In the small town of Jewel, Minnesota nothing ever happens. Located near the Alabaster River, the town and its surrounding farms seem idyllic and peaceful. But underneath this bubolic veneer lie deep secrets and violence. And so it is that when Sherriff Brody Dern is called out on a Memorial Day in 1958, to investigate the death of James Quinn, a wealthy landowner, he knows that this will unleash a whirlwind in this quiet town.

Before the results of the autopsy have even come back, the rumors and innuendo have already begun accusing Noah Bluestone, a Native American WWII veteran, of murdering Quinn. Bluestone, who had grown up in Jewel, had recently returned after his service overseas with a Japanese wife and they had settled on a small farm on the outskirts of town. Dern, knowing that these inflammatory rumors are based only on speculation and racism, is concerned that the rumors will cloud and obstruct his ability to thoroughly investigate Quinn’s death.

As Dern investigates, his fears come true as the town is enveloped in cries for Bluestone’s arrest or worse, for his death. In spite of his own fragile emotional health from his experiences during the war, Dern tries to thread his way through the morass of racism and irrational anger, and finds help in unlikely places, like the aging deputy who was his predecessor, the brave publisher of the local newspaper, a war widow and her young son, and a crusading female lawyer, all of whom carry their own secrets and tragedies, but who bravely help and support Dern whose investigation threatens to expose the pervasive evil behind Quinn’s death.

Krueger is an author that I hold in awe. One reviewer calls this book a “work of art,” others have used the word “dazzling,” and I couldn’t agree more. Krueger’s exegesis into the ways pervasive racism and fear of others leads to injustice and violence in the fictitious town of Jewel is really a damning description of what is happening in our country as a whole. Yet, Krueger is able to hold this up and still maintains the cohesion of his storyline and develops his characters with both delicacy and integrity. Dern is not a super hero, he is man with many qualms and fears, and yet he tries to find a way to do what is honorable and to discover what is true. This is a book that makes you think about the many ways we can stand up to hatred and fear, but does not sugar coat how much it may cost us to do so. I have reflected on this amazing book so many times since I finished reading it. I hope you put this on your “to read” list as soon as possible!

Brenda’s Rating: *****(5 Out of 5 Stars)

Recommend this book to: Keith, Sharon, Marian and Ken

Book Study Worthy? Yes!

Read in ebook format.