Ordinary Grace

By: William Kent Krueger

Narrated by: Rich Orlow

Length: 10 hrs and 59 mins

Publisher's summary

Award-winning author William Kent Krueger has gained an immense fan base for his Cork O’Connor series. In Ordinary Grace, Krueger looks back to 1961 to tell the story of Frank Drum, a boy on the cusp of manhood. A typical 13-year-old with a strong, loving family, Frank is devastated when a tragedy forces him to face the unthinkable - and to take on a maturity beyond his years.

©2013 William Kent Krueger (P)2013 Recorded Books

Critic reviews

“Krueger aims higher and hits harder with a stand-alone novel that shares much with his other work.” ( Kirkus Reviews)

Ordinarily Memories

This book touched me in so many ways. Maybe the tears added flavor. Being a child in a small town has so many blessings and heartbreaks, but wouldn’t change any of it. Thank you for bringing back those long forgotten memories.

nicely done

A good story, well written, and skillfully narrated. Interesting characters from a time and place evocative of my own history. Deeply touching in places and an occasional pearl of wisdom. My only issue with the novel is that I felt that it insisted on a divine grace, however subtle, that has eluded me in my own life. Maybe I missed it and would see it if I wrote my own story.

Excellent Narrating, a Sweet Story

This story is a good listen. The general outline of the tale is very reminiscent of To Kill a Mockingbird, following the story of a young boy and his brother over a summer. It is an easy story to get yourself lost in the story. The narrating is also superb.

Unlikely story but great sense of place

The actual plot of this book is rather unlikely but the strength lies in the evocation of being a 13 year old in a small Minnesota town in 1961, with all the foods, TV shows, and cultural associations of the time. It's a coming of age story combined with a mystery and although the combination doesn't always work, the era was close enough to mine to suck me in. The narration is excellent. The narrator even captured the distinctive accent of a Native American from the Upper Midwest.

Tear jerker & a great listen

This story takes you through a range of emotions. The characters are well developed, and the themes are easy to follow. Loved this book! The ending interview with the author really sets it off.

Move over "To Kill a Mockingbird"

What did you love best about Ordinary Grace?

This book will make you laugh, frighten you, love, and cry! Well written throughout and keeps you guessing!

What did you like best about this story?

Everything!

What does Rich Orlow bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

He does and extraordinary job of getting you into the story

If you could rename Ordinary Grace, what would you call it?

Extraordinary Grace.

Any additional comments?

More, more, more.

Loved it!!!!

Loved everything about it and have recommended it to many friends. The story is powerful , the character development is central to the spirit filled theme of the book. Thank you.

Loved

This book had me mesmerized at times. story & narration were superb. a must listen

One of the best stories I've read.

The story of a family and each character is brought to life. The family's response to the tragedy is more compelling than the murder mystery. Narration excellent!

Grace is not Ordinary in this story.

At first listen I was not sure I wanted to continue but was intrigued when the author hinted that indeed there was going to be a death that I knew this family would personally be affected by. It hurt to want to know and hurt to think I should not hear more about it. The story of how this family and others get through such extraordinary circumstances is incredible. It seemed though a bit odd that so many deaths occurred and I was at a point thinking no not another one but the reasons behind them were tied in. I enjoyed the narration as he didn't act as he didn't talk like a little boy yet I felt like I was viewing the story from a young boys point view. Great story and the ending was worth the entire listen.