Book Review: Spirit Crossing by William Kent Krueger

The esteemed William Kent Krueger began his literary career writing short stories before graduating to full-length novels, the last fourteen of which have been New York Times bestsellers. These have ranged from standalones to series fiction and have sold in excess of 1.6 million copies cumulatively. The recipient of accolades ranging from the Minnesota Book Award to the Friends of American Fiction Prize, Krueger has also won some of the crime genre’s most prestigious honors, including Anthony, Barry, Dilys, and Edgar Awards. August saw the publication of Spirit Crossing—the twentieth novel to feature Aurora, Minnesota’s half-Irish, half-Ojibwe sheriff-turned-PI, Cork O’Connor. 

Things start innocently enough. The O’Connor men—patriarch Cork, his adult son, Stephen, son-in-law, Daniel, and seven-year-old grandson, “Waaboo” (translation: little rabbit)—are off to complete a generations old family tradition: wild blueberry picking at their secret location, which lies just south of the state’s Iron Lake Reservation. But when they arrive, it’s only to discover that their bushes have been completely picked over. Fortunately, Cork knows of another obscure patch owned by a former client, now deceased, and guarded by gnomes carved out of wood. Sure enough, there are blueberries aplenty—but little Waaboo also discovers a shallow grave on the premises.

Though suspected to contain the remains of a missing white girl from a prominent political family, the unearthing reveals the body of a young, unidentified Ojibwe woman. The victimization of the female indigenous is a shamefully common, and commonly ignored, occurrence—and so Cork, aided by the newly formed Iron Lake Ojibwe Tribal Police, vows to do what others will not: identify the victim and get her the justice she deserves. Insights come from an unexpected source, as Waaboo proves to have made a spiritual connection with the deceased. And while this connectivity to the other side propels the investigation forward, it also makes Waaboo a liability to those who would kill again (and perhaps already have).

A secondary storyline sees the homecoming of Cork’s daughter, Annie (and her girlfriend, Maria), who has been away working in Guatemala for several years; she has deeply personal news to share but doesn’t want her revelation to overshadow Stephen’s upcoming wedding. While biding her time, she and Maria join forces with other members of the family in protesting the construction of an oil pipeline that will desecrate the sacred forests (known as Spirit Crossing). Their activism brings danger to the doorstep—which may or may not be related to Cork’s case(s). Roiling in uncertainty, Annie seeks solace in the aged, erudite healer Henry Meloux, who has also been safeguarding young Waaboo while helping to develop his burgeoning skills. The author employs alternating viewpoints to maintain narrative tension while simultaneously illuminating the incongruities of his characters’ inner and external lives.

Not only is Spirit Crossing a milestone entry in William Kent Krueger’s beloved Cork O’Connor series, but a resounding triumph on its own merits. The poignant melding of personal and professional intrigue and introspection is heightened by the author’s continued exploration of the plight of Native Americans and the existential threats against the natural world. Whether you’re one of the author’s many (and rightful) devotees or a first-time reader, you’ll feel the weight of it all. Expect to be left a little bit heartbroken, a little bit hopeful, and maybe even a little bit healed.