Hey, readers. One of the things I like about William Kent Krueger’s books is the vivid descriptions he uses throughout the stories. He paints pictures with his words, sometimes in the titles. While I knew vermillion is a shade of red-orange, I didn’t get the significance of the word “drift” until I began reading.
This is the tenth book of the Cork O’Connor series, and once again the author didn’t disappoint.
Blurb
When the Department of Energy puts an underground iron mine on its short list of potential sites for storage of nuclear waste, a barrage of protests erupts in Tamarack County, Minnesota, and Cork is hired as a security consultant.
Deep in the mine during his first day on the job, Cork stumbles across a secret room that contains the remains of six murder victims. Five appear to be nearly half a century old—connected to what the media once dubbed “The Vanishings,” a series of unsolved disappearances in the summer of 1964, when Cork’s father was sheriff in Tamarack County. But the sixth has been dead less than a week. What’s worse, two of the bodies—including the most recent victim—were killed using Cork’s own gun, one handed down to him from his father.
As Cork searches for answers, he must dig into his own past and that of his father, a well-respected man who harbored a ghastly truth. Time is running out, however. New threats surface, and unless Cork can unravel the tangled thread of clues quickly, more death is sure to come.
Vermilion Drift is a powerful novel, filled with all the mystery and suspense for which Krueger has won so many awards. A poignant portrayal of the complexities of family life, it’s also a sobering reminder that even those closest to our hearts can house the darkest—and deadliest—of secrets.
My Review
Cork O’Connor is at a crossroads in life. His daughters are away in college, his son is visiting a family friend in Texas, and the loss of his beloved wife, Jo, is still fresh.
Max Cavanaugh, the owner of Great North Mines, hires Cork to investigate threats made to him in protest of allowing the Department of Energy potential plans to store nuclear waste in one of Cavanaugh’s abandoned mines. Unrelated to that investigation, Max also asks Cork to find his missing sister. What follows is a possible connection with a series of women who went missing decades earlier. Locals refer to it as “The Vanishings.”
Vermillion Drift blends both past and present. We learn more about Cork’s childhood and his relationship with his parents. As he struggles to remember certain things about that time, he seeks advice from Henry Meloux.
Like other books of the series, Krueger weaves a tale of suspense, blended with bits of the Ojibwe culture that makes readers want to keep turning the pages. There is a bit more darkness to this book than the others, without gruesome details. Overall, this is a great read.
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23 Responses
Vermillion Drift is such a great title!
I agree, Liz. It evokes all sorts of images.
Great review, Joan! I love the blurb, too; it would make me seriously consider the book if I were browsing a bookstore.
Your comment made me realize how much I miss perusing the shelves of a brick and mortar store. Something I rarely do these days. Thanks, Priscilla.
Great review, Joan. Sounds like an intriguing read 🙂
I thought it was, Denise. Thanks.
Reblogged this on NEW BLOG HERE >> https:/BOOKS.ESLARN-NET.DE.
Thanks for sharing!
🌹🙏
Thanks for sharing a very captivating review on this great sounding story, Joan! Best wishes, Michael
Thanks, Michael. I’ve enjoyed this series. Some books more than others. This one is a good one.
Thanks for the recommendation and the great review, Joan! Without your review i maybe would never got notice about it. 🌹🙏
Wow, great review, Joan. I’m going to check this out further. Thank you!
Thanks, Gwen. I’ve enjoyed this series.
Okay, you did it! I HAVE to get this book. Have you checked William Krueger Kent’s twitter posts lately? His image, along with several others, was painted on the outside wall of a library. Pretty awesome!
How cool, Judi. I’ll have to check them out. Vermillion Drift is one of my favorites in this series.
Excellent review, Joan. Thanks for sharing it.
You are welcome, John.
Okay, you’ve talked me into trying this author out! lol
Judi Lynn is the one who convinced me to try him. I’m glad she did.
This sounds great, Joan. I haven’t read any Krueger books but I’m tempted, especially since I have a road trip coming up. Thanks for the review and recommendation.
There’s a new one coming out in August, Diana. I’ve already pre-ordered it. I was hoping to read the first eighteen before then, but it’s doubtful I’ll make it. I do recommend reading them in order since it follows the lead character’s life.
That’s great to know. Thanks for pointing that out. Happy Reading!