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A review by serendipitysbooks
The River We Remember by William Kent Krueger
emotional
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? It's complicated
5.0
The River We Remember is a literary historical mystery, which opens on Decoration Day (the former name of Memorial Day) in 1958 when the body of Jimmy Quinn, a wealthy landowner, is discovered in the Alabaster River.
The book features so many elements which I have come to expect from William Kent Krueger.
The natural environment of Minnesota features strongly and is lovingly depicted.
There is an indigenous character, indigenous beliefs and knowledge are valued and given space, and the wrongs done to indigenous communities recognised and acknowledged. Some characters do exhibit racial prejudice and hate but the protagonist and other characters push back against it.
The male protagonist has a strong moral centre and hews close to traditional values. He may have his flaws and regrets and be battling demons but he tries hard to be loyal and fair, to be upstanding and to do the right thing.
Krueger’s writing is too-notch as always. He can do quiet contemplative scenes as well as faster paced, action-packed ones. He drops in plenty of foreshadowing to keep the reader turning pages to find out exactly what is going to happen. He excels at nuance and compassion, particularly when it comes to his characters. In this book war-related PTSD features prominently.
Small town community vibes are captured perfectly. There are lots of decent caring people in Jewel but the town also a darker side, and that isn’t neglected. There are definite trigger warnings and Storygraph is a great place to check them out before reading.
It seems William Kent Krueger can do no wrong in my eyes. I’ve loved everything I’ve read from him so far and this book was no exception.
The book features so many elements which I have come to expect from William Kent Krueger.
The natural environment of Minnesota features strongly and is lovingly depicted.
There is an indigenous character, indigenous beliefs and knowledge are valued and given space, and the wrongs done to indigenous communities recognised and acknowledged. Some characters do exhibit racial prejudice and hate but the protagonist and other characters push back against it.
The male protagonist has a strong moral centre and hews close to traditional values. He may have his flaws and regrets and be battling demons but he tries hard to be loyal and fair, to be upstanding and to do the right thing.
Krueger’s writing is too-notch as always. He can do quiet contemplative scenes as well as faster paced, action-packed ones. He drops in plenty of foreshadowing to keep the reader turning pages to find out exactly what is going to happen. He excels at nuance and compassion, particularly when it comes to his characters. In this book war-related PTSD features prominently.
Small town community vibes are captured perfectly. There are lots of decent caring people in Jewel but the town also a darker side, and that isn’t neglected. There are definite trigger warnings and Storygraph is a great place to check them out before reading.
It seems William Kent Krueger can do no wrong in my eyes. I’ve loved everything I’ve read from him so far and this book was no exception.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Murder, Racism, and Alcoholism
Moderate: Child abuse and Rape
Minor: Chronic illness