Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.12 AVERAGE
4.12 AVERAGE
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Something about the beginning of the book kept me from 5 stars, but the ending was so good!!
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Excellent book. I really like the author and his way of telling a story is enthralling.
Secrets, stories, lies, new beginning, racism, small town and justice.
Recommend this to everyone.
Secrets, stories, lies, new beginning, racism, small town and justice.
Recommend this to everyone.
dark
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Very slow paced with complex characters (but way too many, with a man named Connie & a woman named Charlie, so…annoying to keep things straight).
First 1/3 -1/2 is kind of dull, & drawn out, even though there’s a potential murder right away.
Set in 1958 Minnesota, so typical post war prejudices are a large part of this small rural town’s opinions & drama. Nearly all locals have a deep, dark secret & there are also strong themes of home, justice, allegiances, wounds (those seen & unshared), grief, & past demons.
Epilogue:
“Our lives & the lives of those we love merge to create a river whose current carries us forward from our beginning to our end. Because we are only one part of the whole, the river each of us remembers is different, & there are many versions of the stories we tell about the past. In all of them, there is truth, & in all of them, a good deal of innocent misremembering.”
First 1/3 -1/2 is kind of dull, & drawn out, even though there’s a potential murder right away.
Set in 1958 Minnesota, so typical post war prejudices are a large part of this small rural town’s opinions & drama. Nearly all locals have a deep, dark secret & there are also strong themes of home, justice, allegiances, wounds (those seen & unshared), grief, & past demons.
Epilogue:
“Our lives & the lives of those we love merge to create a river whose current carries us forward from our beginning to our end. Because we are only one part of the whole, the river each of us remembers is different, & there are many versions of the stories we tell about the past. In all of them, there is truth, & in all of them, a good deal of innocent misremembering.”
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Fabulous
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Moderate: Incest, Rape
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
emotional
reflective
sad
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault
Moderate: Animal cruelty
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
I wish I could give this book 10 stars!
The River We Remember is a beautifully written, deeply layered novel that lingers in your mind long after the final page. What stands out most is Kent Krueger’s masterful portrayal of character complexity—each person in this small town carries their own burdens, secrets, and histories, making them feel heartbreakingly real. No one is purely good or evil; instead, Krueger paints a rich, nuanced portrait of human nature.
I was especially drawn to how the story unfolds through multiple perspectives. Each character brings a unique lens to the central mystery, and their voices intertwine to create a broader understanding not just of the crime, but of the town’s collective past. This multifaceted storytelling adds depth and emotional resonance that elevates the novel beyond a typical mystery.
A haunting, thoughtful exploration of justice, memory, and redemption—this is storytelling at its finest.
The River We Remember is a beautifully written, deeply layered novel that lingers in your mind long after the final page. What stands out most is Kent Krueger’s masterful portrayal of character complexity—each person in this small town carries their own burdens, secrets, and histories, making them feel heartbreakingly real. No one is purely good or evil; instead, Krueger paints a rich, nuanced portrait of human nature.
I was especially drawn to how the story unfolds through multiple perspectives. Each character brings a unique lens to the central mystery, and their voices intertwine to create a broader understanding not just of the crime, but of the town’s collective past. This multifaceted storytelling adds depth and emotional resonance that elevates the novel beyond a typical mystery.
A haunting, thoughtful exploration of justice, memory, and redemption—this is storytelling at its finest.