Reviews

The River We Remember by William Kent Krueger

sarahchoi's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

amyreadsandplants's review against another edition

mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

So so good. I want to read more WKK.

shannonclegg's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional medium-paced

4.0

bookworm_rn's review against another edition

4.0

A dude is dead in a river. Who dun it?

Taking place in the 1950s (I think), this novel looks at racism in a small town. Very descriptive and well written, although I didn’t care so much about the main character of the deputy as I did the others in the book. The whole thing is kind of sad and then the epilogue is also sad so… not a silver lining to be had.

krcain18's review against another edition

emotional hopeful mysterious reflective tense 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? Yes

4.75

leirben's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Incest, Rape, Sexual violence, and War

lindsayvale's review

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence and Murder

Moderate: Rape

breimler13's review against another edition

emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

The River We Remember is a beautiful and familiar portrait of rural, southern Minnesota. William Kent Krueger masterfully captures how community members work diligently to uphold their preferred outward appearances, while the truth roils inside them. 

Though Krueger’s dialogue can feel stilted, at times, the tenderness and thoughtfulness with which he treats his characters makes up for it. 

If the mark of a successful novel is an emotional finish, then Krueger’s work is a success. This novel sprints to the finish and left me feeling nostalgic for my own time in southern Minnesota, and a warm-heartedness for many of the book’s characters. 

gininewman's review against another edition

dark emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

Complicated plot. It shows how long standing prejudices affect opinions and interfere with the law. Several characters had served in wars WWI, WWII, and Korea and carried guilt and horrors with them that they kept hidden. Other characters had experienced bad treatment and sexual interference. They all tended to do what they had to do to survive and to protect loved ones. Not the uplifting story I expected based on his previous writing but it drives home the point that we cannot judge others without walking a mile in there shoes. 

evanscat's review against another edition

dark sad tense medium-paced

3.0