Inspired by the inexplicable nature of spirituality, William Kent Krueger unspools a sprawling narrative about two unexpected and horrific murders in 1960s Minnesota in this 2013 novel. The book centers on Frank Drum, a 53-year-old history teacher, as he looks back 40 years to the summer when he was 13. It was then that a series of deaths rocked his family and their sleepy, devoutly religious town. Ruminating on grief and grace, tragedy and resilience, the novel is a study in not just the mysteries of one fateful summer, but the lives that changed as a result of it. While Krueger is primarily known for his crime series centered on the fictional former sheriff and amateur sleuth Cork O’Connor, Ordinary Grace is largely considered one of his greatest works, winning an Edgar Award and an Anthony Award. —Cady Lang
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