Book Report: Boundary Waters

21. William Kent Krueger, Boundary Waters (1999) (10/20/25)

Still in the mood for something light—by which I usually mean a mystery, something with a strong plot to hold my interest—I picked up the second in this series set in the far north of Minnesota. (I reviewed the first one two months ago.) This one takes us deep into the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, where a young country western star, known as Shiloh, has sought refuge—and all sorts of people show up looking for her, several of them claiming to be her father. You can see why she needed a break! Though as we learn, her reasons were less ones of escape and more of needing/wanting to find her true self, and to do so she has returned to the land, and people, of her youth.

We get a bigger, very enjoyable dose of Ojibwe/Anishinaabe culture this time, as a young Native boy, Louis Two Knives, takes the lead in the hunt for Shiloh. He used to accompany his uncle, Wendell, on regular visits to Shiloh, supply and mail runs, during which Wendell taught the boy the old ways, the old stories. But now Wendell has gone missing.

The story loops back to an incident fifteen years earlier when Shiloh's mother was killed; various suspects were identified, but no one was ever arrested. Now, FBI agents from that old case turn up, as does Shiloh's adoptive father. And a couple of very bad people also arrive, kicking off the story. 

Then too, there's Cork O'Connor, former sheriff of the town of Aurora, who has taken up running—he recently ran his first marathon—and turns out to be handy with a canoe. He has close, if complicated, ties with Wendell's brother, who requests his help. Cork's wife, Jo (they're estranged but working thing out), and family play a larger background role as well. Jo happens to be the attorney for the Tribal Council, so gets pulled in as a large-scale search is mounted. 

There's lots of good action, and I especially enjoyed "seeing" the BWCA, a place I've always wanted to go (except for the bugs!). I was pleased to learn that one isn't obligated to see it by canoe—there are also hiking trails. Not that I'll ever actually use that information, most likely, but it's still nice to know...

I was well enough satisfied with the dénouement of the story, including the ultimate stakes. I'll read another of Krueger's books.