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Cork O'Connor #10
Vermilion Drift
Some nights, Corcoran O'Connor dreams his father's death.
William Kent Krueger's gripping tale of suspense begins with a recurring nightmare, a gun, and a wound in the earth so deep and horrific that it has a name, Vermilion Drift.
When the Department of Energy puts an underground iron mine on its short list of potential sites for storage of nuclear waste, a barrage of protest erupts in Tamarack County, Minnesota, and Cork is hired as a security consultant.
Deep in the mine during his first day on the job, Cork stumbles across a secret room that contains the remains of six murder victims. Five appear to be nearly half a century old;connected to what the media once dubbed "The Vanishings," a series of unsolved disappearances in the summer of 1964, when Cork's father was sheriff in Tamarack County. But the sixth has been dead less than a week. What's worse, two of the bodies, including the most recent victim, were killed using Cork’s own gun, one handed down to him from his father.
As Cork searches for answers, he must dig into his own past and that of his father, a well-respected man who harbored a ghastly truth. Time is running out, however. New threats surface, and unless Cork can unravel the tangled thread of clues quickly, more death is sure to come.
Vermilion Drift is a powerful novel, filled with all the mystery and suspense for which Krueger has won so many awards. A poignant portrayal of the complexities of family life, it's also a sobering reminder that even those closest to our hearts can house the darkest, and deadliest, of secrets.
William Kent Krueger's gripping tale of suspense begins with a recurring nightmare, a gun, and a wound in the earth so deep and horrific that it has a name, Vermilion Drift.
When the Department of Energy puts an underground iron mine on its short list of potential sites for storage of nuclear waste, a barrage of protest erupts in Tamarack County, Minnesota, and Cork is hired as a security consultant.
Deep in the mine during his first day on the job, Cork stumbles across a secret room that contains the remains of six murder victims. Five appear to be nearly half a century old;connected to what the media once dubbed "The Vanishings," a series of unsolved disappearances in the summer of 1964, when Cork's father was sheriff in Tamarack County. But the sixth has been dead less than a week. What's worse, two of the bodies, including the most recent victim, were killed using Cork’s own gun, one handed down to him from his father.
As Cork searches for answers, he must dig into his own past and that of his father, a well-respected man who harbored a ghastly truth. Time is running out, however. New threats surface, and unless Cork can unravel the tangled thread of clues quickly, more death is sure to come.
Vermilion Drift is a powerful novel, filled with all the mystery and suspense for which Krueger has won so many awards. A poignant portrayal of the complexities of family life, it's also a sobering reminder that even those closest to our hearts can house the darkest, and deadliest, of secrets.
305 pages, Hardcover
First published September 7, 2010
2006 people are currently reading
3996 people want to read
About the author
William Kent Krueger
80 books16.2k followersRaised in the Cascade Mountains of Oregon, William Kent Krueger briefly attended Stanford University—before being kicked out for radical activities. After that, he logged timber, worked construction, tried his hand at freelance journalism, and eventually ended up researching child development at the University of Minnesota. He currently makes his living as a full-time author. He’s been married for over 40 years to a marvelous woman who is an attorney. He makes his home in St. Paul, a city he dearly loves.
Krueger writes a mystery series set in the north woods of Minnesota. His protagonist is Cork O’Connor, the former sheriff of Tamarack County and a man of mixed heritage—part Irish and part Ojibwe. His work has received a number of awards, including the Minnesota Book Award, the Loft-McKnight Fiction Award, the Anthony Award, the Barry Award, the Dilys Award, and the Friends of American Writers Prize. His last five novels were all New York Times bestsellers.
"Ordinary Grace," his stand-alone novel published in 2013, received the Edgar Award, given by the Mystery Writers of America in recognition for the best novel published in that year. "Windigo Island," number fourteen in his Cork O’Connor series, was released in August 2014.
Krueger writes a mystery series set in the north woods of Minnesota. His protagonist is Cork O’Connor, the former sheriff of Tamarack County and a man of mixed heritage—part Irish and part Ojibwe. His work has received a number of awards, including the Minnesota Book Award, the Loft-McKnight Fiction Award, the Anthony Award, the Barry Award, the Dilys Award, and the Friends of American Writers Prize. His last five novels were all New York Times bestsellers.
"Ordinary Grace," his stand-alone novel published in 2013, received the Edgar Award, given by the Mystery Writers of America in recognition for the best novel published in that year. "Windigo Island," number fourteen in his Cork O’Connor series, was released in August 2014.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,096 reviews
July 2, 2021
(Cork O'Connor #10) by William Kent Krueger (Author), David Chandler (Narrator)
I enjoy knowing as much as I can about Cork O'Connor's parents because he has such good memories of them and they helped shape him into the man he is now. Cork's dad comes into play in this book because bodies are found in the Vermilion Drift and two of those bodies contain bullets from the gun that Liam O'Connor handed down to Cork. One of those bodies had been down there for more than forty years while the other one had been down there for just a week.
As Cork helps the sheriff's department investigate what happened now and all those years ago, he can't help wondering if he really knew his father as well as he thought he did. He's having very disturbing nightmares concerning his father and as he talks to the old timers on the reservation he realizes he has gaps in the time leading up to the death of his father, when Cork was thirteen. This is a riveting story and because I like Cork's father, I felt the anxiety that he felt, that he was going to find out things that would mar his memory of his father. Thankfully, old Henry Meloux is there to help Cork on his mission of discovery, but only when he thinks Cork is ready for the truth.
Published September 7, 2010
I enjoy knowing as much as I can about Cork O'Connor's parents because he has such good memories of them and they helped shape him into the man he is now. Cork's dad comes into play in this book because bodies are found in the Vermilion Drift and two of those bodies contain bullets from the gun that Liam O'Connor handed down to Cork. One of those bodies had been down there for more than forty years while the other one had been down there for just a week.
As Cork helps the sheriff's department investigate what happened now and all those years ago, he can't help wondering if he really knew his father as well as he thought he did. He's having very disturbing nightmares concerning his father and as he talks to the old timers on the reservation he realizes he has gaps in the time leading up to the death of his father, when Cork was thirteen. This is a riveting story and because I like Cork's father, I felt the anxiety that he felt, that he was going to find out things that would mar his memory of his father. Thankfully, old Henry Meloux is there to help Cork on his mission of discovery, but only when he thinks Cork is ready for the truth.
Published September 7, 2010
October 15, 2017
Number 10 in the series and I am giving it five stars.
Vermilion Drift is a nice blend of cold cases and a recent murder linked by the fact that the same gun was used in both. As usual Cork does his own investigating - cooperation is not in his vocabulary! Nevertheless he is a smart man and he solves the case with hard work and some intuition.
This is a new stage in Cork's life, one without the presence of a wife or children. His sole companion is Trixie the dog, but I think I detected the beginning of a new relationship. He also discovers a few secrets of his own from the past which are quite shocking, but their revelation will enable him to move forward.
As usual there are beautiful descriptions of nature, some great characters and intriguing events. I am thoroughly enjoying this whole series.
Vermilion Drift is a nice blend of cold cases and a recent murder linked by the fact that the same gun was used in both. As usual Cork does his own investigating - cooperation is not in his vocabulary! Nevertheless he is a smart man and he solves the case with hard work and some intuition.
This is a new stage in Cork's life, one without the presence of a wife or children. His sole companion is Trixie the dog, but I think I detected the beginning of a new relationship. He also discovers a few secrets of his own from the past which are quite shocking, but their revelation will enable him to move forward.
As usual there are beautiful descriptions of nature, some great characters and intriguing events. I am thoroughly enjoying this whole series.
October 22, 2017
Cork O’Connor has entered a new phase of his life as his children are now away from home living their adult lives and Jo is gone. He and dog Trixie are living a solitary existence and his role as a security consultant/private investigator keeps him pretty busy. His current assignment is as a consultant for the Vermilion One mine, which is being considered as a nuclear waste site and predictably that’s not going over well with members of the community. He’s also hired to find the sister of Max Cavanaugh, the mine’s owner, as she hasn’t been seen or heard from in a week.
After the last book, I lacked enthusiasm to start this one. However, it turned out to be a complex mystery, one involving all aspects I’ve come to love about this series...a strong sense of place and setting, community conflicts and cultural depth. And, we learn so much about Cork’s past, particularly his parents and extended family, all playing a critical role in the present. The mystery was a serious puzzler with lots of layers and interesting characters. As usual, I found it difficult to stop listening.
This is another solid installment in a series that continues to keep me engaged and educated. I’m even getting used to Buck Schirner as the narrator.
After the last book, I lacked enthusiasm to start this one. However, it turned out to be a complex mystery, one involving all aspects I’ve come to love about this series...a strong sense of place and setting, community conflicts and cultural depth. And, we learn so much about Cork’s past, particularly his parents and extended family, all playing a critical role in the present. The mystery was a serious puzzler with lots of layers and interesting characters. As usual, I found it difficult to stop listening.
This is another solid installment in a series that continues to keep me engaged and educated. I’m even getting used to Buck Schirner as the narrator.
September 17, 2022
Narrator David Chandler speaks so slowly that I had to listen a 2x speed, or I would have been bored. 4 of 10 stars
June 20, 2020
Fantastic! Okay, I'm officially a Krueger fan! This was my first Krueger book that I picked up after some great reviews I read and I must admit, I was fascinated from page 1. The writing is superb - fast-paced, suspenseful, the perfect recipe for some good ol' mystery reading! Read it in 2 days. What I'm finding I love from a good mystery writer is that the story isn't dumbed down like so many mysteries are today. The writing here is witty, filled with clever puns and well-hidden (or not) irony. It made me smile as if to say "aha Mr. Krueger, I found your funny little quirky habits in your writing!" it was a great story, felt mildly educated reading it and through his wonderfuly use of imagery I could easily envision the town, characters, etc. despite never having read a "Cork" book before. Just a wonderful way to spend 2 days recuping from surgery... totally took my mind off my knee pain! : ) I'm hooked!
October 21, 2017
I am glad that my Goodread friends led me to this author’s series on detective Cork O’Connor as it satisfies my craving for books that evoke the struggles and rewards of life in particular rural places, in this case the iron mining region of northern Minnesota.
A detective story with a good-hearted hero who grew up there opens a great window on the perspectives of characters with divergent roles in the multicultural community, from hardscrabble miners and low-income residents of the town and nearby Ojibwe reservation to rich mine owners, clergy, and artists. In that role, Cork is challenged with righting wrongs in their conflicts with each other while swimming against the tide of forces that undermine precious traditional values.
In this tale, 10th in the series, Cork is no longer sheriff and is working as a private detective while recovering from a loss revealed in a previous book. (Though I experience no problem tuning into Cork with this as a first sampling of the author, this will spoil the drama of prior book for me or anyone else jumping in with this one). The mine owner Cavanaugh hires Cork to find his missing art dealer sister on the same day that he is tapped to help investigate anonymous threats against the partners in a scheme to use an old mine for storing nuclear waste.
These cases collide with the past when a set of women’s bodies are discovered in a secret wildcatter’s tunnel linking the reservation with the old mine. When Cork’s work helps link the bodies to disappearances his father investigated as a sheriff 40 years in the past, his detective efforts lead him to pursue a painful digging into the lives of his own family, including those of his Ojibwe mother and tribal members who nurtured him as a boy.
O’Connor’s father is the fount of his core values:
Cork’s father had left a legacy that included a lot of intangibles. The idea that justice is imperative. … That loyalty was the lifeblood of friendship. That the love of family was the deepest root that tapped your heart.
But his father’s failure to solve the case of the Vanishings so long ago darkens his memory. Cork comes to feel his father’s medicine man friend Henry Melroux must know something to elucidate the mysteries that now come to haunt him, but all he gets from him is more mystery:
“I need answers.”
“No, you want answers,” Meloux said, “Need is a different animal.”
…“The truth is not hidden, Corcoran O’Connor. It has never been hidden. You simply are not yet ready to see it.”
At a later point Meloux gives him his grandmother’s bracelet, and his query as to why reaps the answer:
To remind you. Like the beads of that bracelet, all things are connected. The past, the present, the future. One long, beautiful work from the hand of Kitchimanidoo. You, me, those who have gone before us, and those who come after, we are all connected in that creation. No one is ever truly lost to us.
Like a Zen-master, Melroux gives Cork another riddle, which devils him until he eventually resolves the cases:
In every human being, there are two wolves. One wolf is love, from which all that is good in life comes: generosity, forgiveness, acceptance, peace. The other is fear, which creates all that is destructive: greed, hatred, prejudice, violence. These two wolves are always fighting.
I am hooked on the great characters and story-telling in this series and look forward to properly delving into earlier entries from this talented author.
A detective story with a good-hearted hero who grew up there opens a great window on the perspectives of characters with divergent roles in the multicultural community, from hardscrabble miners and low-income residents of the town and nearby Ojibwe reservation to rich mine owners, clergy, and artists. In that role, Cork is challenged with righting wrongs in their conflicts with each other while swimming against the tide of forces that undermine precious traditional values.
In this tale, 10th in the series, Cork is no longer sheriff and is working as a private detective while recovering from a loss revealed in a previous book. (Though I experience no problem tuning into Cork with this as a first sampling of the author, this will spoil the drama of prior book for me or anyone else jumping in with this one). The mine owner Cavanaugh hires Cork to find his missing art dealer sister on the same day that he is tapped to help investigate anonymous threats against the partners in a scheme to use an old mine for storing nuclear waste.
These cases collide with the past when a set of women’s bodies are discovered in a secret wildcatter’s tunnel linking the reservation with the old mine. When Cork’s work helps link the bodies to disappearances his father investigated as a sheriff 40 years in the past, his detective efforts lead him to pursue a painful digging into the lives of his own family, including those of his Ojibwe mother and tribal members who nurtured him as a boy.
O’Connor’s father is the fount of his core values:
Cork’s father had left a legacy that included a lot of intangibles. The idea that justice is imperative. … That loyalty was the lifeblood of friendship. That the love of family was the deepest root that tapped your heart.
But his father’s failure to solve the case of the Vanishings so long ago darkens his memory. Cork comes to feel his father’s medicine man friend Henry Melroux must know something to elucidate the mysteries that now come to haunt him, but all he gets from him is more mystery:
“I need answers.”
“No, you want answers,” Meloux said, “Need is a different animal.”
…“The truth is not hidden, Corcoran O’Connor. It has never been hidden. You simply are not yet ready to see it.”
At a later point Meloux gives him his grandmother’s bracelet, and his query as to why reaps the answer:
To remind you. Like the beads of that bracelet, all things are connected. The past, the present, the future. One long, beautiful work from the hand of Kitchimanidoo. You, me, those who have gone before us, and those who come after, we are all connected in that creation. No one is ever truly lost to us.
Like a Zen-master, Melroux gives Cork another riddle, which devils him until he eventually resolves the cases:
In every human being, there are two wolves. One wolf is love, from which all that is good in life comes: generosity, forgiveness, acceptance, peace. The other is fear, which creates all that is destructive: greed, hatred, prejudice, violence. These two wolves are always fighting.
I am hooked on the great characters and story-telling in this series and look forward to properly delving into earlier entries from this talented author.
April 24, 2022
The Department of Energy puts Tamarack County on it's short list of potential sites for storage of nuclear waste. Protests erupt and Cork O'Connor is hired as a security consultant. His first day on the job Cork comes across a room where he finds six murder victims. Five seem to be a half century old connected to "The Vanishings" as the media dubbed it, a series of unsolved disappearances during the summer of 1964 when Cork's father was sheriff. But the sixth has been dead only a week and to make matters worse two of the victim's were killed using Cork's own gun handed down to him by his father. As Cork looks for answers he has to dig into his own past and that of his father. A well-respected man with a ghastly truth. This is one of my favorite series that I will always keep coming back to and this was one of the best in the series. Four stars.
September 22, 2022
Simon and I listened to the bulk of this story over the past week while traveling to and from Boston. We also listened together as a way to wind down each evening. We particularly enjoyed this volume of the Cork O'Connor series, which turned out to be quite convoluted and reveals some previously missing pieces of Cork's childhood.
Standout quote: "But memories were unreliable. Cork understood well that although they came from the fabric of fact, more often than not, his own were a weave of the way things had been and the way he desired them to be."
Standout quote: "But memories were unreliable. Cork understood well that although they came from the fabric of fact, more often than not, his own were a weave of the way things had been and the way he desired them to be."
June 12, 2017
Rather than go on again about how much I love Krueger’s writing, setting, and most of all his characters, I’m going to instead offer some excerpts which I believe demonstrate the spiritual vitality and wonderful imagery that are unfailingly contained within the pages of his books.
In Cork’s experience there was nothing to compare with sunrise in the North Country. Across any lake on a calm morning, the crawl of the sun played out twice: first in the vault of heaven and again on the surface of the water, which was like a window opened onto another heaven at his feet. Five decades of life and he could still be stunned to silence by such a dawn.
***
As he knelt to drink, he saw a huge bird, a great blue heron, gliding over the lake, which was glass smooth and mirror perfect. The reflection of the bird crossed the reflection of the sky. Slowly, gracefully, the heron descended. In the mirror of the lake, its other self rose, and in a brief moment of rippling water, the two met. With a powerful sweep of wing, the great bird rose again and the other descended, and in a minute the sky and lake were clear again. The ripple of their meeting spread outward, however, and where Cork knelt at the lake’s edge, the water undulated gently.
***
”Like the beads of that bracelet, all things are connected. The past, the present, the future. One long, beautiful work from the hand of Kitchimanidoo. You, me, those who have gone before us, and those who come after, we are all connected in that creation. No one is ever truly lost to us.”
If you enjoy character-driven mystery series, do yourself a favor and try Cork O’Connor, which begins with Iron Lake. Although you can enjoy these books without starting at the beginning, there is a lot of character development that happens along the way and really enhances the experience.
In Cork’s experience there was nothing to compare with sunrise in the North Country. Across any lake on a calm morning, the crawl of the sun played out twice: first in the vault of heaven and again on the surface of the water, which was like a window opened onto another heaven at his feet. Five decades of life and he could still be stunned to silence by such a dawn.
***
As he knelt to drink, he saw a huge bird, a great blue heron, gliding over the lake, which was glass smooth and mirror perfect. The reflection of the bird crossed the reflection of the sky. Slowly, gracefully, the heron descended. In the mirror of the lake, its other self rose, and in a brief moment of rippling water, the two met. With a powerful sweep of wing, the great bird rose again and the other descended, and in a minute the sky and lake were clear again. The ripple of their meeting spread outward, however, and where Cork knelt at the lake’s edge, the water undulated gently.
***
”Like the beads of that bracelet, all things are connected. The past, the present, the future. One long, beautiful work from the hand of Kitchimanidoo. You, me, those who have gone before us, and those who come after, we are all connected in that creation. No one is ever truly lost to us.”
If you enjoy character-driven mystery series, do yourself a favor and try Cork O’Connor, which begins with Iron Lake. Although you can enjoy these books without starting at the beginning, there is a lot of character development that happens along the way and really enhances the experience.
October 9, 2019
If you are a fan of this series, you will want to read this book. It has a lot of background on Cork's family, and early childhood, including early exposure to Sam Winter Moon and Henry Meloux.
A lot of things are happening in this book, and connections seem unlikely at first. There are missing children from many years ago, missing grownups, and a missing woman from the present. Cork is hired to find the missing woman from the present, and finds her fairly early, along with some of the older ones. The only connection is they are all found in the same place, but then an unusual fact comes to light that makes Cork think there is some connection.
While he's trying to sort this all out, he has dreams that he thinks might be important, and finally, with Henry's help, he learns the meaning of his dreams, and a lot about his past as a boy.
It's an interesting mystery, and the solution is not obvious at all. So, just read, enjoy, and pay attention. It was an enjoyable ride, as are all of his books (in my opinion, of course).
A lot of things are happening in this book, and connections seem unlikely at first. There are missing children from many years ago, missing grownups, and a missing woman from the present. Cork is hired to find the missing woman from the present, and finds her fairly early, along with some of the older ones. The only connection is they are all found in the same place, but then an unusual fact comes to light that makes Cork think there is some connection.
While he's trying to sort this all out, he has dreams that he thinks might be important, and finally, with Henry's help, he learns the meaning of his dreams, and a lot about his past as a boy.
It's an interesting mystery, and the solution is not obvious at all. So, just read, enjoy, and pay attention. It was an enjoyable ride, as are all of his books (in my opinion, of course).
August 23, 2024
Great read!
Edge of your seat type of read
Edge of your seat type of read
May 11, 2025
I so enjoy this series. It feels like a coming home to neighbours and friends that you have come to consider family.
I listened to this book as I was travelling and I think this series is better for me in written copy. I seem to be more engrossed that way.
I listened to this book as I was travelling and I think this series is better for me in written copy. I seem to be more engrossed that way.
July 31, 2019
Wow! What a book!! I did NOT want to put this one down! It was fascinating learning more about Cork's youth - and I absolutely loved the Native American mysticism included in Vermillion Drift. I SO respect the author's mind for being able to come up with such an amazing plot! I think that this book gives enough background from the previous in the series, where readers could actually jump in without having read the previous books. This one is not to be missed!
November 12, 2023
Another excellent Cork O'Connor story. Krueger is such an excellent writer.
December 11, 2024
Part way through this book I was feeling a little disappointed, and thinking this might be a rare 3 star rating in these Cork O’Connor books. I didn’t feel as connected to the story, and Cork seemed adrift. Which I think is maybe the author’s intent. His children are growing up, even his son Steven is away for the summer, and his wife Jo has been gone a year.
Then Cork’s investigation of a current day murder and discovered bodies in a mine seems to be connected to mysterious missing girls from Cork’s childhood. Cork and others are trying to put together some very confusing pieces. There are disturbing and deadly secrets buried in the past, and Cork has a lot to discover.
This turned out to be a very moving book in the series that explains a lot about Cork and the people in his life.
Then Cork’s investigation of a current day murder and discovered bodies in a mine seems to be connected to mysterious missing girls from Cork’s childhood. Cork and others are trying to put together some very confusing pieces. There are disturbing and deadly secrets buried in the past, and Cork has a lot to discover.
This turned out to be a very moving book in the series that explains a lot about Cork and the people in his life.
October 21, 2010
First Sentence: Some nights, Corcoran O’Connor dreams his father’s death.
Max Cavanagh owns several mines, one of which is being studied by the Department of Energy as a possible site to store nuclear waste. In addition to protests causing Cavanagh worry, his sister, Lauren, has gone missing. Cork, hired to find her, does so but she is not alone. He locates her body in, what had been a closed off section of the mine, among five skeletons. The five skeletons are those of women known as “The Vanishings” who had disappeared decades ago, and two of the bodies contain bullets fired from the gun of Cork’s late father.
Recently, I was involved in a discussion of prologues and how many of us are either annoyed by them or ignore them completely. It takes a writer as skilled as Krueger to write a prologue which contains an important thread which runs through the story. This is not a prologue to ignore.
Krueger has become one of my favorite authors. His skill with description take what could be a fairly ordinary scene, but instead comes alive with clear, visual images. We are able to go where the author takes us and be a part of that which is described to us. Even from those scenes where we might prefer to look away, we can’t. That doesn’t mean he is graphically violent; he’s not. It is more that we feel the emotion of the scene and, thereby, understand it.
Because I read first for character is another reason why Krueger’s writing appeals to me. He creates dimensional, interesting, relatable characters. I’ll admit I wasn’t particularly happy with the events of the previous book, “Heaven’s Keep,” but the transition to this book has been very effectively and tastefully handled and I now understand the purpose of those events. Cork’s heritage is half Irish, responsible for his impatience and occasional anger, and half Ojibwa, which connects him to the people on the reservation, Indian history, and my favorite character Henry Meloux. It also provides the link to the mystical element in each book.
Before you walk away saying “I don’t like woo-woo,” wait. Mysticism and the spirit world are part of the Indian culture. They are also part--along with several other themes including that of what do we really know of our parents and the definition of evil--of what takes this book, and this series, beyond the normal and elevates it into something that makes you stop, think and consider.
Krueger is a very fine author who knows how to create characters, write dialogue, set a scene and, most of all, develop a plot. The story continually builds upon itself. It’s a twisty road filled complete with suspense, emotion and startling revelations. I despise the cliché of “If you’ve not read this author yet, read him now,” yet that is the way I feel. Even if you don’t, be assured I shall be reading his next book as soon as it comes out.
VERMILION DRIFT (PI-Cork O’Connor-Minnesota-Cont) – Ex
Krueger, William Kent – 10th in series
Atria, ©2010, ARC – Hardcover ISBN: 9781439153840
Max Cavanagh owns several mines, one of which is being studied by the Department of Energy as a possible site to store nuclear waste. In addition to protests causing Cavanagh worry, his sister, Lauren, has gone missing. Cork, hired to find her, does so but she is not alone. He locates her body in, what had been a closed off section of the mine, among five skeletons. The five skeletons are those of women known as “The Vanishings” who had disappeared decades ago, and two of the bodies contain bullets fired from the gun of Cork’s late father.
Recently, I was involved in a discussion of prologues and how many of us are either annoyed by them or ignore them completely. It takes a writer as skilled as Krueger to write a prologue which contains an important thread which runs through the story. This is not a prologue to ignore.
Krueger has become one of my favorite authors. His skill with description take what could be a fairly ordinary scene, but instead comes alive with clear, visual images. We are able to go where the author takes us and be a part of that which is described to us. Even from those scenes where we might prefer to look away, we can’t. That doesn’t mean he is graphically violent; he’s not. It is more that we feel the emotion of the scene and, thereby, understand it.
Because I read first for character is another reason why Krueger’s writing appeals to me. He creates dimensional, interesting, relatable characters. I’ll admit I wasn’t particularly happy with the events of the previous book, “Heaven’s Keep,” but the transition to this book has been very effectively and tastefully handled and I now understand the purpose of those events. Cork’s heritage is half Irish, responsible for his impatience and occasional anger, and half Ojibwa, which connects him to the people on the reservation, Indian history, and my favorite character Henry Meloux. It also provides the link to the mystical element in each book.
Before you walk away saying “I don’t like woo-woo,” wait. Mysticism and the spirit world are part of the Indian culture. They are also part--along with several other themes including that of what do we really know of our parents and the definition of evil--of what takes this book, and this series, beyond the normal and elevates it into something that makes you stop, think and consider.
Krueger is a very fine author who knows how to create characters, write dialogue, set a scene and, most of all, develop a plot. The story continually builds upon itself. It’s a twisty road filled complete with suspense, emotion and startling revelations. I despise the cliché of “If you’ve not read this author yet, read him now,” yet that is the way I feel. Even if you don’t, be assured I shall be reading his next book as soon as it comes out.
VERMILION DRIFT (PI-Cork O’Connor-Minnesota-Cont) – Ex
Krueger, William Kent – 10th in series
Atria, ©2010, ARC – Hardcover ISBN: 9781439153840
January 14, 2021
When Cork finds the remains of victims of a 50-year-old serial killer with the body of a recently gone missing of a sister of the mining tycoon, the past is brought to the present. As the facts expose themselves, Cork must question his belief in his own father’s character.
Once again, Krueger take us on a wildly twisted path of murder, victims and monsters. I can’t get enough of this writer’s work. If you want beautiful writing, nail-biting suspense and all the twists any reader could ask for, check it out.
Once again, Krueger take us on a wildly twisted path of murder, victims and monsters. I can’t get enough of this writer’s work. If you want beautiful writing, nail-biting suspense and all the twists any reader could ask for, check it out.
September 14, 2023
I haven’t read any Cork in a long time…too long. Currently waiting on my copy of Krueger’s new book so I went back and hit up book ten from my favorite mystery series ever.
Book Nine, Heaven’s Keep, is a massive turning point in this series. Without saying why, I will say there is Cork before book Nine, and Cork after book Nine. Vermilion Drift is the first book of this a new journey that Cork is on. The focus of this novel is mainly on Cork himself; his family are all out of town on various ventures, and Cork, now a PI, gets involved with a case involving a missing woman named Lauren Cavanaugh. This takes him deep into the Minnesota Iron Range, into the Vermilion Drift, where many bodies are discovered. One of them is a recent body, but the others go back many years…to when Cork’s father was sheriff. This takes Cork on two journeys—one to find the killer of Lauren Cavanaugh, but also a journey decades into the past, and into the depths of his own family’s history.
As is usually the case in these books, we got a murder mystery, but then we also build on the character of Cork O’Connor and his family. Was his father a much different kind of man than he had thought all these years? We get lots of new info here, and this is why I love these books. Cork O’Connor is not just a passive detective character that exists only to investigate the mystery, which is sometimes the case with books like this. He is a living, breathing person, and Krueger wants us to know Cork and his family. His family’s roots run deep in the Iron Range, and I love the way Krueger takes us on these explorations of Cork, his family, the local Ojibwe, and the land itself. As always, Northern Minnesota is just as much a character here as anybody else, and Krueger’s love of the region shines through as beautifully as ever.
If you’re looking for a mystery series that consists of books that are far more than simple whodunnits, this is the series for you. The more they build and build, and the more you know the main players, the more you love the whole package, and I absolutely love these novels.
As always, Bravo, Mr. Krueger!
Book Nine, Heaven’s Keep, is a massive turning point in this series. Without saying why, I will say there is Cork before book Nine, and Cork after book Nine. Vermilion Drift is the first book of this a new journey that Cork is on. The focus of this novel is mainly on Cork himself; his family are all out of town on various ventures, and Cork, now a PI, gets involved with a case involving a missing woman named Lauren Cavanaugh. This takes him deep into the Minnesota Iron Range, into the Vermilion Drift, where many bodies are discovered. One of them is a recent body, but the others go back many years…to when Cork’s father was sheriff. This takes Cork on two journeys—one to find the killer of Lauren Cavanaugh, but also a journey decades into the past, and into the depths of his own family’s history.
As is usually the case in these books, we got a murder mystery, but then we also build on the character of Cork O’Connor and his family. Was his father a much different kind of man than he had thought all these years? We get lots of new info here, and this is why I love these books. Cork O’Connor is not just a passive detective character that exists only to investigate the mystery, which is sometimes the case with books like this. He is a living, breathing person, and Krueger wants us to know Cork and his family. His family’s roots run deep in the Iron Range, and I love the way Krueger takes us on these explorations of Cork, his family, the local Ojibwe, and the land itself. As always, Northern Minnesota is just as much a character here as anybody else, and Krueger’s love of the region shines through as beautifully as ever.
If you’re looking for a mystery series that consists of books that are far more than simple whodunnits, this is the series for you. The more they build and build, and the more you know the main players, the more you love the whole package, and I absolutely love these novels.
As always, Bravo, Mr. Krueger!
May 12, 2015
In the continuing story of Cork O'Connor's life, this book finds him stopped at a crossroads. He is at a loss and has to decide which direction he must take. Before that can happen, Cork's past catches up. He learns things about his childhood and his family that must be understood before he can move on. This was an excellent addition to the series, and I'm anxious to see what happens next.
January 18, 2021
Adoro quando anche se sei nel mezzo della serie l'autore ti spiega comunque le cose come se fosse il primo. Questo aiuta molto a farsi un quadro della storia.
Lettura scorrevole come piace a me e capitoli che si mangiano.
Lettura scorrevole come piace a me e capitoli che si mangiano.
May 10, 2018
The 10th in the Cork O’Connor murder/mystery series introduces the role mining played in Northern Minnesota in decades past, triggering memories of my own. As a teenager in the 60s, I recall the huge iron ore carriers loading taconite in Marquette, Michigan. It takes a special sort of person to work in the dark tunnels of the underground mines.
On an unrelated investigation, Cork stumbles on five skeletons and a newly murdered body in one of those dark tunnels called the Vermilion Drift. And before you know it, Cork O’Connor, as a private investigator, is burrowing into the case of the ‘Vanishings’ that took place over 40 years ago, and the current murder as well. Four of the six victims were Ashtinabe Native Americans. Cork knew some of them as a teenager, causing him to remember that his father (the sheriff at the time) was deeply troubled by the Vanishings case. Why?
Henry Meloux, the medicine man, is now in his 90s and Cork seeks his counsel to unravel the questions in his mind. Healing happens in the sweat lodge. [Krueger does an excellent job in describing this cultural tradition.] And this is what I like about Krueger’s Cork O’Connor series—blending modern police methods with the spiritualism of Native American traditions. Recommend.
On an unrelated investigation, Cork stumbles on five skeletons and a newly murdered body in one of those dark tunnels called the Vermilion Drift. And before you know it, Cork O’Connor, as a private investigator, is burrowing into the case of the ‘Vanishings’ that took place over 40 years ago, and the current murder as well. Four of the six victims were Ashtinabe Native Americans. Cork knew some of them as a teenager, causing him to remember that his father (the sheriff at the time) was deeply troubled by the Vanishings case. Why?
Henry Meloux, the medicine man, is now in his 90s and Cork seeks his counsel to unravel the questions in his mind. Healing happens in the sweat lodge. [Krueger does an excellent job in describing this cultural tradition.] And this is what I like about Krueger’s Cork O’Connor series—blending modern police methods with the spiritualism of Native American traditions. Recommend.
January 29, 2018
Rating: 4 STARS
(Review Not on Blog)
Listened to on audio
I am still reeling from the last book, but this is a perfect book to help you get past it. This book blends current murders with cold cases - and Cork's past. We get to see what his parents were like when Cork was a preteen. I enjoyed this one and found myself just racing through it.
(Review Not on Blog)
Listened to on audio
I am still reeling from the last book, but this is a perfect book to help you get past it. This book blends current murders with cold cases - and Cork's past. We get to see what his parents were like when Cork was a preteen. I enjoyed this one and found myself just racing through it.
January 12, 2025
In this 10th installment of the Cork O'Connor series, we get to see a little bit more of Cork's past as he not only investigates a current murder but also a sting of past unsolved ones. This worked because his current family felt like it was on the back burner.
Overall, this was a solid 4 stars. I enjoy settling into one of these whenever I get a chance.
Overall, this was a solid 4 stars. I enjoy settling into one of these whenever I get a chance.
July 22, 2011
Cork is called on to investigate a missing person. In searching for her he finds four others,
long missing, long dead.
long missing, long dead.
January 15, 2024
I took a couple months break from Cork O’Connor, it was nice to reconnect. Great series that never disappoints.
August 20, 2023
Today I learned that a drillhole is a sink, and a tunnel is a drift.
North of Tamarack County is an old iron mine, and Big Government has come to assess whether it should be repurposed as a long-term repository for nuclear waste (yes, this is really a thing - using an already toxic site to bury materials that are even worse.) The Anishinaabe have organized a protest, so Cork has been hired as security while the visitors tour the facility.
Deep underground, the group stumbles across a spray-painted threat: IF WE DIE, YOU DIE. How did one of the protesters make it so far into the facility? And what's that sickly-sweet smell coming from a little bit farther down the mine shaft? What Cork discovers is an alcove containing six bodies - five long dead, but the sixth one is only about a week old.
What in the ...?
I have to admit, this one had a pretty intriguing mystery that required Cork to look into the five oldest murders, dating to the time when his father was the Sheriff of Tamarack County, along with the most recent murder, that of a wealthy woman whose family has ties to the iron mine.
Up next: Northwest Angle.
North of Tamarack County is an old iron mine, and Big Government has come to assess whether it should be repurposed as a long-term repository for nuclear waste (yes, this is really a thing - using an already toxic site to bury materials that are even worse.) The Anishinaabe have organized a protest, so Cork has been hired as security while the visitors tour the facility.
Deep underground, the group stumbles across a spray-painted threat: IF WE DIE, YOU DIE. How did one of the protesters make it so far into the facility? And what's that sickly-sweet smell coming from a little bit farther down the mine shaft? What Cork discovers is an alcove containing six bodies - five long dead, but the sixth one is only about a week old.
What in the ...?
I have to admit, this one had a pretty intriguing mystery that required Cork to look into the five oldest murders, dating to the time when his father was the Sheriff of Tamarack County, along with the most recent murder, that of a wealthy woman whose family has ties to the iron mine.
Up next: Northwest Angle.
August 5, 2018
A perfect blend of good and evil in this one. Light and dark forces fight for control of everyone and every issue. Best in the series so far.
September 7, 2021
Mostly I'm giving 4 stars to this particular novel in the Cork O'Connor series, because this one seemed a little flat for me. In all fairness, I read it over like two months (!) so that could contribute to the one less star rating.
I think I missed reading about Krueger's usual cast of supporting characters. . . specifically Cork's family. There's little mention of his kids, or Rose and his brother-in-law. It's like the once bustling house is devoid of any activity whatsoever. It was a bit depressing.
Also, this novel is mainly centered on the murders, and I didn't care for that plot line very much. It was a little too "out there" for me.
Henri Meloux shows up and I love Henri. . . his lack of verbosity, his wisdom and keen insight into people.
I think I missed reading about Krueger's usual cast of supporting characters. . . specifically Cork's family. There's little mention of his kids, or Rose and his brother-in-law. It's like the once bustling house is devoid of any activity whatsoever. It was a bit depressing.
Also, this novel is mainly centered on the murders, and I didn't care for that plot line very much. It was a little too "out there" for me.
Henri Meloux shows up and I love Henri. . . his lack of verbosity, his wisdom and keen insight into people.
December 18, 2021
I love the way William Krueger writes. I'm so impressed with all the different topics and the way he captures the readers interest. I am learning a lot about Native American culture as a result of his writings. Mr Krueger is really gifted in the way he manuvers the mystery. He also has a warm way of describing the charaters and how they relate to one another.
I started with his first book, Iron Lake, and have read them in sequence. It has really been enjoyable to see how Cork his main character deals with life and the changes that come his way. Because it dragged a bit at the beginning I'm giving this four stars.
I started with his first book, Iron Lake, and have read them in sequence. It has really been enjoyable to see how Cork his main character deals with life and the changes that come his way. Because it dragged a bit at the beginning I'm giving this four stars.
November 25, 2024
Government is look into the old Vermilion drift mine to put toxic waste in. The Indians are totally against this. The locals are not thrilled either.
Then the body of 5 women are found in an old blocked off tunnel. There is a back away into the tunnel. Most bodies have been there since the 60's. Now Cork has questions. He remembers the old stories. He recognized a few body by what they wore. But he keeps have a bad dream about his father and him. What does this mean??
Then he is given his mother old journals. He finds himself thinking the unthinkable. Was his father involved
This book has many questions and many answers that are totally unexpected.
Then the body of 5 women are found in an old blocked off tunnel. There is a back away into the tunnel. Most bodies have been there since the 60's. Now Cork has questions. He remembers the old stories. He recognized a few body by what they wore. But he keeps have a bad dream about his father and him. What does this mean??
Then he is given his mother old journals. He finds himself thinking the unthinkable. Was his father involved
This book has many questions and many answers that are totally unexpected.
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