I like this book because it has interesting characters and a compelling plot. It is set in 1958 and reflects the mind-set of that era. There is a mystery at the heart of it, T.he characters are complex; there story unfolds at a steady pace and the ending is satisfying.

The River We Remember by William Kent Krueger is a powerful novel due out September 5 about a small town in Minnesota on Decoration Day in 1958 when a wealthy and cruel man is found dead along the Alabaster River. Lots of grievances toward Jimmy Quinn over the years makes any number of people a suspect,

While the folks of Jewel have turned out for a parade honoring the sacrifices of those residents who fought in various wars of the past, one as far back as Wounded Knee in 1890, one citizen hightails it to town to report to the sheriff Brody Dern that he found Quinn’s deteriorating body.

Questions start emerging: why was he in the river in only his underwear? Did he drown while trying to swim? Why did he have a gun at his campsite where he told his family he would be fishing? War-scarred Sheriff Dern and his deputies weigh in on different leads as the investigation gains traction when the coroner surprises them with the actual cause of death.

Before the investigation gets very far, the townspeople start circulating rumors zeroing in on Noah Bluestone as Quinn just fired the Dakota from working on Quinn’s farm. Old resentments are stirred about Native Americans and land ownership in Black Earth County. Worse, Bluestone, a World War II veteran, brought home a Japanese wife, Kyoko.

As the mystery of Quinn’s death sparks anger, even though so many hated the man, various other townsfolk become involved in the story. Angie Madison, a widow, needs help finding her teenage son when he takes off with his best friend Del, a teen being abused by his mother’s lover, Tyler Creasy. Del is armed and plans to kill Creasy who had just beat Del and his mother to a pulp. Creasy could also be another suspect in Quinn’s death as the two did not get along.

A former sheriff and part-time deputy, Conrad Graff sees the need to protect Kyoko when her husband is arrested, partly to guard Noah, what with all the allegations flying. Both Bluestones are supported by the local newspaper editor, Sam Wicklow, and a retired female lawyer, Charlie Bauer. As the investigation develops, one of these characters learns that Jimmy Quinn was a monster while discovering who actually killed him.

William Kent Krueger, raised in the Cascade Mountains of Oregon, makes a living as a full-time author. He writes the popular Cork O’Connor series about a sheriff in the north woods of Minnesota who is part Irish and part Ojibwe. In addition, his stand-alone novel, Ordinary Grace, received an Edgar Award as best mystery of 2012. Krueger lives in St. Paul with his wife of 40-plus years.

My review will be posted on Goodreads starting August 12, 2023.

I would like to thank Atria Books and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in return for an objective review.

One of my favorite reads of 2023! But, then again, all William Kent Krueger"s books have a special place in my heart. I highly recommend to one & all.

Thanks to Netgalley for the advanced copy. All opinions are mine.

I really liked this book. It was a really good read and well written. Thank you for the ARC! I really appreciate it!

Writers of historical fiction have a difficult task. They must not only entertain but should stay true to events and people whose time period and stories they seek to tell. I just finished an outstanding work by William Kent Krueger. "The River We Remember is an unforgettable novel about vengeance, the remnants of war, families in turmoil, and love. The novel is set in Minnesota. The main character is Sheriff Brody Dern. He is seeking to solve the murder of one of the community's wealthiest citizens, a man who is most reviled. The novel is set in the 1950s and many of its young men and their families were war veterans, including Brody. It is about a crime, for sure, and solving that crime but about Brody and others coming to terms with their lives, finding themselves, and realizing their future. I loved this book. The setting and the people are real. Their issues are part of our past and present and Kent Krueger tells their stories in a way that will keep you reading all night. Thoroughly enjoyed this book. Thanks to #NetGalley#TheRiverWeRemember for the opportunity to read and review this excellent book.

In 1958, Sheriff Brody Dern investigates the murder of a disliked wealthy landowner in a small Minnesota town. The rumor mill is quickly ablaze, accusing the murder on Noah Bluestone, a Native American WWII vet who just returned to town with his new Japanese bride. As Brody tries to find the truth, the physical and emotional wounds from World War II bring up old grievances in the community.

Just as with his acclaimed coming-of-age dramas Ordinary Grace and This Tender Land, Krueger presents a masterclass in developing complex nuanced characters in this beautifully written historical fiction novel. Sheriff Brody Dern and the citizens of Jewell, Minnesota, are complicated and messy and, for the most part, doing the best they can. Krueger makes the small town come alive while hitting on deep themes and expertly painting human nature in all its flaws. The River We Remember is a must-read for any fall reading list.

On Memorial Day, as the people of Jewel, Minnesota gather to remember and honor the sacrifice of so many sons in the wars of the past, the half-clothed body of wealthy landowner Jimmy Quinn is found floating in the Alabaster River, dead from a shotgun blast. Investigation of the murder falls to Sheriff Brody Dern, a highly decorated war hero who still carries the physical and emotional scars from his military service. Even before Dern has the results of the autopsy, vicious rumors begin to circulate that the killer must be Noah Bluestone, a Native American WWII veteran who has recently returned to Jewel with a Japanese wife. As suspicions and accusations mount, Dern struggles not only to find the truth of Quinn’s murder but also put to rest the demons from his own past.

I am a big fan of William Kent Krueger's writing. I started with his two stand alone novels, This Tender Land and Ordinary Grace, and then went on to his Quinn Colson series. So, when I saw he had a new stand alone novel coming out, I quickly requested it and NetGalley and the publisher granted my request. I was not disappointed as the novel was so very well written and especially keyed in on how prejudice can rule our lives. I highly recommend.

I was ecstatic to receive an early copy of this book! Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher. A huge thank you to William Kent Krueger for continuing to write books that I can't help but throw ALL the stars at. He writes so beautifully about human nature and his characters, but also about Minnesota and their rivers. I grew up near a river in Wisconsin, and I can't help but feel like I'm home when reading his books. His writing is much like the rivers he writes about, meandering and so beautiful it gives me goosebumps! It's not meant to be rushed, and even if you aren't in the mood for it, the current will eventually lull you in. This book is no exception! The River We Remember comes out 9/5/23.

The River We Remember by William Kent Krueger immerses readers in the small Minnesota town of Jewel in 1958, where the murder of influential citizen Jimmy Quinn stirs up old grievances and secrets. Sheriff Brody Dern, haunted by his own wartime scars, investigates the murder amidst rising suspicions surrounding Noah Bluestone, a Native American WWII veteran.

Through a cast of characters including a war widow, a newspaper publisher, an attorney, and an adolescent overcoming adversity, Krueger skillfully navigates themes of racism, PTSD, and resilience, while vividly painting the midcentury American backdrop. Krueger's eloquent storytelling and complex character dynamics make this mystery a compelling exploration of community, healing, and the stories that shape our sense of home.

In true William Kent Krueger fashion, The River We Remember is a mystery set in a small town in Minnesota in the 1950’s. It’s the kind of small town where everyone has secrets. I loved how character driven this novel was and the bits and pieces of indigenous knowledge that were incorporated into the story. In this novel you will find:
✔️murder mystery
✔️police investigation
✔️lawyer representation
✔️themes of racism
✔️post traumatic stress disorder
✔️WWII veterans
✔️romance
✔️alcoholism
✔️sexual assault

If you enjoyed Ordinary Grace and This Tender Land, you’ll enjoy this book! Thank you to @atriabooks , @simonschusterca and #netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

#bookadoration #bookstagram #canadianbookstagram #canadianbookstagrammer #candianbookstagrammers #MBbookies🦬 #theriverweremeber #williamkentkrueger #murdermystery #minnesota #mystery

My thanks to Net Galley and Atria Books for an advanced copy of this e-book. And to Cindy Burnett from Thoughts From a Page and Atria Books for an advanced copy of the paperback.

4.5

On Memorial Day, 1958 wealthy land owner Jimmy Quinn is found dead in the Alabaster River. He was killed by a shotgun but also partially eaten by the channel catfish, making for a gruesome death. The investigation of his death is left up to Sheriff Brody Dern. Most of the town suspects Native American Noah Bluestone, a WWII veteran married to a young Japanese woman; neither are beloved by those in the small town of Jewell, MN.

The story is filled with many characters leaving the reader feeling like they know everyone in this community (take notes on all these characters!). Krueger beautifully writes this story that slowly unwinds the mystery of the shooting while revealing the many sides of flawed people who are damaged by a war on both sides of the world. These characters, this story and the river that connects them all will stay in your head long after your finish the book. Highly recommend!

The River We Remember's prose reads like its Alabaster River namesake. Sometimes it's languid, gently rolling alongside the communities it bisects. Often its smooth surface conceals undertows and eddies capable of defeating the strongest among us. Sometimes the reader floats along, taking in the scenery. At other times, the reader cascades through turbulence, seeking a branch to grasp hold of. This is the genius that is William Kent Krueger.
His new book is a police procedural mystery, but it has the sense of place, time, and people that his recent stand-alone novels portray. You'll love this work if you are a fan of this author. You've found a winner if you're new to Krueger but like character-driven mysteries set in mid-twentieth century America.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an ebook ARC in exchange for a review.

“The most frightening thing we do in our lives is to love.”

The River We Remember is unputdownable. A small town, a river, characters with stories that will break you, beautiful prose, all written by an author that will become your favorite if he already isn’t. William Kent Krueger is a true storyteller. This is one of my favorite reads of 2023. The characters have gripped my heart.

Jimmy Quinn is a bully, a brute, a red headed Irish giant that is found dead in the Alabaster River. There are so many people in the town of Jewel, Minnesota who want him dead. There are so many people who want to protect whoever killed him. This is way more than a murder mystery. It is a story that contains so many secrets, secrets and twists that will surprise you until the very end.

Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 Stars: William Kent Krueger is a masterful storyteller, with the ability to weave together incredibly complex characters, a tense mystery, a long-ago time period, and a small town with a powerful history. This book grabbed me from the very first page and never let me go.

Sheriff Brody Dern acts as the axis upon which this story turns. After finding a dead body in the river, the town’s suspicious eyes turn to the indigenous former Marine who has brought home his Japanese wife. And this is all in 1958 - yep, there’s some issues here. Throw in some infidelity, a love affair, past trauma from different wars, long ago indigenous genocide, rape and hate crimes, and what you have is a humdinger of a story.

If you loved This Tender Land and Ordinary Grace, guaranteed you’ll live this new stand alone as well.

Let me just say, everything William Kent Krueger writes is a masterful use of language to tell stories and make you feel all the feels. The River We Remember is no different. This is a story taking place in the fifties where Brody is investigating the murder of a prominent community member. What follows is an exploration of trying to figure this out, but really it's about understanding the relationships and dynamics of the community. As I always do, I found myself mesmerized by the author's storytelling. Thanks to NetGalley for the early look at this September 2023 release!

4.5 stars

In 1958, the town of Jewel in Black Earth County, Minnesota, is a microcosm of America. World War II is a recent memory; many families are mourning lost loved ones; returned soldiers are often broken, with terrible memories; and Americans despise the Germans and Japanese. In this atmosphere, Decoration Day (now called Memorial Day), which honors veterans, is an important holiday. In Jewel, there's a parade and speeches, followed by picnics and fireworks.

One man who doesn't participate in the festivities is Brody Dern, the sheriff of Black Earth County. Though thirty-five-year-old Brody is a much decorated veteran, he carries physical and emotional scars from his military service, and prefers not to think about those dark days.

Instead of marching in the parade, Brody is monitoring jailbird Felix Klein. Felix is a fine, law-abiding citizen until he gets drunk and his demons make him act out. Then Brody tosses Felix into a cell until he sobers up. So, while local citizens are partying on Decoration Day, Brody is in the jailhouse playing chess with Felix. This calm scene is rocked when a local man named Herman Ostberg rushes into the jail, babbling about catfish eating the body of landowner/farmer Jimmy Quinn.

It turns out Jimmy Quinn, the wealthiest - and most disliked - man in Black Earth County, was killed with a shotgun; afterwards, Quinn's body got into the Alabaster River at Inkpaduta Bend, where the ravenous catfish have been feasting on him. How all this happened is not clear.

Brody prefers to believe Quinn's death was a suicide or accident. However, the previous sheriff of Black Earth County, Conrad (Connie) Graff, who serves as a deputy on occasion, insists the landowner was murdered. Moreover, Connie and most other townsfolk believe farmer Noah Bluestone pulled the trigger. Noah is a Sioux Indian, and most Jewel residents think of Native Americans as 'savages.' In addition, Noah returned from his long hitch in the Marines with a Japanese wife named Kyoko, which adds to people's bad feelings about him.

The investigation of Quinn's death turns up evidence that leads to Noah's arrest. As Noah is awaiting trial, Brody and his deputies have their work cut out protecting the Indian and his Japanese wife from angry vindictive hooligans. Moreover, Noah refuses to participate in his own defense, though his lawyer, sixtyish Charlotte (Charlie) Bauer is determined to help him.

In truth, the town is better off without Jimmy Quinn, a predatory narcissist and bully who took whatever he could from whomever he could, including his wife and children. Thus, if the townsfolk suspected anyone other than Native American Noah Bluestone, they'd probably give the killer a medal.

As the repercussions from Quinn's shooting play out, there's a lot more going on in Jewel. Brody is having an affair with his brother's beautiful wife; newspaper publisher Sam Wicklow, who lost a leg on Iwo Jima, wants to write a book about the Sioux; Marta Quinn, the German wife of the murder victim, is suffering from ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease); war widow Angie Madison, who owns the best café in town, has a teen son with a hole in his heart; adolescent Delbert Wolfe, who built his own motor scooter, has a mean abusive stepfather; former police officer Gordon Landis, who was let go because of cruelty to offenders, is prone to vigilante justice; Wendell Moon, a Black cook in Angie's café, is an anomaly in prejudiced Jewel; and more.

In addition to illustrating the current lives of his major characters, author William Kent Krueger has them recall their backstories, which often involves family dysfunction and/or wartime horrors. Krueger also paints an evocative picture of Black Earth County and its history, and the reader can easily picture the river, woods, knolls, farms, crops, houses, barns, trailers, people, etc.

I especially enjoyed the descriptions of food served at Angie's Wagon Wheel Café, where Angie - who comes from bayou country - serves eggs with Cajun spices; blackened catfish; hot pepper meat loaf; gumbo, barbecued ribs; and so on.

Krueger is a fine storyteller and this is a very good book My minor quibble is a few scenes that didn't ring true (to me). Highly recommended.

Thanks to Netgalley, William Kent Krueger, and Atria Books for a copy of the manuscript.

So excited to receive an advanced copy of my favorite author’s new book, The River We Remember. William Kent Krueger as always has written a fabulous book, this one set in Jewel, Minnesota during the fifties.
The book opens with the death of Jimmy Quinn; the wealthy town bully who is shot and left for dead at the river. The town is all in shock and believes that Noah, an Indian married to a Japanese women is to blame. Was it murder? The town Sherriff, Brody sets out to unravel the mystery.
This is a must read!! Intense and engaging!!!!
Thank you Netgalley and Atria Books for my ARC in exchange for my opinion.

I am going to start out by saying that I will always read anything Krueger publishes.

This one... I had a really hard time getting into. I had a hard time connecting with the characters and holding out for the "grip" of the plot. It just didn't resonate with me.

I guess they can't all be bangers.

Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

William Kent Krueger has cemented himself as my favorite author with this book. If you enjoyed Ordinary Grace and This Tender Land or his Cork O'Conner series, you won't be disappointed. In this beautiful novel, a murder is the starting place of a narrative journey in which you meet war-scarred heroes, an ostracized Native American and his Japanese wife, a single mother reluctant to love, a noble lawyer and many more memorable characters. There are kernels of wisdom layered throughout, along with beautiful imagery of rural Minnesota. I cried upon finishing this book - tears I was happy to shed. Krueger's novels, and this one is no exception, offer catharsis and emotional healing. For this point forward, I will refer to the author as DR. William Kent Krueger!

Having read Ordinary Grace and This Tender Land, I was thrilled to receive an advance e-copy of The River We Remember. I found this to be again a beautifully written novel about a small town in America in the 50’s. A great mystery, characters vividly portrayed. (I did struggle at first with the amount of characters though, and wondered how I would keep them all straight) As I kept reading I was able to sort them all out clearly.
Thanks to Atria Books and NetGalley for my e-arc in exchange for my honest review.