Heaven's Keep

Written by William Kent Krueger

Narrated by David Chandler

Intrepid hero Cork O'Connor faces the most harrowing mission of his life when a charter plane carrying his wife, Jo, goes missing in a snowstorm over the Wyoming Rockies. Months after the tragedy, two women show up on Cork's doorstep with evidence that the pilot of Jo's plane was not the man he claimed to be. It may not be definitive proof, but it's a ray of light in the darkness. Agreeing to investigate, Cork travels to Wyoming, where he battles the interference of local law enforcement who may be on the take, the open hostility of the Northern Arapaho, who have much to lose if the truth is known, and the continuing attempts on his life by assassins who shadow his every move. At the center of all the danger and deception lies the possibility that Jo's disappearance was not the end of her, that somewhere along the labyrinthine path of his search, maybe even in the broad shadow of Heaven's Keep itself, Cork will find her alive and waiting for him.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Recorded Books, Inc.
• Release date: Nov 5, 2019
• ISBN: 9781980035077

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 Heaven's Keep

[Darla Hymer · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I have enjoyed this series and this volume did not disappoint.

[drapple_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This one was a definite downer, but it still was an engaging mystery.

[waldhaus1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Many unexpected twists including he ending. Krueger is straying into Longmire country although I had no idea if he is even familiar with the series. The story revolves around a plane crash with a lane that remains missing no Cork’s efforts to find it because his wife was a passenger. He is searching fo closure while trying to keep hope alive.

[andy_dimartino · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I really enjoy The o'conner series. this is good stuff

[she_climber · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I think this may have been one of the best in the series if SPOILER>>>>>>I hadn't been thinking through most of it how far-fetched it would be if Jo was still alive. Is it wrong that I was hoping she was dead for most of the book so that this series didn't "jump the shark" by her miraculously still being alive somewhere? <<<<<<

[jwrudn · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Another quality entry in the Cork O'Conner series. Plot is fresh and Cork's family situation continues to evolve. Writing is rich in detail and even minor characters are vividly drawn. I look forward to reading the next in the series.

[dorie.craig · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

*** WARNING - SPOILERS FOR ENDING ***

This was another strong entry in the series and looks to have a huge impact on future books. Cork finds out that his wife Jo was in a plane that went down in the mountains of Wyoming. He and his son Stephen head to Wyoming to help with the search, but after two heavy snowfalls they must face the truth that there will be no rescue. Months later Cork is approached by the wife of the pilot of the downed plane, who claims the man caught on video footage was not her husband. The more Cork looks into the case, the more things he finds that don't add up. The author could have pulled a hat-trick at the end of the book and Cork could have miraculously found Jo alive and well. I'm glad he didn't take the easy way out. This was a good way to freshen the series.

[robertp_400354 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Entertaining

[jamespurcell · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

More fateful turns in the world of Cork O'Connor. An airplane with his wife aboard, disappears and the ensuing search creates more mysteries than anticipated. The mysteries are resolved skillfully but life changes again for the occasional Minnesota county sheriff.

[candyh_64 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is another excellent mystery by William Kent Krueger. In this Cork O'Conner story, Cork is looking for his wife who has disappeared with others of the Indian nation who were flying to a meeting. The story is well written and deals with many of the challenges that face the American Indians. I highly recommend this book to mystery lovers who like to be drawn in from beginning to end.

[maneekuhi · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Completed 7/24, rated 4.5 Number 9 in the 10 book series with #11 due out in weeks. Wife Jo is in a plane crash in Wyoming/Montana during a blizzard while traveling with client Indians to a meeting. First half of book is excellent re efforts of Air Patrol and S&R teams trying to find the victims. 2nd half is mystery....why wasn't the pilot who he seemed to be?? The Mexican hospice ending is too out there for me, not at all credible. In the last pages the story is closed....

[sandylee_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Krueger’s Cork O’Connor series has always been a favorite of mine. Cold Minnesota weather, Native American culture, a protagonist with a great sense of right and wrong…what’s not to like? In the opening of HEAVEN’S KEEP we learn that Cork’s wife, Jo, is reported missing in a plane accident. After several weeks of searching, she is presumed dead and after several months all hope is lost, until the pilot’s widow shows Cork a video proving that her husband was not drunk when he piloted the plane. On further inspection, Cork suspects the pilot on film was not the woman’s husband. Thus starts Cork’s search for the truth, who was piloting the plane, who was on the plane that someone might want dead, and is Jo still alive somewhere. The opening did drag a bit as Cork and his son searched for days in Montana for the downed plane. I have never been a parent so I felt Stephen was an unnecessary aggravation. If it were me I would have given him a Play Station game and left him at home. Second, I have never been much of a fan of Jo. She cheated on Cork so to me it’s “good riddance.” Third, after the last book where a teen gunned down fellow students in a high school, Cork vowed to never pick up a gun again. This change in Cork’s M.O. had me wanting to pay for Cork to attend a one week “Jack” class (one week with Jack Bauer or Jack Reacher) so he could realize there are some people you just can’t reason with. I did find Parmer to be very likeable. He is a rich developer who was looking to buy Cork’s land but Cork wouldn’t sell so Parmer built around him. Parmer is older, wiser, handles himself pretty well, and knows what to do with a gun. I hope he is a continuing character.

[lgillingham_2 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Excellent story

[heidifk · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I finished the book this afternoon. I've read each book in the Cork O'Connor series by Krueger. Being from Minnesota and also being the same age as Jenny, I feel as though I've grown up with the O'Connor family. I absolutely loved the development of (Stevie) Stephen's character in this book. He is spectacular. I was a little disappointed that much of the story takes place out in Wyoming instead of northern Minnesota, but the description of the land and people are just as rich.

[pharrm_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Cork O'Connor's wife is killed in an airplane crash; or is she? He and his son, Stephen, spend a momth looking for the downed plane. A year goes by and he is still grieving. New evidence stirs him to search again. Wonderful characters, great story

[clarkisaacs · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Heaven’s KeepAuthor: William Kent KruegerISBN: 978-1-4165-5676-3, Pages: 321, $25.00, Publication Date: September, 2009, Hard-Cover Fiction, Published by: Atria Books, a Division of Simon & Shuster, Inc.William Kent Krueger is an award-winning author of eight previous Cork O’Connor mysteries, including “Red Knife” and “Thunder Bay”. “Heaven’s Keep” is a tale of suspense and Cork‘s relentless determination to find out what happened when his wife’s charter plane vanishes from radar over the Wyoming Rockies. This investigation has become personal.Cork is an ex-sheriff and his wife Jo is an attorney representing tribal leaders. She leaves Casper, Wyoming with 6 Indian clients to attend a conference of American Indians to draft recommendations for supervision of their casinos. They were in the air for 45 minutes when trouble came. The plane jolts. The pilot assures them there is nothing to worry about. “They all wait…the left wing dips…and the plane begins to roll”.Cork and his son Stephen receive unfortunate news that Jo’s plane is missing. They leave their home in Northern Minnesota in an effort to assist in the search for the plane. Due to the menacing snowy conditions, the search becomes extremely dangerous. Snow drifts were “deep enough to cover a school” and search planes could have their wings ripped off by canyon ridges. Cork hated this part of the country “the way the land rose up like walls . . . how all that emptiness could easily swallow a plane and its passengers.”After extensive air and ground searches, and no sign of wreckage, Cork and his son return to Minnesota. Six months pass and then Cork is contacted by the wife of the Indian pilot and her attorney. He is told by them that they are convinced the pilot was not her husband and they have video proof. Following their meeting, he mulls over the fact that maybe whoever was behind this knew about the charter flight. Maybe he would find Jo alive!The plot intensifies on the Arapaho Indian Reservation when Cork returns to Wyoming. His strong Ojibwe heritage becomes useful as he tracks suspicious characters. Some of the suspects are found murdered. Lies and deception haunt Cork’s investigation as law enforcement and Indians deliberately mislead him. Intriguing and helpful to the exploration are Stephen’s dream and visions by Indian mystics. Following these revelations, Cork is able to piece together clues which aid him in his search for the missing plane and passengers. The search party saw a rectangular depression in the snow near what appeared to be an air strip. They started digging by hand and struck metal. All tribal leaders’ bodies were found shot dead. Jo was not in the plane, only her briefcase was discovered. Krueger has written a suspenseful story of corruption, fraud, murder, and the men who thought “they were untouchable”. The author has commanding grasp of Indian morals and spiritual culture. He is skillful in portraying beauty, time and place.A mystic ending and a great read. This book is highly recommended.