Ordinary Grace- William Kent Krueger

Some books leave an emotional print on you, irrespective of the storyline, the plot or the ending. This is one of those novels. Ordinary Grace by Meloche is narrated by Frank Drum, the second child to the Drum family. Set in the year 1961, the story is told forty years later by Frank about the fateful summer of that year, in which murder took a joyous ride around the town of Minnesota. A small boy at the edge of young adulthood is confronted with experiences that are far above his age and understanding.

The death of a small boy named Bobby Cole, shook the Drum family as well as the whole society. A child’s life lost affected the whole of the community. Jake, Frank’s younger brother was affected the most. Ariel, their elder sister had suddenly started showing suspicious behaviour. She did not talk about her whereabouts and sneaked away at nights to places known to god. Frank noticed her once and thought that she must be going to see her boyfriend, well he wished later that were the truth.

Nathan Drum, their father and a minister, had ultimate faith in god and preached people at the church. Ruth, his wife accompanied him to the choirs alongside their daughter Ariel. After the summer, Ariel was to go to Julliard to pursue music but suddenly she had lost all interest in it and wanted to stay in Minnesota. That very much angered her mother, as she did not want her daughter to chase some random guy and keep her career at stake. What was about to come was completely different. Ariel suddenly disappears and no one is able to track her and then one of the most horrible things that could happen, happened all at once. Frank discovers her sister’s drowned body and that send shim into a trauma that maybe he can never escape from. Jake goes hysterical and shuts himself up. Ruth loses all her faith and starts despising her husband because of his infinite faith in the almighty that took away their daughter.

The family starts to fall apart following their sister’s murder. Two boys’ childhood memories are destroyed forever. At such a young age, dealing with the atrocity that the adult world is, damages both the lads inside out. Losing their sister, and watching their family fall apart both brothers are unable to help and make things right for everyone they love.

This is a story of loss, betrayal, faith, hope, love and empathy. The amount of emotions that the author has portrayed regarding the characters is extremely touching. This thing specifically upholds the plot which otherwise is not that fascinating. I will give it a 6.5/10.