Thunder Bay: A Cork O'Connor Mystery (2007)

Author: William Kent Krueger
Title: Thunder Bay: A Cork O'Connor Mystery
Genre: Mystery
Publication date: 2007

What it's about: In Krueger's seventh Cork O'Connor outing, the retired sheriff of Tamarack County in Minnesota's northwoods is dumbfounded when his ninety-something friend and mentor, the Ojibwe medicine man Henry Meloux, announces that he has a long-lost son, living somewhere in Thunder Bay, Ontario.  Cork finds that Meloux's son is the reclusive mining baron, Henry Wellington (think Howard Hughes in his last days).  Cork attempts to contact the mysterious Wellington, only to be thwarted.  Things become complicated when someone tries to kill Meloux back in Minnesota - someone linked to Henry Wellington.   

Why it's worth reading: Anyone that has read Krueger's earlier entries in his series will enjoy this solid entry. Neither hard-boiled nor cozy reads, Krueger's books remain somewhat tough-skinned but warm-hearted. Readers familiar with the flinty loveliness of Minnesota's northwoods will recognize the setting as one of Krueger's main attractions.  Cork O'Connor remains an affable yet reluctant hero.  It's not necessary to read the previous entries in the series to enjoy this novel, but Krueger's fictional town of Aurora is a nice enough place to visit on a regular basis.

The eighth book in the series, Red Knife, is due this fall.

Similar rustic locale mystery series:
Nevada Barr's series featuring Park Ranger Anna Pigeon - starts
C.J. Box's series featuring Wyoming game warden Joe Pickett
Steve Hamilton's Alex McKnight series set in Michigan's Upper Peninsula
Joseph Heywood's Woods Cop series also is set in the U.P., but features a conservation officer named Grady Service