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)

Remembering a time that was both better & worse

I loved everything about this listen. Took me back to a simpler reality of the years when I grew up in middle America in the mid twentieth century. The people I knew and the towns in which I was reared closely resembled the people I met in this book. I'll definitely listen to more from this author.

Engaging Story of A Family

Life is at times easy, and others full of heartache and pain. Following the harsher realities is this story of faith, family, and forgiveness set in a small town in perhaps a time that was as uncertain as any other. This audiobook is terribly engaging, and it held my interest throughout the prologue. I am glad I listened and sad when it was over. Good job, Author, and thank you.

Tracks of my tears

The rail tracks, lying alongside the riverbank are where the deaths occur that summer, in a small Minnesota town, and change the lives of the people forever.

Murder Mystery in Minnesota

This retrospective story is told in the first person by a young boy who is the son of a Methodist minister looking back on the most traumatic event in his life: the death of his sister.
How did it happen? Who killed her? Why? What are the implications in a small Minnesota town? It all adds to the mystery and suspense. We don’t know all the answers until the very end, which is full of grace. Great listening on a long car trip.

Plodding happily

Ordinary Grace is ‘graced’ by inspired characters: a down-to-earth true man-of-god—married to a woman who never quite rounded the bend of Faith with him, a boy struggling with a stutter and a pair of unabashedly loving brothers on the cusp of adolescence. It was joy to be in their company. The mystery which drags the plot is contrived. The reader is left standing at clarity waiting for the plot to finally catch up. That said, a few extra minutes with the Drums is not a painful fate.

Beautiful, human story, filled with heart and mystery.

I just finished this book for the second time. First time was 5 years ago, about the same time of year. Enough space between made this experience even richer, because I remembered just enough to find the characters familiar, while forgetting enough detail to be deeply interested in the story again.

Characters are pretty well developed, according to their places in the story, and the setting made me nostalgic for the past world of small town familiarity, churches, shops, and neighbors.

It’s a moving story with mystery and heart in appropriate measure. I was never bored in either listening, and I know it would be an excellent paper or e-read, too. The writing is clean and human, decent, and engaging.

It would be a fine movie, too.

Highly recommended.

Excellent

This book was recon by an individual in an online book club. It was excellent. First listen by this author. A book about life, love, hate, and God. A great listen.

Beautiful book!

What a beautiful, tragic, authentic story of a family, told from the perspective of the son coming of age. Highly recommend.

Brilliant

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Loved it, intrigued!!! Written by a man who can tell a story and give you the sense You are walking with the characters.

Fantastic!

Loved the story, beautifully narrated. Interesting topics.
Absolutely a good listen. You won’t regret it.