William Kent Krueger’s books are a treasure trove for fans of mystery, suspense and compelling storytelling rooted in the landscapes and cultures of the American Midwest.
Known for his acclaimed Cork O’Connor series and standalone novels, Krueger has captivated readers with his ability to weave intricate plots against vivid backdrops.
His stories explore themes of identity, justice and the enduring power of the human spirit, making his books a must-read for lovers of gripping mysteries and richly drawn characters.
If you’re eager to explore his work, this guide to William Kent Krueger’s books in order of publication offers a clear path to experiencing his storytelling evolution and the growth of his unforgettable characters.
Full List of William Kent Krueger’s Books In Order of Publication
Before we proceed with the list, here are a few things you ought to know:
1. We got the list from William Kent Krueger’s official website and Amazon.
2. We split William Kent Krueger’s books into 3 categories:
- His Cork O’Connor Mystery Series
- His Standalone Novels
- His Anthologies
Now let’s explore his books starting with the first Cork O’Connor mystery that launched his celebrated career.
Cork O’Connor Mystery Series In Order with Summaries
1. Iron Lake
Publication Date: 1998
Number of Pages: 464
Summary: The first book in the Cork O’Connor series introduces the former sheriff of Aurora, Minnesota, as he investigates the mysterious disappearance of a young boy. As he delves deeper, he uncovers political corruption, dark secrets, and a web of violence that threatens his town and family.
2. Boundary Waters
Publication Date: 1999
Number of Pages: 448
Summary: When a famous country singer goes missing in the remote Boundary Waters wilderness, Cork O’Connor is called to track her down. But he soon discovers that powerful enemies are also on her trail, and what starts as a search-and-rescue mission quickly turns into a deadly game of survival.
3. Purgatory Ridge
Publication Date: 2001
Number of Pages: 400
Summary: A deadly explosion at a logging mill sparks tensions between environmental activists, Native Americans, and local businesses. As Cork investigates, he finds himself caught between conflicting interests and dangerous adversaries determined to protect their secrets at any cost.
4. Blood Hollow
Publication Date: 2004
Number of Pages: 432
Summary: When the body of a teenage girl is found in the snow, suspicion falls on a troubled young man who claims to have had a vision of the Virgin Mary. Cork must navigate religious controversy, small-town prejudices, and a tangle of hidden motives to uncover the truth.
5. Mercy Falls
Publication Date: 2005
Number of Pages: 464
Summary: Cork O’Connor is called to investigate the brutal murder of a wealthy Chicago businessman at a remote lake. As he digs deeper, he becomes entangled in a case that stretches beyond Minnesota, involving organized crime, corruption, and a powerful enemy who will stop at nothing to silence him.
6. Copper River
Publication Date: 2006
Number of Pages: 320
Summary: On the run and badly wounded, Cork O’Connor seeks refuge with his cousin in a small Michigan town. While trying to recover, he gets caught up in a local mystery involving missing teenagers, a sinister underground operation, and a killer who may be closer than he thinks.
7. Thunder Bay
Publication Date: 2007
Number of Pages: 320
Summary: Henry Meloux, Cork’s Ojibwe mentor, asks for help finding his long-lost son. As Cork tracks him down, he unearths long-buried secrets that lead to a dangerous confrontation and force him to question everything he thought he knew about his friend.
8. Red Knife
Publication Date: 2008
Number of Pages: 320
Summary: Tensions explode between a violent gang and an Ojibwe community when a prominent leader’s daughter is killed. As Cork investigates, he is caught between justice and revenge in a case that threatens to ignite an all-out war.
9. Heaven’s Keep
Publication Date: 2009
Number of Pages: 352
Summary: When Cork’s wife, Jo, is killed in a plane crash, he refuses to accept the official story. His search for the truth leads him deep into Wyoming, where he uncovers a deadly conspiracy that could cost him his own life.
10. Vermilion Drift
Publication Date: 2010
Number of Pages: 336
Summary: When the remains of multiple murder victims are discovered in an abandoned iron mine, Cork is hired to investigate. But as he pieces together the mystery, he realizes the case is more personal than he ever imagined—forcing him to confront his own past.
11. Northwest Angle
Publication Date: 2011
Number of Pages: 320
Summary: While on a family vacation in Minnesota’s remote Northwest Angle, Cork O’Connor and his daughter stumble upon a murdered young woman and her abandoned baby. As they fight to protect the infant, they must survive a ruthless killer who will stop at nothing to cover his tracks.
12. Trickster’s Point
Publication Date: 2012
Number of Pages: 320
Summary: When a U.S. Senate candidate is killed with an arrow, Cork O’Connor becomes the prime suspect, as he was the last person to see the victim alive. To clear his name, Cork must uncover the truth about his old friend’s past and a betrayal that goes back decades.
13. Tamarack County
Publication Date: 2013
Number of Pages: 320
Summary: A retired judge’s wife disappears in the dead of winter, and Cork O’Connor is drawn into the case. As he investigates, he uncovers a sinister pattern of revenge, and the people closest to him become targets in a deadly game of cat and mouse.
14. Windigo Island
Publication Date: 2014
Number of Pages: 368
Summary: When a teenage girl’s body washes up on Windigo Island, Cork O’Connor is asked to find her missing friend. His search takes him into the dark world of human trafficking, where he must confront powerful enemies to save an innocent life.
15. Manitou Canyon
Publication Date: 2016
Number of Pages: 320
Summary: A man disappears in the wilderness just days before his wedding, and Cork O’Connor is hired to find him. But as he follows the trail, he becomes trapped in a deadly storm with a dangerous enemy, forcing him to fight for survival in the harsh winter landscape.
16. Sulfur Springs
Publication Date: 2017
Number of Pages: 320
Summary: Cork O’Connor travels to Arizona’s scorching desert in search of his stepson, who has left a disturbing voicemail hinting at murder. As Cork digs deeper, he uncovers a violent web of corruption, drug smuggling, and human trafficking at the U.S.-Mexico border.
17. Desolation Mountain
Publication Date: 2018
Number of Pages: 368
Summary: When a U.S. senator’s plane crashes on Desolation Mountain, Cork O’Connor and his son Stephen join the search for answers. But as bodies pile up and federal agents arrive, they realize a dangerous conspiracy is at play—one that someone is willing to kill to keep buried.
18. Lightning Strike
Publication Date: 2021
Number of Pages: 400
Summary: In this prequel to the Cork O’Connor series, a young Cork investigates the suspicious death of a Native American man. As he uncovers long-buried secrets in his small Minnesota town, he learns hard lessons about justice, prejudice, and the power of truth.
19. Fox Creek
Publication Date: August 2022
Number of Pages: 400
Summary: A group of deadly mercenaries is hunting an Ojibwe healer and his wife in the remote Minnesota wilderness. Cork O’Connor must use all his skills to track them down before it’s too late, leading to a pulse-pounding showdown in the deep Northwoods.
20. Spirit Crossing
Publication Date: August 2024
Number of Pages: (To be announced)
Summary: Details about this upcoming book are yet to be revealed, but it will continue Cork O’Connor’s thrilling journey, once again immersing readers in a gripping mystery set against the wild landscapes of Minnesota.
21. Apostle’s Cove
Publication Date: September 2, 2025
Number of Pages: 336
Summary: As Cork O’Connor nears sixty, his son Stephen challenges a decades-old murder conviction Cork helped secure. While reinvestigating, Cork encounters resistance and deadly threats. At the same time, his grandson fears a mythical Windigo has arrived in Tamarack County, adding to the growing tension.
Krueger’s Standalone Novels in Order with Summaries
The Devil’s Bed
Publication Date: 2003
Number of Pages: 352
Summary: In this political thriller, Secret Service agent Bo Thorsen is assigned to protect the First Lady, who becomes the target of a deadly conspiracy. As Bo delves deeper, he uncovers secrets that could shake the nation’s foundations.
Ordinary Grace
Publication Date: 2013
Number of Pages: 307
Summary: Set in 1961 Minnesota, this novel follows 13-year-old Frank Drum as he confronts a series of tragic events that challenge his understanding of family, faith, and the nature of grace.
This Tender Land
Publication Date: 2019
Number of Pages: 450
Summary: During the Great Depression, four orphans escape a harsh boarding school in Minnesota and embark on a life-changing journey down the Mississippi River, seeking freedom and a place to call home.
The Levee
Publication Date: February 2023
Length: Novella (Length varies in audio format)
Summary: In this audio-original novella, a family faces a devastating storm that threatens to breach a levee. As they attempt a complicated rescue, they confront the true cost of survival and the bonds that hold them together.
The River We Remember
Publication Date: September 2023
Number of Pages: 400
Summary: In 1958, a small Minnesota town is rocked by the murder of its most powerful citizen, reigniting old grievances and uncovering hidden secrets. The investigation delves into the complexities of community, memory, and the enduring impact of the past.
Krueger’s Anthologies in Order with Summaries
10,000 Lakes: Tales from the North Country
This short story collection features works from multiple authors, including William Kent Krueger.
Set in the rugged landscapes of Minnesota, these tales explore themes of nature, survival, mystery and the human spirit.
Krueger’s contribution showcases his signature storytelling, offering readers a glimpse into his richly developed characters and evocative settings.
Herring Choker
Publication date: 2002
Summary: A young protagonist faces a tense small-town rivalry in this coming-of-age mystery.
Published in Boys’ Life magazine, January 2002.
The Windigo
Publication date: 2004
Summary: A chilling tale of fear and superstition as characters confront the legendary Windigo.
Published in Boys’ Life magazine, March 2004.
The Far Side of the River
Publication date: 2005
Summary: A desperate man’s risky decision leads to danger and betrayal.
Published in Meeting Across the River: Stories Inspired by the Haunting Bruce Springsteen Song (Bloomsbury USA, 2005).
Before Swine
Publication date: 2005
Summary: An investigator unravels a deceptive case with an unexpected twist.
Published in Silence of the Loons: Thirteen Tales of Mystery by Minnesota’s Premier Crime Writers (Nodin Press, 2005).
Bums
Publication date: 2006
Summary: A gritty crime story exploring desperation and survival on society’s margins.
Published in Twin Cities Noir (Akashic Books, 2006).
Heat Lightning
Publication date: 2006
Summary: Love, jealousy, and murder collide in this suspenseful tale.
Published in Mystery Writers of America Presents Death Do Us Part: New Stories about Love, Lust, and Murder (Back Bay Books, 2006).
Absolution
Publication date: 2006
Summary: A hitman struggles with guilt and redemption before his next job.
Published in These Guns for Hire: 31 Stories About Hitmen (Bleak House Books, 2006).
Hills Like White Rabbits
Publication date: 2007
Summary: A noir-style mystery filled with deception and hidden motives.
Published in Resort to Murder: Thirteen More Tales of Mystery by Minnesota’s Premier Writers (Nodin Press, 2007).
Contender
Publication date: 2009
Summary: An underground boxer fights for survival in and out of the ring.
Published in Once Upon A Crime: An Anthology of Murder, Mayhem, and Suspense (Nodin Press, 2009).
Hixton
Publication date: 2010
Summary: A detective must separate fact from legend in a chilling case.
Published in Crimes by Moonlight: Mysteries from the Dark Side (Berkley, 2010).
Woman in Ice
Publication date: 2012
Summary: An investigator uncovers a dark truth behind a frozen body.
Published in Fifteen Tales of Murder, Mayhem, and Malice: from the Land of Minnesota Nice (Nodin Press, 2012).
Luck
Publication date: 2012
Summary: A suspenseful tale exploring the fine line between fate and fortune.
Published in Writers of Spring: Stories and Prose (Nodin Press, 2012).
The Man Who Cried Wolf
Publication date: 2016
Summary: A man’s lies spiral into dangerous consequences.
Published in 10,000 Lakes: Tales from the North Country (A.S.A.P. Publishing, 2016).
The Painted Smile
Publication date: 2016
Summary: A Sherlock Holmes-inspired mystery with unexpected revelations.
Published in Echoes of Sherlock Holmes: Stories Inspired by the Holmes Canon (Pegasus Books, 2016).
Corpus Delicti
Publication date: 2018
Summary: A crime scene mystery where the body is missing, but the evidence isn’t.
Published by A.S.A.P. Publishing, 2018.
Just Another Cold Case
Publication date: 2018
Summary: An investigator reopens an old case, uncovering buried secrets.
Published in Blood Work: Remembering Gary Shulze Once Upon a Crime (Down & Out Books, 2018).
Nature of the Beast
Publication date: 2019
Summary: Unlikely alliances form in a dangerous fight for survival.
Published in Mystery Writers of America Presents Odd Partners: An Anthology (Ballantine Books, 2019).
Last Word on William Kent Krueger’s Books In Order
Exploring William Kent Krueger’s books in order is the best way to experience the depth and brilliance of his storytelling.
Whether you’re following his series through the gripping Cork O’Connor mysteries or diving into his powerful standalone novels, each book offers a compelling mix of suspense, rich character development and a deep connection to the landscapes of the American Midwest.
By reading William Kent Krueger’s books in publication order, you can witness the evolution of his writing, see how his recurring characters grow over time and appreciate the intricate plots that have made him one of the most celebrated mystery writers today.
If you’re new to his books, Iron Lake is the perfect place to start, launching the beloved Cork O’Connor series.
For those who prefer standalone novels, award-winning titles like Ordinary Grace and This Tender Land showcase Krueger’s storytelling at its finest.
No matter where you begin, William Kent Krueger’s books promise unforgettable stories filled with mystery, heart and adventure.
We hope this guide on the order of William Kent Krueger’s books has helped you navigate his bibliography.
Happy reading!