Red Knife

by William Kent Krueger

Book Overview

Private investigator Cork O'Connor finds himself caught in the middle of a racial gang war that's turning picturesque Tamarack County, Minnesota, into a battlefield.

When the daughter of a powerful businessman dies as a result of her meth addiction, her father, strong-willed and brutal Buck Reinhardt, vows revenge. His target is the Red Boyz, a gang of Ojibwe youths accused of supplying the girl's fatal drug dose. When the head of the...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1416556753
• ISBN13: 9781416556756
• Release Date: May 2009
• Publisher: Atria Books
• Length: 336 Pages
• Weight: 0.67 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 5.4" x 8.2"

Customer Reviews

Enjoyed learning more about Henry Meloux

I first discovered Cor O'Conner in RED KNIFE, so picked THUNDER BAY as the next one to read. I loved RED KNIFE and this book definitely is its equal. As a part time P.I., 'Conner takes on a case for medicine man Henry Meloux and of coure finds himself in a more dangerous adventure than he expected. The middle part of the book is strictly Henry Meloux's story and that in itself is a very engrossing story with all the elements such as love, treachery, and maturing of character one could hope for. The final portion has some nice twists, a little pain, and a thoroughly intense conclusion leaving me anxious to read more in the series.

Judy's books

Oh yah!!! This is the best of the best. Was done with the book in less then two days. I absolutely love the Cork O'Connor series. I preordered the book and after reading Thunder Bay I couldn't wait until the next one was released, as I'm hoping there is a new book in the making right now. This author knows how to grab his reader from page one and you become a part of the story, in fact, this summer we took a road trip to Aurora, Mn just to see what this town was all about. We spend much time up the North Shore so many of these names are familiar and even Warroad MN isn't far from where we live in northern MN. Love, Love, Love his books

Husband's favorite

William Kent Krueger and Clive Cussler are my husband's favorite authors. I read his first Cork O'Connor book IRON LAKE and really enjoyed it and recommended it to my husband - he read it and enjoyed it. Eventually we ordered the entire series (nine books). My husband is not a "reader" and I read everything so I am constantly trying to find something he'll read. He read this entire series and never stopped - everyday he read until he was done - Red Knife was the latest and one of the best but really they are all so good it would be hard to pick a BEST. So many situations in this book made me think it is the last in the series - hope not. His books are non- stop adventure and he makes even me (not an outdoor adventure person)want to get in a canoe and visit the Boundary waters.

Krueger writes a darn good myst ery

I am a mystery junkie. And I think my list of favorite male mystery writers is topnotch: James Lee Burke, Michael Connelly, Robert Crais, and Lee Child. But included in that list is Minnesota's own William Kent Krueger. His Cork O'Connor novels _are Minnesota at her best and worst. Krueger's knowledge of the Ojibwe is deep and respectful and his beliefs about violence are thoughtful, if not naïve in some respects. But it is the story, the characters that reach out and grab you and compel you to keep turning the pages. "It was not yet dawn and already he could smell death." The reader is thrust immediately into the story with Krueger's first sentence-and it's a wild ride to the conclusion. Kristi Reinhardt died as a result of a meth overdose. Her father, Buck Reinhardt, wants revenge. He believes Lonnie Thunder is responsible for his daughter's death, and he's going after him and the Red Boyz, a gang of Ojibwe, whom he believes shares in the responsibility. The head of the Red Boyz, Alexander Kingbird, requests that former sheriff, Cork O'Connor (who is part Ojibwe), arrange a meeting with Buck. He wants to give Buck justice. Before the meeting can be set up, Alexander and his wife, Rayette, are brutally murdered at their home. Their young daughter is left alive and found crying in her crib. But a message was left at the scene and the murder itself suggests the Kingbirds were executed. When another murder occurs, tensions heat up further between the Native Americans and the white folks living in Tamarack County. It's up to Cork to mitigate the building tension and avoid the bloodshed that is bound to occur. The toll on Cork changes him forever. Violence, secrets, alienation, fear, hopelessness, honor, redemption and justice are all a part of Red Knife. It's a thoughtful and compelling novel. You won't be able to close the covers of Red Knife without examining your own beliefs about violence. Armchair Interviews says: A must read.

A MINNESOTA KENT KRUGER FAN

Another great book from Kent Kruger. The Cork O'Conner decetive series is always like a continuation of the last one you have read, but with a new chapter. I highly recomend all of Kent Kruger's books.