Ordinary GraceOrdinary Grace
Score Modern
What it's about
William Kent Krueger's novel is about a young man, a small Minnesota town and murder in the summer of 1961, as a series of deaths changes a family, and a boy's understanding of grace, forever.
Why it's worth reading
It won the Edgar Award for Best Novel. It's a beautiful coming-of-age mystery often compared to To Kill a Mockingbird.
You'll love it if you liked
This Tender Land
The River We Remember
To Kill a MockingbirdGood to know
It's told by the narrator as an adult looking back. It's quiet and moving more than suspenseful.
By the numbers
- Readers50 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics49 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller22 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Buzz2 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #87 of the 219 young adult books we rank
- #195 of the 555 mysteries and thrillers we rank
- #725 of the 1,573 modern books we rank
- #1363 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Gripping, Moving
More by William Kent Krueger
If you like this, read next
A Good Girl's Guide to Murder
Long Way Down
The Bottoms
Too Late
House Rules
Sam's Letters to JenniferExplore the best-of lists
All 36 best-of lists →
Quick answers
Is Ordinary Grace worth reading?
Yes. It won the Edgar Award for Best Novel. It ranks #1,363 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 69.4 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Ordinary Grace about?
William Kent Krueger's novel is about a young man, a small Minnesota town and murder in the summer of 1961, as a series of deaths changes a family, and a boy's understanding of grace, forever.
How long does it take to read Ordinary Grace?
About 8 hours (320 pages), or about 2 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What awards has Ordinary Grace won?
Edgar Award winner (2014).
What should I read after Ordinary Grace?
If you liked it, try This Tender Land by William Kent Krueger, The River We Remember by William Kent Krueger or To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee.