Review - The River We Remember by William Kent Krueger

As I read William Kent Krueger’s newest book, The River We Remember, I found myself getting lost in his descriptions of time and place. I felt transported. If nothing else, Krueger’s work feels like a love story to a beautiful river in rural Minnesota.

The River We Remember tells the story of James Quinn’s death and its aftermath in the small town of Jewel. Sheriff Dern and his deputies are called in to investigate the death of Quinn—an important, but hated man, and they are forced to make choices about the true meaning of justice. The story not only follows Dern’s investigation, but also the intertwining lives of the citizens of Jewel—the sheriff’s family; the local newspaperman; the owner of the local diner; teenagers Scott and Del; Quinn’s wife and children; and the enigmatic Noah and Kyoko Bluestone.

The book is a beautifully written portrait of a quaint but wounded hometown where no one is left untouched by the tragedies of their neighbors.

Because in a town this small, everyone is connected.

This book touches on a lot of important themes, like racial prejudice in the aftermath of World War II, the personal impact of war, the appropriation of indigenous lands, and the choices good people are forced to make in impossible circumstances. Krueger makes his characters very human. Nobody here is flawless.

Sensitive readers should know this book contains references to suicide, sexual assault, child abuse, drug use, and racism.

The River We Remember is available now!