able to manage multiple points of view and can also sustain tension throughout a scene. Everyone comments about his wonderful setting and descriptive language, and you'll get no arguments from me. (Check out the SCUBA diving chapters if you have any doubts on either front - you'll be convinced.)

I'm looking forward to more of Krueger's writing. His success this far is impressive, but I think he's going to break away from the pack very soon.

Years ago, plot was the thing in mystery novels. Over the last several decades, authors have relied less on plot and more on character to carry their work. Two current authors who are especially proficient with character driven mysteries, but who also don't scrimp on the twists and turns, are Michael Connelly (see my review of A Darkness More than Night elsewhere) and William Kent Krueger.

William Kent Krueger's third Cork O'Connor book, Purgatory Ridge is set in Aurora a town in northern Minnesota not far from Lake Superior. Krueger's novel runs several plots simultaneously. But each is propelled more by their respective character's backgrounds and motivations, and less by finding a solution to a traditional mystery puzzle.

When an early morning explosion at a lumber mill kills a respected Anishinaabe tribal leader, the stage is set for confrontation over the logging of old-growth white pines. The trees are considered sacred by the Anishinaabe, but the townsfolk rely heavily on money from logging and environmental extremists have swarmed in to stop any logging at all.

Meanwhile, a man who is the sole survivor of a shipwreck on Lake Superior, obsessed with guilt over his brother's death in the same wreck, vows revenge on the family-run shipping line even if it leads to kidnapping and murder.

Into the mix is O'Connor, the former sheriff of Aurora, a man who, like Connelly's McCaleb, is beginning to realize how much he misses police work. He is encouraged by several prominent citizens to run again for office, but his wife, a prominent attorney, dreads the affect it would have on their fragile marriage.

Krueger's handling of his character's thoughts and motivations is deft and he never lets the tension of the subplots falter. O'Connor, his family, and especially the Anishinaabe people are appealing because they are delivered fully alive to the reader.