Reading Lists β†’ William Kent Krueger

William Kent Krueger Books In Order (Full List)

William Kent Krueger has published 26 books. The first book was Iron Lake in 1998. Here is a complete list of William Kent Krueger books in order.

Last update: October 17, 2026

1. Iron Lake (1998)

Iron Lake book cover

In William Kent Krueger's Iron Lake, readers are drawn into the gripping world of Cork O'Connor, a former sheriff in Minnesota's north woods, as he investigates a brutal murder with eerie ties to the secrets of his own past.

  • πŸ“‡ 1,168 Pages
  • πŸ“ 292,000 - 350,400 Word Count
  • ⏱️ 39 Hours Reading Time

2. Boundary Waters (1999)

Boundary Waters book cover

In "Boundary Waters" by William Kent Krueger, detective Cork O'Connor investigates a mysterious disappearance in the picturesque beauty of Minnesota's Boundary Waters. As intrigue deepens, O'Connor's search reveals dark secrets and forces him to confront his own past. A gripping mystery immersed in breathtaking wilderness.

  • πŸ“‡ 1,168 Pages
  • πŸ“ 292,000 - 350,400 Word Count
  • ⏱️ 39 Hours Reading Time

3. Purgatory Ridge (2001)

Purgatory Ridge book cover

In "Purgatory Ridge" by William Kent Krueger, an unsettling mystery unfolds in the small town of Aurora, Minnesota, as Sheriff Cork O'Connor investigates a series of gruesome murders that expose the dark secrets lurking beneath the surface. A chilling and riveting tale of justice and redemption.

  • πŸ“‡ 400 Pages
  • πŸ“ 100,000 - 120,000 Word Count
  • ⏱️ 13 Hours Reading Time

4. Devil's Bed (2003)

Devil's Bed book cover

In "Devil's Bed" by William Kent Krueger, a small-town sheriff takes on a baffling case that unravels secrets buried for decades, unearthing a twisted web of deception, danger, and dark history. A chilling and gripping tale of suspense that will leave readers on the edge of their seats.

  • πŸ“‡ 496 Pages
  • πŸ“ 124,000 - 148,800 Word Count
  • ⏱️ 17 Hours Reading Time

5. Blood Hollow (2004)

Blood Hollow book cover

In "Blood Hollow" by William Kent Krueger, Detective Cork O'Connor investigates a fateful summer event in Tamarack County, where secrets are woven through the dense forests, casting shadows on a tight-knit community. A chilling mystery awaits beneath the veneer of idyllic small-town life.

  • πŸ“‡ 368 Pages
  • πŸ“ 92,000 - 110,400 Word Count
  • ⏱️ 12 Hours Reading Time

6. Mercy Falls (2005)

Mercy Falls book cover

In "Mercy Falls" by William Kent Krueger, investigator Cork O'Connor faces a haunting mystery in a small Minnesota town. As tensions rise and secrets unravel, he races against time to uncover the truth, protecting his loved ones and the community from a sinister threat.

  • πŸ“‡ 1,040 Pages
  • πŸ“ 260,000 - 312,000 Word Count
  • ⏱️ 35 Hours Reading Time

7. Copper River (2006)

Copper River book cover

In Copper River, William Kent Krueger returns with a gripping tale of a shattered family and a relentless quest for truth, set against the stunning backdrop of Alaska. With vivid characters and a masterful plot, this suspenseful mystery will keep readers guessing until the very end.

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

8. Thunder Bay (2007)

Thunder Bay book cover

In "Thunder Bay" by William Kent Krueger, Detective Cork O'Connor delves into the mysterious disappearance of a friend's son in the rugged wilderness of Minnesota, uncovering a tangled web of secrets, treachery, and the haunting echoes of a tragic past.

  • πŸ“‡ 304 Pages
  • πŸ“ 76,000 - 91,200 Word Count
  • ⏱️ 10 Hours Reading Time

9. Red Knife (2008)

Red Knife book cover

Red Knife by William Kent Krueger is a suspenseful and gripping thriller that delves into the dark underbelly of a Native American reservation, exposing corruption, greed, and a trail of brutal crimes.

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

10. Heaven's Keep (2009)

Heaven's Keep book cover

In William Kent Krueger's gripping thriller "Heaven's Keep," a small-town sheriff searches for his missing wife in the rugged Montana wilderness while uncovering a deadly conspiracy that threatens to tear his world apart. A heart-pounding tale of survival and deceit.

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

11. Vermilion Drift (2010)

Vermilion Drift book cover

In "Vermilion Drift" by William Kent Krueger, retired detective Cork O'Connor is drawn into a gripping mystery when a long-lost mine and a secret from the past resurface, leading to a deadly hunt for gold and redemption in the unforgiving landscapes of Minnesota.

  • πŸ“‡ 304 Pages
  • πŸ“ 76,000 - 91,200 Word Count
  • ⏱️ 10 Hours Reading Time

12. Northwest Angle (2011)

Northwest Angle book cover

In "Northwest Angle" by William Kent Krueger, a tense and gripping mystery unfolds in the rugged wilderness of Minnesota's northwoods. As danger lurks for Cork O'Connor, he must navigate treacherous waters to uncover the truth and fight for survival.

  • πŸ“‡ 368 Pages
  • πŸ“ 92,000 - 110,400 Word Count
  • ⏱️ 12 Hours Reading Time

13. Trickster's Point (2012)

Trickster's Point book cover

In "Trickster's Point" by William Kent Krueger, the renowned author takes readers on a gripping journey through the mysterious landscapes of Tamarack County, where danger, deceit, and the supernatural intersect, testing the instincts of ex-sheriff Cork O'Connor.

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

14. Tamarack County (2013)

Tamarack County book cover

In the gripping novel "Tamarack County" by William Kent Krueger, the tranquility of northern Minnesota is shattered when a dangerous snowstorm traps Cork O'Connor in a deadly struggle to protect his family and solve a series of unexplained murders.

  • πŸ“‡ 309 Pages
  • πŸ“ 77,250 - 92,700 Word Count
  • ⏱️ 10 Hours Reading Time

15. Ordinary Grace (2013)

Ordinary Grace book cover

In "Ordinary Grace" by William Kent Krueger, a tragic summer in 1961 unravels the town of New Bremen. Narrated by 13-year-old Frank Drum, this coming-of-age tale explores loss, forgiveness, and the unpredictability of life in a small Minnesota town. A poignant and gripping novel that captiv

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

16. Windigo Island (2014)

Windigo Island book cover

In "Windigo Island" by William Kent Krueger, detective Cork O'Connor finds himself investigating the disappearance of Native American girls, highlighting the dark underbelly of human trafficking in Minnesota's remote wilderness.

  • πŸ“‡ 352 Pages
  • πŸ“ 88,000 - 105,600 Word Count
  • ⏱️ 12 Hours Reading Time

17. Manitou Canyon (2016)

Manitou Canyon book cover

In "Manitou Canyon," author William Kent Krueger takes readers on a suspenseful journey through the hauntingly beautiful wilderness of Minnesota, where a missing hiker sets off a chain of dark events that will challenge detective Cork O'Connor like never before.

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

18. Sulfur Springs (2017)

Sulfur Springs book cover

In "Sulfur Springs" by William Kent Krueger, ex-sheriff Cork O'Connor embarks on a relentless search for his missing stepson in the mysterious borderlands of Arizona, revealing dark secrets and confronting the dangerous underbelly of the Southwest.

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

19. Desolation Mountain (2018)

Desolation Mountain book cover

In William Kent Krueger's gripping thriller, Desolation Mountain, Detective Cork O'Connor finds himself in the midst of a dangerous conspiracy when a plane carrying a prominent senator crashes on Desolation Mountain, leading him to unravel a web of secrets with potentially devastating consequences.

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

20. This Tender Land (2019)

This Tender Land book cover

In "This Tender Land" by William Kent Krueger, four orphans embark on a treacherous journey through the American Midwest during the Great Depression. As they face adversity, their search for a true home becomes a powerful exploration of resilience, hope, and the enduring bonds of friendship.

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

21. Lightning Strike (2021)

Lightning Strike book cover

In "Lightning Strike" by William Kent Krueger, the electrifying new installment in the Cork O'Connor series, the renowned detective finds himself chasing a cunning killer amidst the stormy backdrop of Minnesota's untamed wilderness. A heart-stopping tale of suspense that will leave readers breathless.

  • πŸ“‡ 400 Pages
  • πŸ“ 100,000 - 120,000 Word Count
  • ⏱️ 13 Hours Reading Time

22. Fox Creek (2022)

Fox Creek book cover

In "Fox Creek," William Kent Krueger weaves a gripping tale of a small Midwestern town haunted by a mysterious disappearance, as a retired detective and a troubled teenager join forces to unravel the dark secrets lurking beneath the surface.

  • πŸ“‡ 400 Pages
  • πŸ“ 100,000 - 120,000 Word Count
  • ⏱️ 13 Hours Reading Time

23. The River We Remember (2023)

The River We Remember book cover

"The most frightening thing we do in our lives is to love."

In "The River We Remember," William Kent Krueger sends Cork O'Connor into a new installment that has to be read after the earlier books. A quiet lead turns dangerous, and the truth is worse than the rumor that started it.

  • πŸ“‡ 432 Pages
  • πŸ“ 108,000 - 129,600 Word Count
  • ⏱️ 14 Hours Reading Time

24. 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

25. 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

26. 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