kellyhook_readsbooks's review
4.0
Let’s talk about highly anticipated reads. LIGHTNING STRIKE was one of mine. I was reading with bated breath hoping it wouldn’t let me down. As I settled into this prequel to the Cork O’Connor series, I was slowly overcome with sweet reading relief. @williamkentkrueger is incapable of writing a disappointing novel.
Here’s the thing: this is a quiet story. It’s not flashy or propulsive, but it has the strong characterization that made THIS TENDER LAND and ORDINARY GRACE two of my favorite reads of 2020.
It’s the summer of 1963 and Cork O’Connor is twelve years old. During this pivotal summer, he finds himself caught in between the whimsies of boyhood and experiencing the brokenness and complexity of adulthood. When the death of a Native American man is presumed to be a suicide, the community of Aurora demands further investigation.
Following in the footsteps of his sheriff father, Cork earnestly sets out to answer unanswered questions about the murder. Native American history and customs were woven into the story, beautifully contrasting the approach of local law enforcement and the Catholic Church. I love how Cork wrestled with his identity, heritage, and faith in a way that will resonate with many readers.
Earlier this year I read the first book in the series, IRON LAKE (Cork O’ Connor #1) written in 1998. It was a decent debut but lacked the richness in themes that the author has developed over his career. LIGHTNING STRIKE can easily stand alone but has made me want to revisit the rest of the series.
RATING: 4.5/5
Here’s the thing: this is a quiet story. It’s not flashy or propulsive, but it has the strong characterization that made THIS TENDER LAND and ORDINARY GRACE two of my favorite reads of 2020.
It’s the summer of 1963 and Cork O’Connor is twelve years old. During this pivotal summer, he finds himself caught in between the whimsies of boyhood and experiencing the brokenness and complexity of adulthood. When the death of a Native American man is presumed to be a suicide, the community of Aurora demands further investigation.
Following in the footsteps of his sheriff father, Cork earnestly sets out to answer unanswered questions about the murder. Native American history and customs were woven into the story, beautifully contrasting the approach of local law enforcement and the Catholic Church. I love how Cork wrestled with his identity, heritage, and faith in a way that will resonate with many readers.
Earlier this year I read the first book in the series, IRON LAKE (Cork O’ Connor #1) written in 1998. It was a decent debut but lacked the richness in themes that the author has developed over his career. LIGHTNING STRIKE can easily stand alone but has made me want to revisit the rest of the series.
RATING: 4.5/5
kellyhook_readsbooks's review against another edition
4.0
Let’s talk about highly anticipated reads. LIGHTNING STRIKE was one of mine. I was reading with bated breath hoping it wouldn’t let me down. As I settled into this prequel to the Cork O’Connor series, I was slowly overcome with sweet reading relief. @williamkentkrueger writes only great books.
Here’s the thing: this is a quiet story. It’s not flashy or propulsive, but it has the strong characterization that made THIS TENDER LAND and ORDINARY GRACE two of my favorite reads of 2020.
It’s the summer of 1963 and Cork O’Connor is twelve years old. During this pivotal summer, he finds himself caught in between the whimsies of boyhood and experiencing the brokenness of the adult world.
When the death of a Native American man is presumed to be a suicide, the community of Aurora demands further investigation. Following in the footsteps of his sheriff father, Cork earnestly sets out to answer unanswered questions about the murder.
Native American history and customs were woven into the story, beautifully contrasting the approach of local law enforcement and the Catholic Church. I love how Cork wrestled with his identity, heritage, and faith in a way that will resonate with many readers.
Earlier this year I read the first book in the series, IRON LAKE (Cork O’ Connor #1) written in 1998. It was a decent debut but, the author has surely mastered his writing over the years.
Here’s the thing: this is a quiet story. It’s not flashy or propulsive, but it has the strong characterization that made THIS TENDER LAND and ORDINARY GRACE two of my favorite reads of 2020.
It’s the summer of 1963 and Cork O’Connor is twelve years old. During this pivotal summer, he finds himself caught in between the whimsies of boyhood and experiencing the brokenness of the adult world.
When the death of a Native American man is presumed to be a suicide, the community of Aurora demands further investigation. Following in the footsteps of his sheriff father, Cork earnestly sets out to answer unanswered questions about the murder.
Native American history and customs were woven into the story, beautifully contrasting the approach of local law enforcement and the Catholic Church. I love how Cork wrestled with his identity, heritage, and faith in a way that will resonate with many readers.
Earlier this year I read the first book in the series, IRON LAKE (Cork O’ Connor #1) written in 1998. It was a decent debut but, the author has surely mastered his writing over the years.
bc_303's review
4.0
Story of a rural town along Boundary Waters.
A beloved Native American is found hung. Story of a Cop and his son piecing together the mystery of his death.
However under the story line is the story of the injustice in Native lives, assumptions, stereotypes, what is good, who does the law serve. It also shows the disaster of relocation in the 60's for Native people off the reservation.
A beloved Native American is found hung. Story of a Cop and his son piecing together the mystery of his death.
However under the story line is the story of the injustice in Native lives, assumptions, stereotypes, what is good, who does the law serve. It also shows the disaster of relocation in the 60's for Native people off the reservation.
mctmama's review
4.0
A mystery but also a glimpse into a community that borders a Ojibwe reservation. A book about families, community and growing up. Just when you think you have solved the mystery of the death of Big John Manydeeds you realize you don’t know all the facts. This book should lead to a good discussion in book club.
indianajane's review
4.0
I am really enjoying the Cork O'Connor series, and enjoyed the perspective this prequel brings to the character. I had a few quibbles with the book. I thought the pacing was a little slow at a couple of points. And I always get annoyed when I feel like a writer is trying to hit me over the head with some particular agenda. There were a couple of places where this book got heavy-handed in that way. But it was still good. And I'm not sorry I read it.
bookhawk's review against another edition
4.0
Lightning Strike is a prequel addition to the Cork O’Connor series. Krueger delivers his usual fine writing style that features excellent descriptions of settings accompanied by mystical Native American spirituality and thoughtful questioning of issues. Krueger weaves a winding mystery set in the early 1960s reminiscent of his excellent work Ordinary Grace. Lightning Strike was a nice return to Aurora, Minnesota and a nice way to tell the back stories of familiar characters. Four stars.
tpteacher's review
4.0
More good writing and another good story by Krueger. It definitely reminded me of Ordinary Grace (which in my opinion is the better book) but this was still worth the read.
cjdawn236's review
4.0
I had a rough start with this ARC, as there are several things I’m hoping got ironed out before print. But overall I really enjoyed this novel. Though technically part of a larger series, this was definitely a standalone prequel. I’ve never read any of Krueger’s Cork O’Connor series, but was still able to follow along. This is probably a great way to dive in if you’ve read his other standalone novels and are looking for more.