Trickster's Point - Krueger

This was one of my favorites in the series. I am getting a ready for the plot to stop being directly about threats to Cork and his family, but that is my only objection.

What makes this story so interesting is the constant development of a back story that gives insights into Cork and his past, as well as, the strong Ojibwe connection.

The best of this series, for me, are the books that build on the traditional aspects of Anishanabe culture. Krueger is quickly becoming the Tony Hillerman of the northern tribes and it is a role that has grown with the development of the series.

The characters are realistic and the tension of the mystery blend well with the lives of the characters. Krueger has created people we care about.

In this case we are introduced to an old friend of Cork from his school days. This is the super person - the one who seems to do everything better than everyone else. Every school has a character like this, but seldom does that person continue to grow with his status - often high school becomes the peak of the life.

In this case the man is a success in every way, except in the personal ways that lead to a successful personal life to match his political and sports success.

We meet classmates of Cork and we are involved with complex life dramas that swirl around a murder and an attempted murder.

Best of all we are brought along to care about the individuals and we can groan and anguish over the fact that Cork is both the suspect and the target in the murder plot that comes together in the politics of the reservation, lake country and Minnesota.