Ordinary Grace
I enjoy reading William Kent Krueger novels. I started reading his novels because several of them take place in Aurora, MN, which is only a short drive from my hometown of Hibbing. There used to be a great Jamaican restaurant in Aurora that was a favorite of Charlize Theron and Woody Harrelson’s, but that is a story for another time. Ordinary Grace is a departure from the other Krueger novels I’ve read. It takes place in Southern Minnesota, which is alien to us northerners, and these characters are not part of his other series. Ordinary Grace was honored with the prestigious Edgar Award Finalist acknowledgement. I love the novel because it explores issues in a minister’s family, addresses death and faith, and features imperfect characters who must face their personal demons.
The novel takes place in a small, fictional community west of Mankato along the Minnesota River. I am trying hard not to give anything away, but the town begins to experience deaths that shake the small community. As the Methodist pastor, the minister and his family are center stage as the deaths add up, and they move from being spiritual supports to needing their own support and care.
If any of you have ever lived in a small town, each of the characters will come alive and be quickly recognizable. Krueger paints an honest portrait of small-town life in the upper Midwest. I am recommending Ordinary Grace for the way Krueger explores a pastor’s life and the balance between serving God, serving family, serving the church, and serving a community in need. I appreciate that Krueger utilizes two pastors from small-town Minnesota churches for inspiration and guidance. The pastors’ input makes the novel authentic and digs deeply into the beliefs that guide the characters’ responses.
I couldn’t put down Ordinary Grace. For those of you who love a good thriller or a whodunit, you will be in your glory. If you like literature that pulls at your heartstrings and makes you think, this is also your book. By the end of the first chapter, you will feel like you’ve moved into the parsonage of the Methodist church in New Bremen, Minnesota. Sometimes you will feel comfortable, sometimes you will want to run out of the house screaming, but you will never be bored.
What I loved most about the book was that William Kent Krueger took ministry, church, and theology seriously. He respected how faith shaped the character’s decision-making and worldview. He didn’t diminish or make fun of small-town people, as some writers do. Krueger faced difficult issues, from death, murder, racism, etc., with respect, dignity, and courage. While Ordinary Grace offers interesting, even thoughtful content, it is also a gripping, highly entertaining novel.
I look forward to hearing whether you loved it as much as I did.