Reviews

Red Knife by William Kent Krueger

smrankin5's review

challenging dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

Takes some current events head on. Not one of the best in the series

sueinguelph's review

fast-paced

4.0

romonko's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

This is a  little different Cork O'Connor that the other books so far in the series.  There are a number of storylines that are like threads in the book, but in this case, the threads don't really converge.  What holds the threads together is a young Mexican-Ojibwe boy by the name of Ulysses who loses his older brother and his wife in a violent manner.  This act sets off a powder keg of violence in Cork O'Connor's County that touches everybody in the community, including Cork's own family.  The powder keg fuse is lit by the drugs that have infiltrated the town and the nearby Res, and no one is immune from the conflagration.  Cork finds himself on the wrong side of the law off and on throughout the book when his heritage calls him to act.  The repercussions on human life and on Cork's family create lasting scars and forever shapes Cork and all of his family's lives.  The book almost seemed to end as curtain on Cork's story, but i know there are further books in this series to read, so I cannot wait to see what will happen in the next ones.

chubn's review

mysterious

3.75

lfbennett407's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

apiratethatdoesnothing's review against another edition

4.0

Wow. Totally didn't see the ending coming as it did. I got bored at parts and at others I couldn't stop turning the pages.

terriep's review

adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

As I work my way through this series, I'm continuing to like all the recurring characters. Main character Cork is complex and flawed - just how I like a character to be. He has a strong moral compass that often gets him in situations he didn't ask for and doesn't want to be in AND that put him in conflict with his wife. I feel like the evolution of their relationship is very believable. 

This book continues with Cork working as a PI instead of sheriff as he's asked to help solve a missing person (turns into murdered) case both by the sheriff's office AND people from the Ojibwe tribe which puts him in some ethical quicksand. The theme of this story is drugs coming onto the rez and figuring out who is involved and how, etc. That part isn't particularly new or startling, but still there were plenty of possible killers, all with a motive to kill. 

However, for me, the kicker in this book is the ending. It sort of comes out of nowhere and smacked me upside the head! I was listening to it on my morning walk and it brought me to tears! So unexpected and I think that's part of the strength of it -- no spoilers here. Suffice it to say, I'm still loving this series and my name is on the library wait list for the next installment!

Challenges tagged:
Cloak & Dagger:  38/55
Mt TBR (virtual):  25/24  (completed)
Library Love:  64/70+

sandraserkownek's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

gmulligan's review against another edition

dark mysterious medium-paced

3.5

bookhawk's review against another edition

4.0

Red Knife gets 4 stars in my book on the strength of the elegant writing style, strong descriptions of feelings and settings and a plot that builds anticipation especially in the last 100 pages. Unfortunately, the ending seemed a bit too sudden and took a turn supported by the story but not in keeping with the majority of the plot.