Scan barcode
serendipitysbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-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? Yes
4.0
At the beginning of the month I was having trouble finding an audiobook that worked for me. I DNF’d three in a row. Rather than take another gamble on something new I opted to pick up Boundary Waters and Purgatory Ridge, books 2 and 3 in the Cork O’Connor series. I was confident that I knew what I’d be getting and that I’d be happy with it. William Kent Kruger delivered. Boundary Waters centres on the search for a young woman, a country music star, who is missing in the wilderness. Not everyone who is searching for her has her well-being at heart. Purgatory Ridge involves a conflict between environmentalists and a logging firm, as well as fallout from a shipwreck decades earlier. The plots of both provide breadth, depth, and real-world believability The pacing was good. There’s plenty of tension and a twist or two but nothing unrealistic. And there are quieter, contemplative scenes where O’Connor is trying to figure out something, or someone. He’s upright and dependable, always keen to deliver justice and fairness. He’s far from perfect but is trying to be a better man, particularly when it comes to his relationship with his wife and children. The environment is a character in its own right in these books and is lovingly presented, albeit as something that demands respect. Indigenous people, their beliefs, and the issues that concern them, are well integrated into the plots, and the relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous are presented in a way that feels honest and nuanced. One of the joys of reading a series is becoming really familiar with all the characters and community, building a broader and deeper picture over time. I can already feel that happening and look forward to spending more time in Aurora and with Cork O’Connor in the future.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Gun violence
Minor: Homophobia and Racism
More...