The Recurring Cast
Character · Aurora and Tamarack County · 22 books

Cork O’Connor

Former sheriff of Tamarack County, later a private investigator · William Kent Krueger

Cork O’Connor is the former sheriff of Tamarack County, part Irish and part Ojibwe, later a private investigator.

Spoiler-free profile written for The Recurring Cast.

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Character facts

First appearance
Iron Lake (1998)
Latest appearance
God’s Country (2026)
Books
22 (21 as lead, 1 major)
Series
Cork O’Connor
Author
William Kent Krueger
Circle
Aurora and Tamarack County

Where to meet Cork O’Connor

Cork O’Connor first appears in Iron Lake (1998), as the lead, book 1 of the Cork O’Connor series.

Buy Iron Lake

Every book with Cork O’Connor

In publication order, with the size of their role in each.

  1. 1998LIron Lakelead · Cork O’ConnorBuy
  2. 1999LBoundary Waterslead · Cork O’ConnorBuy
  3. 2001LPurgatory Ridgelead · Cork O’ConnorBuy
  4. 2004LBlood Hollowlead · Cork O’ConnorBuy
  5. 2005LMercy Fallslead · Cork O’ConnorBuy
  6. 2006LCopper Riverlead · Cork O’ConnorBuy
  7. 2007LThunder Baylead · Cork O’ConnorBuy
  8. 2008LRed Knifelead · Cork O’ConnorBuy
  9. 2009LHeaven’s Keeplead · Cork O’ConnorBuy
  10. 2010LVermilion Driftlead · Cork O’ConnorBuy
  11. 2011LNorthwest Anglelead · Cork O’ConnorBuy
  12. 2012LTrickster’s Pointlead · Cork O’ConnorBuy
  13. 2013LTamarack Countylead · Cork O’ConnorBuy
  14. 2014LWindigo Islandlead · Cork O’ConnorBuy
  15. 2016LManitou Canyonlead · Cork O’ConnorBuy
  16. 2017LSulfur Springslead · Cork O’ConnorBuy
  17. 2018LDesolation Mountainlead · Cork O’ConnorBuy
  18. 2021MLightning Strikemajor role · Cork O’ConnorCork as a boy in 1963Buy
  19. 2022LFox Creeklead · Cork O’ConnorBuy
  20. 2024LSpirit Crossinglead · Cork O’ConnorBuy
  21. 2025LApostle’s Covelead · Cork O’ConnorBuy
  22. 2026LGod’s Countrylead · Cork O’ConnorBuy

Appears most often with

CharacterBooks together
Henry MelouxOjibwe Mide healer and Cork’s mentor22
Anne and Jenny O’ConnorCork’s daughters21
Stephen O’ConnorCork’s son21
Rainy BisonetteHenry’s grandniece, a nurse, and Cork’s later partner11
Jo O’ConnorCork’s wife, a lawyer10