Title: HOW CAN I HELP YOU
Author: Laura Sims
ISBN: 978 0857 3087 64
Publisher: Verve Books
Pages: 209
Source: NetGalley
From the author of Looker comes this razor-sharp suspense about two librarians whose lives become dangerously intertwined. No one knows Margo’s real name. Her colleagues and patrons at a small-town public library only know her middle-aged normalcy, congeniality and charm. They have no reason to suspect that she is, in fact, a former nurse with a trail of countless premature deaths in her wake. She has turned a new page, so to speak, and the library is her sanctuary, a place to quell old urges. That is, at least, until Patricia, a recent graduate and failed novelist, joins the library staff. Patricia quickly notices Margo’s subtly sinister edge and watches her carefully. When a patron’s death in the library bathroom offers a hint of Margo’s mysterious past, Patricia can’t resist digging deeper – even as this new fixation becomes all-consuming.
Official Summary
20 February 2024
This book with its bright yellow cover immediately caught my eye when I came across it on NetGalley and the blurb guaranteed that I added it to my TBR. I am new to this author and was not sure what to expect.
This riveting psychological thriller explores the dark underbelly of seemingly ordinary lives. The author crafts a tale of suspense and danger within the confines of a small-town public library. At the heart of the narrative is Margo, a librarian with a carefully concealed past. Her colleagues and patrons see only her middle-aged normalcy, congeniality and charge, oblivious to the fact that she was once a nurse with a trail of premature deaths behind her. The library serves as Margo’s sanctuary, a place where she attempts to quell the haunting urges of her past. The author excels at creating an atmosphere of quiet unease, drawing you into Margo’s dual existence.
The arrival of Patricia, a recent graduate and aspiring novelist, introduces a new dynamic to the story. Patricia, keenly observant, quickly senses Margo’s subtle sinister edge. The tension builds as Patricia becomes increasingly fixated on unravelling the mystery behind Margo’s façade. You are drawn into Patricia’s descent into obsession, making you question whether her relentless pursuit of the truth is driven by curiosity or an innate danger of its own.
The turning point occurs with a patron’s death in the library bathroom, offering a glimpse into Margo’s mysterious past. This event catapults the narrative into a thrilling exploration of secrets, deception and the consequences of unearthing buried truths. Patricia’s quest for answers becomes an all-consuming force, blurring the lines between reality and her own psychological turmoil.
Laura Sims’ writing is razor-sharp, creating an atmosphere that is both chilling and captivating. The pacing is expertly controlled, maintaining a sense of suspense that keeps you engaged until the final page. The characters are well-developed and the author skilfully navigates the complexities of their relationships, adding to the narrative. These two women will make it hard for you to ever look at your local librarian in the same way.
“How Can Help You” is a fantastic psychological thriller that explores the intricacies of human nature and the haunting power of hidden pasts. This novel is a must-read for fans of suspenseful storytelling and psychological depth. I cannot recommend this one highly enough. I cannot wait to get my hands on more of this author’s work.
Also by Laura Sims
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In this taut and thrilling debut, an unravelling woman, unhappily childless and recently separated, becomes fixated on her neighbour—the actress. The unnamed narrator can’t help noticing with wry irony that, though she and the actress live just a few doors apart, a chasm of professional success and personal fulfilment lies between them. The actress, a celebrity with her face on the side of every bus, shares a gleaming brownstone with her handsome husband and their three adorable children, while the narrator, working in a dead-end job, lives in a run-down, three-story walk-up with her ex-husband’s cat.
When an interaction with the actress at the annual block party takes a disastrous turn, what began as an innocent preoccupation spirals quickly, and lethally, into a frightening and irretrievable madness.
About the Author
Author bio from the author’s site
Laura Sims is the author of HOW CAN I HELP YOU, a New York Times, Publishers Weekly, Book Riot, and CrimeReads Best Book of the Year; a LibraryReads Top Ten Pick of July; and an Amazon Editors’ Pick for Best Mystery, Thriller & Suspense. Sims’s first novel, LOOKER, was included on “Best Books” lists in Vogue, People Magazine, Real Simple, Entertainment Weekly, and more, and is now in development for television by eOne and Emily Mortimer’s King Bee Productions. An award-winning poet, Sims has published four poetry collections; her essays and poems have appeared in The New Republic, Boston Review, Lit Hub, and Electric Lit. She and her family live in New Jersey, where she works part-time as a reference librarian and hosts the library’s lecture series.
Thank you to NetGalley and Verve Books for this review copy. I loved this title and I have already added Looker to my TBR. I cannot wait to read more from Laura Sims. I hope you will enjoy this. If you have read Looker – please share your thoughts. I am struggling to find a copy locally, but I will keep looking for it. Until next time…Happy Reading!
