Book tip

Ordinary Grace

William Kent Krueger

This astonishing story, written by the author of the acclaimed "Cork O'Connor" series, is a stand-alone effort that won the 2013 Edgar Award for Best Mystery Novel. In terms of a whodunnit, "Ordinary Grace" includes plenty of amazing suspects and a crimson fishing creel full of red herrings — and here's betting you'll never figure out the killer. But it's as a literary effort that "Ordinary Grace" really shines. As narrated by grown Frank Drum, looking back to the pre-JFK era and his 13th summer, this is a study of stolen innocence, small miracles and the resilience and heartbeat of family. Lush with nostalgia and regret, it's also a fond treatise on the muted beauty of sorrow and loss. Frankly, for all the deserved acclaim by the Edgar folks, I'm a bit surprised "Ordinary Grace" wasn't at least shortlisted for a Pulitzer. It's that good.

— Rick Koster