I have read and enjoyed several of author William Kent Krueger’s novels. The first one I read was This Tender Land. I just finished The River We Remember which was published in September 2023. I borrowed it from my friend, Stephen, with whom I share my love of WKK.

This newest stand-alone book takes place in the late 1950s in the small town of Jewel, Minnesota. One of the town’s wealthiest and unlikable citizens, Jimmy Quinn, was found shot, floating in the Alabaster River. Sherrif Brody Dern, who has a personal, complex history and is a highly decorated war hero, heads the investigation. 

Circumstantial evidence points toward Native American, and WWII veteran, Noah Blackstone, who recently worked for Quinn. You will always find rich character development in Kruger’s books, and this one is no exception. There are many likable and unlikable ones in The River We Remember. Also, his descriptions of the settings of all his books I have read to date, are always vivid and inviting. 

This book is quintessential Krueger. His books always combine historical fiction, small-rural towns in Minnesota, and a suspenseful plot. Even if the plots of his books are captivating, he writes with a degree of thoroughness and calm, which I appreciate. The undertone of this particular book reflects the healing of wounds through war and the mental scars of family secrets which parallels the title of the book.

I enjoyed his latest release but, honestly, This Tender Land was still my favorite to date. Don’t get me wrong, you should still pick up The River We Remember especially if you’re a Kruger fan. This Tender Land just spoke to me in a louder voice. If you decide to heed my recommendation, please let me know your thoughts. Or, if there is a title you would like to share with me, please do! I always have room for 1 more book on my TBR shelf. Enjoy! 

Full disclosure, this book is racially unjust to Indigenous people.