The River We Remember

by William Kent Krueger
The River We Remember cover
Good Books rating 4.4
Technical:
  • ID: 204
  • Added: 2025-09-04
  • Updated: 2025-09-04
  • ISBN: 9781982179229
  • Publisher: Simon and Schuster
  • Published: 2024-05-21
  • Reviews: 3
Reviews
Book of the Month · 2025-09-04
engaging 4.40

The novel is described as a lyrical, slow-building whodunit that portrays a small Midwestern town descending into chaos amid a murder investigation and underlying personal and communal wounds.

The reviewer highlights the novel's strong narrative arc, featuring a decorated war hero as the sheriff investigating a divisive murder that reignites old prejudices and secrets within the community. They appreciate the layered storytelling which includes various town residents struggling with their own painful histories, adding depth to the mystery and the social commentary. This perspective values the book not only as a mystery but also as a moving exploration of the scars left by war—both abroad and at home—and the ways people seek healing in the aftermath. The review lauds the novel's ability to combine an engaging plot with richer themes about memory, community, and justice.

Quick quotes

    Both a complex, spellbinding mystery and a masterful portrait of mid century American life.

    Caught up in the torrent of anger that sweeps through Jewel are a war widow and her adolescent son, the intrepid publisher of the local newspaper, an aging deputy, and a crusading female lawyer.

    The River We Remember is an unflinching look at the wounds left by the wars we fight abroad and at home.

Reformed Journal · 2024-01-03
reflective 4.30

This review praises the novel for its thematic depth, addressing racism, the meaning of land ownership, and the burden of secrets, while using the river as a powerful symbol connecting characters' stories.

The reviewer admires how the novel weaves multiple perspectives to reveal the complexity of the community and the personal struggles of its characters, including issues of abuse, prejudice, and trauma from war. They highlight the author's skill in portraying the river not just as a setting but as a metaphor for memory and the diverse ways people interpret their pasts. They emphasize the book's exploration of heavy themes like racial injustice toward Native American and Japanese characters, the contested nature of land, and the personal secrets that shape lives. The review reflects on how these elements enrich the mystery and provide a profound commentary on healing and understanding.

Quick quotes

    Because we are only one part of the whole, the river we each of us remembers is different.

    What mattered was the serving of its ultimate purpose, which God alone knew.

    Do you know what Crazy Horse said? He said, ‘How can anyone own the land we walk? It’s like owning the air we breathe.

Goodreads · Cheri2,040 · 2023-03-31
thoughtful 4.50

The review highlights the novel's exploration of small-town tensions and prejudices, emphasizing how the murder investigation stirs up deep-seated biases and secrets among the townsfolk.

The reviewer appreciates how the story uses the murder of a prominent citizen in a small Minnesota town to expose longstanding resentments and racial prejudices, especially against Native American and Japanese characters. They note the narrative's focus on the spread of divisive rumors and the impact of hidden pasts, painting a vivid picture of a community grappling with its own dark history and the destructive power of suspicion. They see the book as much more than a murder mystery; it's a compelling exploration of social tensions and the human cost of unresolved grievances. The reviewer also reflects on how the town's rush to judgment against an innocent man based on his ethnicity creates a powerful commentary on hatred and injustice.

Quick quotes

    The stories circulate well before the autopsy results have been determined, but the truth is apparently irrelevant to a notable percentage of the town.

    Most of the town has already made the decision of who killed Jimmy Quinn.

    As the town gets caught up in this divisive rhetoric, some have their own stories they’d sooner forget.

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