MERCY FALLS by William Kent Krueger

MERCY FALLS is the 5^th in the Cork O’Connor series of mystery/thrillers written by William Kent Krueger.  The author’s descriptions of the North Woods area of Minnesota are excellent and add greatly to the story giving it a sense of place usually lacking in this genre.  Krueger is also careful to detail his characters as real, living, breathing persons instead of the stereotypes and stock characters so often found in mysteries.  The tempo and pacing of the novel give the reader (and the characters) a chance to breathe after thrilling and terrorizing scenes.  I liked the way reservation life was detailed – accurate but not condescending or demeaning. In short, Krueger is an excellent writer with an engaging and compelling story.

So, why am I only giving this book 3 stars.  Because of the loose ends!  One of the main “mysteries” isn’t solved!  Is this the first of a series inside a series? Does the next book (Copper River) answer the questions that are left dangling?  Are we never to know the answers?  I am bummed!  If there had been a “read the next book” epilogue I would be happier. Instead I feel FORCED to buy and read the next book hoping to find answers that may or may not be there.

3 of 5 stars