I was so excited to get this ARC and it didn’t disappoint. William Kent Kruger always does an amazing job transporting you into the time period & place of his novels. The story of Jimmy Quinn’s murder was complex and filled with characters who each carry their own secrets that burden them throughout the case. Heartbreaking at times, but ultimately a story about kindness & the things people witness & remember and how we move forward.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

I am a huge fan of William Kent Krueger and have read all of his books. When I was given the opportunity to read and review this book with NetGalley I jumped at the opportunity. While others criticize Krueger for being "woke" toward Native American's, I applaud the way that he creates complex characters and situations that make one wrestle with their own prejudices and biases. The River We Remember challenges how we look at people we create as heroes and villians and hopefully helps us to see and understand them a little better. While this is a stand alone book and not a part of the Cork O'Connor series, you can sense the ties between them all. Just live the river of the story which flows through all of us and all of creation to bring us from our past to our futures. We are all connected even if, as Krueger reminds us, we often misremember. This was a book I could not put down and did not want to end. It is filled with the true tragedies of life, but also with the reminder that redemption is possible.

stand-alone-novel, historical-novel, small-town, Minnesota, crime-fiction, family, real-horror, Native American, xenophobia, relationships, religious-differences, suspense, suspicion, murder-investigation, law-enforcement, cultural-exploration, veterans, supernatural, false-conclusions, falsely-accused, gossip, lawyers, newspapers, mid-20th-century, PTSD, triggers*****

The good sheriff, the bad murdered bully, and the ugliness of PTSD and xenophobia.
Hard truths are examined in the context of the past in the clear way of an author I love to read.
Triggers: sexual abuse, rape, incest, and beatings.
I requested and received an EARC from Atria Books via NetGalley. Thank you.

Fantastic, rich writing as always. Loved the story too.

Thanks to Netgalley for the free copy in exchange for an honest review

Wow. This was an author that I've had on my radar for a while and good lord, he did not disappoint.

This is a beautiful, tragic novel that has vivid, imperfect, and complex characters that will stay with you for a while. I was reading a few other books when I started "The River We Remember," but as soon as I picked it up I could not put it down (those other books got tossed to the side).

The readers follow Brody, a sheriff in small-town Jewel, as he tries to untangle the messy murder of the well-known but ill-liked Jimmy Quinn. Suspicion immediately falls on Native American and war veteran Noah Bluestone and his Japanese wife, Kyoko, who refuse to speak on the matter. But there are so many side characters that I also fell in love with, and side stories that took me back even further in time and profoundly impacted me. Between the main storyline and the side stories, this was an addicting read.

This novel is about a murder but really it is about so much more, and all the characters seem to know that too. It is really about what this murder represents, with many characters keenly aware that the town's response will set the path toward their collective future, good or bad and for better or for worse. It also opens up and explores topics like racism, sexism, the patriarchy, patriotism, wealth, and so much more. It had many jaw-dropping moments, but beyond any shock value, it is just so beautifully written and almost an expose on what is valued in society vs. what really matters. This is easily one of my top reads of the year and a book that will stay with me for a very long time.

Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for the ARC.

I just finished reading "The River We Remember," and it left quite an impact on me. The story takes place in 1958 in a small town called Jewel, Minnesota. The murder of a powerful local figure, Jimmy Quinn, sets off a chain reaction of events that dig up old grudges and hidden secrets. This standalone novel by the acclaimed author William Kent Krueger delves into the heart of a community and its struggles with the aftermath of war, racism, and the wounds left by the battles of life.

The town gathers on Memorial Day to honor its fallen heroes, but the discovery of Quinn's body in the Alabaster River shifts the focus to unraveling a murder mystery. Sheriff Brody Dern, a decorated war hero, takes charge of the investigation. As he delves deeper into the case, he must confront his own personal demons from his time in the military. The suspicion falls on Noah Bluestone, a Native American WWII veteran with a Japanese wife, stirring up old prejudices and tensions.

The narrative introduces a diverse cast of characters, each harboring their own histories and secrets. Their lives intertwine as the town grapples with anger, mistrust, and the specters of war. The novel paints a vivid picture of the scars that WWII left on individuals and the community as a whole. The storytelling is nuanced, and Krueger's characters are intricately crafted, capturing the essence of post-war struggles and the authenticity of small-town life.

Krueger deftly tackles themes of racism, PTSD, family dynamics, love, and the resilience of the human spirit. His writing is immersive and poignant, transporting readers to the era and location with vivid descriptions and powerful emotions. The book isn't just a mystery; it's a snapshot of a society dealing with its past and the challenges of moving forward.

The plot keeps readers engaged, gradually revealing the layers of the characters' lives and the intricacies of the mystery. Krueger's storytelling keeps you guessing until the end, blurring the lines between right and wrong and highlighting the complexity of human nature.

In conclusion, "The River We Remember" is a captivating and moving novel that delves into the intricacies of a small town's secrets and struggles. William Kent Krueger skillfully weaves together a mystery, a portrait of mid-century America, and a poignant exploration of healing and the stories we tell about home. The characters are relatable and deeply human, making this a compelling read for anyone interested in the intricacies of human nature and the impact of history on individual lives.

My thanks to NetGalley and Atria books for the opportunity to read and review an advanced copy of William Kent Krueger's The River We Remember. While the center of this story is a murder mystery, it's about much more than that. It's about small towns, prejudices, the choices people make, and the question of whether those choices must then forever define who they are. The town of Jewel Minnesota and its denizens read so real to me (maybe because my dad was born in a small Minnesota town the same year this book is set and I've heard many stories about his life growing up there?) and I came to care deeply for them. It was a little sad to say goodbye to them at the end. Definitely a 5 star read for me!

Small towns hold many secrets which are desperately kept hidden. On Memorial Day, 1958 the body of local wealthy and crude landowner Jimmy Quinn is found in a river with a hole in his chest from a shotgun blast. Town sheriff Brody Dern, a haunted WWII hero who returns from the war emotionally scarred, is pressured to solve the murder. As things go in small towns, locals demand justice as they quickly assume the killer must be Native American Noah Bluestone who has a Japanese wife and was recently fired by Jimmy Quinn. Brody has secrets of his own (no spoilers!) that jam up his investigation. There’s a lot going on in Krueger’s sweeping book that has juicy side-stories from hidden past lives to spousal abuse and illicit affairs until the truth is revealed by the river’s banks.

3.5 stars

As an avid reader who enjoys most books, I read, it's surprising that William Kent Krueger's new book, The River We Remember, missed the mark. I liked his previous work, This Tender Land, so I expected to feel the same about this one. However, it didn't explore its themes or characters as profoundly as This Tender Land did.

William Kent Krueger is known for shedding light on the terrible things that affect Native communities and then crafts a good, compelling mystery. While he does that here he gets a bit carried away with those terrible things, white people do with too many side stories and dramatic events that overshadow the main message. The pacing is uneven, starting slow and repetitive to the point I thought I had lost my place and was reading the same pages. Then the pace picks up with those terrible things that happen, turning the story darker than expected, and it feels more misplaced than the insight I expected to see.

The River We Remember has its strengths, especially in how Krueger portrays settings in a way that makes them feel like characters. He doesn't need to force drama to move the story forward because the connection between characters and their surroundings can do that naturally. That excessive drama detracts from its impact and falls short of what could have been a powerful story, making this a disappointing read for me. It doesn't happen often, and I can't believe it happened with William Kent Krueger's new book.

Overall this is just my two cents, and I am known for overthinking stories in ways no one else does. I read this with a few of my Traveling Friends, who all loved it.

I always rate Krueger’s book very highly and this book is no exception! His storylines and characters are unforgettable and he brings them all together for a story you won’t forget. Every character has secrets they’re keeping but like a river “they will all flow together in the end.”

An enjoyable book that encompasses many genres in one. Well written, multi- faceted characters and a satisfying ending make this a great read

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Atria Books, and William Kent Krueger for providing this book for my honest review. This is the first book by this author that I have read, but it won’t be my last. I can’t wait to read everything he has written. This book is best to jump into a bit blind. Just know you are getting a slower paced police procedural mystery that takes place in a small town in the 1950’s. It may be slower paced but you will want to keep reading and turning those pages. There are multiple characters and so many thought provoking ideas about life and war as well as the impact war continues to have on people and towns after it is over. I highly recommend this book to everyone. This will be one of my favorites of the year! Thank you again for allowing me to review this masterpiece!

Love this author. It took me a long time to get into this book. When i finally got into it it was over. I find that it was alot of character development and not alot story. Still good.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC.

I was so excited to be awarded an advance copy of this novel. I love the Cork O’Connor mystery series. The characters are well-developed and the writing is great. I’ve been wanting to read more of Krueger’s work. Unfortunately, I was disappointed by this standalone novel. It felt rambling and unfocused. I didn’t understand the actions of certain characters based on what they did before or after, or what they seemed to stand for. The book is set in 1958, and there are several places where the omniscient narrator suddenly breaks the fourth wall to inform the reader about how that time is different from ‘today’, or to explain something that feels more like the author showing us his homework than something that is really necessary to the story.

There are also lovely bits of writing, and emotional and tense moments that made me feel things, which is one of the reasons that I read, after all. The story is interesting, although the characters feel one-dimensional. I’m hoping that, since this is an ARC, there will be another edit before the final version is published.

Set in 1950’s Minnesota, this saga qualifies as historical fiction, family drama, and murder mystery. That’s a lot, but William Kent Krueger is up to the challenge. He’s the author of the long running Cork O’Connor series as well as the terrific, memorable standalones, Ordinary Grace and This Tender Land. The characters held my interest and the location and land itself became a feature of the plot. Krueger is a master storyteller, and yet in this story, it seems to me he overemphasizes the ruin and torture cast upon too many of the main characters by their war experiences. It was a good book, but sadder than usual.

A police procedural and a slow burn mystery rolled into one. Krueger has excellently portrayed the impact war has on one small community, years later. Set in the small farming town of Jewel, Minnesota, The River We Remember is a story of how life continues on and how our pasts impact our future.

Told from the perspective of a few members of the community, this story will be best savored. I wouldn’t call it a page turner, but I felt so invested in the lives of our characters and felt all kinds of emotions while reading. With wonderful prose, this story was insightful, thought provoking, and compelling. I don’t want to say too much more, as I think going in with limited expectations will really allow you to get the full effect of the story.

Overall, this book was amazing. Not only is the writing excellent, but Kruegar’s realistic portrayal of human nature was phenomenal. While this was my first read from Krueger, it most certainly won’t be my last. Highly recommend.

The River We Remember comes out September 5, 2023. Huge thank you to Atria Books for my advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion. If you liked this review please let me know either by commenting below or by visiting my instagram @speakingof.books.

I am a long-time fan of William Kent Krueger. Throughout the many Cork O'Connor mysteries and his other novels, explorations of home and family have always been central themes. In that respect, The River We Remember is no different, but perhaps with a sharper focus on what truly makes a family than in any of his other novels.

It is Memorial Day of 1958, and Jimmy Quinn’s body is found tangled up in branches along the Alabaster River. The body has significant damage from the catfish and, initially, a shotgun blast. Even though Jimmy was almost universally hated, anger from World War II and the Dakota War of 1862 move many citizens of Jewel to immediately suspect Noah Bluestone, a Native American veteran with a Japanese wife.

This is a novel that not only unravels a complex mystery, but it also reveals the histories that haunt most of the central characters. They are all broken ... by war, by family, by poverty, and/or by circumstance. Some are irreparably damaged, but many are able to find healing.

William Kent Krueger never disappoints. A stand-alone novel, "The River We Remember" has it all. Interesting characters, a great plot, an engaging setting, and inter-racial conflicts in a post-war Western setting. I highly recommend this novel.

The River We Remember is a compelling read that captivates you from the first to the last page.

This is a book that I did not want to end yet I wanted to see how it ended .

The River We Remember is so many things : police procedural, life in a small town in the 1950's with secrets and characters that you wont soon forget.

Sherriff Brody Dern is a fascinating character who is struggling with his own past and trying to solve the case .

My review really cant do the book justice as its one the reader must and should take on their own to get the full effect.

Highly recommend The River We Remember . You wont forget this book anytime soon.

Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for a fascinating read.

I was excited to Mr. Krueger new book since I really This Tender Land and Ordinary Grace. Unfortunately, this book missed the mark for me. I really had to force my self to read it. I found the story dragged and the constant use of quotation marks distracting.