How Can I Help You
By: Laura Sims
Release Date: July 18, 2023
Publisher: G.P. Putnam's Sons
Rating:

Laura Sim’s How Can I Help You straddles the line between mystery, thriller, and horror all set in a small library in the Midwest. The darker side of human nature is brought to life and had a spotlight shown on it here. Flawed characters, a long game of cat and mouse, and tense situations galore await you in this 2023 release.

Margo had once been a nurse, but when her colleagues begin to suspect that she’s killing her patients, she changes her name and becomes a librarian. Everything seems to be going fine until the newest hire, Patricia, enters the scene.

How Can I Help You falls more within the realm of suspense and psychological thriller than a horror-laden slasher flick despite featuring a serial killer. Now, that isn’t to say that there is no murder at all featured in the book. Quite the contrary, in fact. However, the majority of the novel’s focus is placed on the characters, their relation to one another, and how Margo is going to hide and evade the watchful eyes of her newest coworker.

The book is told in two voices, one being Margo and the other being the recently hired Patricia. Chapters alternate from one point of view to the other. This grants the reader much more insight into each character’s thoughts and actions. However, I did find the voices somewhat similar and not as unique as I’d expected. Though this bothered me while reading, I do have to say that I believe it was very intentional. Why? Well, that becomes apparent by the end of the novel, which I won’t spoil here. Suffice it to say, a reread may reveal more that can be easily overlooked the first time.

How Can I Help You by Laura Sims is a fascinating look into two librarians who have much more to them than meets the eye. If you like suspense, literary thrillers, mysteries, or anything vaguely unnerving, this novel is something you’ll want to add to your TBR. However, if you’re more of a fast-paced, terror-laden horror novel fan, this might not be totally in your wheelhouse.