This is a very good book and I would highly recommend it, I have read the other stand alone novels by this author, and a few of his Cork O'Connor series, he is a very talented writer. Jimmy Quinn is found floating in the Alabaster river in Black Earth County, Minnesota, he had been shot. Sheriff Brody Dern is tasked with finding the shooter, suspicion almost immediately falls on Noah Bluestone, a WWII veteran who had returned with a Japanese wife, already an outcast due to being Native, having a Japanese wife compounded that. There are a lot of characters, though I did not find it difficult to keep track of each of them. The owner of a local cafe, Angie, and her son Scott, have their own sorry backstory, Angie carries a flame for Brody that has simmered for years. Scott is friends with Del, who lives in a rundown area with his mom and stepdad who is also a WWII veteran, he came back from the war with what would be called PTSD and a very violent temper. As Brody investigates, secrets that have stayed in the dark, come to light, Jimmy was not a pleasant man to deal with, he took advantage of people whenever he could, including members of his own family. I particularly enjoyed the Epilogue in this book, it tied everything up quite neatly. Thanks to #Netgalley and #Atria Books for the ARC.

This is beautiful writing and characterization. Depth and mystery and thoughtful recreation of the late 1950s setting in a way that feels sensitive and yet true to the times.

I would first like to thank NetGalley, the publisher and William Kent Krueger himself for granting me the privilege of reading this book that will be released in September of this year. Anyone who follows my reviews knows that William Kent Krueger is one of my favourite authors. I never miss a chance to read his latest book, and with this one I am grateful to have had that opportunity already. The book is set in 1958 rural Minnesota. As with all of his books, the town and the area around the town where the book is set is described in such extensive and eloquent detail, that the setting seems to be another character in the book. The story begins with the discovery of the dead body of one of the town's most prominent citizens who was found in the Alabaster River. Although Jimmy Quinn was the most prominent citizen in Black Earth County, he was not the most liked or respected citizen. But the death of this man, and his appearance in the river sets in motion an avalanche of occurrences and events which in turn flip over a whole bunch of stones and buried secrets. In 1958, World War II is over, but the effects of that war still reverberate throughout the country. Prejudices and nationalist fever are still front and centre. Jewel, Minnesota is no different than any other place at this time. William Kent Krueger has created his own world within the pages of this book, and although the timeline is only a few days, we come to know and care about all the people in Jewel. We laugh and cry with them, and even begin distrusting certain citizens in the book as the story unfolds. The story begins on the banks of the Alabaster River, and it also ends there. The river ties everyone and all the occurrences of those fateful few days together. I can't really say enough good about this book, but if you get the chance to read it when it is published, I highly recommend that you do. The topics covered are difficult and painful, and are usually topics that we humans try to steer away from dwelling on. Krueger spares no punches in his expose of racism, greed, wounds left by wars, and hate and distrust, but he also illuminates clearly the strength of humankind and the ability that we have to forge ahead and come out the other side, away from the darkness all around. Highly recommended/

Let me preface my review by stating this is my first William Kent Krueger book I’ve read. I’ve heard so many raving reviews not only of his books, but of his masterful storytelling. So writing a review from a book by a revered author seems kind of daunting, but I’m glad I finally had an opportunity to read one of his novels. It did not disappoint. His grasp on mid century Americana, the thoughts and feelings of the lives during that time, is gently laid out on paper for the reader to absorb and get lost in.

The River We Remember begins with the discovery of Jimmy Quinn’s body in the Alabaster River. His body had been a feast for the channel fish, but what actually killed him was a shotgun blast. Quinn is a powerful, but disliked man in a Jewel, Minnesota, who was an unhappy soul. He had issues with many in the town and surrounding area, so motive is abundant. On the flip side, the demons Quinn faced inside his mind might’ve led to death by his own hand. Faced with the investigation is Sheriff Brody Dern. Dern had his own secrets and past, but he also didn’t want to be quick to accuse or arrest anyone in the death, even at the urging of several townspeople. Over the course of his investigation though, he has enough to grudgingly arrest local Sioux farmer, Noah Blackstone, who had recently returned to Jewel with his Japanese born wife, Kyoko. Two strikes already against the couple in light of the war and the history of the Sioux in the area. The murder of a powerful landowner was the third strike, the ax that would fall.

Krueger has a host of characters that grab you and hold on. You want to know all of their backstories. They have flaws that are mysteriously revealed as the story progresses, but keep you going to find out if how you are fitting their parts of the puzzle together are correct or have taken you down the wrong path. With the culmination of the story, you find yourself breathless in anticipation of what might happen. As I stated before, masterful storytelling. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the advanced copy. Opinions expressed are my own. This book is set for publication on September 5, 2023.

#netgalley #arc #bookstagram #williamkentkrueger #theriverweremember #atriapublicity

A literary novel exploring a mysterious death and its aftermath in a small Minnesota community. If you're looking for Krueger's signature Cork O'Connor mystery series style, you'll only find glimpses of it here. The writing is much more akin to This Tender Land, and features multiple storytelling viewpoints. The pace ratchets up slowly over the days following Memorial Day, making this an atmospheric summer read that will appeal to readers year-round.

A perfectly paced small-town mystery that explores themes of belonging, prejudice, secrets, and the wounds of war and childhood. Rich and complex characters combined with a murder that seems to reach everyone in town makes this an easy book to recommend!

I LOVE William Kent Krueger. His stories are just like a warm home cooked meal of the best comfort foods, even when his story is about death. He is such a consistent writer, never straying too far from what he is good at yet, captivating us with a new story every time. The River We Remember follows a town reeling from the death of a veteran war hero floating down the river on Memorial Day and the blame who is immediately placed on another man, particularly because of bias against this man’s new wife. As always with Krueger, an easy 5 stars from me.

Book Title: The River We Remember
Author: William Kent Kruger
Publisher: Atria Books
Genre: Historical Fiction
Pub Date: September 5, 2023
My Rating: 4 Stars
Pages: 432

I was drawn to this story by the author as he never disappoints.
Additional I grew near the banks of the Ohio River – never swam nor fished in the river as we were all aware of the catfish but still has a lot of respect for the river. (I now live in Southern California where we only have water in our river if it rains!)

Story starts on May 30, 1958 in Jewel, Minnesota - Memorial Day. (However, I am old enough that I remember it was called ‘Decoration Day and celebrated on May 30. I remember decorating my bicycle for the parade! Much to my delight many years later my young daughters did something similar to their bikes only the celebration had moved to Monday!) Oops back to the story.

A body is found in the Alabaster River dead from a gunshot who, turns out to be wealthy landowner Jimmy Quinn.
Sheriff Brody Dern now needs to find out who killed him. He knows that almost everyone in the town has a reason to want Quinn dead!

Immediately Noah Bluestone, a Native American, is a suspect. He is a WWII veteran but when was looked down upon and not really accepted since he returned with a Japanese wife.
Thus the real story begins.

Want to thank NetGalley and Atria Books for granted me this early eGalley.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for September 5, 2023

William Kent Krueger's books just keep getting better and better. A set apart novel (from his usual mysteries with the main character, Cork O'Connor), this book is to be read and cherished with every page. A combination of a murder mystery and a coming of age story, the novel is set in a small town in Minnesota in 1958. Many characters are introduced, all with fascinating back stories. The descriptions, the writing, etc. are superb. I did not want the book to end. Kudos to the author.

It was so easy to slip into another William Kent Krueger Minnesota small town. This time, the town is Jewel, and the book starts with a grisly discovery. Hated local farmer Jimmy Quinn is found sleeping with the fishes in the Alabaster River. Nobody minds that he’s dead, really. But who killed him? That’s what our protagonist, Sheriff Brody Dern must uncover.

This is where the book becomes hard to put down. It’s mostly told from Dern’s POV. He’s a decorated WW2 hero and seems like a good guy. But he has some secrets of his own that would fuel the small-town gossip mill for a long time. As sentiments turn toward another WW2 vet, Noah Bluestone, as the leading suspect, we see a dark cloud of racism come over Jewel. Noah is Native American, and his wife is Japanese. So most citizens think it is an open and shut case based on their race. But is it?

Other characters help to create the rich tapestry that Krueger is known to weave. I enjoyed the part of the story that is told by Scott, a 13-year-old kid who consistently tries to do the right thing. But he’s a teenage boy, which makes it hard. His mother is another great character as she runs the diner and tries to be the best single mother she can be. There’s a local newspaperman who is also dealing with loss from the war, the former sheriff who lost his wife, and a union-busting lawyer who takes up Noah’s defense.

I think what I like most about Krueger’s books is that the town and nature become characters in and of themselves. He’s so good at setting a rich and interesting backdrop, then he fills it in with story. He’s a very talented author who introduces themes of racism, love, secret histories, PTSD, and trauma without being heavy-handed. By the end of the book, I felt like I was a citizen of Jewel, Minnesota, and it was tough to leave. I was fortunate enough to pick this up while on vacation in Wyoming. So I got to read it outdoors amidst a lush mountain backdrop.

I would give this one five stars, but I took one away because I figure out who did it very early. I highly recommend this book (and all of his others), however!

Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley, who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

William Kent Krueger is one of my most admired authors. This new novel does not disappoint. Each of the characters is hiding something that keeps them from fulfilling their lives and keeps them from having heartfelt peace. For some it is memories of wars that changed them forever. For others it is decisions or lifestyles that they cannot control. When a hated and despised, wealthy farmer is found dead in the river, the action is set for the characters to either gain control or their lives or lose their inner compass. The river is as much a character as the sheriff, the cafe owner, the Native American charged with murder, or the young boys looking for acceptance and danger, or the lawyer defending the accused. The author captures life in a small rural town with its prejudices, its secrets and its hope. Thank you so much Net Galley for the ARC of The River We Remember!

William Kent Krueger is one of my favorite authors. I have read many of his books and will continue to read whatever he writes. The River We Remember does not disappoint. Mr Krueger's insight and ability to express the human condition and unfortunate racism that still exists offers the reader the opportunity to look at our society with deep concern. I love the way he develops the characters and allows us to experience their thoughts and emotions as well. I highly recommend this book!!

received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Krueger is a master story teller but this one was slow to get going. The last third was outstanding. There are alot of characters in this book that took me some time to keep straight and some of the prose about the wildlife was a bit rambling. All in all though, it's a solid story and an intriguing plot line.

Beautifully written, insightful, gripping and hard to put down, The River We Remember is another testament to the author's writing and skill. It provides food for thought while making observations about human nature as well as nature itself.

1958, Memorial Day

Jimmy Quinn, a wealthy and powerful landowner, has been found floating in the Alabaster River, dead after being shot. Sheriff Brody Dern, a decorated war veteran, is tasked with gathering evidence and solving the case. Before the body is examined, fingers begin being pointed at Noah Bluestone, a Native American WWII veteran who has returned to town with his Japanese wife.

Brody is struggling not only with solving the case, but he is also struggling with his physical and emotional scars from the war and choices he has made in his life. Like other men who have gone to war, he has returned home a changed man. As readers follow the investigation, we meet several characters including the former sheriff, a lawyer, a journalist, and a woman and her son.

Small towns have secrets as do the people who live there. Everyone has a past, some good, some bad, some tragic and some traumatic. As the investigation unfolds, many characters will not only have to cope with their pasts and how the past affects their present.

There are themes of racism, PTSD, family, longing, love, secrets, and moving on. William Kent Kruger has wowed me yet again. Not only with his beautiful writing but with his insights and depictions of both nature and human nature. His descriptions are vivid and transported me to Jewell, Minnesota.

Highly recommend!

This is a slow-building mystery revolving around the citizens of the small town of Jewell, MN in 1958. Their stories, like the Alabaster River, ebb and flow into the final pages of the book.

William Kent Krueger is a masterful writer. His prose is poetic. I often found myself pausing to reflect on his words. I was totally caught up in the story and the characters. The epilogue is beautiful.

Thank you, Atria Books and Net Galley for the opportunity to read the advanced copy of this book. The comments expressed are my own.

This novel should be savored slowly like a fine wine. The Town of Jewel is multilayered. Some people are kind, some are cruel and some are just trying to get through life as quietly as possible. When a very rich well known citizen of Jewel is found dead in the cove of the Alabaster River, most are surprised, some are not. The descriptions of not only the people but of the landscape brings to you a sense that you could be living among these fascinating people. This amazing tale is not to be missed. I think this is the BEST book William Kent Krueger has written to date…..and I have read every book he’s written. The River We Remember will be very hard to forget. Well Done Sir! Thank You to Net Galley, The Author William Kent Krueger and the Publisher Atria Books for allowing me to read this wonderful novel for my honest review.

The writing. The WRITING! As soon as I finished reading, I was sad to say goodbye to all of the wonderfully complex characters and the land they call home. Krueger is a master storyteller

Wow! William Kent Krueger does it again with another great stand alone novel. The prose is amazing. Just like the river in the story that plays a major role, his story flows like a winding river-never know what's beyond the next bend or what is hidden underneath the waters. It's 1958 in a small Minnesota town and the most prominent and disliked person is murdered and it's up to the Sheriff to find the killer, Everyone has secrets from the sheriff to the owner of the local diner. As the reader learns more about many of the characters, it's apparent that the wars they have fought or experienced have left them a lot of trauma.

Thank you to Net Galley for providing an early copy of The River We Remember by William Kent Krueger

The latest novel by William Kent Krueger focuses on the aftermath of World War II and its deep and lasting effects on the townspeople of small-town Jewell, Minnesota. From the troubled sheriff to an abused 14-year-old, to a persecuted mixed race couple, it seems no one is living a happy or contented life following the war.
The story begins with the discovery of the body of the town's leading citizen Jimmy Quinn. It will not take the town long to put the blame on Native American veteran Noah Bluestone. Although the town is filled with persons holding a grudge against Quinn, Bluestone is arrested on circumstantial evidence only and will not speak up in his own defense. Retired lawyer Charlie Bauer attempts to defend Bluestone amid violence and false accusations.
Complications abound for such a small town: extra-marital affairs, incest, prostitution and PTSD all play a part in the failure of Jewel's citizens to face the truth and move ahead with their lives.
Krueger's strength in describing the land he loves results in the landscape becoming a character of its own that does not give up its secrets easily.

This slow building novel by the author of This Tender Land and Ordinary Grace is both a murder mystery and a portrait of small town rural life in 1958. It is powerful story about the ways we carry the wounds of our past, the secrets we hold, the tentative and lasting bonds we forge with others, and the ways our stories meander and flow letting the things we remember sometimes carry us forward, and sometimes threatening to pull us under. Krueger is a gifted storyteller, his characters are fully formed, and this glimpse into the ways that war, prejudice, and the forced intimacies of small town life shape us, is both heartbreaking and maddeningly real.