Published by Atria Books Genres: Crime, Fiction, Historical Fiction, Mystery, suspense
Format: ARC, eBook
Beautifully written, insightful, gripping and hard to put down, The River We Remember is another testament to the author’s writing and skill. It provides food for thought while making observations about human nature as well as nature itself.
1958, Memorial Day
Jimmy Quinn, a wealthy and powerful landowner, has been found floating in the Alabaster River, dead after being shot. Sheriff Brody Dern, a decorated war veteran, is tasked with gathering evidence and solving the case. Before the body is examined, fingers begin being pointed at Noah Bluestone, a Native American WWII veteran who has returned to town with his Japanese wife.
Brody is struggling not only with solving the case, but he is also struggling with his physical and emotional scars from the war and choices he has made in his life. Like other men who have gone to war, he has returned home a changed man. As readers follow the investigation, we meet several characters including the former sheriff, a lawyer, a journalist, and a woman and her son.
Small towns have secrets as do the people who live there. Everyone has a past, some good, some bad, some tragic and some traumatic. As the investigation unfolds, many characters will not only have to cope with their pasts and how the past affects their present.
There are themes of racism, PTSD, family, longing, love, secrets, and moving on. William Kent Kruger has wowed me yet again. Not only with his beautiful writing but with his insights and depictions of both nature and human nature. His descriptions are vivid and transported me to Jewell, Minnesota.
Highly recommend!
Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.