The River We Remember: A Novel

In 1958, the town of Jewell, Minnesota is shaken by the death of wealthy farmer Jimmy Quinn. Although no one particularly liked Quinn, the townspeople are quick to pin the apparent murder on Noah Bluestone. His Sioux Indian heritage and marriage to Japanese wife Kyoto make him an easy target for those holding onto racial tensions resulting from World War II. Sheriff Brody Dern investigates what really happened to Quinn, as the evidence against Bluestone is solely circumstantial. Brody suffers from his own demons after returning from the war, and the investigation brings up memories that he’d rather forget.

William Kent Krueger is a talented storyteller. He gives such life to the characters and places in his novels. The River We Remember was layered and deep. It included themes of racism, trauma, family secrets, and infidelity. Although it took me a few chapters to get into the story, soon it was hard to put down. I not only wanted to learn who killed Jimmy Quinn and why, but also hoped to better understand Brody, Charlie, and the Bluestones. There were several storylines throughout the novel, but the author tied them together well and they all added to the overall plot. I highly recommend this book!