Manitou Canyon

Written by William Kent Krueger

Narrated by David Chandler

"One of today's automatic buy-today-read-tonight series...thoughtful but suspenseful, fast but lasting, contemporary but strangely timeless." (Lee Child) In the extraordinary new Cork O'Connor thriller from New York Times bestselling and Edgar Award-winning author William Kent Krueger, the lives of hundreds of innocent people are at stake when Cork vanishes just days before his daughter's wedding. Since the violent deaths of his wife, father, and best friend all occurred in previous Novembers, Cork O'Connor has always considered it to be the cruelest of months. Yet, his daughter has chosen this dismal time of year in which to marry, and Cork is understandably uneasy. His concern comes to a head when a man camping in Minnesota's Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness goes missing. As the official search ends with no recovery in sight, Cork is asked by the man's family to stay on the case. Although the wedding is fast approaching and the weather looks threatening, he accepts and returns to that vast wilderness on his own. As the sky darkens and the days pass, Cork's family anxiously awaits his return. Finally certain that something has gone terribly wrong, they fly by floatplane to the lake where the missing man was last seen. Locating Cork's campsite, they find no sign of their father. They do find blood, however. A lot of it. With an early winter storm on the horizon, it's a race against time as Cork's family struggles to uncover the mystery behind these disappearances. Little do they know, not only is Cork's life on the line, but so are the lives of hundreds of others. A taut, suspenseful thriller, Manitou Canyon features everything readers love in a Cork O'Connor novel: a dramatic Northwoods setting, an intriguing view of the Objibwe culture, an enigmatic crime, masterful storytelling, and more than a few surprises.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Recorded Books, Inc.
• Release date: Sep 6, 2016
• ISBN: 9781501992506

William Kent Krueger

William Kent Krueger is the New York Times bestselling author of The River We Remember, This Tender Land, Ordinary Grace (winner of the Edgar Award for best novel), and the original audio novella The Levee, as well as nineteen acclaimed books in the Cork O’Connor mystery series, including Lightning Strike and Fox Creek. He lives in the Twin Cities with his family. Learn more at WilliamKentKrueger.com.

Reviews for Manitou Canyon

[waldhaus1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Reading this book I became increasingly aware of the spiritual nature of the characters an Krueger’s exploration of their spirituality. Perhaps it is how he makes them human. He also continues the pattern of introducing new characters - along with their back story. And the evident intention of continuing their threads.

[drapple_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

When an old friend of Cork's disappears, his granddaughter hires Cork to help find him. It becomes evident that good intentions can lead to tragic consequences.

[birgitta strand · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I realize the truth the native americans hold forth, " the spirit is the core of everything"! I Wish all inhabitants of this world to do the same?️???

[Michael · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Great story but recording not so great. Enjoyed as always

[jepeters333 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Since the violent deaths of his wife, father, and best friend all occurred in previous Novembers, Cork O’Connor has always considered it to be the cruelest of months. Yet, his daughter has chosen this dismal time of year in which to marry, and Cork is understandably uneasy.His concern comes to a head when a man camping in Minnesota’s Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness goes missing. As the official search ends with no recovery in sight, Cork is asked by the man’s family to stay on the case. Although the wedding is fast approaching and the weather looks threatening, he accepts and returns to that vast wilderness on his own.As the sky darkens and the days pass, Cork’s family anxiously awaits his return. Finally certain that something has gone terribly wrong, they fly by floatplane to the lake where the missing man was last seen. Locating Cork’s campsite, they find no sign of their father. They do find blood, however. A lot of it.With an early winter storm on the horizon, it’s a race against time as Cork’s family struggles to uncover the mystery behind these disappearances. Little do they know, not only is Cork’s life on the line, but so are the lives of hundreds of others.

[jwrudn · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

When Lindsay and Trevor Harris ask Cork to search for their grandfather, he agrees even though he was part of the search that found no trace of him. Two weeks before his daughter’s wedding Cork heads off with Lindsay to the Boundary Waters to see if something has been overlooked. Then he and Lindsay are abducted and also disappear. While Cork tries to stay alive and figure out the purpose of the abduction, his family organizes and investigates on the home front. This is another quality entry in the series. As usual, the plot is good. Although, in retrospect, I recognized a few clues strewn along the way, I was completely surprised by the twist at the end. And the ending is a thriller.Cork is a tough, resourceful guy but part of what makes the series so appealing are his fallibilities. He is ogichidaa, one who stands between evil and his people, but he blames himself for the evil he has not been able to stave off: the death of his wife, the shooting of his son and the many young Indian girls he was unable to save from sexploitation in Windigo Island. As his wise old friend Henry Meloux said:“Sometimes a man walks into the night and does not understand why he cannot see. He blames himself for the dark he is in. I think that is Corcoran O’Connor.”By the end of the book, with the help of one of his abductors, Cork achieves some acceptance that evil will exist despite his efforts and he needs to be satisfied that he has done his best.

[ellenh_28 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This was a great escape read. It sucks you in and wonder until the end, but doesn't give one nightmares.

[jamespurcell · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Cork's search for a missing architect and builder turns ugly as he and the man's granddaughter travel into the Boundary Waters Wilderness. Captured by members of a First Nation terrorist group; they become hostages to a plot to destroy a power dam. Relationships are strained and new allegiances form as the trip continues. Canada is invaded. The RCMP joins the pursuit; well at least one Mountie. Villains are dispatched and many happy endings ensue. Could be a fine ending to this quite good series or Mr. Krueger could delve into the past to tie up loose ends:. Cork's early career and how he and Henry meet come to mind. Read(sic) as a well narrated, audio book by David Chandler. These media, while much slower than actual reading, are great companions for my many auto trips around the North East.

[dianekeenoy · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Another wonderful installment of Cork O'Connor and his family by William Kent Krueger. Cork's daughter is getting married in two weeks so there's no time to get caught up in something now! But, that's not how Cork or his family work. When the grand daughter of a very old friend who has disappeared asks Cork to go with her to look one more time for her grandfather, he can't say no. Then, he and Lindsey also disappear (of course!). I listened to this book on audio which is always wonderful with this series. You feel like you're there with them. Always highly recommended.

[nbmars · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is the fifteenth book in the series involving Cork O’Connor, the part-Irish, part-Anishinaabe Indian ex-sheriff of the small town of Aurora, Minnesota. While no longer formally serving in law enforcement, Cork is now a private investigator. Cork thinks of himself as “ogichidaa” - someone who stands between evil and the people he loves. But so far, he sees himself as having failed in that role. Both his father and wife had been killed, his son shot and crippled, and he had lost some good friends to violence. Furthermore, it is November, the deadly month when many of these things had occurred. Cork fears that “men like his father and like him walked under a dark cloud and those near them were in danger of being struck by lightning.” But he can’t stop trying to help and protect people.Thus he agrees to help Lindsay and Trevor Harris find their grandfather, who went missing in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. There had been an extensive search already for John Harris, but he was not found. The grown grandchildren want Cork to try again, and Lindsay wants to go with him. Perhaps their most persuasive argument is that Trevor has had a vision in which Cork’s son Stephen appeared, and said something few people outside the family would know. Cork agreed to go, but told them his daughter Jenny was getting married in two weeks, so he needed to be in and out quickly, and they consented to his terms.First Cork went to see the local Anishinaabe medicine man and his friend, Henry Meloux for advice. Henry offered his usual cryptic riddles that of course turned out to be relevant eventually. Cork has more ties to Henry than their friendship over the years. He has been seeing Henry’s niece, Rainy Bisonette, and it is Daniel, Rainy’s nephew, that Jenny plans to marry. But all of those plans and relationships may be in jeopardy when Cork and Lindsay also go missing, and a search party discovers abandoned tents and a great deal of blood.Evaluation: I only read two of the (early) Cork O’Connor books before this one, and liked them both. While I was surprised at the way characters and circumstances had changed in this one, I did not feel lost or that this one could not stand alone. The author says on his website that there will be other books coming in the series, but he could have easily wrapped it up with this book. What happened and how it all ended seemed a bit formulaic, but Krueger is a good writer, and I love the integration of Native American culture into his stories.

[diana.hauser · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

William Kent Krueger’s MANITOU CANYON is one of his best works.His writing is so descriptive and insightful, thoughtful and provocative.His writing evokes such a ‘sense of place’ that I feel that I know this ‘Boundary Waters Area’ intimately.“The trees lining the path felt like dark walls that day, and the narrow strip of sky above was like a ribbon torn from some soiled and shabby fabric.”His characters are familiar to me, like close friends or neighbors. The plots play out as morality plays. Tensions weave in and out of every character, movement and place.MANITOU CANYON does not disappoint in any way.

[beamis12 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Hard to believe this is the fifteenth book in the series. I feel as if I have grown up with this family, fell in love with them all, Cork and of course the midi Henry. The strong sense of family in these book are one of the biggest draws. The culture, Ojibwa old ways, visions, sweat lodges mixed with the new. The location of the boundary waters, which I hope to visit in late summer, have never been but it sounds beautiful. In this outing Cork goes missing trying to locate a missing grandfather whom Cork knew as a child. The descriptions of the lakes in the boundary waters, the scenery, just gorgeous. Suspenseful because while we are privy to both sides, those searching for Cork, including family members and Cork himself, Corks side seems very implosive. There is honor among thieves and some dishonor among them as well. A new arrival will shake things up too. he ending was a little sentimental, but with this family oh so very fitting.ARc from published.

[beckyhaase · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

MANITOU CANYON by William Kent KruegerWhen John Harris disappears on a fishing trip with his grandchildren, the two siblings do not give him up for lost. The granddaughter convinces Cork O’Connor to help her find him in the Boundary Waters. A man is killed and Cork and the granddaughter are kidnapped. The rest of the book details their experience in the wilderness as winter sets in and Cork’s daughter’s wedding comes ever closer. A good writer tells an intriguing story of betrayal, greed, love, family and friendship in this tale of the First Nations and looming ecological disaster.4 of 5 stars

[oldbookswine · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Excellent story, great writing, this is a fine read for mystery readers. A man goes missing, and his family asked Cork to find him. Thus begins the race against an early snow storm, murder and a touch of romance. The Objibwe culture plays a strong role in the story which adds dimension to the story. I found it even better than Ordinary Grace, winner of the 2014 Edgar award for Best Novel. Great book club choice with many topics to find their way into the discussion.