William

Kent Krueger

Bestselling Novelist

Minnesota Book Award

Travels from: Minneapolis, MN

“Kent is so down to earth, outgoing, can talk with anyone (and he does) funny, engaging, charismatic, adaptable, attentive, considerate, energetic and the list could go on and on!” — New Castle County Reads

Raised in the Cascade Mountains of Oregon, William Kent Krueger briefly attended Stanford University—before being kicked out for radical activities. After that, he logged timber, worked construction, tried his hand at freelance journalism, and eventually ended up researching child development at the University of Minnesota. He currently makes his living as a full-time author. He’s been married for over 50 years to a marvelous woman who is a retired attorney. He makes his home in St. Paul, a city he dearly loves.

Krueger writes a mystery series set in the north woods of Minnesota. His protagonist is Cork O’Connor, the former sheriff of Tamarack County and a man of mixed heritage—part Irish and part Ojibwe. His work has received a number of awards, including the Minnesota Book Award, the Loft-McKnight Fiction Award, the Anthony Award, the Barry Award, the Dilys Award, and the Friends of American Writers Prize. His last thirteen novels were all New York Times bestsellers.

Ordinary Grace, his stand-alone novel published in 2013, received the Edgar Award, given by the Mystery Writers of America in recognition for the best novel published in that year. The companion novel, This Tender Land, was published in September 2019, and spent nearly six months in the top ten of the New York Times bestseller list. His novel, The River We Remember (2023), was an instant New York Times, Washington Post, USA Today, and International Bestseller. His most recent book, God’s Country (2026), is a new mystery in the wildly popular Cork O’Connor series.

God’s Country: A Novel (Cork O’Connor Mystery Series)

Atria Books |

August 18, 2026

Mystery/Thriller

From the New York Times bestselling author of The River We Remember, a new mystery in the wildly popular Cork O’Connor series.

Cork O’Connor, preparing for a family trip into the Boundary Waters, is troubled by ominous visions about his future. Ignoring the warnings, he uncovers signs of violence while searching for his missing friend, Cordell Bishop. Soon, he is forced to negotiate with dangerous criminals, the Kennedy brothers, who are seeking their late father’s hidden stash.

Facing escalating danger and difficult choices, Cork grapples with his darkest instincts as he helps others escape and eventually takes justice into his own hands. God’s Country is an action-packed thrill ride that will keep readers on the edge of their seats.

Fiction, Mystery & Thriller

Apostle’s Cove: A Novel (Cork O’Connor Mystery Series)

Atria Books |

September 2, 2025

Mystery/Thriller

The New York Times bestselling Cork O’Connor Mystery series—a “master class in suspense and atmospheric storytelling” (The Real Book Spy)—continues with Cork O’Connor revisiting a case from his past and confronting mysterious deaths in the present.

A few nights before Halloween, as Cork O’Connor gloomily ruminates on his upcoming birthday, he receives a call from his son, Stephen, who is working for a nonprofit dedicated to securing freedom for unjustly incarcerated inmates. Stephen tells his father that decades ago, as the newly elected sheriff of Tamarack County, Cork was responsible for sending an Ojibwe man named Axel Boshey to prison for a brutal murder that Stephen is certain he did not commit.

Cork feels compelled to reinvestigate the crime, but that is easier said than done. Not only is it a closed case but Axel Boshey is, inexplicably, refusing to help. The deeper Cork digs, the clearer it becomes that there are those in Tamarack County who are willing once again to commit murder to keep him from finding the truth.

At the same time, Cork’s seven-year-old grandson has his own theory about the investigation: the Windigo, that mythic cannibal ogre, has come to Tamarack County…and it won’t leave until it has sated its hunger for human blood.

Fiction, Mystery & Thriller

Spirit Crossing: A Novel (20) (Cork O’Connor Mystery Series)

Atria Books |

August 20, 2024

Suspense Thriller

A disappearance and a dead body put Cork O’Connor’s family in the crosshairs of a killer in the twentieth book in the New York Times bestselling series from William Kent Krueger, “a master storyteller at the top of his game” (Kristin Hannah, #1 New York Times bestselling author).

The disappearance of a local politician’s teenaged daughter is major news in Minnesota. As a huge manhunt is launched to find her, Cork O’Connor’s grandson stumbles across the shallow grave of a young Ojibwe woman—but nobody seems that interested. Nobody, that is, except Cork and the newly formed Iron Lake Ojibwe Tribal Police. As Cork and the tribal officers dig into the circumstances of this mysterious and grim discovery, they uncover a connection to the missing teenager. And soon, it’s clear that Cork’s grandson is in danger of being the killer’s next victim.

Fiction, Mystery & Thriller, Native American & Indigenous Heritage

The River We Remember

Atria Books |

September 11, 2023

Fiction

In 1958, a small Minnesota town is rocked by the murder of its most powerful citizen, pouring fresh fuel on old grievances in this dazzling standalone novel from the New York Times bestselling author of the “expansive, atmospheric American saga” (Entertainment Weekly) This Tender Land.

On Memorial Day, as the people of Jewel, Minnesota gather to remember and honor the sacrifice of so many sons in the wars of the past, the half-clothed body of wealthy landowner Jimmy Quinn is found floating in the Alabaster River, dead from a shotgun blast. Investigation of the murder falls to Sheriff Brody Dern, a highly decorated war hero who still carries the physical and emotional scars from his military service. Even before Dern has the results of the autopsy, vicious rumors begin to circulate that the killer must be Noah Bluestone, a Native American WWII veteran who has recently returned to Jewel with a Japanese wife. As suspicions and accusations mount and the town teeters on the edge of more violence, Dern struggles not only to find the truth of Quinn’s murder but also put to rest the demons from his own past.

Caught up in the torrent of anger that sweeps through Jewel are a war widow and her adolescent son, the intrepid publisher of the local newspaper, an aging deputy, and a crusading female lawyer, all of whom struggle with their own tragic histories and harbor secrets that Quinn’s death threatens to expose.

Both a complex, spellbinding mystery and a masterful portrait of midcentury American life from an author of novels “as big-hearted as they come” (Parade), The River We Remember is an unflinching look at the wounds left by the wars we fight abroad and at home, a moving exploration of the ways in which we seek to heal, and a testament to the enduring power of the stories we tell about the places we call home.

Bestseller, Historical Fiction, Mystery & Thriller

Fox Creek: A Novel (Cork O’Connor Mystery Series #19)

Atria Books |

August 23, 2022

Fiction

The latest in the New York Times bestselling Cork O’Connor Mystery Series from the “master storyteller” (Kristin Hannah, #1 New York Times bestselling author) follows Cork in a race against time to save his wife, a mysterious stranger, and an Ojibwe healer from bloodthirsty mercenaries.

The ancient Ojibwe healer Henry Meloux has had a vision of his death. As he walks the Northwoods in solitude, he tries to prepare himself peacefully for the end of his long life. But peace is destined to elude him as hunters fill the woods seeking a woman named Dolores Morriseau, a stranger who had come to the healer for shelter and the gift of his wisdom.

Meloux guides this stranger and his great niece, Cork O’Connor’s wife, to safety deep into the Boundary Waters, his home for more than a century. On the last journey he may ever take into this beloved land, Meloux must do his best to outwit the deadly mercenaries who follow.

Meanwhile, in Aurora, Cork works feverishly to identify the hunters and the reason for their relentless pursuit, but he has little to go on. Desperate, Cork begins tracking the killers but his own skills as a hunter are severely tested by nightfall and a late season snowstorm. He knows only too well that with each passing hour time is running out. But his fiercest enemy in this deadly game of cat and mouse may well be his own deep self-doubt about his ability to save those he loves.

From “an author who never disappoints” (Bookreporter), this is another gripping and richly told addition to a masterful series.

Fiction, Mystery & Thriller

Lightning Strike: A Novel (Cork O’Connor Mystery Series #18)

Atria Books |

August 24, 2021

Fiction

An instant New York Times bestseller, this prequel to the acclaimed Cork O’Connor series is “a pitch perfect, richly imagined story that is both an edge-of-your-seat thriller and an evocative, emotionally charged coming-of-age tale” (Kristin Hannah, #1 New York Times bestselling author) about fathers and sons, small-town conflicts, and the events that shape our lives forever.

Aurora is a small town nestled in the ancient forest alongside the shores of Minnesota’s Iron Lake. In the summer of 1963, it is the whole world to twelve-year-old Cork O’Connor, its rhythms as familiar as his own heartbeat. But when Cork stumbles upon the body of a man he revered hanging from a tree in an abandoned logging camp, it is the first in a series of events that will cause him to question everything he took for granted about his hometown, his family, and himself.

Cork’s father, Liam O’Connor, is Aurora’s sheriff and it is his job to confirm that the man’s death was the result of suicide, as all the evidence suggests. In the shadow of his father’s official investigation, Cork begins to look for answers on his own. Together, father and son face the ultimate test of choosing between what their heads tell them is true and what their hearts know is right.

In this “brilliant achievement, and one every crime reader and writer needs to celebrate” (Louise Penny, #1 New York Times bestselling author), beloved novelist William Kent Krueger shows that some mysteries can be solved even as others surpass our understanding.

Bestseller, Fiction, Mystery & Thriller

This Tender Land: A Novel

Atria Books |

September 3, 2019

Fiction

INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER!

“If you liked Where the Crawdads Sing, you’ll love This Tender Land…This story is as big-hearted as they come.” —Parade

A magnificent novel about four orphans on a life-changing odyssey during the Great Depression, from the bestselling author of Ordinary Grace.

1932, Minnesota—the Lincoln School is a pitiless place where hundreds of Native American children, forcibly separated from their parents, are sent to be educated. It is also home to an orphan named Odie O’Banion, a lively boy whose exploits earn him the superintendent’s wrath. Forced to flee, he and his brother Albert, their best friend Mose, and a brokenhearted little girl named Emmy steal away in a canoe, heading for the mighty Mississippi and a place to call their own.

Over the course of one unforgettable summer, these four orphans will journey into the unknown and cross paths with others who are adrift, from struggling farmers and traveling faith healers to displaced families and lost souls of all kinds. With the feel of a modern classic, This Tender Land is an enthralling, big-hearted epic that shows how the magnificent American landscape connects us all, haunts our dreams, and makes us whole.

Bestseller, Community Reads, Fiction, Youth Advocacy

Desolation Mountain: A Novel (Cork O’Connor Mystery Series #17)

Atria Books |

April 16, 2019

Fiction

A NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

Edgar Award-winning author William Kent Krueger delivers another heart-pounding thriller filled with “dynamic action scenes” (The New York Times) as Cork O’Connor and his son Stephen work together to uncover the truth behind the death of a senator on Desolation Mountain and the mysterious disappearances of several first responders.

There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy.

To Stephen O’Connor, Hamlet’s dour observation is more than just words. All his life, he has had visions of tragedies to come. When he experiences the vision of a great bird shot from the sky, he knows something terrible is about to happen. The crash of a private plane on Desolation Mountain in a remote part of the Iron Lake Reservation, which kills a United States senator and most of her family, confirms Stephen’s worst fears.

Stephen joins his father, Cork O’Connor and a few Ojibwe men from the nearby Iron Lake reservation to sift through the smoldering wreckage when the FBI arrives and quickly assumes control of the situation. As he initiates his own probe, Cork stumbles upon a familiar face in Bo Thorson, a private security consultant whose unnamed clients have hired him to look quietly into the cause of the crash. The men agree to join forces in their investigation, but soon Cork begins to wonder if Thorson’s loyalties lie elsewhere.

Roadblocked by lies from the highest levels of government, uncertain who to trust, and facing growing threats the deeper they dig for answers, Cork, Stephen, and Bo finally understand that to get to the truth, they will have to face the great menace, a beast of true evil lurking in the woods—a beast with a murderous intent of unimaginable scale. Krueger delivers yet another “punch-to-the-gut blend of detective story and investigative fiction” (Booklist, starred review).

Bestseller, Fiction, Mystery & Thriller

Manitou Canyon: A Novel (Cork O’Connor Mystery Series #15)

Atria Books |

May 2, 2017

Fiction

In the extraordinary new Cork O’Connor thriller from New York Times bestselling and Edgar Award–winning author William Kent Krueger, the lives of hundreds of innocent people are at stake when Cork vanishes just days before his daughter’s wedding.

Since the violent deaths of his wife, father, and best friend all occurred in previous Novembers, Cork O’Connor has always considered it to be the cruelest of months. Yet, his daughter has chosen this dismal time of year in which to marry, and Cork is understandably uneasy.

His concern comes to a head when a man camping in Minnesota’s Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness goes missing. As the official search ends with no recovery in sight, Cork is asked by the man’s family to stay on the case. Although the wedding is fast approaching and the weather looks threatening, he accepts and returns to that vast wilderness.

As the sky darkens and the days pass, Cork’s family anxiously awaits his return. Finally certain that something has gone terribly wrong, they fly by floatplane to the lake where the missing man was last seen. Locating Cork’s campsite, they find no sign of him. They do find blood, however. A lot of it.

With an early winter storm on the horizon, it’s a race against time as Cork’s family struggles to uncover the mystery behind these disappearances. Little do they know, not only is Cork’s life on the line, but so are the lives of hundreds of others.

Fiction, Mystery & Thriller

Windigo Island: A Novel (Cork O’Connor Mystery Series #14)

Atria Books |

August 19, 2014

Fiction

Cork O’Connor battles vicious villains, both mythical and modern, to rescue a young girl in the latest nail-biting mystery from New York Times bestselling author William Kent Krueger.

When the body of a teenage Ojibwe girl washes up on the shore of an island in Lake Superior, the residents of the nearby Bad Bluff reservation whisper that it was the work of a deadly mythical beast, the Windigo, or a vengeful spirit called Michi Peshu. Such stories have been told by the Ojibwe people for generations, but they don’t explain how the girl and her friend, Mariah Arceneaux, disappeared a year ago. At the request of the Arceneaux family, Cork O’Connor, former sheriff turned private investigator, takes on the case.

But on the Bad Bluff reservation, nobody’s talking. Still, Cork puts enough information together to find a possible trail. He learns that the old port city of Duluth is a modern-day center for sex trafficking of vulnerable women, many of whom are young Native Americans. As the investigation deepens, so does the danger.

Yet Cork holds tight to his higher purpose—his vow to find Mariah, an innocent fifteen-year-old girl whose family is desperate to get her back. With only the barest hope of saving her from men whose darkness rivals that of the legendary Windigo, Cork prepares for an epic battle that will determine whether it will be fear, or love, that truly conquers all.

Mystery & Thriller

One Book, One Community Program Events

My Journey As A Writer

From my first short story in the 3^rd grade to becoming a New York Times bestselling author, the true tale of making my life-long dream come true.

The Importance Of Books In A Time of Chaos

How the books we love lead us to an understanding of that which is best in ourselves and in others.

What It Really Means To Be A Writer

Success, disappointment, dreams, failure, hope: A look behind the curtain at what it takes to be a writer.

The Transformative Power of Stories

Stories can be more than mere entertainment. Stories can help us become the people we want to be.

“William Kent Krueger is an outstanding author and speaker whose ability to connect with audiences is exceptional. He engages listeners with warmth, authenticity, and a genuine passion for storytelling. His presence made our event both memorable and meaningful, and I would enthusiastically recommend him for any library or community program.” — Pere Marquette District Library, 2025

William Kent Krueger has consistently amazed me with his presentations. He has a knack for going with the flow of any event. He engages the audience like no other I have seen. I highly recommend any opportunity you have to host him, go for it.” — Harmony Public Library, 2025

“Meeting William Kent Krueger was like chatting with an old friend. His easy going, friendly manner was a hit with the audience. Only a couple people in attendance had not yet read one of his books, but I bet they will now! You could tell that Kent truly loves what he does and loves sharing his gift with others.” — Dyckman Free Library, 2025

“William Kent Krueger is an author event rock star. He knows his fans, knows how to engage with his audience, and makes his readers feel special and seen. His keynote was aspirational, while also laced with local flavor, humor, and humility. Kent was also generous with his time, engaging with our local author group before his address, and signing books for the audience until the very last fan left.” — Anoka County Library, 2025

“We just loved how Kent was down to earth! He inspired many young readers with his talk. The biggest thing is that Kent’s visit brought our community together through attending the event, donating door prizes, and having discounts at the local businesses if you went to see Kent talk.” — Spring Valley Public Library, 2025

“Kent was an exceptional speaker to a crowd of over 500 people. He was engaging, charismatic, and an absolute delight to host.” — City of Saint Peter, 2025

“William Kent Krueger is an amazing speaker and an absolute gem to work with. He was so gracious at the book signing table, visiting with everyone and taking photos with folks if they wanted. And he love libraries!” — Lake Agassiz Regional Library, 2024

“Kent was wonderful. He was very personable with both the staff and the audience.” — Kokomo Howard County Public Library, 2024

“Kent Krueger was a pleasure to host! He was wonderfully personable and kind to all he met. No doubt a family man with integrity and a love of libraries. His presentation was engaging and funny with a speaking style that felt polished but not rehearsed. I was impressed that he asked about Syracuse and that he was genuinely interested in the place and the people within our community.” — Friends of the Central Library, 2024

“William Kent Krueger is a wonderful speaker! Our event was virtual, but he still provided an engaging presentation for us, and a lively conversation during our Q&A session. It felt like he was here in-person! I highly recommend working with him and hearing him speak about his work.” — Lebanon Public Library, 2024

“Our members raved about how very much they enjoyed his talk. . . .His talk was extemporaneous, heart felt, and entertaining! Many said that he was the best speaker of the year.” — The Tuckahoe Woman’s Club, 2024

“Kent Krueger was a wonderful speaker, his easy style and comfort in presenting was a joy to behold! The crowd loved his ability to connect his work to the underlying themes and messages making their experience with his writing so much more meaningful.” — Leland Township Public Library, 2024

“Kent is an approachable person who makes each person feel like they have met a friend.” — Juneau County Library, 2024

“Everyone should book this author for a speaking engagement! Delightful person and so willing to share his “process” and “life story.” — Literary Society of Northern Trust Bank, 2024

“Kent’s presentation was a great way to kick off the festival. We had a great crowd and got great feedback. He has a great demeanor and wonderful rapport with the fans. He really took his time to make sure the people in the signing line had a great experience. I’m especially grateful for his willingness to participate in a pre-event interview with one of our festival sponsors a few days before the event. It was a great way to promote the festival and it was much appreciated.” — West Virginia Book Festival, 2023

“This is our main fundraiser for the year and its success determines the funding for literary outreach programs and library needs for the year. The event was financially and socially successful and we received numerous positive comments from attendees about how personable and amiable Kent was and how much they enjoyed his presentation. The Friends of the Library board was impressed at how easy he is to work with and the fact that he was willing to come to lunch with us the day before the event and meet us. It was an outstanding experience.” — Punta Gorda Library, 2023

“I am so glad we chose Ordinary Grace for our community read, because Kent Krueger’s visit was a highlight of this year’s program. Kent’s talk was engaging, and he spent a lot of time answering audience questions. He was generous with his time, making conversation with all who had books signed.” — Furman University, 2023

“The feedback we received from the community after Kent’s visit has been incredibly positive. He has a ton of fans in Richardson, and his visit did not disappoint. Thank you so much for accommodating our program in such challenging times. Our board was committed to making his visit safe and enjoyable, and they are all pleased that he had such a good experience.” — Richardson Reads

“I don’t know where to start but I want to let you know how much we enjoyed Kent. Christie, you told me he was a wonderful person and I couldn’t agree with you more. He is so down to earth, outgoing, can talk with anyone (and he does) funny, engaging, charismatic, adaptable, attentive, considerate, energetic and the list could go on and on. Besides the staff all I have heard Thursday night, Friday and today on my phone how much everyone enjoyed him and that he was so approachable. Thank you again for recommending him. It was our privilege having him here!” — Richardson Reads

“We had a fantastic event for a Tupelo Reads. Kent Krueger is my favorite author we have ever had. He is warm and personable interacting with the community and his talk was superb.I can’t recommend him highly enough. I feel like we are good friends now!” — Tupelo Reads

Kent’s Upcoming Events

Kent’s Newsletter

Kent’s Blog

Discussion Guides for Book Clubs

Honors, Awards & Recognition

September Indie Next List, 2024
Anthony Award for Best First Novel, Bouchercon World Mystery Convention
Anthony Award for Best Novel, Bouchercon World Mystery Convention
Barry Award for Best First Novel, Deadly Pleasures Mystery Magazine
Barry Award for Best Novel, Deadly Pleasures Mystery Magazine
Dilys Award, Independent Mystery Booksellers Association
Edgar Award for Best Novel, Mystery Writers of America
Goodreads Choice Award for Mystery & Thriller, Goodreads
Lefty Award for Best Mystery Novel, Left Coast Crime
Loft McKnight Fiction Award, The Loft Literary Center
Lovey Award for Best Series, Love is Murder Conference
Lovey Award for Best Thriller, Love is Murder Conference
Lovey Award for Best PI / Police Procedural, Love is Murder Conference
Macavity Award for Best Mystery Novel, Mystery Readers International
Maine Readers’ Choice Award, Maine State Library and Maine Library Association
Midwest Booksellers Choice Award, Midwest Independent Booksellers Association
Minnesota Book Award, Friends of the Saint Paul Library
Northeastern Minnesota Book Award, University of Minnesota
Silver Falchion Award for Best Novel: Literary Mystery/Suspense, Killer Nashville Conference
Squid Award for Best Mystery Set in the United States, Left Coast Crime