Our Lady of Lourdes College

5031 Gen. T. DeLeon Valenzuela, City

A Book Review for The Novel

“Trickster’s Point”

By

William Kent Krueger

Submitted to:

Mr. Alvin Urmaza

Submitted by:

Lyle Marie V. Padua

BSED 2- English

2019
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I. About the Author

William Kent Krueger who raised in the Cascade

Mountains of Oregon, briefly attended Stanford University
before being kicked out for radical activities. After that, he
logged timber, worked construction, tried his hand at free-lance
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 30
years to a woman who is an attorney. With his wife and two
children, 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, and the Friends of American Writers Prize. The sixth book in his
series, Copper River, is scheduled for release in August 2006. He does all his creative
writing in booth #4 at the renowned St. Clair Broiler in St. Paul.
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II. Plot
Exposition
In the Tamarack Country Minnesota Aurora, a former sheriff named Corcoran
O’Connor or simply Cork O’Connor who has an Ojibwe blood was with Jubal Little a rising
political star who just happens to be one of his oldest friends. They had breakfast together
in Johnny’s pine wood and eventually argue to something which was witnessed by some
people eating on that place, after that they went to the Trickster’s Point by canoe to do
hunting. During their hunt Jubal was shoot by a fatal arrow on his heart causing him to
bleed to death similar one to Cork’s arrow he suspected that Cork was the one who shoot
him, even though Cork wants to ask for help Jubal insisted him not to leave. Cork stayed
for three hours listening to Jubal’s stories of life regrets until he past away.
Conflict
Because of the circumstances that Cork didn’t ask for help in three hours and the
arrow similar to him was same arrow who killed Jubal, he became now the primary
suspect of the killing of Jubal Little. His former colleagues Captain Ed Larson and Sheriff
Marsha Dross were the one who questioned him in the Tamarack sheriff’s department
related to what happen to Trickster’s point that day. As the interrogation goes by he
explained the reason why he stayed that long, it is because Jubal ask for it and about the
arrow someone maybe stole one of his arrow since people in Aurora don’t lock their doors
including him as part of their traditions and practices as an Ojibwe.
Rising Action
Because of the reason aside from that Jubal was his closest friend and he treats
him like a real brother who was killed, Cork also wants to clear his name from the crime
whom he was the primary suspect. He started investigating privately he drive to
flashbacks to Jubal’s boyhood started from the day that they meet in the Grant Park, the
day that Cork together with his two friends Winona Crane who was cork’s first love and
became Jubal’s true love in the middle of the story and Willie Crane who is Winona’s
brother with cerebral palsy which becomes the reason why Donner Bigby most often bully
them. Because of these flashbacks Cork O’Connor got an idea for the real identity of the
killer, he list his sets of suspects based on the different circumstances one is the people
who knows how to stalk and hunt in an old way which was an Ojibwe tradition tough and
pass by Sam Winter Moon to different child before aside from Cork Jubal, Isaiah Broom
who became at present a member of ethnic Ojibwe council, Winona, Lester Bigby who
was tough by his father Buzz Bigby how to hunt. Another circumstance is the political side
which before Jubal was killed he stated his platforms which was about the selling of
Tamarack for miners investor and to build some casinos to save the falling economy of
the country which was against the will of the ethnic council Ojibwe who protects the nature
for preservation which the advocacy of Isaiah Broom and Lester Bigby who invested to a
lake resort that can be a possible affected by project proposed by Jubal also he is the
brother of Donner Bigby who died in the Trickster’s point thirty years ago which was his
father Buzz suspected Cork and Jubal who killed his son. Another persons of interest was
the wife of Jubal Camilla Jaeger Little and the Jaeger family Nicholas Jaeger and
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Alexander Jaeger which use Jubal for their political ambitions and fact that Jubal and
Winona has an affair. Cork also use the confession of his friend Jubal to find some clues
that may help his investigation the name “Rhiannon”. By these he started eliminating
people as suspects.
Climax
As Cork O’Connor search for the real culprit he finds out that either Isaiah Broom
or Lester Bigby has the clearer interest for the killing. He reported his insights to the police
and they started questioning Lester Bigby which was proven he has no reason to kill
Jubal, now the only persons of interest was Isaiah Broom Cork was shock that he didn’t
even deny the crime and convicted because of this. This gives Cork deeper thinking that
Isiah knows who’s the real killer, which leads him to Willie Crane because of their past
which Willie saves Isaiah from drowning maybe this was his way to pay for it. Willie
confess everything about the killing to Cork the reason is Winona Crane committed
suicide days after Jubal cutted everything about them he blame him for his sister’s death
so he decided to kill the person he stole Isiah’s arrows used for killing. And about the
name “Rhiannon” it was the name of Jubal and Winonan’s daughter who has been born
dead but nobody knows that they have a child except to Willie and Jubal.
Falling Action
After the confession Willie ask Cork a little time to fix everything before Cork turned
him to the police and Cork agreed with it. Cork went to his house to see his check his
children and tell the news to his daughter Jenny, a mix emotion for Cork that his friend
was the person behide all of these. As soon as Cork know the truth he drove back to the
Tamarack sheriffs department and ask to let Isaiah Broom free from the conviction, Isiah
at first insisted that his the one who killed Jubal until Cork told that he already knew the
truth that the real culprit was Willie. Isiah was totally shock by what Cork had said, he said
that there was no way Willie can live inside the jail, he pity for his friend and savior.
Resolution
As Cork settled everything about the case and put Isaiah free from conviction they
drive together from the Tamarack sheriff department going to Willie’s house, they search
for Willie but what they see is a bonfire near the lake but there is no sign that Willie is
there. Cork a printed letter of the killing confession in the table where Willie always eat
his breakfast a signed confession letter and in the separate sheet of paper that simply
stated “with Winona”. Isaiah shouted facing the lake full of tears in his face for his beloved
friend Willie, even though Cork was full of sadness he can still manage to be calm and
tell Isaiah the whenever Willie is his with Winona now Cork suggested that they should
go before the snow falls but Isaiah insisted to stay.
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III. Characters Analysis

 Corcoran O’Connor/ Cork O’Conner
The former sheriff of Tamarack who is part Irish and part Ojibwe was soon become a
primary suspect of the murder case of his old friend Jubal little. He was with him doing
hunting at the trickster’s point and witness the arrow that strikes Jubal Little’s heart the
same of one of his hunting arrow. The one who conducted his own investigation
 Jubal Little
A former football star and a rising politician who was a part Indian, a fine athlete and a
natural leader an old friend of Cork O’Connor who was killed at the Trickster’s point by
an arrow on his heart when doing hunting together with Cork
 Winona Crane
Cork O’Connor’s friend and crush on the six grade. She was smart, pretty and a little wild
she plays guitar and made up her own songs. She has a long black hair and eyes like
shiny chips, she is a protective sister to her twin brother Willie. At the age of 16 she
become distant to people because of what happen to her.
 Willie Crane
Winona’s twin brother and Cork’s friend who was born with cerebral palsy and become a
subject of bullying of Donner Bigby. He was well known for being a wildlife photographer
and a nature writer.
 Isiah Broom
A man who was part of tribal council who’s advocacy is to protect the heritages and
preserve the tradition and culture of Ojibwe tribe. He was a Shinnob with a long history of
activism on behalf of the native community. He was a very close friend to Willie crane
since they were children he has also an admiration to Willies sister Winona Crane.
 Lester Bigby
The younger brother of Donner Bigby, was a wealthy man at his twenties when he was
out of college he had take over the logging operation of his father Buzz Bigby but mostly
fall on a hard times because Buzz prefer drinking. He turned the situations around and
when things are looking good again he buy stocks in a Crown Lake Development
Company.
 Camilla Jaeger Little
A rich woman in her early forties, almost as tall as Jubal has a statuesque beauty with a
long blond hair and has a light green eyes with flawless skin complexion. Camilla couldn’t
bare a child because of her ovarian cancer in her twenties, she become an advocate for
cancer and Jubal’s moat frequent escort at social affairs.
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 Alexander Jaeger
In hear mid forties the eldest of the Jaeger progeny. He’d graduated from the Naval
Academy near the top of his class and had served the number of years before being
assigned to USS Cole. He was among the several injured and set to home, his face
undergone a number of surgeries and with limited success if the injury didnt happen he
might follow the footsteps of his father in politics.
 Nicholas Jaeger
Was the youngest of the Jaegers, in his late thirties. He was always off somewhere exotic,
doing something dangerous.
 Donner Bigby
The older brother of Lester Bigby who was a big kid that a notorious bully in their grade
school years, the suspect for the rape case of Winona crane and died as early as he was
still a child.
 Ed Larson
Larson always looked and dressed more like college professor than a cop. He had gold
wire rim glasses, he wore a jacket with patches on elbow. He was nearing sixty and still
have an inevitable head of hair that was a distinguished silver black. Cork and Larson
became friends and Cork had a great deal of respect for him and his abilities.
 Marsha Dross
She was one of Cork’s workmate and friend. She was one of the cop involve in the
investigation of Jubal Littles murder case.
 Phillip Holter
The agent in charge of the BCA team to that had been sent to help the investigation with
Jubal Little’s death. His hair was black and thick, he wore a stylish glasses that had no
framing around the lenses. He seem never to blink, there was crispiness in his actions
telling that he is a man who knows his ability.
 Sam Winter Moon
Liam O’Connor’s closest friend who originally owns the Sam’s place who tough Cork,
Jubal, Broom and Winona how to hunt in an old way.
 Jenny O’Connor
Cork O’Connor’s older daughter to Jo O’connor, she is in her late 20’s who become an
instant mother to Waaboo. She manage Sam’s place with the help of his brother
stephene, Judy and Cork.
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 Stephene O’Connor
A sixteen year old Cork O’Connor’s son from his wife Nancy Jo Mckenzie O’Connor who
past away years ago.
 Aaron Smalldog O’Connor/Waaboo
His pet name is Waabozoons which meant “Little rabbit” and he was called Waabooo gor
short. He was a wonderful child who has a blood of Objibwe with black hair and dark eyes,
he has a clear scar ob his upper lips that was closed by a surgery a genetic defect. He
was not Jenny’s real son but real one in the heart of O’Connors.
 Rainy Bisonnete
Was the niece of Henry Meloux a public health nurse a lovely woman, though not pretty
in fashionable way and never ware a makeup and has a long black hair. Her hands were
callused and her nails clipped short she is Cork’s special someone after many years when
he lose his wife Jo. Shes intelligence, compassion, humour and enjoyment of life was
everything for Cork.
 Henry Meloux
Was a Mide, a member of the Grand Medicine Society. In his nineties he was a tough old
bird full of wisdom, compassion, humour and honesty.
 Kenny Yates
A tall, well dressed black man, driving such an expansive set of wheels and who was the
private security of Jubal Little’s family.
 Clarence Buzz Bigby
Father of Donner and Leater Bigby has a broad, and logging works a man who prefer
drinking most.
 Leon Papakee
Cork’s attorney, a tall man with a long ponytail and dressed in a jean jacket and a white
shirt and blue jeans.
 Cy Brookeman
Cork O’Connor’s friend and a former colleague whom he trusted for the safety of his
family.
 Nancy Jo Mckenzie
A woman who was meet by Cork in Washington D.C from a law school they got married
and build a family and eventually live in the Aurora to settle but she was killed by someone
which was one of the murder case he resolve.
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 Liam O’Connor
Cork O’Connors father who is also Tamarack sheriff before he was killed by a gun when
cork was 13 years old.
 Judy Madsen
A widow in her early sixties, a retired school administrator who was hired by Cork to help
manage Sam’s Place. She was a smart and kind woman and a good job in supervising
teenagers Cork employed every season.
 Cole McMurphy
The man who was involve in drugs whom detain Winona to his house together with Petrra
and his nephew Bekette.
 Bekette McMurphy
A teenager who was the nephew of cole who refuses to let Winona go home to Aurora on
where she belong
 George LeDuc
Was a black bare big. He had a long ponytail, a broad, honest face and a dark eye. He
was the original owner of LeDuc’s store, the one who teach Cork and Jubal how to
harvest. And killed by the same person who murder Cork’s wife.
 Sarah LeDuc
The widow of George LeDuc who’d been an old and good friend to cork before he was
killed by the same person responsible for the death of his wife.
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IV. Plot Summary

Corcoran O’Connor or simply Cork O’Connor was a former sheriff of Tamarack

Country Minnesota Aurora who is part Irish and Ojibwe in blood was doing hunting with
his old friend Jubal Little a rising politician who’s part Indian at first they eat breakfast at
Johnny’s pine wood which they eventually argue in something some people inside the
restaurant notice it. Until they use a canoe to cross the river going trickster’s point on
where is their place for hunting, during there hunt Jubal was shoot by a fatal arrow into
his heart he suspected that his friend Cork did that to him since the arrow is identical to
Cork’s arrow. Cork wanted to ask for help but then Jubal insisted him to stay, and listen
to a three hours of confession about his friend Jubal’s life regrets before he gave his last
breath.

As the police department knew about this incident they automatically questioned
Cork as a primary suspect for Jubal Little’s death. They suspected him as the one who’s
responsible for the crime since he refuses to call an immediate help for his friend that life
is endangered at that time instead he wait for three hours which is a long suspicious
goodbye. Also the evidences such us the arrow similar to him was the same arrow that
shoot Jubal directly to his heart. In the process of interrogation he explained his side on
why does he need to stay that long to Jubal’s side and how the arrow the same to him
was used as a weapon.

To prove his innocence to the crime and for the sake of justice for his old friend
Jubal he privately investigates to find the real culprit and clear his name. Through
flashbacks from Jubal’s boyhood he think of the people who probably has an interest to
kill him, from the day that they first meet in the Grant Park as Jubal saves them Winona,
Willie and Cork from the bullying of Donner Bigby and see his first love Winona to look at
Jubal the way he look at her. And how they all become connected also he use the clues
from the last confession of Jubal before his last breath, the name “Rhiannon” another
circumstances that he pays attention to is the people who are involve in politics since last
time Jubal stated his platforms as candidate for the up coming election he proposed about
casinos and entertaining the mining company investors who are willing to invest and see
the mineral deposits in the Tamarack as way of saving the falling economy of the country.
Cork put the following names in his list of persons of interest Camilla Jaeger Little the wife
of Jubal and the Jaeger family Alexander and Nicholas Jaeger to the fact that they only
use Jubal for the fulfilment of their political ambition and a crime of passion for his wife
about the reason of Jubal’s affair to Winona Crane. Lester Bigby is one of the persons
who has possible interest for the murder since Cork and Jubal was suspected by his
father Buzz Bigby who killed his older brother Donner thirty years ago and his resort
maybe one of the possible that can be affected of the mining economic plans of Jubal.
Also he thinks of the circumstances that the killer has the ability to hunt in an old way just
like Sam Winter Moon tough them Cork, Jubal, Winona and Isaiah Broom. The elimination
for the possible culprit starts.
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As cork search for the truth he find out that the possible killer was Isaiah Broom
has a huge potential to become the culprit of the crime since he knows how to hunt in an
old way and has his advocacy of standing for the native community which obviously
against Jubal’s plans but as Isaiah convicted to the crime he didn’t even deny it seems
like his covering up for someone Cork though it was Winona so he came to Willie to force
him tell where is she but eventually Willie confess that he is the responsible for killing he
killed Jubal by the reason of revenge for his sister Winona who committed suicide by
cutting her wrist the moment Jubal decided to cut everything about them for his candidacy
so he stole the arrow from Isiah since he don’t lock doors as part of Ojibwe practices. He
was also though by Isaiah how to shoot.

As Cork knew the truth Willie ask a time to fix everything before he surrender
himself to the authority and Cork agreed with it. Immediately he went home to tell his
daughter Jenny about what mix emotions that he feels for what he discover, and went to
the Tamarack Sheriff’s Department to see Isiah Broom to free him from conviction at first
Isiah instead that he killed Jubal until Cork told that he already knew everything that the
real culprit was Willie Crane Isiah’s closest friend and his saviour from drowning before.

Cork and Isaiah went to Willie’s cabin, there is no sign of him everywhere they saw
a bonfire near the lake and check inside of the cabin but only Cork only saw a printed
letter in the table with Willie’s signature. A letter of confession about the killing of Jubal, a
signed letter that Willie wrote, on the other sheet of paper it was simply written “With
Winona”. Isiah face the lake while shouting Willie’s name with tears in his face until small
amount of snow falls down Cork told that they should leave now but he insisted to stay at
the river bank.
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V. Symbolism
 Arrow
Symbolizes anger, revenge and loneliness. As the arrow trikes in Jubal Little’s heart it
came from his killer who was full of hatred and wants to revenge for justices. And as he
near to his death the arrow puts an entire loneliness to him having lots of regret from his
past.
 Trickster’s point
It symbolizes mystery and secrets, as it become the spot for different crimes which was
related to hunting that legend of old Ojibwe stories on how the place originated. Also after
all from the start of the friendship of Jubal Little and Cork O’Connor the time when Jubal
lose his innocence in committing crime to Donner Bigby at tricksters point the secret was
buried from their past. Until the moment of the murder of Jubal, himself become part of
the mystery and secret happen to that place whom Cork trying to solve.
 Hunting in an old way
This reflect from having the preservation of the roots or their tradition, nature and culture.
As Sam Winter Moon passed his knowledge in hunting to Cork, Jubal, Isaiah and Winona
when they were still a child he wants to have the continual process of passing the
practices of their ancestors which is the Ojibwe tribe whom the source of living was
hunting.
 Dying fire from a bonfire
It indicates the saddens which is the death of the characters. And time that is continuously
passing.
 Fall of snow
It symbolizes sad ending of the story or it reflects to the end of the chaos by the main
character. The start for a new beginning.
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VI. Analysis
The novel Trickster’s Point tackle a lot of sides of life and society, which William
Kent Krueger introduces different human natures of characters that reflects on reality one
of this is the character of Jubal Little that posses dominance whose charm, warmth, wide
range of skills and iron ambition made him easy to like but hard to love. His connection
with Winona Crane stated that he is a man with ambition that he cannot sacrifice one of
the two between his true love vs his what Winona called his destiny that becomes his
ambition. Also as Winona keep on believing her visions about Jubal who’s destined for a
grater purpose and she cannot see herself with him. On that part it reflects about the
character of being believing to luck and destiny but at the end that vision of her didn’t
happen because as she pushes away Jubal for fulfilling that greater purpose it just made
everything complicated. Another are the Jaegers who has the political ambition but has
no capability to fulfil it so they use Jubal as their way to the top in the politics also Jubal
himself use Camilla Jaeger to make his way for his ambition and his closest friend Cork
O’Connor to fulfil of what his heart wants which is Winona, he use him as a excuse to his
wife and made an affair with his one true love. And Willie Crane who posses
unexceptional skills and talents behind his disability and give the perception of the mind
of a person and heart is much powerful than his body, I as a reader never anticipate his
character as being on that kind of state it surprise me a lot. As well as the “Rhiannon” was
all about.
Another point is that Krueger revels realities about the society specially in the
politics such as when Alexander Jaeger lost his looks on an injury his father didn’t even
try to help him get into the politics for what it is his another ambition which reflects that as
entering of being a public figure they still consider first the look or the physical aspect of
a person. Another is when Camilla Jaeger did not run to the government just because
she is a woman, it stated the reality that thier is a stereotyping for the women or. In the
political aspects they saw women as no capability to handle or to lead that’s the
perception of Camilla’s father being sexist. Also the being big deal of Jubal Little as the
first Indian candidate for government election this reflects the stereotyping for races inside
the government or the racism. Lastly the sacrificing of the tradition, beliefs and practices
by the native community and the nature for the economy and innovations of the
government.
William Kent Krueger made the novel with lots of plot twist and unexpected
revelations through a flashback way which all of the characters has a threads of
connections who posses different behaviors and put a flavour in the story.
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VII. Conclusion
The story revolves about the murder of a rising political star who of his oldest
friends lands Minnesota private eye Corcoran O’Connor in the an interrogation.

Even though he wanted to go for help, Cork agreed to sit with Jubal Little for three
hours after their backwoods deer hunt was cut short when his old schoolmate was shot
by an arrow that closely resembled the arrows Cork made for himself. He listened to Jubal
ramble about his romance with their mutual friend Winona Crane, his foreshortened run
for the Senate and the mysterious Rhiannon, whose fate was “the worst sin of all.” Now
all of Cork’s friends and former colleagues in the Tamarack County sheriff’s office suspect
Cork of shooting Jubal. Even Jubal assumed that Cork had fired the fatal arrow.
Determined to clear himself, Cork makes the rounds of alternative suspects Jubal’s
politically connected widow, Camilla, and her family, Ojibwe activist Isaiah Broom, logger
Buzz Bigby, whose bullying son, Donner, met a bad end. More revealingly, Krueger
interleaves the present-day story with a series of flashbacks that trace the winding steps
in Cork’s relationship with his old friend. The climactic revelations, plot twists of the story.