I am a huge fan if William Kent Krueger, but this one just doesn't take off. From the start it seemed to go in too many directions with too many characters. He writes books that have so many lines to be underlined for the wisdom they impart. This book lacked that connection to the reader for me. It will bought for his fans, but I am afraid they will be disappointed.

WKW is such a great writer, sometimes the length of his books intimidate me, but they are totally worth it!

William Kent Krueger's books are so beautifully written. The characters and setting are so well described (but not over described) so that you feel that you can really visualize the place and understand the characters. The mystery was compelling. Great read. You don't need to have read others in the series to enjoy this. 4.5 stars.

I was not aware Spirit Crossing was #20 in a series when I picked it up - I was mainly pulled in by the author and the story. Cork O’Connor is an interesting character and his family is fun to follow. While this novel is approachable even having not read the other books, I definitely felt I was missing out on callbacks and relationship history having not engaged in the series.

William Kent Krueger is a fantastic author who has a focus on creating characters and communities that feel alive. I really enjoyed this book and it’s made me interested in picking up prior entries into this series. The authors note gave context for the content of the book and had some thoughtful reflections on Krueger’s role writing Native American characters.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for access to this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

This is the 20th entry in the wonderful Cook O’Connor mystery series, set in Minnesota. There is always an Indigenous aspect to these mysteries. In this case there is a missing/murdered indigenous woman, a missing white politician’s daughter and a fight over a pipeline route. As always, the characters and plot are well developed.

If you enjoyed any of the books in the Cork O'Connor series, you will also enjoy this one. This can be read as a standalone but you probably won't feel as close to the characters without knowing their back stories. If you've read the entire series up until this one but it's been awhile since you read the last one, you won't have any problems picking this one up. This might be one of my favorites in the series... it's definitely in the top five!

A politician’s daughter’s disappearance is at the forefront of the news, but some young Native American women have gone missing as well. Cork O’Connor is focusing on those women and his grandson, who feels their spirit is helping him. This is the 20th in the series.

While I didn’t realize this was the 20th in the series when I requested it, it was completely readable as a standalone (however it would probably have be even better if I had read the others - and now I have 19 books to add to my TBR). I really love Krueger’s writing (which was why I requested the book in the first place) and this book did not disappoint. The story was interesting, kept me engrossed the whole time, had a little bit of magic realism and his signature slow burn, and the resolution was completely satisfying. I really enjoyed this one and will definitely check out the series now.

Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for the ARC to review

I have yet to read a Krueger book I didn’t very much enjoy. The Cork O’Connor series continues with his newest book Spirit Crossing. It examines the injustices towards indigenous people - a familiar theme within his books. A very fine murder mystery that has great suspense and pacing. I haven’t read all the series, but didn’t have any trouble following along with this cast of characters.
Thank-you to @atriabooks and @netgalley for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

This is book number 20 in a series, and I wish that had been listed when I requested this because I probably wouldn't have. That said, you don't need to have read the other books to read this one. There were some things I got the impression had been described more in previous books, but it didn't take away from the story. I really enjoyed this story and the native characters and traditions that were woven throughout. This was a good mystery, without many heart pounding moments.

William Kent Krueger is an author I always want to read. He is a masterful writer drawing you in from the first paragraph. He sets his stories in Minnesota and he makes the reader a part of the setting with his extraordinary descriptions. He makes you care about his characters and feel their pain. This book is filled with pain. Cork is aging, his children are adults with lovers, husbands, and children. Some patterns are repeating, there is danger. We are reminded that “To be Indian is to walk with loss. It goes before us and it follows us. It is our shadow self.” A point that is made, repeated and proved - again and again.

Spirit Crossing is much darker and sadder than the previous books in the Cork O’Connor series but equally well written, engaging and pertinent. It is a book that is hard to put down and has much to say. I am smitten by the story, the points being made and the quality of William Kent Krueger’s writing. A million thanks to Atria/Simon & Schuster, LLC and NetGalley for an advance copy.

A very intense thriller which will hook you right away. In this Cork O’Connor series book, Cork’s family is intricately involved in a murder mystery when the knowing sight of his grandson leads to a shallow grave of a Native girl. From there the story twists around an old cabin, a blueberry patch and the possibility that the dead girl is part of something more. Within the story, the harmony and beauty of Ojibwe beliefs and customs creates a balance to the horror of the deaths.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of the book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

solid read

I always enjoy the books by this author. This was no exception. They are not high energy, high tech mysteries like I normally read, but are a nice change of pace that make me think about life and how we treat people. In this case, how we treat missing people of different colors. That isn't a new concept, but it is, unfortunately, still a reality. The insight into native culture is always appreciated.

This Book Is Intense. Emotional. And Impossible To Put Down. Krueger Perfectly Blends Suspense With Deep Cultural Themes. Keeping You Hooked Until The Very Last Page. If You're Into Thrillers With Heart. This One's A Must-Read!

🧡SPIRIT CROSSING🧡
𝔠𝔯𝔦𝔪𝔢 𝔣𝔦𝔠𝔱𝔦𝔬𝔫
𝙿𝚞𝚋 🗓️: 𝙰𝚞𝚐𝚞𝚜𝚝 𝟸𝟶, 𝟸𝟶𝟸𝟺
𝕄𝕪 𝕣𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕟𝕘: 𝟜 𝕤𝕥𝕒𝕣𝕤!★★★★

🤏𝚃𝚎𝚎𝚗𝚢 𝚝𝚒𝚍𝚋𝚒𝚝…Two girls are missing. One is found dead & is of the Ojibwe tribe, but nobody seems that interested in that body except for one person who soon realizes he may be the next victim.

🌻𝚆𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝙸 𝚑𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚝𝚘 𝚜𝚊𝚢...This is my 4th Krueger book & all have been absolutely divine. This one happens to be the 20th in a series😳 that I was not aware of at first(y’all know I go in blind 😆) I will say I would probably recommend you know this series before reading this one…not all 20 but at least a couple so you “know” all the characters better because there is quite a few. Krueger can paint the most vivid picture with his words & that’s what still made this one a solid 4 star for me even while not knowing enough of the back story. Masterful writing. 🙌👌✍️

Spirit Crossing is William Kent Kruger's 20th installment in the Cork O'Connor series - so first things first, I did not read all 20 books yet, I love WKk's writing and want to read all his books, eventually I'll get there. I have read the first couple of books in this series and now this newest installment and reading them as standalone's works - did I jump ahead a couple of years now and is Cork O'Connor suddenly not just a dad but a grandpa? Yes! Did it dampen my eagerness to read the books I am missing so far? No, because as much as I love the recurring characters, the mysteries are just so good!
I love how WKK uses Minnesota's nature and the awareness of nature as almost a character in all of the mysteries and I love the role the Ojibwe culture and reservation life and all of the struggles play in this book especially missing indigenous girls and women.
Cork O'Connor gets drawn into this investigation because taking his grandson blueberry picking they stumble over a fresh grave.
I was captivated and loved my reading - William Kent Krueger's writing is just so good, I could see the movie playing in my head ! He excels at interweaving social and personal issues into his stories and give depth to his mysteries that way. I highly recommend giving this series or just this new book a try (Fair warning: I am pretty sure you'll want to read the rest if you read this one).

Book 20 in the series, William Kent Krueger brings us to a setting that immerses you in indigenous community and their culture.

A body of a native woman and white woman. WKK really does an amazing job of highlighting the setting and bringing the well written characters to life. The sense of detail here is top notch. As the story unfolds the reader is hit with some serious societal issues as well as the obvious. A suspenseful page turner that reads well as a standalone!

William Kent Krueger’s latest Cork O’Connor book brings us back to Minnesota, where Krueger does what he does best—mixing family drama, indigenous traditions, and a solid mystery. Fans of the series will appreciate the familiar dynamics, but what makes this one stand out is Krueger’s focus on real-world issues, like the fight to protect native lands from development and the alarming lack of attention given to missing indigenous women compared to other cases.

It’s refreshing to see Krueger tackle these current struggles, blending them into a story that’s as thought-provoking as it is engaging. Whether you’re a longtime fan or new to the series, this one’s worth picking up for its mix of suspense and timely themes.

I appreciate the opportunity afforded me to have an early read of this story by netgalley and Atria Books. The opinions in this review are expressly those of ButIDigressBookClub and are intended for use by my followers and friends when choosing their next book.

#butidigress #butidigressbookclub #spiritcrossing #williamskentkrueger #netgalley #netgalleyreviewer #arc #arcs

I am a relatively new reader of books by William Kent Krueger, having read only three, I was absolutely delighted when I received an ARC of Spirit Crossing, the 20th book in his Cork O'Connor series. Thank you to NetGalley, Atria Books, and the author; my review reflects my honest opinion. In this book Cork O'Connor, the patriarch of an Irish family, former Minnesota law enforcement officer and current PI aids the local sheriff's office and Tribal police force in the search for 2 missing young women, one the beautiful White daughter of a wealthy politician and one a young missing Indigenous teen. The case reveals the extensive efforts by the FBI and BCA to discover the body of Olivia Hamilton, the wealthy white girl and their almost indifferent approach to the case involving the missing Indian girl. Sadly this is often the case in the real world despite the fact that as Mr. Krueger shared murder is the third leading cause of death for Indigenous girls and teens; their murder rate is three times that of nonHispanic White women.
At the same time members of the O'Connor family are actively involved in protests to stop the installation of an oil pipeline that would destroy wetlands as well as run through a sacred place to the Indian community called the Spirit Crossing.
The book felt so real to me as I was reading it the characters came to life on the pages. My heart ached for young Waaboo, Cork's grandson, as he was learning to deal with his gift and often cross of second sight. His parent's love and concern for him and the road he would travel was powerful. Annie O'Connor was home from Guatemala for her brother's wedding. Annie always thought she would be a nun, however life changed that and challenged her faith, thus her commitment to serve the suffering in Guatemala. I could go on and on about the characters Mr. Krueger brought to life- better for you to read the book and discover them for yourself. Spirit Crossing is a story of love, family, the long-term effects an unloving or caring family or supportive caregivers and much more. It is at times sad; at others hopeful, yet always a wonderful read.
4.5 stars.

I had not read anything yet from this prolific author and was so happy I had the opportunity to try this book out. I really enjoyed it. I think part of the magic is Krueger's writing. It flows so well. The characters are captured flawlessly. I loved the obvious respect that Krueger shows for Native people in his portrayal of the world they live in....both good and bad. I was both intrigued by the mystery of the novel and saddened by the realities that Native people in our country still face to this day. The intertwining of the murder mystery and the spiritual nature of the people in this book really grabbed me from the very beginning. The characters were likable. The family aspect was heartwarming. I have not read the previous books in the series but never felt lost or confused. This book stands alone just fine. While parts were really sad, overall I enjoyed this read immensely and will be picking up other novels from this author. I recommend this one to anyone who likes a mystery suspense novel.

Thank you to Atria Books for an ARC of this book. The opinions here are my own.

Thank you to netgalley for this arc in exchange for my review. I did not realize upon requesting this book that it was book 20 in a series. I did not feel lost or missing anything when reading it which is great. To me it works as a stand alone although im sure those invested in the series might not agree: Cork is many things, a dad, grandfather, investigator, when taking his grandson to pick blueberries they stumble on the body of a dead girl and an investigation ensues. This book is well written by an author who probably has a clear formula for this series. Pick this up if you like a whodunit.