This was a powerful book, so well-written with atmospheric descriptions of the landscape and vividly rendered characters – both good and evil. I knew from the eloquent prologue that it would be amazing and I agree with the book jacket that it “is both a spellbinding mystery and a masterful portrait of mid-century American life.”

The story takes place in 1958, in a small town in Minnesota. Many of the characters have secrets as well as wounds from their pasts that affect their current relationships and the decisions that drive the plot. The novel is about grief, sorrow, trauma, forgiveness and redemption – and it’s a murder mystery as well as a chronicle of the racism of the time. In many ways it reminded me of the award-winning classic “To Kill a Mockingbird.” What makes this such an amazing and unputdownable book is how each character’s storyline is woven together to form a united and engaging narrative that had me on the edge of my seat.

This is probably one of the more intense novels I’ve read recently. It left me satisfied yet exhausted when I finished it, partially because I felt like I had been right there with the characters during the last turbulent portion of the book.

The Epilogue begins with this quote which I believe is the “author’s message” describing the novel: “Our lives and 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, and there are many versions of the stories we tell about the past. In all of them there is truth, and in all of them a good deal of innocent misremembering.”

*Trigger Warnings:* scenes of war violence, sexual assault, rape, racism, sexual abuse, incest, alcoholism ( )

Combines his sheriff and Southern Minnesota

The pleasure of this novel grows from inhabiting its people, place, and time. The plot does not surprise, but moves along well enough to keep the people busy. Krueger includes at least one too many ominously foreshadowing chapter endings. ( )

William Kent Kreuger's writing is soulfully good but the narrative isn't strong. I tried to read another of his and had the same experience.

I couldn't tell you what this was about, but I listened to it through a night and heard patches of it. I was engaged and surfaced again later and found no connection by another engaging "short story". ( )

When Jimmy Quinn's body is found floating in a river adjoining Jewell, Minnesota, there is no grieving for this wealthy landowner. He is universally disliked by everyone in the small town in 1958. Initial thoughts of a suicide are dispelled by the shotgun blast. The investigation is led by Sheriff Brody Dern, a veteran struggling with his war experiences and secrets he holds. Noah Bluestone, a native American, is the prime suspect, who has been the object of racial hatred when he arrives in Jewell with his Japanese wife. There are many secrets in this small town and the mystery of Quinn's death brings them to the surface.

WKK has once again written a book that reveals the best and worst of humankind. His writing is beautiful as secrets are revealed and the challenges of racism, family and war wounds are revealed. This book is another good example of why he is a beloved author. ( )