Title: Northwest Angle
Author: William Kent Krueger
Review: I came to this really wanting to like it because it featured several things that I look for. A mystery series with an extended backlist taking place in Minnesota. I was hoping for Riley Spartz or Lucas Davenport; or somewhere in between. I even dug around my want to read pile (about 80 books) and found one of the earlier books in the series, Thunder Bay. So I took both books with me on vacation to read – I actually took 7 books with me and got them all done.
The positives. There was a lot of fantastic Northwoods Minnesota description and action. That alone gave my rating a boost. Plus Krueger writing style is very easy to read with a very nice flow to it. It all proceeded forth without any hiccups or dry moments, constantly moving the plot forward in an orderly fashion. Honestly I was able to get through these books quite fast without any holdups. And most importantly the mystery was quite good, though the premise was a little extreme (whacky survivalist religious cult run by a crazy person is a little overdone for my tastes). But the bones of the mystery were solid, in both books.
The negative for me was the character development. All of the principles in the series seemed a little too perfect, as if they hadn’t found their voice yet. Typically a solid mystery hero will be flawed in a very human way – think Wallander or Rebus. They struggle along figuring themselves out as much as they solve the crimes as time goes by. Anotherwords they grow as a person with each successive book. The characters here seemed liked they were assigned their personality with book one and have never changed, and they are unrealistically bonded with those traits come hell or high water.
To get my meaning think of your favorite sit-com that was on TV for a few years. Now go back and watch the pilot episode and the lack of character development just screams at you from the screen. The principles in this book seemed like they were still those Pilot episode people rather then what you would expect from the 11thbook in the series. For example, Cork’s daughter’s speech about motherhood and whether to keep the baby reminded me a lot of Mike Myer’s “Oscar” scene in Wayne’s World (way over acted).
In the end I wanted to like this book and I did, but not enough to work through the backlist. That said it was a quick read and entertaining for what it was, plus it has all the great Minnesota action you could want.
The positives. There was a lot of fantastic Northwoods Minnesota description and action. That alone gave my rating a boost. Plus Krueger writing style is very easy to read with a very nice flow to it. It all proceeded forth without any hiccups or dry moments, constantly moving the plot forward in an orderly fashion. Honestly I was able to get through these books quite fast without any holdups. And most importantly the mystery was quite good, though the premise was a little extreme (whacky survivalist religious cult run by a crazy person is a little overdone for my tastes). But the bones of the mystery were solid, in both books.
The negative for me was the character development. All of the principles in the series seemed a little too perfect, as if they hadn’t found their voice yet. Typically a solid mystery hero will be flawed in a very human way – think Wallander or Rebus. They struggle along figuring themselves out as much as they solve the crimes as time goes by. Anotherwords they grow as a person with each successive book. The characters here seemed liked they were assigned their personality with book one and have never changed, and they are unrealistically bonded with those traits come hell or high water.
To get my meaning think of your favorite sit-com that was on TV for a few years. Now go back and watch the pilot episode and the lack of character development just screams at you from the screen. The principles in this book seemed like they were still those Pilot episode people rather then what you would expect from the 11thbook in the series. For example, Cork’s daughter’s speech about motherhood and whether to keep the baby reminded me a lot of Mike Myer’s “Oscar” scene in Wayne’s World (way over acted).
In the end I wanted to like this book and I did, but not enough to work through the backlist. That said it was a quick read and entertaining for what it was, plus it has all the great Minnesota action you could want.
Publisher: Atria Books
Copyright: 2011
Pages: 320
ISBN: 978-1-439-15395-6
Quick Review: 3 Stars out of 5.
Why I Read it: Love mysteries
Where I Obtained the Book: The publisher sent it to me for review
Synopsis: During a houseboat vacation on the remote Lake of the Woods, a violent gale sweeps through unexpectedly, stranding Cork and his daughter, Jenny, on a devastated island where the wind has ushered in a force far darker and more deadly than any storm. Amid the wreckage, Cork and Jenny discover an old trapper’s cabin where they find the body of a teenage girl. She wasn’t killed by the storm, however; she’d been bound and tortured before she died. Whimpering sounds coming from outside the cabin lead them to a tangle of branches toppled by the vicious winds. Underneath the debris, they find a baby boy, hungry and dehydrated, but still very much alive. Powerful forces intent on securing the child pursue them to the isolated Northwest Angle, where it’s impossible to tell who among the residents is in league with the devil. Cork understands that to save his family he must solve the puzzle of this mysterious child whom death follows like a shadow...
Author Biography: William Kent Krueger is a multi award-winning American author and crime writer, best known for his Cork O'Connor series of books, which is mainly set in Minnesota. USA. In 2005 and 2006, he won back to back Anthony Awards for best novel - a feat only matched by one other writer since the award's inception.
William Kent Krueger has stated that he dates his desire to be a writer back to the third grade, when a story he wrote called The Walking Dictionary was so well received by teachers and parents that he was inspired by their praise. Throughout an early life that saw him logging timber, digging ditches, working in construction, and being published as a freelance journalist, he never stopped writing.
He attended Stanford University but his academic path was cut short when he came into conflict with the university's administration during student protests of spring 1970.
He wrote short stories and sketches for many years, but it was not until the age of 40 that he finished the manuscript of his first novel, Iron Lake. A book which went on to win the Anthony Award for Best First Novel, the Barry Award for Best First Novel, the Minnesota Book Award, and the Loft-McKnight Fiction Award.
William Kent Krueger lives with his wife and family in St Paul, Minnesota
I don't read alot of mysteries, but when i do I often read them more for the characters, so i can understand your disappointment with this one given that the principals were not fully fleshed out.
ReplyDeleteI found your blog on the blog directory. Great Reviews!
ReplyDeleteKim
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