Status
Available
Call number
Series
Genres
Collection
Publication
Atria Books (2009), Edition: Reprint, 384 pages
Description
Fiction. Suspense. Thriller. William Kent Krueger is the award-winning author of the popular Cork O'Connor mysteries. In Purgatory Ridge, Krueger crafts a riveting tale which has ex-sheriff O'Connor on the case after a heated town debate turns deadly. The local Anishinaabe Indian tribe is furious to discover that Karl Lindstrom's lumber mill is after a grove of trees sacred to tribal lore. So when the mill gets bombed, killing a man, the tribe is blamed. But O'Connor has a different theory.
User reviews
LibraryThing member jastbrown
William Kent Kreuger's mystery series featuring Cork O'Connor seemed, in my mind, to start out relatively slowly. I felt that it wasn't until his fourth or fifth book that he really hit his stride. I'm very thankful that I had bought up his complete series before beginning to read them (based on an
The novels are set in rural, northern Minnesota for the most part with the action shifting to The U.P. of Michigan in one story and to Wyoming in another. Mr. Kreuger gives Cork O'Connor a family life that is anything but 'storybook'. From one end to the other this is a loving, but modern family, with real life modern problems that they do manage to get resolved. Fairly early in the series, the stories begin increasingly encompassing Cork's and his family's Native American connection to good advantage!
This is a very good and satisfying series which I gobbled up faster and faster towards the end. Now I have to sit and eagerly await the next Cork O'Connor adventure. This is a series where the books could be read as stand alones, but for maximum enjoyment I would strongly recommend reading them in the order that they were written.
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enthusiastic review I read of a later book).. otherwise I might have given up on the series early on and missed some really great stories. And in hindsight even the early books have a great deal to offer. The novels are set in rural, northern Minnesota for the most part with the action shifting to The U.P. of Michigan in one story and to Wyoming in another. Mr. Kreuger gives Cork O'Connor a family life that is anything but 'storybook'. From one end to the other this is a loving, but modern family, with real life modern problems that they do manage to get resolved. Fairly early in the series, the stories begin increasingly encompassing Cork's and his family's Native American connection to good advantage!
This is a very good and satisfying series which I gobbled up faster and faster towards the end. Now I have to sit and eagerly await the next Cork O'Connor adventure. This is a series where the books could be read as stand alones, but for maximum enjoyment I would strongly recommend reading them in the order that they were written.
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LibraryThing member lchav52
William Kent Krueger's Cork O'Connor series, of which PURGATORY RIDGE is the third, is well worth your investment in time and dollars. Set in northern Minnesota in the Iron Mountain range, Krueger peoples his books with living, breathing people, people the reader comes to care about. Add to this
In PURGATORY RIDGE, O'Connor, former sheriff of Tamarack County, is getting his life together after personal and professional crises when he must face another as his wife and son are kidnapped as collateral damage to a twisted plot of revenge and greed. Add in an ecological terrorist and Lake Superior as a character that overshadows all; you won't be disappointed.
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plots filled with excitement, suspense, mystery and thrills, and the books please on every level.In PURGATORY RIDGE, O'Connor, former sheriff of Tamarack County, is getting his life together after personal and professional crises when he must face another as his wife and son are kidnapped as collateral damage to a twisted plot of revenge and greed. Add in an ecological terrorist and Lake Superior as a character that overshadows all; you won't be disappointed.
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LibraryThing member maneekuhi
Another solid book from Krueger is this 10 book series. This is #3, rated 3 1/2 stars, completed 5/29/11. A central character is a good guy who got some bad breaks, a lot of them, then became a bad guy but with a heart of gold. Didn't grab me, nor did the lengthy descriptions of the wreck of a
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ship, diving scenes. And I think everybody knows that the evil bad guy is the one who is behind the good guy's troubles, the only one who is surprised is the good bad guy. Got that? Cork's family is involved all the way, and I hope that doesn't become part of the formula for all the remaining books because that will become tiresome fast. There's a kidnapping with a few extra unexpected victims thrown in, guess who. Cork gets shot again, but survives as does his marriage for the time being. I have now read #1, 2, 3, and 10. Think I might jump to #9 (which is a big scene shifter), then await #11. We'll see..... Show Less
LibraryThing member jepeters333
Not far from Aurora, MN, lies an ancient expanse of great white pines, sacred to the Anishinaabe tribe. When an explosion kills the night watchmen at wealthy industrialist Karl Lindstrom's nearby lumber mill, it's obvious where suspicion will fall. Former sheriff Cork O'Connor agrees to help
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investigate, but he has mixed feelings about the case. For one thing, he is part Anishinaabe. For another, his wife, a lawyer, represents the tribe. Meanwhile, near Lindstrom's lakeside home, a reclusive shipwreck survivor and his sidekick are harboring their own resentment of the industrialist. Show Less
LibraryThing member SugarCreekRanch
Another entertaining thriller in the Cork O'Connor series. I like the rural Minnesota setting and the Native American themes in this series. This book's central issues are the eco-terrorism bombing of a local lumbermill, and a man's obsession with a Lake Superior shipwreck that he barely survived a
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decade ago. It turns into a fast-paced kidnap/murder story by the end. Show Less
LibraryThing member enemyanniemae
One of the ladies in my little mystery group mentioned that she'd like to read this author. This is my first (but by no means the last) experience with William Kent Krueger and DAMN. He writes one hell of a good mystery. The plot is like Mohammed Ali at the top of his boxing career. It ducks, it
I am so heading to the store to pick up the first in the series. I definitely want more.
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weaves, it entertains and then it packs a wallop that knocks you off your feet and leaves you seeing stars and gasping for breath. The twists and turns in this story were masterful. The characters are realistic and very well written. I am so heading to the store to pick up the first in the series. I definitely want more.
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LibraryThing member jamespurcell
Another good book in an excellent series.
LibraryThing member DeltaQueen50
The third in his Cork O’Connor series, Purgatory Ridge by William Kent Krueger continues the excellence of this series. His setting of Northern Minnesota is a major draw to this well written series. The author obviously has a familiarity and a love for this area and he is able to draw the reader
In Purgatory Ridge, Cork and his lawyer wife, Jo are still slowly working their way back to each other. Both are involved in a logging dispute and it soon becomes clear that Cork longs to be sheriff once again. The opportunity to run for that office soon presents itself, and Cork is pondering his future. Meanwhile there is a plot developing that will involve Cork’s family when a kidnapping plan goes awry. Resentments, revenge, and obsession are bubbling away as Cork battles to save his family.
Purgatory Ridge is a well written suspenseful mystery. The author, a former logger himself, describes the conflicts between the logging company, the local economy, the environmentalists and the native culture intelligently. This mystery with it’s high suspense and twisted plot made for a terrific read.
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in as he paints the scene.In Purgatory Ridge, Cork and his lawyer wife, Jo are still slowly working their way back to each other. Both are involved in a logging dispute and it soon becomes clear that Cork longs to be sheriff once again. The opportunity to run for that office soon presents itself, and Cork is pondering his future. Meanwhile there is a plot developing that will involve Cork’s family when a kidnapping plan goes awry. Resentments, revenge, and obsession are bubbling away as Cork battles to save his family.
Purgatory Ridge is a well written suspenseful mystery. The author, a former logger himself, describes the conflicts between the logging company, the local economy, the environmentalists and the native culture intelligently. This mystery with it’s high suspense and twisted plot made for a terrific read.
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LibraryThing member bell7
In this third book in the Cork O'Connor series, the former sheriff finds himself in the midst of town politics when someone bombs the lumber mill. The owner, Karl Lindstrom, had been in conflict with the Ojibwe over a stand of trees known as Our Grandfathers, so suspicion immediately is on the Iron
The first half of the book read as a police procedural, despite the fact that Cork is no longer in law enforcement (though there's some hint that he may be in the future); the second half reads as a twisty thriller whose ending left me reading late at night to find out what would happen. The relationships between the characters are my favorite parts, seeing how Cork and Jo are working out, their interactions with their kids, Jo's sister Rose, and secondary characters like the actual sheriff, Wally Schanno, and the Ojibwe healer, Henry Meloux. When the plot took center stage for the second half of the book, I was reading fast but I wasn't quite as invested in the story. There were several threads to the story, too, which made it a little confusing. When describing politics and groups in a small town, Krueger does a nice job of presenting various sides and conflicts. These stories have a great sense of place in northern Minnesota. I enjoy getting to know the characters and seeing them develop, and I look forward to seeing where they are headed next.
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Lake tribe. Meanwhile, Cork and his wife Jo are slowly feeling their way back into marriage and trying to make it work after their infidelities. What starts out as a seemingly straightforward case of environmentalists versus the logging company soon becomes complicated - and personal - as Cork's family is drawn in to the melee.The first half of the book read as a police procedural, despite the fact that Cork is no longer in law enforcement (though there's some hint that he may be in the future); the second half reads as a twisty thriller whose ending left me reading late at night to find out what would happen. The relationships between the characters are my favorite parts, seeing how Cork and Jo are working out, their interactions with their kids, Jo's sister Rose, and secondary characters like the actual sheriff, Wally Schanno, and the Ojibwe healer, Henry Meloux. When the plot took center stage for the second half of the book, I was reading fast but I wasn't quite as invested in the story. There were several threads to the story, too, which made it a little confusing. When describing politics and groups in a small town, Krueger does a nice job of presenting various sides and conflicts. These stories have a great sense of place in northern Minnesota. I enjoy getting to know the characters and seeing them develop, and I look forward to seeing where they are headed next.
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LibraryThing member sleahey
Although a former sheriff, Cork can't keep away when there's an explosion at the local lumber mill and a man dies. His Indian ancestry complicates his alliances, as does the wife's role as attorney for the local tribe. Another plot, told in alternating chapters, revolves around the revenge sought
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by John LePere for the death of his brother years ago during a shipwreck on Lake Superior. The two stories collide and weave together by the end, which is a satisfying resolution. Show Less
LibraryThing member porch_reader
I continue to love the Cork O'Connor mystery series. When a murder occurs at a lumber mill, environmental activists seem a likely suspects, but as more crimes occurs, Cork is personally impacted and rushes against time to find the culprits.
LibraryThing member gbelik
Several stories are interwoven in this Cork O'Connor mystery. A battle is on between the timber industry and the local tribes and environmentalists over the last stand of old growth trees in the area. The mill owner Karl and his wife Grace are struggling in their marriage as are Cork and his wife
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Jo. And a local man whose parents and brother all died in the the lake holds Grace's family responsible for his brother's death. The characters are well developed and the story rushes onward. A good read. Show Less
LibraryThing member willowwaw
Another wonderful Cork O'Connor Mystery! I loved this one! It was a little slow at first and hard to get into, but the ending was well worth the wait. I love this author's mysteries and I can't wait for him to write more! A great book and a great author!
LibraryThing member pinetastic
This is the third installment of the Cork O'Connor series and I'm enjoying Krueger's willingness to let other characters other than Cork take center stage.
LibraryThing member Andy_DiMartino
Really enjoy his tales of Northern Mn
LibraryThing member Romonko
This is book 3 in the Cork O'Connor series and it's a winner. I was listening to this on audio, and I never wanted to shut it off. I love this series, and I also love all the other non-series books I've read that Willam Kent Kreuger has written. The book held my interest from page 1 right through
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to the end, and as usual, Kreuger's descriptions of the northern Minnesota area are breathtaking. In this book we see a happy Cork flipping burgers at Sam's Place and getting back together with his wife Jo and his three children. There is a lot of unrest in Aurora because a big logging company is trying to get permits to cut the huge white pine trees down on the hills close to town, which the natives call their Grandfathers. Buildings are being burnt down and innocent people killed in the process. Also, far off in the hills, there is a native man who has been nursing a grudge for ten long years and is ready to even the score, and these two forces are about to collide taking Cork and his family with them. This is heart-stopping action that will keep you guessing until the end of the book. What a ride! I highly recommend this series to anyone who loves crime fiction that will carry you away for the length of time that you read (or listen) to the story. Number 4, here I come. Show Less
LibraryThing member Al-G
Everything I've come to expect from Krueger = intricate characters, well thought out plot and great location descriptons. This is another page turner and Krueger does a great job of misdirection keeping you away from the final solution untill near the end. He builds excellent sympathy for his
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characters and puts the reader in the middle of the actioin with his writing. I've yet to finda novel of his that isn't well written and credible. His stories connect on a visceral level and invite your participation in them. Show Less
LibraryThing member thornton37814
No longer sheriff, Cork O'Connor and his family run Sam's Place. Environmentalists unhappy with tree damage by a logging company show up in town. After a big explosion, searchers uncover a body. John LaPere lost his brother twelve years earlier in an explosion on Lake Superior. He blames the
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company for the boat's tragedy and his brother's death. He alone survived the disaster. The shipping company executive's wife asks to see Jo professionally, but the meeting results in both women and their sons being kidnapped. Will Cork, the FBI, and the sheriff's department outwit the kidnappers? This strong installment kept me spellbound as I listened to the audio version narrated by David Chandler. Show Less
LibraryThing member DrApple
This is the best in the series, so far. Environmentalists are causing problems over logging plans. The lumber mill owners wife and child are kidnapped along with Cork's wife and son. This is an edge of your seat mystery.
LibraryThing member bereanna
This was the most thrilling of the Cork O’Connor series so far. Well-written and fast paced. Why was there an explosion at the Lindstrom Lumber yard? Why were they kidnapped? Was it the Wxo-Warrior?
LibraryThing member carolfoisset
Really enjoying this series, but I am worried about Cork - how much more physical abuse can he take :)?
Kinda fun to start a series that already has 18 books in it - I'm reading them fairly close together so I'm remembering the storylines for all the characters. Looking forward to number 4!
Kinda fun to start a series that already has 18 books in it - I'm reading them fairly close together so I'm remembering the storylines for all the characters. Looking forward to number 4!
LibraryThing member buffalogr
There are great characters, a strong sense of place, a lot of good Native American lore and the midwestern small town feel. Krueger does a great job of misdirection keeping you away from the final solution until near the end. Author also places at least one FBI mistake in the middle of the
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book--this one is true to his promise. Good book. Show Less
LibraryThing member Olivermagnus
Purgatory Ridge is the third book in the Cork O'Connor series. Following events in the last book, Cork is no longer sheriff of Aurora, Minnesota. He's inherited a friend's burger joint and seems fairly content. He's married Jo, an attorney who works for the Ojibwe tribe and is part Anishinaabe
Meanwhile a logging company has gained the rights to harvest a stand of white pine trees known as the Old Grandfathers, sacred to the Anishinaabe people. Karl Lindstrom, owner of the company, has moved to town with his wife and son to oversee the operation. During a protest between the Ojibwe and an environmental group leads to an explosion and the death of a local man. Someone named Eco-Warrior takes credit for the blast and Cork steps in to help the sheriff investigate. In a parallel story we meet John LaPere, who lives on the rocky formation known as Purgatory Ridge, on Lake Superior. He's lived there since he became the only survivor of a 1986 shipwreck that took the life of his brother. He's still searching for what happened to send the ship to the bottom of the freezing lake.
All thes stories start to come together when Lindstrom's wife and son are kidnapped. Because Cork's wife, Jo, and their son, Stevie, were visiting at the time, they were also taken. It's not long before we know who and why they were kidnapped. This becomes a very complex plot but I was riveted the entire time. I think this author does a particularly wonderful job of describing the setting and making his characters so realistic. If you're looking for a well thought out mystery, with a surprising ending, I can highly recommend Purgatory Ridge.
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himself. Their marriage has been in turmoil but they are working hard to stay together. Meanwhile a logging company has gained the rights to harvest a stand of white pine trees known as the Old Grandfathers, sacred to the Anishinaabe people. Karl Lindstrom, owner of the company, has moved to town with his wife and son to oversee the operation. During a protest between the Ojibwe and an environmental group leads to an explosion and the death of a local man. Someone named Eco-Warrior takes credit for the blast and Cork steps in to help the sheriff investigate. In a parallel story we meet John LaPere, who lives on the rocky formation known as Purgatory Ridge, on Lake Superior. He's lived there since he became the only survivor of a 1986 shipwreck that took the life of his brother. He's still searching for what happened to send the ship to the bottom of the freezing lake.
All thes stories start to come together when Lindstrom's wife and son are kidnapped. Because Cork's wife, Jo, and their son, Stevie, were visiting at the time, they were also taken. It's not long before we know who and why they were kidnapped. This becomes a very complex plot but I was riveted the entire time. I think this author does a particularly wonderful job of describing the setting and making his characters so realistic. If you're looking for a well thought out mystery, with a surprising ending, I can highly recommend Purgatory Ridge.
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LibraryThing member zot79
A solid mystery with some very good twists at the end. The author continues to capture the people and places of Northern Minnesota like a well-done documentary.
Subjects
Awards
Barry Award (Nominee — Novel — 2002)
Dilys Award (Nominee — 2002)
Lovey Award (2003)
Minnesota Book Awards (Finalist — Popular Fiction — 2002)
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
2002
Physical description
384 p.; 8.25 inches
ISBN
1439157782 / 9781439157787