Ordinary Grace was written by William Kent Kreuger, an author known for his mystery books set in Minnesota that often involve some Native American spiritualism that leads to solving whatever it is that happened. This book is different. It is based on the recollections of a 13-year-old, Sam, and his brother in a small Minnesota town in 1961. Several people meet unfortunate demises, but it’s not primarily a mystery. His dad is a minister and his mother has lost faith.
There are lot of damaged people besides the dead ones. Sam’s father was an officer in WW2 and came back scared as did an Indian local who served with him. The mother is really not too happy being a minister’s wife and may have some lingering attachment to a former beau who lives in town and is her daughter’s music teacher. There are some racial tensions between natives and Native Americans and some sexual orientation issues but it’s all presented pretty nicely.
As a Minnesota reviewer wrote, “Like looking at old photographs in a family album, Krueger’s descriptions and details evoke a past tinged with sadness but colored with hope.”<strong> </strong>
