Part of Cork O'Connor
First published 2012
Cork O'Connor sits beside a massive rock formation called Trickster's Point in the Minnesota wilderness. His longtime friend Jubal Little lies dying, an arrow piercing his heart. Jubal was poised to become Minnesota's first Native American governor. The arrow belongs to Cork. The two men had been bowhunting together, continuing a tradition between old friends, but this was no accident. Someone murdered Jubal and framed Cork for the killing. Cork must prove his innocence while hunting the real assassin. As he investigates, Cork recalls his complicated history with Jubal, who grew from a tough kid into a football star and ambitious politician. Jubal won the heart of the first woman Cork ever loved. Many knew Jubal for his passion and loyalty. Only Cork knows Jubal was capable of murder. The case forces Cork to revisit his teenage years in Aurora, a beautiful town torn by feuds and racial tensions that still shape its politics.
Genres: literary-fiction, american-fiction, mystery, crime, contemporary, thriller
Vibes: atmospheric, dark, gritty, introspective, suspenseful
Tropes: childhood-trauma, framed-for-murder, love-triangle, unreliable-past
Setting: Minnesota, Trickster's Point, Aurora
Period: 21st-century, contemporary
329 pages · Hardcover · Atria Books
Content warnings: murder, racism