Reading Lists β†’ Cork O'connor

Cork O'connor Books In Order (Full List)

Cork O'connor is a series of 22 books by William Kent Krueger. The first book published in the series is Iron Lake in 1998. Here is a complete list of Cork O'connor books in order.

Last update: October 17, 2026

1. Iron Lake (1998)

Iron Lake book cover

In "Iron Lake" by William Kent Krueger, private investigator Cork O'Connor must unravel the mystery behind a small town's dark secrets, exploring the complexities of family, heritage, and the haunting tragedy that haunts their lives.

  • πŸ“‡ 464 Pages
  • πŸ“ 116,000 - 139,200 Word Count
  • ⏱️ 15 Hours Reading Time

2. Boundary Waters (1999)

Boundary Waters book cover

Boundary Waters by William Kent Krueger is a gripping and atmospheric thriller set in the heart of the Minnesota wilderness. With an intriguing mystery, vivid descriptions, and tense twists, this novel immerses readers into a world where danger lurks in the shadows and survival is not guaranteed.

  • πŸ“‡ 402 Pages
  • πŸ“ 100,500 - 120,600 Word Count
  • ⏱️ 13 Hours Reading Time

3. Purgatory Ridge (2001)

Purgatory Ridge book cover

In "Purgatory Ridge" by William Kent Krueger, Cork O'Connor, a former sheriff and part-time PI, investigates a murder that reopens old wounds in the small town of Tamarack County. With electrifying suspense and atmospheric storytelling, Krueger delivers another thrilling addition to the beloved Cork O'Connor series.

  • πŸ“‡ 428 Pages
  • πŸ“ 107,000 - 128,400 Word Count
  • ⏱️ 14 Hours Reading Time

4. Blood Hollow (2004)

Blood Hollow book cover

In William Kent Krueger's thrilling novel, "Blood Hollow," Cork O'Connor finds himself investigating a deadly encounter in Minnesota's remote Boundary Waters. As the secrets of the town unfold, Cork is up against a malevolent force that threatens to shatter the peace in this gripping page-turner.

  • πŸ“‡ 512 Pages
  • πŸ“ 128,000 - 153,600 Word Count
  • ⏱️ 17 Hours Reading Time

5. Mercy Falls (2005)

Mercy Falls book cover

In "Mercy Falls" by William Kent Krueger, a small Minnesota town is horrified by a chilling murder, putting Cork O’Connor in the heart of a treacherous investigation that uncovers hidden secrets and tests the limits of mercy and justice.

  • πŸ“‡ 434 Pages
  • πŸ“ 108,500 - 130,200 Word Count
  • ⏱️ 14 Hours Reading Time

6. Copper River (2006)

Copper River book cover

In "Copper River" by William Kent Krueger, private investigator Cork O'Connor navigates the treacherous wilderness of northern Minnesota while on a relentless pursuit to uncover the truth about a devastating forest fire and a missing friend. A gripping and atmospheric tale of suspense and redemption.

  • πŸ“‡ 387 Pages
  • πŸ“ 96,750 - 116,100 Word Count
  • ⏱️ 13 Hours Reading Time

7. Thunder Bay (2007)

Thunder Bay book cover

In "Thunder Bay" by William Kent Krueger, detective Cork O'Connor is caught in a deadly web of secrets and betrayals as he investigates the mysterious disappearance of a senator's granddaughter in the cold wilderness of Minnesota.

  • πŸ“‡ 280 Pages
  • πŸ“ 70,000 - 84,000 Word Count
  • ⏱️ 9 Hours Reading Time

8. Red Knife (2008)

Red Knife book cover

In "Red Knife" by William Kent Krueger, detective Cork O'Connor investigates the murder of an elderly tribal leader, plunging him into a web of political intrigue and betrayal set against the backdrop of a Native American reservation in Minnesota.

  • πŸ“‡ 320 Pages
  • πŸ“ 80,000 - 96,000 Word Count
  • ⏱️ 11 Hours Reading Time

9. Heaven's Keep (2009)

Heaven's Keep book cover

In "Heaven's Keep" by William Kent Krueger, Cork O'Connor faces heart-wrenching challenges as he embarks on a mission to rescue his wife, facing treacherous landscapes and a powerful conspiracy that will test his faith and determination. A gripping and emotionally charged thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

  • πŸ“‡ 321 Pages
  • πŸ“ 80,250 - 96,300 Word Count
  • ⏱️ 11 Hours Reading Time

10. Vermilion Drift (2010)

Vermilion Drift book cover

In Vermilion Drift, William Kent Krueger takes readers on a thrilling journey through the haunting landscapes of Minnesota, as private investigator Cork O'Connor delves deeper into a decades-old mystery that intertwines family secrets and betrayal. A suspenseful and poignant tale of redemption and the complexities of human nature.

  • πŸ“‡ 305 Pages
  • πŸ“ 76,250 - 91,500 Word Count
  • ⏱️ 10 Hours Reading Time

11. Northwest Angle (2011)

Northwest Angle book cover

In "Northwest Angle" by William Kent Krueger, a tale of suspense unfolds as a manhunt begins for a kidnapped child amidst the harsh and treacherous terrains of Minnesota. Gripping and atmospheric, this thriller will keep readers on the edge of their seats till the final page.

  • πŸ“‡ 357 Pages
  • πŸ“ 89,250 - 107,100 Word Count
  • ⏱️ 12 Hours Reading Time

12. Trickster's Point (2012)

Trickster's Point book cover

In Trickster's Point, William Kent Krueger takes readers on a thrilling journey through the Northwoods of Minnesota as private investigator Cork O'Connor unravels a web of secrets and deception, leading to a shocking revelation that will leave you breathless.

  • πŸ“‡ 329 Pages
  • πŸ“ 82,250 - 98,700 Word Count
  • ⏱️ 11 Hours Reading Time

13. Tamarack County (2013)

Tamarack County book cover

In "Tamarack County" by William Kent Krueger, Sheriff Cork O'Connor is faced with a challenging case when a teenager goes missing in the unforgiving Minnesota winter. This thrilling and atmospheric mystery will keep readers on the edge of their seats till the very end.

  • πŸ“‡ 320 Pages
  • πŸ“ 80,000 - 96,000 Word Count
  • ⏱️ 11 Hours Reading Time

14. Windigo Island (2014)

Windigo Island book cover

In William Kent Krueger's chilling thriller, "Windigo Island," detective Cork O'Connor embarks on a heart-wrenching journey to save girls trapped in a world of human trafficking and unnerving mysteries, where the line between justice and vengeance blurs.

  • πŸ“‡ 339 Pages
  • πŸ“ 84,750 - 101,700 Word Count
  • ⏱️ 11 Hours Reading Time

15. Manitou Canyon (2016)

Manitou Canyon book cover

In "Manitou Canyon" by William Kent Krueger, renowned detective Cork O'Connor embarks on a perplexing search for a missing hiker in the unforgiving wilderness of Minnesota's secluded Boundary Waters, uncovering dark secrets that threaten the tranquility of this treasured land.

  • πŸ“‡ 337 Pages
  • πŸ“ 84,250 - 101,100 Word Count
  • ⏱️ 11 Hours Reading Time

16. Sulfur Springs (2017)

Sulfur Springs book cover

In William Kent Krueger's Sulfur Springs, Cork O'Connor heads to Arizona in search of his son-in-law, facing a dangerous journey through the desert, uncovering a dark web of corruption, and bringing justice to those who deserve it.

  • πŸ“‡ 306 Pages
  • πŸ“ 76,500 - 91,800 Word Count
  • ⏱️ 10 Hours Reading Time

17. Desolation Mountain (2018)

Desolation Mountain book cover

In "Desolation Mountain" by William Kent Krueger, a small Minnesota town is shaken by a mysterious plane crash, leading Cork O'Connor into a treacherous investigation that uncovers long-buried secrets and threatens to tear the community apart.

  • πŸ“‡ 337 Pages
  • πŸ“ 84,250 - 101,100 Word Count
  • ⏱️ 11 Hours Reading Time

18. Lightning Strike (2021)

Lightning Strike book cover

In Lightning Strike, William Kent Krueger delivers an electrifying tale of a small town shaken by a series of inexplicable deaths, as a determined detective races against time to uncover the truth hidden beneath the menacing storm clouds above.

  • πŸ“‡ 385 Pages
  • πŸ“ 96,250 - 115,500 Word Count
  • ⏱️ 13 Hours Reading Time

19. Fox Creek (2022)

Fox Creek book cover

In Fox Creek, acclaimed author William Kent Krueger enthralls readers with a chilling tale of a small town haunted by the disappearance of a young girl, and the secrets that unravel amidst the wilderness, leaving a community on the edge of darkness.

  • πŸ“‡ 388 Pages
  • πŸ“ 97,000 - 116,400 Word Count
  • ⏱️ 13 Hours Reading Time

20. Spirit Crossing (2024)

Spirit Crossing book cover

"There is no hell, Little Rabbit,” Meloux offered. β€œExcept what we create for ourselves here or others create for us. Better that this man’s spirit has moved on."

In "Spirit Crossing," William Kent Krueger sends Cork O'Connor into a new installment that has to be read after the earlier books. Old loyalties get tested, and the last chapters change who can be trusted.

  • πŸ“‡ 318 Pages
  • πŸ“ 79,500 - 95,400 Word Count
  • ⏱️ 11 Hours Reading Time

21. Apostle's Cove (2025)

Apostle's Cove book cover

In "Apostle's Cove," William Kent Krueger sends Cork O'Connor into a new installment that has to be read after the earlier books. What starts as a favor becomes a hunt, and walking away stops being a real choice.

  • πŸ“‡ 336 Pages
  • πŸ“ 84,000 - 100,800 Word Count
  • ⏱️ 11 Hours Reading Time

22. God's Country (2026)

God's Country book cover

In "God's Country," William Kent Krueger sends Cork O'Connor into a new installment that has to be read after the earlier books. Friends, suspects, and unfinished business collide before the case will close.

  • πŸ“‡ 256 Pages
  • πŸ“ 64,000 - 76,800 Word Count
  • ⏱️ 9 Hours Reading Time