A hated judge is found dead in suspicious circumstances in a town in Minnesota with an Indian casino and a young Ojibwa Indian leaves home in a hurry. Former sheriff Cork O'Connor investigates if there is a connection.
This novel introduces Cork O'Connor and establishes the setting for a long-running mystery series, making it the foundational entry for readers interested in following his investigations.
The narrative is deeply rooted in the specific cultural and geographical landscape of the Ojibwe community in northern Minnesota, making the setting a central character in the unfolding mystery.
This debut novel showcases Krueger's early development of themes like justice, cultural identity, and the complexities of small-town life, which become hallmarks of his more mature Cork O'Connor mysteries.
